Computer Illiterate?

[gm280]

Okay here is even more proof that I am near about computer illiterate. The wife and I bought two new Dell Inspiron 15 laptop computers for Christmas. I made sure they were the right laptop size (15 inch) we liked, and enough RAM and a good size SSD. I even made sure they had the proper abilities to at least match our old ones as well. Problem is, our old Dell laptop computers had four keys around the touchpad. The new ones don't.
So seems we now have to learn new ways to cut and paste instead of using the touchpad keys. Not a happy camper.
Secondly, what is the best way to transfer everything on our old computers, to the new ones without transferring any suspect viruses or malware? IDK Simple USB from one to the other? IDK
Also, the new laptops come with Windows 11 and when I tried to get one of them up and running, Microsoft instantly wanted to load everything via Microsoft products. We like other programs like Google Chrome instead of Edge. So how do I get around those things as well.
Any help will certainly be useful... Thanks in advance!

 

[racerone]

When I got my new computer I had someone from 2000 miles away set it up.-----I would say that if you trust your local shop then pay them to help you out.

 

[stresspoint]

personally i am not bag fan of windows 11 , i have only tried it a few times and found it too intuitive and wants to do everything its way. , i like to set up my own computers.

about your question . use edge to search for google chrome download ,>download the program files and run program> set google chrome as default browser.
i don't know how to set up default browser in windows 11 but at a guess it should be much the same as windows 10 , a search with edge should get you a instruction vid.

 

[Scott Danforth]

make sure you are logged in as admin and you can load google chrome or firefox.

windows 11 does suck worse than windows 10, 8, 7, etc.

 

[garbageguy]

for the selecting, copy/paste etc i like using a mouse with a wheel (a must for the limited CAD-work for me )

Win 11. IDK

internet browser default is a setting

 

[NYBo]

Your Windows are likely in S mode, which restricts what you can install. Turn it off.
https://windowsreport.com/windows-11-s-mode/

 

[gm280]

Well a few great responses. First of all, thanks to everyone that responded. I made certain that Windows 11 that was loaded with the laptops was NOT S mode. So I can work with 11 I guess. Secondly, I know I can download Chrome and set it as default as well after the fact. But to get to that point I have to load Edge with all the other Microsoft programs to get there. I did load edge on my old laptops for a try and after a day, switched back to Chrome. More because of I know how to work with Chrome than Edge... IDK just what you get use to... My two adult sons might can help since they both are more into computers than I. So I guess I will get them involved. As for the no copy / paste touchpad option buttons, I guess a mouse could be that work around as well. Just again just used to having the buttons to use. Most laptop now come with Windows 11, so Windows 10 is an option to reload I guess as well. Our laptops are so old I don't even remember how old they are. But recently, like in the last year or so, they become snail pace slow. Problem with the computer or software or even viruses, anybody's guess because I have no real knowledge about such things. I see many many programs (you can buy) to make you computer good again, but I am not sure I trust most of them. Bad when you don't know enough to rule out problematic software... Thanks again. Hope I can swap things and use the new laptops soon! Happy New Year to you all... I certainly do appreciate your replies!

 

[Silvertip]

I use Chrome avoid Edge. It just "works".
You don't need a new way to copy & paste as the technique below has been around for decades and continues to work fast.

To copy something: Highlight what you want to copy then press the CTRL and C keys at the same time.

To paste: Put the cursor where you want the material to go and press CTRL and V keys at the same time. Doesn't get any faster than that.

By the way, I will be 83 in February and without a PC, smartphone, laptop, and a wifi hotspot in my car I might not make it to 84. Windows 11 is a bit too much of a "boss" but just like normal life, unless you a"are the boss" you can work around whatever issues bug you. Most new cars are more complex to learn than a going to Windows 11.

Happy New year everyone. Be well, boat often and boat safely in 2023.

 

[dwco5051]

My wife got a Chromebook last year with the new touchpad and touch screen and I also found it much easier to just plug in the mouse. I am some what a Luddite as my cell is just a flip phone so I haven't mastered the one, tow three finger techniques. There are some good third party software programs to make transferring from one computer to another but they are not for the faint of heart if transferring a complete operating system. If it is just a few data files transfer to a USB stick and copying is a simple process.

My every day laptops are two Dells that are almost 20 years old that I bought at a garage sale for ten bucks each last Spring. Loaded them with Linux and enough programs to do my everyday stuff and they run faster than then my office computer with Windoze 10.

