What to do before changing your computer?

That's already a good start. Thank you for your help.

Good evening,

For your old PC, if you're getting rid of it, you'll need to do a thorough cleanup, such as formatting the disk and reinstalling Windows to erase all traces of your personal data.

Before doing all this, proceed step by step, clearing your personal data.

If there's a pre-installed Windows Vista on the PC, burn a copy to DVD...

If you have the installation DVD, no worries, just insert it, format several times, and reinstall Windows.

@+ Kacaouet

You have to sow the seed of ignorance to reap the fruits of knowledge!

Good evening,
Thank you for everything.
I’ve looked thoroughly and I don’t think I’ve forgotten anything, and of course, I’ll keep my old PC for a while longer.
Thanks again!
I’ll keep you updated on what happens next...

Hello,
Here I am back... and without any issues; thanks to your advice!!! Thank you again.
That said, I have one more question.
I use Money to manage my (personal) accounts, and I don't connect to the Internet.
I made a copy of my current folder and kept the Microsoft Works Suite 2004 DVD, which includes Money 2004.
Is it better for me to find another software than Money (free... if it exists!) or to reinstall the version of Money I have on DVD?
Moreover, I do not want to reinstall 4 of the 5 other software (Encarta, Autoroute, Works, and Photo Premium) that are on the DVD. Is that possible?
Thank you in advance for your responses.

"How to keep my contacts and folders in my Thunderbird email? "
If you want to retrieve everything for "Firefox" and "Thunderbird", set aside the contents of these two directories:

- "C:\Users\"your username"\AppData\Roaming\Mozilla\Firefox\Profiles"
- "C:\Users\"your username"\AppData\Roaming\Thunderbird\Profiles"

"Which programs should I keep for reinstallation?"
You should have the installation programs for the software you wish to reinstall (on CD or files on your external hard drive).

Good evening,

For Thunderbird, just go to Address / click on the folder referenced by you (one by one if several) / Tools / export / choose where you want to send it / LDIF document click on import during the next reinstallation.

See you soon, kacaouet

You have to sow the seed of ignorance to reap the fruits of knowledge!

Good evening,
You can also save the internet links from your browser; they all have a save or export function.
Still in the browser, save the certificates (taxes and others) and the passwords (generally by hand).
For programs, you will need to reinstall them; executables don’t get exported (but their configuration files sometimes do), especially if you are switching from 32 to 64 bits.
Avira works, I don't know about ZA.
The best thing is to keep the old PC for a while to see what’s missing gradually.