Yikes!

The sessions were very lightly attended.

The setup was 4 different computers of differing ages and architectures each running a different distribution of Linux.

Two different checklist versions (short and long) were printed for handouts to walk through how and what to backup to transition between your machine and one of these similar desktops. These checklists are in the workshop files.

I created sign-in pages, bought display signs, vehicle magnet signs, a box of pencils and a new stapler!

I was prepared for 50 total attendees over the initial 8 defined sessions. 2 each day, Monday and Thursday for two weeks. After the first week it was adjusted to one each evening of the two days.

Yesterday

Click here ->for September 2025 Evening Sessions

Click here ->for September 2025 Troy Michigan Seminar Dates!

Click here ->for September 2025 Troy Michigan Flyer. Click here ->for September 2025 Troy Michigan Workshop Quick Timeline

Tomorrow

People I spoke to primarily had issues with too many cloud accounts with too many duplicate pictures or backups.

Few understood the usage mechanics around using cloud storage services. Most have just let it work as it does. Many had complaints and cheers for different features.

Some appreciated the breadth of information for different USB versions and speeds (how long backups will take).

Another primary pain was the different video connections. The older computers do not have HDMI, neither do the monitors. So buying one means buying both.

Todays Recommendations

They are working to make passwords go away using other identifying means. This is good and bad. Its good for simplicity. Its bad when bad people do the wrong things.

  1. Get a new computer and monitor if you can
    1. Patience is your enemy (speed=cost)
    2. Your TV might already be a monitor (does it have HDMI?)
    3. Wireless keyboards and wireless mouse are easy and inexpensive
    4. You only need the storage you need; TB is not always necessary
    5. Use a quality external drive as a big storage or backup
  2. Make a list of your online accounts and manage it
    1. An address book with pencil, a password manager, a protected spreadsheet
  3. Make a list of the files/programs you REALLY use…
    1. Another list, they might all be online apps your subscribe to, you have to consider that differently as that is the new norm
  4. Make a backup of what/where ever your at now (both local and online files if you can, here you may be looking to figure out which and how many online providers/clouds you want to pay)
  5. It will take time. Storage is cheap. Old hardware is slow.
  6. Now do your cleanup on your old machine, second thoughts happen, thats where recycle bin came from…
  7. Create a folder named ‘private’ you know what you want in there…
  8. Create a folder named ‘yearNumber-monthNumber-dayNumberBackup’
    1. Depending on your available space, you can ‘cut’ and ‘paste’ or ‘copy’ to the folder. ‘copy’ is safer. ‘cut’ makes sense to private.
    2. 20251014Backup will get Documents, Pictures, Videos, Music?
    3. Suggest different USB sticks for Pictures/Videos/Music
  9. Now get a/some USB drives and copy these two folders onto a capable USB sticks
  10. These are safe steps attempts. It has happened where something goes wrong and a sensitive file is lost. Different folks will have different confidences for these tasks. Insufficient storage, the cat, the power, kicked the thing too hard…can make the file move fail.
  11. Alternately compress or “zip” folders in the BACKUP folder before copying them to USB. This will take time to zip but less time to copy. You also do not want to zip the original files unless your sure.
  12. Now turn on the new computer and dump the files there
  13. Now you can delete or reset the old PC confidently

Again?

I haven’t (?Yet) published the workshop material. I can show you how to exclude and encrypt it in a website though!

I have the materials and am happy to come to your community meeting or group to share the knowledge. Reach out in the contact link below!

If you want in-person coaching, I can do that too! It typically take 2-4 hours to work through the backups and potentially switching your machine. This is drill sargant moving files for backup then showing you linux boot on you machine. It can take two sessions if you have alot of files or alot of cloud-synchronizing to do. My contact page has a schedule 15m phone call (24 notice) or give a call. Reach out in the contact link below!

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