One Last time for computer problem questions-PLEASE?

[sfreeman8]

Tomorrow will be a week since I was able to use my Outlook Express. I have old folders from 2006-2011;same with contacts. Not the new contact list.

Was thinking it might be the computer hard drive or the motherboard?

If that's the case, I have another computer here that was my son's. he says it's the same "inards" as mine, so could I possibly plug my hard drives into it and start using his computer? Like I said I have thousands of photos and genealogy data on my computer that I don't want to lose.

If worse comes to worse, would that solve most of the problems?

I do have a laptop but how secure are they where private banking and other information is concerned? I certainly don't want to be hacked.

Can anyone answer these questions?

[patti4me]

I don't know much about computers but we use a laptop for online banking, etc.  Feel like it's about as secure as a PC but I could be wrong.  You might see if there's a local computer guru that can help you inexpensively or try the geek squad at Best Buy.  Good luck!

[squirrelgirl44]

I would take both your computer and your son's to a professional and have them transfer it all over. Also look into getting an external hard drive.

[metsrock69]

Whatever you do ,don't take it to the geek squad unless you want to spend a lot of money. shop around for a local computer shop. They should be a lot cheaper

[linderlizzie]

The only thing I know about fixing computers is to turn them off and then back on again. Fixes lots of problems but I'm afraid that's no help for your particular issue.

Sorry. 

Don't you know any computer nerds? Have you tried researching your problem online yet?

[ajamimajida]

upload your pictures or any other thing that is important onto a flashdrive.  They will be safe, and did you think about my idea of getting dashlane on your computer to recover old passwords that you might on your computer that might come in handy. 

Dashlane was just on the news today and they gave it a good review.  It is free, no trial period no nothing.  It takes just a few minutes to download and use.

Dashlane is for everyone to use if you are tired of remembering your passwords.

[plennis]

I use Geek Squad, you can even have them come on via the internet so you do not have to always take to them.

[natashaspy]

I can't answer as far as the hard drive stuff but using a laptop is no more dangerous than using a desktop.  Make sure all of your passwords are strong and that you use a good antivirus and you should be ok

[oldbuddy]

Moving a hard drive to another computer should be no problem, but having an expert do it is good advice. You should also be able to add your hard drive to your sons computer and keep both running at the same time.

[countrygirl12]

Tomorrow will be a week since I was able to use my Outlook Express. I have old folders from 2006-2011;same with contacts. Not the new contact list.

Was thinking it might be the computer hard drive or the motherboard?

If that's the case, I have another computer here that was my son's. he says it's the same "inards" as mine, so could I possibly plug my hard drives into it and start using his computer? Like I said I have thousands of photos and genealogy data on my computer that I don't want to lose.

If worse comes to worse, would that solve most of the problems?

I do have a laptop but how secure are they where private banking and other information is concerned? I certainly don't want to be hacked.

Can anyone answer these questions?

You can't just "plug" a hard drive in to another computer.  If it is an external hard drive with a USB then yeah you can do that.  As for taking the hard drive out and putting in to a new computer it will have to match up.  It has to be compatible.  And if it is your hard drive that is the issue it doesn't matter where you put it.  A hard lesson but photos and really important stuff you need to back up to either disks or an external hard drive.  Seagate makes them.  You can get a 1 or 3 terabyte at Walmart.  And if it is really important I would back it up to 2 different ones.

[nannycoe1]

I would need a professional

[oldbuddy]

Tomorrow will be a week since I was able to use my Outlook Express. I have old folders from 2006-2011;same with contacts. Not the new contact list.

Was thinking it might be the computer hard drive or the motherboard?

If that's the case, I have another computer here that was my son's. he says it's the same "inards" as mine, so could I possibly plug my hard drives into it and start using his computer? Like I said I have thousands of photos and genealogy data on my computer that I don't want to lose.

If worse comes to worse, would that solve most of the problems?

I do have a laptop but how secure are they where private banking and other information is concerned? I certainly don't want to be hacked.

Can anyone answer these questions?

You can't just "plug" a hard drive in to another computer.  If it is an external hard drive with a USB then yeah you can do that.  As for taking the hard drive out and putting in to a new computer it will have to match up.  It has to be compatible.  And if it is your hard drive that is the issue it doesn't matter where you put it.  A hard lesson but photos and really important stuff you need to back up to either disks or an external hard drive.  Seagate makes them.  You can get a 1 or 3 terabyte at Walmart.  And if it is really important I would back it up to 2 different ones.

Most hard drives today are standard ATA drives and will work in any computer that uses a standard ATA drive, or you can purchase an ATA enclosure that will use a USB cable to plug into any computer that has one.

For example: https://www.amazon.com/Inateck-External-Drive-Enclosure-FE2004/dp/B00JQTO8TU/ref=sr_1_15?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1525552449&sr=1-15&keywords=ata+enclosure

[shasha2210]

I don't know much bout computers or virus

[dogsleash]

if it is compatable yes you can in therory use it but you might loose information adn have to reset up drivers.

[sfreeman8]

You can't just "plug" a hard drive in to another computer.  If it is an external hard drive with a USB then yeah you can do that.  As for taking the hard drive out and putting in to a new computer it will have to match up.  It has to be compatible.  And if it is your hard drive that is the issue it doesn't matter where you put it.  A hard lesson but photos and really important stuff you need to back up to either disks or an external hard drive.  Seagate makes them.  You can get a 1 or 3 terabyte at Walmart.  And if it is really important I would back it up to 2 different ones.

I already have a Seagate drive. it stopped working and when I asked Seagate support, they said they don't support this drive anymore (had it for a year or two) AND it will no longer backup my hard drive because they don't support my computer.  I had gotten this Seagate thinking I'd never have to worry about my info anymore. Boy, was I wrong!!!!!

I would take both your computer and your son's to a professional and have them transfer it all over. Also look into getting an external hard drive.

Last time I did anything with a professional it cost me $200 just to set up my laptop with an operating system with the F1-F2 procedures and options, and their logo. There is no Geek Squad OR Best Buy around here. All we have is Walmart and/or Staples.  i once had a guru but he stopped keeping up once technology got out of control (about 5 years ago), so I'm really on my own. Staples had advertised support for computers but only for those they sold. When I called about other ones, the "tech" guy had no idea what I was even talking about...duh!

As for plugging in a hard drive to another computer. I've done it every time I bought a new computer and never had a problem and since my son's computer is the same as mine, I'm sure there would be no problem. But, do I want to do that?

I have forgotten about flashdrives. If it's what I'm thinking, are they the small doohickeys you plug into the USB and download your stuff? 

BTW, I finally did get Outlook to work but it wasn't the same as before. It looked and acted totally different. So i kept checking and bingo! Realized the one I've been using all this time was Microsoft Office Outlook. So, I found my address book and my folders but I still can't send and receive.  I've got more work to do on this end. My genealogy data is useless since it's read only. I don't know what to do about that. Erase and reformat and try again (No one can ever say I'm not a glutton for punishment).

I'm also going to look into the Amazon link OldBuddy sent.

I would love it if i could get my son's computer to change the screen size. He couldn't do it. It just wouldn't change. I'll have 3 computers here that will no longer work. I was working towards getting a power supply for the other Dell (which is #1''s problem) until #2 started acting up.  Sheesh! Never ends.

Thanks everyone for your help. i think i might be able to get this fixed now. Temporarily, i'm use OE6 to send and receive but don't want to wait much longer before my important emails wind up trashed.