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Post by michelb on Jul 5, 2015 12:16:31 GMT
Hello Windows experts!
My main computer has abruptly crashed. I don't know exactly what is wrong, but my internal hard drives are ok, as well as my RAM, DVD burner, power supply and other cards. I have decided to order a similar computer which I'll receive tomorrow.
The main internal drive has a C: partition (very recent Acronis clone also available) and data partitions E: and D: with Acronis backups. I also have an uptodate Organizer backup and Windows Synctoy on external drive. I have the installation media of my running softwares, Win 7 and the keys for my PSE11, 12 and 13 as well as Lightroom 5.
The new computer comes with a similar 2TB drive and Windows 8.1 instead of Win 7.
I will use the old drive as a secondary internal drive.
So, my question are:
- how to avoid the hassle of reinstalling all softwares?
- would it be possible to 'boot' from the old drive and to have all softwares available? (setting the boot options in the BIOS)
- I suspect the 'activation/sign in/out from Adobe might not be recognized. In that case, I would have to contact Adobe customer service to deactivate.
- I suppose I could have a dual boot option with both Win 7 and Win 8.1 ?
All advice and suggestions welcome!!!
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Post by Andy on Jul 5, 2015 12:31:57 GMT
So, my question are: - how to avoid the hassle of reinstalling all softwares? Sorry to hear the computer crashed. That is never fun. I wish I had better answers for you. - You can't move software from one computer to the next. The installations are complex and write lots of things into the Windows registry which you can't copy from one computer to the next. There are some exceptions. PSE plug-ins can probably be copied, for example. - No, because the install of Windows 7 on the old computer was customized for the hardware in that computer. Also, most Windows licenses are tied to the specific computer and aren't transferable to another one. Probably. I've done this and it has worked fine for me. If you don't want to wait on the phone, I've successfully used the online chat option. - No, because you likely don't have a copy of Win7 that is legal for the new computer and the Win7 install was done for the hardware on your old computer. What you can do is install the old c:\drive into the new computer just as an extra drive. This will allow you to easily copy over things that might not have gotten stored on your data drive. This might include favorites for your browsers, address books for email, PSE plug-ins. You could recover this from Acronis as well, but it is a lot easier to do it this way. The good news for you is because you have separate OS and data drives, your data is not lost and easily moved to the new computer. You also have backups of everything. So while you have a little work ahead of you, you shouldn't lose anything. |
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Post by michelb on Jul 5, 2015 13:41:03 GMT
Thanks very much, sargenta1 for the quick and complete answer. That's exactly what I feared...
The only positive side of all this trouble is that I had regular problems since the beginning with the older computer. It rebooted randomly, sometimes several times a day, and I never found the source of the problem; not RAM, not power supply. That never had any harmful consequences fortunately and I did not lose anything; that was also a good reason to be careful with backups!
I'll be much more selective for my choice of installed programs: I am perffectly happy with PSE13 and I am not in a hurry to reinstal PSE11 and 12 or even LR. I mostly use them for reference to questions in the forum.
Anway, having more RAM, diskspace and better graphic card won't hurt.
A side effect of that crash is that I have given a new life to my still older computer: I have installed Linux and I plan to test the supported image editors, converters and organizers in that OS. And of course, that gives me all my web content, much more comfortably than with my small smartphone.
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Post by Sepiana on Jul 5, 2015 15:31:36 GMT
My main computer has abruptly crashed. - I suspect the 'activation/sign in/out from Adobe might not be recognized. In that case, I would have to contact Adobe customer service to deactivate. Michel,
Did you have the Adobe programs also installed on a second computer? If the answer is No, then there is no need to contact Adobe. You are allowed to install these programs on a maximum of two computers. On the other hand, if you have already used up your two-machine installation allowance, then, you will need to contact Adobe. They have provisions in place for the latter situation.
helpx.adobe.com/x-productkb/policy-pricing/error-activation-limit-reached-sign.html#topic-5
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Post by michelb on Jul 5, 2015 15:52:16 GMT
My main computer has abruptly crashed. - I suspect the 'activation/sign in/out from Adobe might not be recognized. In that case, I would have to contact Adobe customer service to deactivate. Michel,
Did you have the Adobe programs also installed on a second computer? If the answer is No, then there is no need to contact Adobe. You are allowed to install these programs on a maximum of two computers. On the other hand, if you have already used up your two-machine installation allowance, then, you will need to contact Adobe. They have provisions in place for the latter situation.
helpx.adobe.com/x-productkb/policy-pricing/error-activation-limit-reached-sign.html#topic-5
PSE13 was only installed once on this computer; I know that I can install the second one. PSE11 and 12 are also installed in a second computer in my coutry home; it's a Vista PC which does not support PSE13... For Lightroom 5, the present version is only installed on one computer. It's an upgrade of LR4, still (only) installed in my country home computer. I'll contact Adobe and report about the results. Anyway, Ill be able to sign out of PSE11 or PS12 in my country home in a couple of weeks. |
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Post by michelb on Jul 7, 2015 20:45:43 GMT
As promised, my report: the new computer was unpacked in the middle of the day.
