Computer geeks, I need your help!

[AncientChord]

Last month I changed internet providers for a better price and better speeds. A problem immediately started happening with my web browsers. This affects both Google Chrome and Mozilla Firefox. The problem is loading web pages. Sometimes they load instantly, but most of the time the little grey loading symbol at the top left of the browser keeps going round and round, does not turn blue, and one of several error pages pop up like took too long to respond, check proxy and firewall, cannot find dns server, or this computer is off line...check your internet connect. If I keep trying eventually the web page will load, but not always completely and/or will not load the next page on that particular site. I've tried everything. First my new internet service tech. checked everything, and on his end everything is fine. Then I took all computer maintenance steps to see if that would help, including virus and malware scans and it didn't. Everything else is fine, and there is no problem with the internet connection. This is very frustrating. Any suggestions? Thanks!

[Shadow]

[Jerjo]

They say there's nothing wrong with your connection but it's certainly acting like that is the issue. Is there another device that you can access the Internet on, like a laptop or phone or tablet? If those have a problem, then it's your new provider.

[Zeuhlmate]

You can check how fast it is here http://www.speedtest.net/ http://testmy.net/ or at a lot of other free services. Find one close to you.
If your problem occurs only sometimes, lets say in the evening (where everybody else also is online), you might have a shared IP so called dynamic IP, which is cheaper that having your own IP - I dont know if this can reveal it - http://whatismyipaddress.com/

[AncientChord]

I don't have another computer, just my desk top. Currently getting 51.47 mbps download and 5.90 mbps upload. And NO CHANGES with the browser problem! And it doesn't matter what time of day it is. Somewhere there's a clog in the pipes. HELP!

[WHORG]

You may have a bad network card or driver. Does it happen more when the computer is warmed up or hot ???

Are your browsers completely up to date?

Does this issue happen on heavy Flash sites - - - update Flash/Shockwave/Silverlight . . . check all plug-ins in each browser.

Are you using an ad-blocker at all ???

[Shadow]

About a wekk and a half ago I changed from Verizon DSL to Verizon FIOS. Sometimes it would take a whole day to download a show off Dimeadozen, now it takes less than three minutes. If three people are on their respective internet gizmos my computer is still faster than it was before with only me on mine.

[AncientChord]

I believe I fixed it! Checked internet connections and it listed broadband (dial-up) connection, but now my connection is a network cable one. So I deleted that and left the box blank. Now my connection shows network only and it seems that corrected the problem, I hope. Thanks for everyone's advice. Nobody on different forums could get down to the problem either. I guess I'm an official computer geek now!

[Jerjo]

Next time Rand has a problem, you're It.

[JKL2000]

Let the porn commence!

Just kidding!

[Jerjo]

Warning, absolutely not safe for work. But fucking hilarious.

[JKL2000]

Calling the geeks!

I got a new laptop (Windows 11) and I’d like to easily copy all of the files from a few directories on my old laptop (Windows 10) to the new one.

What’s the best way to do that? What tool(s), and over Wi-Fi, Blu-Tooth, direct wired connection, etc?

TIA!

(Seems like a great time to buy a laptop! I got a very good ((not great)) new Dell laptop for $500, and JUST missed a sale for one that would have been fine for me for just $265!)

[markwoll]

A thumb drive would be the easiest, then in theory you would have a backup too.

[Dave (in MA)]

I usually get both machines on the network and then use the xcopy /s /e /h /k /r command in a command window, but I'm old.

[markwoll]

I started typing out a detailed instruction for sharing the drive and copying over the network, but there are a number of variables that make it less than intuitive. Unless you do that sort of thing a lot.

[Dave (in MA)]

I started typing out a detailed instruction for sharing the drive and copying over the network, but there are a number of variables that make it less than intuitive. Unless you do that sort of thing a lot.

Yeah, Windows can be a b*tch that way. Sometimes, with no notice, it automatically changes settings that make one or more of my network shares unreachable and it takes a lot of less than intuitive monkeying around to get things working again.

[clivey]

Calling the geeks!

I got a new laptop (Windows 11) and I’d like to easily copy all of the files from a few directories on my old laptop (Windows 10) to the new one.