 

[dingbat]

All you need to do is copy the “my documents” directory to the new computer and your done.

Not a fan of Google or Microsoft because of their intrusive behavior and data collection policies.

Switched to Firefox several years ago and never looked back

 

[gm280]

Thanks once again for the new responses. Can anyone tell me if I copy files, do they copy clean in a consecutive order and not fragmented, if that is how they are initially. I'm believing so, unless the copy is verbatim, mean in the exact same fragmented order they could be now. I don't want the new files to be anything but one location per file. Makes for faster recovery and operation.
Good idea to copy everything via an old SSD drive for the copy?

 

[dingbat]

Can anyone tell me if I copy files, do they copy clean in a consecutive order and not fragmented, if that is how they are initially. I'm believing so, unless the copy is verbatim, mean in the exact same fragmented order they could be now. I don't want the new files to be anything but one location per file. Makes for faster recovery and operation.

In the day of 64 bit OS, multi-core processors and terabyte drives, file fragmentation is a non-issue for the home computer.

Good idea to copy everything via an old SSD drive for the copy?

Can't imagine why you would want to. Very slow and inefficient.
Much quicker to copy files from one computor to the next over a network.
If worse comes to worst, a CF or SD card would do the trick

 

[gm280]

In the day of 64 bit OS, multi-core processors and terabyte drives, file fragmentation is a non-issue for the home computer.


Can't imagine why you would want to. Very slow and inefficient.
Much quicker to copy files from one computor to the next over a network.
If worse comes to worst, a CF or SD card would do the trick

Thanks for the reply and reasons. Terrible knowing only enough to make yourself dangerous...

 

[docmirror]

Let me try to help a bit. We'll take them step by step.
1. Although you may not be USING Edge, I promise, it is running in the background and tracking every thing you do on the computer, and making notes on sites you visit, and depending on the settings may scan and keep email addresses. All for 'your' benefit. It is not easy to remove. It will require someone with very good MS O/S skills to rip it out by the roots. Your local comp shop is well versed in this, and worth the few bucks to get it removed from the machine, and not allowed to auto start on each boot up.

2. Copy files is best to an SSD. Some of the quality SSD makers will offer a backup and restore simple program that you can use to move files. You can network copy, but then you don't have a safe backup in case your old machine dies. Get one from SanDisk, WD, Samsung, Crucial. Good memory is worth it. Load the backup and restore program with the SSD, and do a backup of the old machine, select all the data files you want to move, but do not move programs.. Connect to the new computer, and do a 'full restore' to the new machine. This will copy all your files sequentially to the new machine, and leave you a safe backup copy on the SSD.

3. This copy/paste keys on the old machine fell out of favor quite a while back. Use the left mouse, hold down, and highlight everything you want to copy. Release the left mouse and hover over the blue highlight, then click the RIGHT mouse button once. You will see a panel pop up and if you scroll down you can copy, or cut the highlighted material. Then go wherever you want to put it, and right click once again, and use the 'paste' function. Copy/paste can copy a lot of material including pics, and possibly video depending on how it was embedded.

4. Ignore people who advise either Edge or Chrome. Because, Edge has been Chromium browser for more than 2 years. MS puts hooks in the Chrome program, and rebrands it as Edge. You didn't ask but the most secure browser is Brave;

The browser that puts you first | Brave

The Brave browser is a fast, private and secure web browser for PC, Mac and mobile. Download now to enjoy a faster ad-free browsing experience that saves data and battery life by blocking tracking software.

brave.com

Check it out. Comes with adblock+ and it seems to work very well. It will uninstall completely if you don't like it, but the security settings in Brave are much better for YOU, and much worse for marketers right out of the download.

 

[dolluper]

About the easiest way is to do a back up of your old computer ...but choose only what you want to back up ...pictures documents whatever your flavor...direct the back up to a thumb drive (usb stick) then take it and plug it in new computer ..under my computer section ..copy your pics and docs whatever to new computer
Pirform has alot of free software very good
Ccleaner
Defragger
Ccleaner will clean the garbage out for you with the free copy
Under it's tool section it will clean up your registry..best to save backup just in case.
Over 20 years using it l have never had to use the backup
Pirform also has a free recovery software
Recovra..might be spelled wrong
That and your choice of antivirus software you should be good
Of your old computer was also microsoft product you could use one drive to transfer ....but myself l don't

 

[KD4UPL]

I buy my computers from a local shop and pay them to set them up. It's quite easy, saves lots of head aches, and supports a local small business.