Already done: configuring and updating Windows 8.1. Struggling with Win 8 and IE until I was able to reinstall Firefox and my antivirus. Changed the 4 GB RAM for 8 GB. Installed my old computer 2 TB as a second internal drive. Installed the HP printer software.
And thanks to you both, I had a chat with Adobe to deactivate my Elements version, then I was transferred to the Lightroom department; a bit of patience, but nicely done.
I have still a lot to install (the Adobe programs, Acronis, Open Office, CCleaner, my genealogy software... and a whole list of utilities !)
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Squirrel2014
Established Forum Member
Where's that cup of tea ... ???
Posts: 685 
Open to constructive criticism of photos: Yes
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Post by Squirrel2014 on Jul 7, 2015 22:41:52 GMT
Well done Michel It certainly takes time to get a new computer to how you like it, and with the necessary software downloaded and installed. I feel the same re IE and after downloading/installing AV, Firefox is the next thing to install. So much easier after that. I'm sure are looking forward to using your new computer to the full and I'll look forward to seeing your photo editing etc.  Julie |
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Post by Andy on Jul 7, 2015 23:44:53 GMT
Glad to hear you are back up and running Michel! I had a computer once that would randomly crash, but only when I was running something graphics intensive. The solution was an obscure USB driver patch! So you can never tell what the issue might be. Have fun with Linux - what distro did you go with? A handy site (but maybe a bit late for you): ninite.com/ It allows you to install a whole bunch of things all at once (browsers, Flash, Java, freeware apps). I use it when building a new machine. |
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Post by Sepiana on Jul 8, 2015 0:48:21 GMT
Michel, glad to hear you are back in business. Enjoy your new computer!
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Bayla
Established Forum Member
Posts: 555
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Post by Bayla on Jul 8, 2015 10:43:42 GMT
A handy site (but maybe a bit late for you): ninite.com/ It allows you to install a whole bunch of things all at once (browsers, Flash, Java, freeware apps). I use it when building a new machine. Looks useful....I have bookmarked it for the future...... Bayla |
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Post by michelb on Jul 8, 2015 12:39:19 GMT
Glad to hear you are back up and running Michel! I had a computer once that would randomly crash, but only when I was running something graphics intensive. The solution was an obscure USB driver patch! So you can never tell what the issue might be. Have fun with Linux - what distro did you go with? A handy site (but maybe a bit late for you): ninite.com/ It allows you to install a whole bunch of things all at once (browsers, Flash, Java, freeware apps). I use it when building a new machine. Thanks for the link, Andy. The crashes were absolutely random... let's forget it! The first thing I did was to install PSE13. Fine, but I got the famous install error for the 13.1 update on Win 8. I need some more time. For Linux, as I had used it a few years ago, I tried to install the latest Ubuntu, but I always got the programme frozen after a few minutes. So I tried another one, Mageia with KDE desktop. So far, it works well with still one minor problem, I can't install Flash Player, even with the online help. I think I'll have to spend time in September to play with the various photo editing softwares and raw converters. My 11 years old grandson will certainly be happy to play with it. |
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Post by michelb on Jul 8, 2015 12:52:30 GMT
Michel, glad to hear you are back in business. Enjoy your new computer! Yes, I think I'll like it. It's about the same as the old one. An Asus I3 processor instead of I5, but better and newer graphic card and more integration. ASUS M12AD-FR005S | Core i3-4160T | 2 To | 4 Go | Nvidia GeForce G710-1G | Windows 8.1 For € 469, it's the best deal I have found. I have already installed additional RAM (to 8GB max) and the old 2TB drive as a second internal drive. I don't know if this graphic card is enough to get Lightroom to use graphical acceleration, but that's not a big deal for me. I am just a little less dumb with Windows 8.1, but it feels really responsive. |
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Post by michelb on Jul 8, 2015 12:58:38 GMT
Well done Michel It certainly takes time to get a new computer to how you like it, and with the necessary software downloaded and installed. I feel the same re IE and after downloading/installing AV, Firefox is the next thing to install. So much easier after that. I'm sure are looking forward to using your new computer to the full and I'll look forward to seeing your photo editing etc. Julie Yes Julie, I can't stand IE and Win 8 stands in my way as I am in a hurry! As for photo editing, I must say I miss the raw challenge... maybe worth a new try in September? |
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Post by Andy on Jul 10, 2015 1:29:20 GMT
I tried to install the latest Ubuntu, but I always got the programme frozen after a few minutes. So I tried another one, Mageia with KDE desktop. I'm not familiar with Mageia. Hopefully it works out for you. If it doesn't, I've used Mint and liked it. |
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