-=PCTechTalk=- Re: AAAhhhhh I don't believe it!!!

I am sorry about the reformat and loss of data incident.  I think many of us 
have either experienced it..or know someone who has.  The loss can be 
depressing...

Dave has made an excellent comment about backuping up your software.  That 
is a must for anyone who has anything they do not want to lose.  "Do not put 
off backing up until tomorrow what you can lose today"  (Ok... and old 
addage with a new twist!)

I have additional methods..besides just backuping up all my data.


I have a file structure that seems overwhelming when you first look at it. 
But, taken piece my piece, it does not add much work to your computing at 
all.  I promise you it will save you tons of time in the future.  If not, I 
will double your money back!  lol!  (No I am NOT selling anything!)

I ONLY put things in my C: that HAVE to be there.   I partition my hard 
drive and put programs on other partitions.
This way...if I have to reformat my c: I will only lose what was on the C: 
not the entire physical drive.
YOU CAN FORMAT ONLY YOUR C:!  YOU DO NOT HAVE TO REFORMAT THE ENTIRE 
PHYSICAL HARD DRIVE!
    I do not allow programs (when I have the choice) to install in the C:. 
I always select the customize  and browse buttons  when installing software. 
I usually go the     the directory I want the programs stored into and 
create the folder for it before I proceed with the installation.  This way, 
I KNOW where I am telling the program     where I want it to be installed.

I have a drive letter:  P: for Programs.  I Do try to keep things easy to 
remember. I am 60 years old and worry about memory problems.  But, I started 
this method 20 years ago.  I try to file things in a logical manner (logical 
for me) so I can find them easily when I want them.  It is SO frustrating 
for me to have to search for things.  So, I try to Keep It Simple Stupid! 
haha!

Within the P(Programs): I have many sub-directories for catagories of 
programs.
    Grapics
    CD\DVD Programs
    Games
    Organizational Tools
    Word Processing Related
Within each category folder I have sub folders for the individual programs 
(and sometimes for sub folders.)
    Graphics
        Jasc
            PaintShop Pro 9
            Paint Shop Photo Album 5
        Adobe
            Photoshop Elements 3
            Photoshop Album 2.0

    Games
        Luxor
        Big Kahuna
        Zuma

    Chat Programs
        MSN Messenger 7
        Yahoo


I have another Drive letter U: in which I store all my Utilities.  If I have 
more than 1 type of Utility I create a sub directory for that category. 
This Utility category includes programs  which keep my machine running clean 
and mean and work mostly with things on my machine to make life easier.  For 
example Zip programs.  The purpose of those programs is to zip and unzip 
files.  It does not create data it is just a tool.  So, I guess I could have 
called this my "Tools Directory."
    U:
    Zip Programs
        Winzip
        Zip Exploder
        Multiziplicity

    Norton - Symantec Programs
        System Works
        Password Manager
        FireWall
        AntiSpam

If it is a one of a kind program, it gets its  own folder right in the 
U(Utilities):
    CleanUp!


Now you may be thinking so what!  It may be easier to file and find things 
this way, but I still have to reinstall all my programs if I have to 
reformat my C:.
Yes, I still have to reinstall all my programs..................

BUT the Bonus' for using this file structure is wonderful (to me!)  Here is 
where the big time and frustration savings come into play:

1.  The file structure is still there.  My sub-directories that I created to 
install each the programs is intact.

    I can reintstall my programs right into those same directories.
    I do not store data from my programs in those directories, so, I do not 
have to worry about reinstalling prrograms and overwriting data.
    I do not have to re-create a file structure or remember the file 
structure.
    If I get a new computer, I can copy this file structure to my new 
computer and install my programs right into those same directores.  (I of 
course still have to             create the partitions on the new computer. 
Then I can just copy the old files to the new computer!
    I do not have to retype each folder and sub folder.
    I do not have to remember what programs go where.
    I can of course change it if I want to.

2.  I can look at my folders in my sub directories and remember which 
programs I have to reinstall.
    I just get so annoyed when I want to use a program and it is not 
installed.  I have to stop my masterpiece of creativity (yeah right!) and 
find the disks and reinstall     the program!  Grrrr!

3.  I can look at the programs I had installed and see if I still need to 
have them installed on the computer.  If not, just delete the folders and do 
not re-install them!

4.   If you share your computer with another person and let them use your 
programs, etc.... it will be easy for them to find things on your computer 
too!
      Just do NOT let them install programs.  You do it for them!  Tell them 
you want to be nice to them.

