Joho the Blog
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August 11, 2004
My new Thinkpad X40 just arrived, so I have many , many happy hours of computer set-up to look forward to, including trying to figure out how to move onto my new laptop the stupid !@#$%-ing programs that only allow themselves to be registered to one computer, oh how I hate them. I've just started the Windows File and Settings Transfer Wizard, a splendid utility that moves all your, well, files and settings to your new computer, which has never been known to work. On the plus side, the X40 is lovely. Light 'n' loaded. And, while the keyboard of the X22 it's replacing is IBMishly comfortable, the new one feels even better. And, the built-in wifi worked, just like getting a dial tone... Ah, the Transfer Wizard is done and, guess what? It worked! I take back everything bad I ever said about it, except for the true stuff. Now I'm watching two hours' worth of mp3's flying through the air... Now, now how to get Thunderbird to recognize the profiles and msg data I moved over from my old laptop. So far, the obvious things haven't worked. ... Ok, edit "profile.ini" and hand-list the profiles you want Thunderbird to notice. Now, how to get the settings moved...Gave up. It's easier just to enter the mail server's address...Now to get my old msgs noticed. Hmm. Create a new account in TB. Copy and paste the content of the old folders into the new ones. (Worst that can happen is that I'll have to reinstall TB. One of the little pleasures of being at the beginning of a rebuild.) The folders are in Documents and Settings/[username]/Application Data/Thunderbird, by the way...Ok, I'm not sure I got it exactly right. Create a new account and notice what name it gives the mail folder. Move the contents of your old folder into that one. Seems to work. But surely there's a better way to do this. (Insert "Get a Mac" comment here. Thank you.) Utilities and documents transferred the crude-but-effective way: Drag 'n' drop. Soon going to be time to install the Big Gun apps, and then spend hours tweaking and sanding. (One piece of good news: Outlook has left the building. Posted
by D. Weinberger at August 11, 2004 10:37 AM
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Comments
When I last changed laptops, I imaged my old laptop harddrive using Powerquest Drive Image, then on the new machine I installed Microsoft Virtual PC, created a virtual PC, restored the image, and now I have my old laptop running "inside" my new laptop. Nothing missing, all the functionality, no reinstalls.
Other than direct hardware access (eg I can't use the kismet sniffer against my wireless card from the virtual pc because it sees a virtualized card, and if you're a gamer you won't get the response and video you need), everything runs as before.
Since the virtual machines run almost as fast, I'm thinking that it might be a good idea to load up any new machines I have as just a host operating system and then virtualize my day-to-day machine. That way, I can bring it over to any new machine in the blink of an eye.
Posted by: brent ashley | August 11, 2004 02:14 PM
It's actually a tad bit harder to migrate TB from windows to os x.
Posted by: David Gammel | August 11, 2004 04:49 PM
You can use Mozilla backup to copy the contents of Thunderbird, then transfer that file to the "empty" Thunderbird on the new machine. I've used this method to copy over an existing T'bird to a blank download on a second machine. Worked like a charm.
Those Mozilla backup utilities are wonderful ... Come a bug or a worm or some glitch in a new release, and you can restore everything to the status of "how everything was" as of your last backup.
Of course, one must be diligent about making those backups!!
Posted by: Dean Landsman | August 12, 2004 03:52 AM
Nice! I had an X20 which I loved but ran its natural lifespan. I went with a T40 this time, because I wanted the drivebays.
Not only that, my toddler son poured a whole dispenser of sugar into the keypad of the new T41 a week after I bought it. Turned it upside down, shook it, gave it a few blasts of canned air and turned it on. Worked fine.
Now *that's* what I'm talkin' 'bout!
Posted by: Lisa Williams | August 16, 2004 10:58 PM