OT. Is there a PC newsgroup?

[David Lang]

Hi

Is there a newsgroup similar to this for computer problems?

Dave

[ben]

uk.comp.homebuilt

[Alan]

In message , David Lang wrote

Go to the news archive at

into the search box a few key words associated with your problem.

You will get a list of questions and answers as well as the newsgroup where the questions first appeared.

If the groups.google.com web site doesn't give a direct answer to your problem subscribe to the newsgroups where similar question appear.

[Colin Wilson]

Whats the problem ?

[John Rumm]

Most folks seem to post them here! (depends on how anal you want your answers)

[John Cartmell]

That depends on which sort of computer you are having problems with.

[David Lang]

Hi

OK, didn't want to tie up the group - but!

I run Windows XP Home. Swimbo just purchased a new PC. I want to save My Documents (550MB) to a CD so I can re load it on to the new machine.

The alleged Wizard keeps coming up with the error message that it can't complete the task.

I've shut down & re started, I've run Norton Win Doctor, Norton OBC and Windows Registry Repair. I've uninstalled & reinstalled the CD device driver. I've downloaded & tried Nero and Deepburner, both of which come up with error messages.

I've tried 4 brand new CD RW discs - Memorex 16x-24x. I've been onto Microsoft's alleged help FAQ and tried what they suggested.

If you put a CD into the drive you can read it no problem. I've tried just about everything I can think of!!!!!!!!!!!!

I have a very large hammer on standby - but I can't afford to lose any of my stuff.

Could I upload My Docs to the web somehow & download it again?

Dave

[ben]

Buy a usb to usb cable and transfer that way.

[John Rumm]

A quick and more direct solution to the file transfer problem would be a network cable (or wireless lan cards if that sounds like too much wiring). You can then share the "my documents" folder on the first computer and then point the My Documents on the other at it across the network. Thus maintaining only one copy of the folder and saving you from ending up with various duplicate files in differing states of update on each computer.

(You can also use the network tobackup critical information on one computer to the other)

As to your CD problem:

what error message are you getting? If you are using CDRWs, can you reformat one successfully? Have you tried CDRs? Has it ever worked in the past?

It could be the drive itself is shagged. If so, not to worry they cost peanuts! ;-) (sounds like a good excuses for a upgrade to a DVD writer)

Failing use the writer on the new PC to do your backups via the network.

[Rembrandt Kuipers]

Have you tried splitting it into two CDs instead of one?

Any more details about why? Access denied?

What do the error messages say?

It is high time you got a backup strategy worked out then! :)

What sort of internet access do you have? (You can do it, but it could take a long time. With ADSL it should be slow but manageable.)

There are a variety of ways to transfer files between PCs without using an internet connection though. If you have ADSL, you probably also have a network connection. I presume the new computer does too. In which case a crossover cable should enable you to network the two computers.

Other strategies include transferring a hard drive, serial port connection, USB connection, and writing to a memory card.

Rem

[Colin Wilson]

Try copying the data to a different directory i.e. c:\mystuff - and burn at a slow-ish speed (12x is a fairly safe bet) - that way, if its an error due to a file lock / file being written as it tries to burn, you`re using a different file to the one being altered.

You might also want to temporarily enable file sharing on that directory, just in case XP tries keeping it locked to your account.

Are you in the right account for accessing the data concerned ? - that could be part of the problem...

[Rob Morley]

Why not network the machines together instead?

If that's the files and settings transfer wizard it will try to transfer a lot more than just My Documents. If it's just My Documents you want to move, then just write the folder manually to CD.

Have you disabled XP's excuse for built-in CD writing before you tried Nero?

If it's that big a deal just take the hard drive out of the old machine, stick it in the new one and copy the files that way.

You could, but it's a sub-optimal solution :-)

[Alex]

Yes, there are plenty! You need to be more specific ;)

alex

[Blair]

The simple answer is yes. I belong to 12 PC groups such as XP, Networking, broadband, XP basics, Excel, Win 98 etc Just click Newsgroups in Outlook Express and put in your subject and a list will appear which you can then select you want to subscribe to. Quite easy really Blair

[Geoffrey]

Don't use the wizard and don't even think of using the M$ backup protocols.

Do you have any other CD writing software? If all you want to do is dump your "my documents" folder to CD then use Nero or (if you absolutely have to) Roxio.

I think you will find it worth every penny to invest in a copy of CD/DVD writing software. Personally I use Nero.

If you end up deciding your CD writer is knackered, DVD writers are now under £30.

[Nobody]

IIRC, the capacity of CDRW disks is far less than straight write once CDs. I thught it was about 500mb at one time.. IF this is the case, you may simply be trying to fit more onto the CDRW disk than it can take, hence it can't complete the task.

Try splitting the docs into smaller archive sizes - say 300MB and

200MB worth in two folders. Then try burning one folder to CDRW.

On another tack - 2Gb USB pen drives are now down to around £64 from Crucial, which would make trnsferring data between machines a doddle.

Regards,

[mike ring]

"David Lang" wrote in news:z5wLe.5105$ [e-mail]:

TRy a different brand of CDRW - believe it or not, I had the same prob with transferring to BiL's computer, using a CDRW

Eventually he took it back to the shop that fitted his RW drive, and after a lot of work they tried another (Sony) disc.

It worked.

Nobody could explain why, so we quit while we were ahead

Or try a CDR, they're dirt cheap.

Maybe the Nero INformation Tool (free download) could tell you something

mike

[David Lang]

Thanks to all who replied - the USB pen drive looks like the answer - Dixons have a 1GB for £59:99 so I'm off to Bluewater!

SWIMBO wants to play with her new toy!

Dave

[Steve Walker]

My Documents is a special folder with odd settings & restrictions. Try copying all the data to a new Temp folder and then burning that set instead.

[Bob Smith (UK)]

CD-RW come in 650 and 700 meg flavours.

It sounds like he has a CD reader, rather than a writer.

Bob