Preparing for New Computers

Congratulations!  Your new MacBook is on its way!  

These should be ready for you to pick up by April 6 (and no this is no April Fools joke!).  However before you can pick up your new laptop you need to prepare to give up the old one.  Please be aware that you will probably never see that computer again, it may be wiped or handed to someone else in its future life. Please complete the following before turning in your laptop:

1. Backup all files.  The district provides you with Google Drive for this purpose.  You can upload all of your files here if you like.  You can upload using Drive.Google.com or if you have installed Google Drive on your computer you can drag all of your files into this folder.  Any questions about backing up, your MRS is happy to help. 
   BEWARE:  Please double and triple check to make sure that ALL files upload.  This can be very time consuming if you have a lot of files, or large files, or both.  Anytime you close the computer, or it loses connection, this may cause files to not sync properly.  Before you delete anything or turn in the computer it is suggested that you double check that you can see and access each file using a DIFFERENT computer and visiting your Google Drive (drive.google.com).   
   How to make sure it is synced:  This is the most important part of using Google Drive.  Just because you dragged your files to the Google Drive does not mean that they are backed up.  Look at the VERY top right on your computer screen.  Do you see Google Drive’s triangle icon?  Pull that down.  Does it say Sync complete or return an error?  If there is an error you need to make sure that you are signed in correctly and all files sync with the web.  I suggest visiting Drive.Google.com, can you see the files online?  If not something is not right. Video Directions:  http://youtu.be/gj-TGlPntrY  
                                        If you would like to delete your files from the Google Drive folder in your Finder, please first watch this                                        video and head its warnings!  http://youtu.be/JrTzRk5fE3k  
   
   Note:  You may also backup your files to external hard drives, usb drives, other services like Dropbox, however these are not district provided (or funded).  
   
   
2. Backup all other files, settings and misc.  items:
   Outlook:  If you have any personalized settings in Outlook (groups, etc.) or addresses in your address book you may want to create a backup of your Outlook and move this to your Google Drive (or the special external drive or service you have selected to use to backup ALL of your files).  Directions on how to do this(select the first option “Backup using Export Feature”):  http://recover-email.blogspot.com/2012/10/how-to-back-up-outlook-2011-for-mac.html
   
   iPhoto:  Many of us have priceless images that we do not want to lose, all stored in iPhoto.  Make sure that you back up your photos!  These are irreplaceable and I would not want you to lose them.  Directions:  http://appleinsider.com/articles/15/01/25/how-to-safely-move-your-macs-iphoto-library-onto-an-external-drive   DRAG TO YOUR GOOGLE DRIVE (or the special external drive or service you have selected to use to backup ALL of your files).  
   
   Bookmarks:  Have you saved your favorite sites to Chrome, Safari or Firefox?  If so you may want to back this application up and DRAG TO YOUR GOOGLE DRIVE (or the special external drive or service you have selected to use to backup ALL of your files).   If you have been using Chrome and you are signed in, your bookmarks and settings will automatically sync with your new computer.  However if you have been using Chrome without signing in, or Safari or Firefox:  please use these directions:
   Chrome: http://askthecomputerlady.com/questions/2012/01/how-to-backup-chrome-bookmarks/
   Safari: http://macs.about.com/od/usingyourmac/qt/safari-bookmarks-backup.htm
   Firefox: https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/questions/1022134 or http://smallbusiness.chron.com/transferring-firefox-bookmarks-new-mac-using-external-hard-drive-35878.html
   
   ALL of your files??  Are you sure?  If you open the finder (the two faced box at the bottom left on your dock) do you see all of the folders?  Have you backed these ALL up?   Are you sure?  Do you see Pictures, Music and Movies on that list?  If not you may want to Click on the Finder menu --> Preferences and then make sure that all of the folders are checked under Favorites.  Close that and go back, backup any missed files to GOOGLE DRIVE (or the special external drive or service you have selected to use to backup ALL of your files).
   
   
3. Make sure you know your passwords!   Do you have all of your passwords just automatically saved on your old computer?  Are you about to turn in that computer?    If this is true for you……you may want to take some time to make sure you KNOW each of these for your NEW COMPUTER  :-)  Here are a few hints to help: 
   
   Saved passwords in Chrome:
   
   1. Click the Chrome menu  on the browser toolbar.
   2. Select Settings.
   3. Click Show advanced settings.
   4. Click Manage saved passwords.
   5. This will show you each website that you have told Chrome to save your passwords to, your username but only how many characters are in your password…..but it is a start.
      
      
   Saved passwords in Safari:
   1. Open Safari
   2.   On the top Safari Menu click on Preferences
   3. Click on Passwords (icon KEY)
   4. Find the list websites and passwords, hidden by asterisk, that are saved by the system.
   5. Highlight the website you want the password for and check box below Show passwords for selected websites. It will ask for your computer's main password. 
   
   
4. Please deauthorize iTunes.  You may have authorized that computer to use iTunes or turned on “Find my Mac”.............but you do not want to continue to keep track of that exact computer any longer and it should be deauthorized.
   

• Open iTunes
  
• Click on STORE (top menu bar)
  
• Select Deauthorize this computer
  
• Click on STORE again
  
• Select Sign Out
  

At time of turn in you will be asked to check AGAIN to ensure that all files are backed up, iTunes is cleared.  When you are ready you may click on Logout and hand that computer to the MRS.