What’s the best way to do that? What tool(s), and over Wi-Fi, Blu-Tooth, direct wired connection, etc?

TIA!

(Seems like a great time to buy a laptop! I got a very good ((not great)) new Dell laptop for $500, and JUST missed a sale for one that would have been fine for me for just $265!)

If you already use Gmail then you would be as well using Google Drive which is accessed from the Google folder in chrome or Google on a search engine
If you use Hotmail ie outlook. I believe there will be an equivalent or " box".
Google Drive is kinda free and is a useful tool for doing what you are suggesting. I assume you are on unlimited internet data. If not. Stick to the physical transfer devices .

[Jerjo]

Thumb drives get my vote. I transfer files from my PC to my laptop often and a thumb drive does the trick.

[Rarebird]

Thumb drives get my vote. I transfer files from my PC to my laptop often and a thumb drive does the trick.

My vote as well.

[progmatist]

I usually get both machines on the network and then use the xcopy /s /e /h /k /r command in a command window, but I'm old.

You want to be selective though. You don't want to copy all the bloat from the Program Files, Program Files (x86), or Windows directories. The following would work better:

robocopy c:\users x:\users *.* /s /r:0

Copy the above script, and paste it into a text file. Then save that file as "anything.bat". It becomes an executable file which can be run by double clicking. Replace the "x" in "x:" with the drive letter of either your thumb drive, or mapped network drive. The "/r:0" will save much headache. If the copy process generates errors due encountering protected system files, it won't go into endless retry loops. If a thumb drive is used, simply reverse the process on your new machine by reversing the "c:\users" and "x:\users". Changing the "x" to whatever the new drive letter of the thumb drive becomes. It will then do the same thing from the thumb drive to your new C drive.

Mind you: the above script will only copy your documents, music, bookmarks, videos, et cetera. In the default location for all those things. If you have data saved in a custom folder, modify the "users" in "c:\users" with the name of your custom folder. If any folder contains white/blank spaces, you'll need to enclose it in quotes. In other words, leave the quotes exactly as I typed around "c:\your custom folder"

Edit: if you have many custom folders, the below would be all inclusive, with none of the bloat...

robocopy c:\ x:\ *.* /s /xd Windows ProgramData "Program Files" "Programs Files (x86)" /r:0

The "xd" is exclude directory, which will skip the folders you don't want to copy. Going from the USB drive to the new c drive, use the following...

robocoy x:\ c:\ *.* /s /r:0

[Dave (in MA)]

You want to be selective though. You don't want to copy all the bloat from the Program Files, Program Files (x86), or Windows directories.

Well, he did specify "a few directories". And since he said "directories" and not "folders", he's old, too.

I used to like to point out that they're not "folders", they're "directories", telling people to open a CMD window and type "dir" and see what happens, and then type "fol" and see what happens.

The following would work better:
robocopy c:\users x:\users *.* /s /r:0

Yeah, well, that command came out in something like 1996, so it's too recent for me.

[JKL2000]

Thanks everyone. I might give One Drive a try, but if that seems too newfangled I’ll go with a thumb drive and the sneakernet.

[Rarebird]

At my computer something weird has happened. Folders in My computer are no longer connected to the folders on the D-drive (which is were the files are), but on my external harddisk, I use to make back-ups and which is only connected with my computer, when I make back-ups.

[progmatist]

Thanks everyone. I might give One Drive a try, but if that seems too newfangled I’ll go with a thumb drive and the sneakernet.

The bottleneck with One Drive is going to be slow internet speed. Even with a fast download connection, your uploads are going to be slow.

Well, he did specify "a few directories". And since he said "directories" and not "folders", he's old, too.

I used to like to point out that they're not "folders", they're "directories", telling people to open a CMD window and type "dir" and see what happens, and then type "fol" and see what happens.

Yeah, well, that command came out in something like 1996, so it's too recent for me.

As a Linux guy, I/we still call them "directories." "Folder" is a Microsoft branded term.

[Dave (in MA)]

As a Linux guy, I/we still call them "directories."

For the old commands, sure, but if you right click in a file manager window, you get New Folder or Create Folder, depending on which brand of file manager you're using.

"Folder" is a Microsoft branded term.

Nah, as with a lot of things, they just followed along with what Apple was pushing.