I have a problem with the camera I am using now in that I often accidentally set the flash because of where the toggle wheel is place. My camera looks very similar to yours, and I find it very easy to press the flash without realizing it. Sometimes it is difficult to turn off the automatic flash, and this is most irritating. Most of the photographing I do now is of furniture and of cardboard models of furniture that I make at work, and I really do not need a flash for this. In the past, I have photographed wall sconces for tear sheets and these were difficult because the finishes were often polished silver plate or polished nickel. I had to be very careful about what was reflected in the mirror finishes. Of course I had to be even more careful when I photographed mirrors, and I often did those on a dock with the background very far away, so that it would be blurred. That was before I could fix them in Photoshop. Lars

Hi, I've moved a number of times (I'm an AF brat and was an AF wife as well and have moved with my career). Sounds like you're pretty organized, so you're headed in the right direction. There is nothing worse than showing up to help someone to move and having to start from scratch, packing boxes etc. On moving day I like to have everything ready to go. So...here's what I do. I make a list of everything I'll need before I move and the first few nights in the new house and I ensure those things DON'T get packed up. I then start packing those things I don't anticipate using in the near future...at least from now until I move and a couple of weeks after I move. While I'm doing this, I go through the stuff I don't want to move...the stuff I haven't used in more than a year...stuff I haven't worn in that same period of time. (You can set up your own filters for this) I set up a corner and put everything there, in boxes. I might donate it (if I'm donating, I'll make a list as it goes in the box(es) so I can keep track of it for tax purposes)...or if there is a lot and I have the time, I may have a yard sale. Then, as moving day gets closer, I pack more and more, the goal being to only have those things I absolutely need as soon as I get to the new house....linens, coffee pot, a couple of pans, minimal dishes and silverware, my computer or tablet, phone chargers....you get the idea. I can't stand not having something I need and having to look through boxes to find it as soon as I get to the new house. I also label each box....probably more than most people. I don't just say WHERE it will be going in the new house, but I tend to make a list of what is in the box so if I DO have to look for something, I can find it more easily. My goal is always to use the box to its fullest. I pack carefully, but leave the tops of boxes open until they are full. There is always some tiny thing you come across that can fit in the top of a box :) Sounds like you're getting a good start. I hope this helps. On moving day you should just have the big stuff, a room full of boxes for the moving van and then you can pack up those last minute things and put them in your car or into the back of the moving truck where they will be handy. Yes, its stressful...but you can de-stress this time by being organized and having a plan. :)

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).

They are just another type of storage medium. Rather than a CD disc or the old floppies you use these in a usb port and transfer your info onto it the same way. They are so small they can be carried in a pocket or on a keychain so they are great for portability. I get them all over but recently I ordered several of the 4G and a few 8G on sale at Radioshack.com. I saved a load because they have all kinds of back to school specials. You can pick them up every where these days. I've used the San Disk and Gigaware brands because they work and are simple and plain. I don't need team logos or other advertising on mine since it means paying more. LOL You can save it. You can take it with you. Get portable storage with USB Flash drive. Take your files plus U3 compatible PC programs wherever you go. Plus, it's PC and Mac® compatible. * Ideal to share and play your favorite video and music files * Transfer with confidence when moving images and other files from PC to PC or other CE devices * Personalize your drive with your favorite applications using U3 You'll also need * Intel® Pentium® PC or Macintosh computer with USB support * Windows XP, Vista * Windows 2000, Mac OS X v10.1.2+ and Linux (storage only) * USB 2.0 port required for high-speed transfer * Requires high-power USB hub port