Switching to new computer...did I forget anything?

[Pat White]

This kind of feels like a stupid question, but maybe someone has gone through this before.

Our computer guy's been in this week setting up new computers, and I'm about to switch from this computer (my everyday design/internet/email computer) to a new one.

I've installed Composer, key fob works fine, installed printer/plotter etc.

I've brought over (and backed up) all our Jobs files for the past 4 years as well as any random files that I've saved all over the desktop over the years.

I'm just wondering....am I forgetting something?

The one thing I'm not sure about is all the fonts on this computer-Gerber fonts as well as downloaded fonts. Can I just copy them to the new computer and install them?

I would hate to go back to old files and have the "font not available" box pop up!:banghead:

TIA
Pat

[fenris242]

if you network the two computers....you can tell the new computer to grab the gerber fonts from the old system.....otherwise, when you open a file that was made on the old pc....you'll be able to see the text, but won't be able to edit it....as a different font could have been saved into the number slot....

i run two pcs with omega software, and have an external harddrive with all customer files...i have both pcs linked to this drive to pull fonts from....this way, no matter which pc i'm on, i don't have to worry about fonts not being in the right order or not being able to edit files...

[Pat White]

Thanks Fenris,
The only problem is...my current computer, once I've moved onto my new one, will be wiped clean. I've copied both the Gspfonts and windows Fonts directories and pasted them onto the new computer (which is networked right now).... will this work or no?
The whole different font in that number slot thing kinda worries me...!
Thanks,
Pat

[trakers]

Use Second Copy to copy all the files off the old machine before you wipe it to an external drive. Will cost you about $80 for this insurnace policy.

Second Copy here: Free to try for 30 days
http://www.centered.com/

You can find a cheap 1TB external at Frys, NewEgg, ZipZoom Fly, etc. Usually about $80 on sale.

We build new workstations about every year or so and wipe and sell the old ones. The method above has never let us down and has saved our butts a couple times.

[Pat White]

Thanks Trakers,
I've backed up all my files already, so even once this computer is wiped clean, I'll still have the files. I'm more concerned about a "flawless" transfer from this computer to the new one. What I'm hoping (maybe unrealistically) is that I can paste the font files into the new folders on the new computer and keep plugging away. I wish I could play around with this stuff this weekend but I need to switch now to get it over with, and so our guy can wipe this pc.
Thanks in advance for any tips...!

[Marlene]

problems that I ran into when I got a new 'puter were with added fonts that I converted into my Gerber font folder. they are given a number and if you install them right off, it shouldn't be an issue. I ran into problems as I added some fonts then tried to download the ones added that I have saved on a CD from the old puter. other wise, I haven't had any problems with files from my old system.

[ChristianSlager]

Emails...make sure you move your emails.

[fenris242]

Thanks Fenris,
The only problem is...my current computer, once I've moved onto my new one, will be wiped clean. I've copied both the Gspfonts and windows Fonts directories and pasted them onto the new computer (which is networked right now).... will this work or no?
The whole different font in that number slot thing kinda worries me...!
Thanks,
Pat

should work, but i've never done it that, so i can't guarantee....

[BROWNDOG]

i recently started getting new computers as well, the first thing i did was get a server and over time back up anything of importance to it, and now we save everything to the server, which gets backed up remotly, keeping my workstations from getting bogged down, I would recommend it to anyone,

[GB2]

I used to manage a computer network with about 100 machines for about 400 users and when installing or reinstalling computers and operating systems I found that most people just have no clue what they are doing on computers. Files are all over the place in places they never even knew existed. I would definately suggest to you that you'll never know what you don't know at this time and therefore you should absolutely get an external hard drive and back up your old system onto it. Then as you find things missing in the next year you can always go back to the old data and correct it. When you are comfortable that you're good with everything next year, you can make good use of that external hard drive for other purposes.

[jiarby]

When we do this kind of job we ghost the old HDD, then copy the .gho files along with ghost explorer to a dir on the new PC called "old-hdd". Then we can do anything... restore the original hardware, extract files, etc...

Other times we just remove the old hdd and install it as a slave in the new PC. If you are going to reuse the old pc just put in a new HDD and keep your old one. not losing your data is worth a $75 hdd.

I never use external HDD's.... the interface is too slow to xfr a bunch of data (The S in USB is SERIAL! UGH!)
Plus the power supplies are cheap which causes failures, and the enclosures hold heat which causes failures.
Only use them like a USB stick. Can't count on them for the long haul.

[signage]

I would recommend looking into Acronis imaging software to image the old drive before you wipe it!

[jiarby]

and make sure your image is good before you wipe it! I have seen lotsa people that thought they had backups ("look at the log file!" sung in the key of B-Flat Blues by some admin weenie with his head on a pike)

You gotta TEST the backups and have a restore plan.

[signage]

With Acronis you can verify the image and you can also explore and select just files or folder from the image to copy to the other drive ACRONIS (http://www.acronis.com/homecomputing/)

[Artildawn]

I second the notion of copying all the files before getting rid of the old system. Although I recommend Ycopy as a free disc copying utility.

[Bob Gilliland]

This is not all inclusive my any means but does reveal some of the often overlooked files that can make your “new” machine look and perform to the environment you were use to on the “old” machine.