Finding things in the Programs Menu in Windows
Now, you may be asking, that is fine for installing programs, but how do you 
get your Programs Menu  in an order so I can find these programs?!  ( If 
Press Start and then All Programs) The programs are all over the place. 
Even if you right click and have them sorted by name (Alpha) they are still 
a mess!  Sometimes I do not remember the name of the program I want.
Also, there are some that just do not seem to show up and some have names I 
do not like or recognize!

My solution is fairly simple.

First,  the files that create the All Programs MENU in Windows is just a 
bunch of folders.  These are SHORTCUTS that were created when programs were 
installed.  They are are NOT programs and they CAN be moved around to be 
filed in a logical manner.  After all, the reason for the MENU is to make it 
easier for you to find the program you want when you want it.  You can 
rename the shortcut to something that is easier for you.  (You could reneame 
the Paint Shop Pro 9 shortcut to PSP 9 to make it easier to read/see.  This 
is YOUR computer.  Make is easier for YOU to use!  If you have never 
organized your Start - Programs Menu, it could take you a half hour..or even 
longer.  But, I promise, (Again, I will double your money back...ha ha!) 
You WILL save hours and hours of frustrating time over the years you use 
your computer.  Every time you install a new program, you should check the 
menu to make sure your folders are where you want them.  That could take a 
minute or two, but is well worth the investment!

Right Click on the Start Button and select Explore all Users!
You will see an Explorer window open with a bunch of folders.

On the Left hand side, click on the folder (that is probably highlighted) 
Start Menu.
Right under that is a Folder named Programs.
When it is expanded (by clicking on the + sign) a bunch of folders and icons 
will show up.

Now, I create the folders that match the file structure in my Programs and 
Utilities drives.

    So, I will have a folder named Graphics.

I will then take the short cuts that are graphics related and put/drag them 
into that folder.
I organize them the same way my P:Graphics Directory is organized.  One 
Folder for Jasc and one for Adobe.  If those foldder do not exist I create 
them.
Then I make sure the Paint Shop Pro 9 and Paint Shop Photo Album 5 have 
their own folders and that they are in nested within the Jasc folder (within 
the Graphics Folder.)

Then I test it.  I click on Start, All Programs and look for the Graphics 
Folder.  I click on that ..and voila! You have a Jasc Folder.  Click and 
that..and Wow! There are the Paint Shop Pro 9 and Paint Shop Photo Album 5 
folders with the appropriate shortcuts in the folders! 
Yeaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!
I then do the same for the Adobe Programs (Adobe Elements 3 and Adobe Photo 
Album 2)


As far as data is concerned:

I put my data on a different physical hard drive.  When I finish a picture 
in PSP 9, I save it to a folder on another physical hard drive.  (I have a 
hard drive I have named  SUPPLIES.  This is where I store all the supplies I 
need to do projects.

I have folders named:
Graphics Collected (used to create stationery or screensavers, cards, etc) 
Graphics I have collected in sub folders by subject - cats, dogs, frogs, 
etc.
Family and Friends Pictures (yup..you guessed it.. pics of family and 
friends) also in sub folders by category
Tubes (For graphics nuts..they are sort of like cutouts of picutures that 
are used sort of like stamps) Again, in sub categories the same as the 
graphics collected directory.
Sounds (Midi files, wavs, Mp3's) By Genre within each sub folder..Oldies, 
Country, Patriotic, funny, etc.
Tutorials (Tutorials on how to do different grpahics (typically) projects)
There are tons of other folders like presets, plugins, fonts, etc.

This data if backed up regularly to another external drive.

I also use a program Go Back! by Symantec. But, this email is way too long 
and I apologize for its length.

I am thinking of doing an e-book or an Adobe pdf file with this info in it. 
I will include screen shots throughout.  I may choose to use Camista Studo 
if I manage to get the hang of that.. haha!  If you see typos, grammatical 
errors or stuff that is just plain wrong or does not make sense to you 
...holler!  If you think there is a better way of saying it, let me know. 
If you think this is crap..let me know.  Any input would be appreciated!

I do hope this helps you and at least gives you some food for thought.

I just got my computer back from the shop after THREE WEEKS!  It ended up 
that the 1 gb of ram (two matching 512 mb chips went bad when the 2 gb of 
ram (2 matching 1 MB chips were put into the machine)  For some reason the 
machine would not even power on for over a second with the bad ram in it.  I 
am NOT a hardware person, so I was at a loss.  Now, I have my puter back 
with my 3 gb of ram working and I am a happy camper.  I dreaded the thought 
of a reformat and told them if they had to do it, to call me and I would 
come to the shop and do it myself to make sure they did not reformat the 
entire hard drive.  They 'said' they would .....lol!  Luckily it did not 
happen.)

Again, feedback about all this would be most helpful.

Rose
Las Vegas


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