When you move your computer, all you need to do is shut it off, unplug all the components, then move it. Plug it all back in, and turn it on.

To save your things, you can either buy an external hard drive and 'back up' your computer to it, or you can burn all your files to a disc, or you can put them all on flash drives. You really don't need to do any of this just to move from one apartment to another, but you should do it in case your computer crashes. It has nothing to do with moving. Make sense? :-)

Dottie,
If you are un-easy about getting those cables plugged back into the right places, this is what I have done. Use masking tape and put a little tag on each end of each cable and wire. Write on the tag where it gets pluged into. The "Jungle of connectors" can look overwelming.

I hope that packing is going well for you. Did you find lots of things to eliminate? It wont be long before the only thing you have left is "un-packing!" Oh, BOY!

I hope you both feel at home in the new apt right away.

Dottie, another tip for the "plugging all back in" is take the cords off only one part. Don't pull them off the computer and the printer for instance. Leave it on the computer. :)

Also, if you have a digital camera, it will help if you take a picture of the back, where all the wires are.

Moni

Thanks, Friends, you have eased my mind. I will leave the cords plugged into the computer, and put a label on them for what it's for. As for getting used to the new apt, it is the same layout as the one here. Will make unpacking easier, cause I will know where everything goes.

probably backing up your computer was mentioned just in case something were to happen to it in transit like it getting dropped and then being un-operable. Since you are going from upstairs to downstairs hopefully that will not happen.
If you wanted to be safe you could set up an account at Adrive where they give you 50Gig free storage and just move a copy of your important stuff there. Like documents, pictures, what ever you would hate to lose.
http://www.adrive.com/
it is as easy as clicking to upload and then select the files or folders to upload.

Move the computer yourself, that way you know it is safe. Seriously you need a back up system and do it every 2 or 3 months. I don't do a full back up, just my personal stuff. You can use a DVD until you get an external drive. I have two external drives. If you take a vacation or celebrate an event back up the photos as soon as the event is over, name the folder "originals missy's birthday", then later back up the edited ones and name it Missy's birthday edited. That will save you if your PC crashes. I have a lot of work in my music and I certainly would hate to convert all of my music again.

So how's the packing going??? :D

Dottie, I know you have dialup so an online backup is not going to be real workable.

For the cords, here's another little trick. Do you have some different colored markers? Besides the tape, a different colored marker on the connector where it goes in makes it color identifiable. Some machines do this already but it's easy to do if yours aren't marked. The picture is another good suggestion but sometimes you can't see up close. Most are marked as to what goes where. You can also use some transparent tape and colored paper scraps (anything with some color on it).

Back to the backup: The big question is this: If you were to lose your computer today, is there anything on there whose loss would cause you stress, or hardship, emotionally, financially or otherwise? If the answer is no, then you have nothing to worry about backing up. If you have or instance, tax records, important pictures or this is where your prized recipes are stored and you don't have them anywhere else, then you need to back up sometime.

I don't work for the private investigators and attorneys anymore so I don't have a lot of critical data on my machines. When I did, I backed up weekly or more often and alternated backups. Now, it's mostly personal stuff that frankly wouldn't be earthshakingly important if I lost it but would be an inconvenience. I use my computer to keep all addresses & phone numbers. I have a notebook program that I use for notetaking, writing, ideas, recipes and the like. I wouldn't die without it but it'd be inconvenient. So, about twice a year I back up my whole system on a large external drive. Then about monthly I backup documents and forms that I use regularly since they get changed often. I back them up onto a USB drive, sometimes called a "flash" drive, "jump" drive, "key" drive, "pen" drive or a bunch of other names. I also back up the address book, the notebook program and my reminders program data. All of this easily fits onto a flash drive. I have several flash drives and I alternate them so even if one goes bad, I'll have a backup that is a little older so there won't be as big of a loss. It takes me probably 10-15 minutes to sort and find the files to back up and actually do it. I usually transfer this to my other computers since I want the data on there anyway and that's yet another backup.