***For any path given further below, they are what I believe to be default locations. If you did not do a default installation you will need to find these paths yourself.


Already mentioned are the fonts. Recapping; if you desire to maintain Gerber based font integrity (Gerber based or user converted), you would want to copy the contents of C:\GSP\GSPFonts from the old machine to the new machine (default path listed). If you used any system based fonts (small text), you would want to copy them from your C:\Windows\Fonts folder of the old machine to the new machine (again, default path given).


Speaking of converted fonts, if you do this (convert and build fonts into the gsf format) and are going to setup an identical file structure for the conversion process, you probably want to copy the GspFontDes32.ini file from C:\GSP\Software to the new.


If you would like to retain a lot of your customized Composer settings, you really want to copy the gsp.ini from the old machine to the new. This is located at C:\Windows.


Same with your GSPPlot settings; they are held within the GspPlot.INI file and that is located at C:\GSP\Software.


Your last Text related settings are located at C:\GSP\Software in an ini file titled Text32.ini


In fact, the following files GspCvtr32.ini, gspwarp32.ini, and gspoln32.ini maintain settings and relevant information the last time File Convertor, Warp, and Polygon tool were used. They are found at C:\GSP\Software.


If you saved any prm files (repeating jobs that you desire not to re-rip), these are located in C:\Queue and would need to be copied over in order for them to be used again.


If you save spl files, and save them in a different location then your plt files, they will need to be sourced and copied over. There is no “default” location for these; I “think” what comes up the in the save dialog box is the last directory where a spl file was saved.


If you use ArtPath, you may want to copy the artpath.ini and ARTTOOLS.INI files so your current settings and tool database are used. These two files by default are located at C:\GSP\Software.


If you take advantage of the job log, that file is also located at C:\GSP\Software and is titled DesignTime.log


Use spell checker? Add any customized words to it? Bring that file over; C:\GSP\Software\Dicts is the path and the file is titled userdic.tlx


Did you change the various sounds Composer makes? If so, what is the relative path and file name(s)? You would want to copy them over and register them into the new OS.


Take advantage of the inventory feature contained within Color ID? If so, your files end in .inv and are located at C:\GSP\Software\Palettes\inventory


Network settings are stored in the gsp.net file which is located in C:\Queue. Depending on device names and relative paths some entries may need to be edited to reflect “new” additions.


Custom palettes are found at C:\GSP\Programs\Palettes and have a .pal extension. These should be copied to the new machine if you want to use them again (I made palettes for different vinyl manufactures and some paint based ones as well).


There may be a handful of others, however, it’s late and I’m tired and need to get some sleep before heading off to Baltimore in the morning. Good luck on the changer over and hope your new system is stable and productive.

[Bob Gilliland]

:doh: Just read over my reply and thought I shouldn’t make assumptions, soooo…

Your system fonts need to be “installed” into the OS and not just merely copied into the \Font directory. The Gerber directory containing fonts is fine with a copy from “old” to “new”, however, the system, or OS based fonts do need to be “installed” and not just copied. :smile:

[Pat White]

Thanks for all the tips guys! I made the switch and everything worked, with the GSPfonts and Windows fonts anyways. The whole contents of the old pc will be backed up before it's wiped (and verified, lol).

Thanks a million Bob for taking the time to list all of those files, I really appreciate it. I imagine it must've taken some time to check all those-unless you already had a list handy-but regardless... THANK YOU! There are a few of those which I overlooked and will bring over to the new pc in the morning.

I was a little nervous about the switch, considering I needed a smooth transition from old to new with no interruption... and it worked!

Just a side note...all I did was copy/paste both the gsp and windows fonts in their respective folders and it worked....I wonder if it will come back to haunt me one day?
I tested them out and both folders copied properly and all the fonts are useable and smart edit works.

Thanks again to all those who chimed in, you guys/gals are great! I hope someone will find this thread one day down the road and learn something.
Pat

[Bill Modzel]

Wow Bob, I'm sure glad I use MacImprint. A 45 second install takes care of all of that.

[Bob Gilliland]

Call to the bullpen has been made, relief pitcher is on the mound and here is the pitch. . . it’s a fastball right down the middle of the plate; STRIKE! Touché Mr Bill!

Come on Bill, you know us PC guys like working ON the computer and not getting work DONE with the computer. :Big Laugh

Hey, since we are now bringing up that “other” platform, how is everyone enjoying that new Flaming Cheetah, Snow White, Snow Leapord or whatever that OS is called? :notworthy: :tongue:

On a somewhat serious note (can I really do that). . . I have a dream. . . a dream where one day, Adobe and Corel users alike will be able to have some additional tools and features available within that are geared towards sign making and then be able to print and cut directly from within their preferred application all thanks to the efforts of those fine Cubical Clan members at GSP Inc. This “plug-in” or “applet” won’t require you to keep a decade old OS and Illustrator package around to use. Yes, I have a dream and maybe one day that dream will become reality! If we all share in this dream and contact GSP, maybe we can effect “hope & change” and see this dream realized. Can I get an Amen!

[iSign]

:goodpost: Amen!

[signage]

:goodpost: double Amen!

Hello Tony T!