If you have important emails and have a webmail account, you're backed up already.

I stress backups at moving because I've seen data loss happen at moves so often. I've done so many data recoveries for people whose lives seem to be on their computer and they've never backed up a thing. The drives do fail for various reasons and age has a little to do with it but new drives fail too.

And this time of year, static electricity can be a computer's enemy. There's a lot of things that can happen besides dropping it.

Now in reality the odds are maybe 1 in 1000 or less that something will happen. But, there's a lot of computers out there so it's a matter of are ya feeling lucky, punk? :)

Couple other tips on moving the computer:
- Assuming you have a standard monitor, you can only plug it into one spot, and it'll only plug in one way. Put a marker dot on the top of the plug to know "this end up". The little pins on there can be damaged easily. Be careful plugging it in. There's probably two thumb screws, one on either side of the plug. Unscrew them first, then gently wiggle the plug side to side, just a little bit, and pull it out. When you plug it back in, you'll notice the plug is a trapezoid, parallel top and bottom, but the sides are not parallel on the little metal frame. sort of looks like this:
\ /
Be sure the angles match up. I'm making it sound more complicated than it is. When you look at it, you'll see what's going on.

-The keyboard might be a rectangular (USB) plug, a plug about 1/2" round or a round plug about 3/4" or so. Sometimes the mouse plug and the keyboard plug are the same. If they're the same and round, then it does make a difference which jack it gets plugged into. If it's the rectangular (USB) type, it doesn't matter. If the keyboard is the larger round while the mouse is something else, you won't confuse them. This is where the masking tape and a marker are valuable.
-Printer. These days they're probably all going to be USB so it won't matter where you plug it in. If it's the wide 25 pin parallel port connection, about 2" wide, then you have to plug it into that spot, but likely will only fit in one spot.

What you can do...
-Unplug the monitor
-Unplug the printer
Move them separately
-Set the keyboard on top of the unit with the mouse and not unplug them. Tie up the cords so nobody trips. Tape down the keyboard and mouse and they can be moved as one piece.

It should go without saying but, carry the computer and monitor down the steps. DO NOT bounce it down the steps on a 2-wheeler! A 2-wheeler is a mover's best friend but it can be an enemy of a computer. I've seen too many computers and monitors bounce down staircases...

One other little trick if you have important documents and no way to back them up. Try emailing the information or the files to yourself. Then they're on the server waiting for you if you need them. If the move goes well, you can delete the email or leave it there as a backup (if it's webmail).

Thanks, Kiddos, about the only important thing on my laptop is the picture of my son's gravestone, but I have printed it out numerous times, and then there are the games, which I still have the CDs. I plan to move my comp. & printer myself. I will leave the cords, 3, on the machine and i have them marked with tags of what each is.

Cynic, your vast knowledge of computers and other subjects, just amaze me. You have done a lot of living in your short life. Thank you for sharing your knowledge with me and others who have needed tech help. My late son had such knowledge of computers. He was a real comp. geek, and made a good living doing web sites and trouble shooting for local TV shows in LA.

You're so welcome Dotmom. A laptop huh? Easy moving! LOL

The picture, there's a great example of something to email. You could send it to yourself or to someone else, or both. Although conceivably you could always get another picture taken of it, I don't doubt there's a bit of sentimental value to *that* particular one so it's something you want to keep.

Thanks for the kind words. Yes, I've had a very diverse background. I've worked in various fields, in all sorts of positions from very bottom to reasonably high in a large corporation, to unemployed to owning my own businesses. I've always had a craving for knowledge. I just like to learn new things and been able to for a long time. Computers interested me from back in the days of the Apple II and the internet so intrigued me. Now *there's* a place to learn! LOL And I like to share knowledge and experience with those who want help and are willing to listen. I certainly don't know it all but over the years a couple things I've learned, include not to spit into the wind and Barbara Billingsley had it right, Chump don't want no help, chump don't get any help! LOL