Saturday, May 3, 2014

How to Copy Files From an Old Laptop and Delete Duplicate Photos+ Dealing With a Deluge of Smartphone Photos and CDs


THE FIXER

How to Copy Files From an Old Laptop and Delete Duplicate Photos

Tools and adapters for reading a notebook computer's hard drive, and apps that search for (and destroy) duplicate files

May 2, 2014 2:19 p.m. ET
Q: While decluttering my closet, I came across a stash of old notebook computers that I'd like to get rid of but whose files I'd like to copy first. Sadly, I don't have the power cords anymore. What should I do?
Kiersten Essenpreis
A: You can usually find chargers for old laptops on eBayEBAY +0.62% But if you have a lot of machines to go through, it might be easier to remove the laptops' hard drives and connect them to your existing computer via USB.
The approach requires you to unscrew your laptop case (you'll need a small screwdriver), but don't be intimidated. For many computers, the process isn't difficult, and once you get the hang of it, you can help friends and family in the same predicament.
This is also worth trying with an old laptop that won't start up; as long as its hard drive isn't broken, you'll be able to copy the files. Here's what to do:
Remove your laptop's hard drive. This is usually as simple as unfastening a few screws and sliding the drive out (it's a thin metal box), but the exact steps vary for each model. A quick Web search will most likely turn up detailed instructions that a friendly techie has posted online (bless their hearts!). Note that some laptops, like first-gen MacBook Pros,are harder to get into than others, and may require a special screwdriver. If the steps look scary, ask a neighborhood tween for help.
Connect the old drive to your existing computer. I use a dock called the Thermaltake BlacX for this. Plug it into your computer's USB port, then pop an old laptop drive into the dock to read and copy the files.
The only hitch is that the dock might not be compatible with some older laptop drives (those made before 2007 or so). If you have ancient computers, the Sabrent USB-DSC9 cable should do the trick (and, like the dock, it works with PCs and Macs). This handy adapter connects to both older and current drives, and it takes up less space than the BlacX dock. Here's hoping your old journals aren't too embarrassing to revisit.
Q: I somehow have thousands of duplicate photos on my Mac. Please tell me there's a way to get rid of them besides deleting them one by one. I don't have enough years left for that.
Kiersten Essenpreis

—Looking for a tech solution to a lifestyle problem? Email us:thefixer@wsj.com

Dealing With a Deluge of Smartphone Photos and CDs

A simple way to archive digital photos and videos on your smartphone; a trick for squeezing more photos on a maxed-out iPhone; and the best way to store CDs

Updated March 21, 2014 10:29 a.m. ET
Learn how to trick your iPhone into taking more pictures even if it says you are out of storage space. Michael Hsu reports.
Q: My smartphone is overrun with photos and videos. I'm constantly running out of space. What can I do?
A: Like a closet or storage area, a smartphone needs to be decluttered periodically. Digital photos and videos must be archived and deleted.
Illustration by Kiersten Essenpreis for The Wall Street Journal
You can set your phone to automatically upload your pics to services like iCloud, Google+ and Flicker. But I've gone retro and have also started manually copying my photos and videos to a hard drive. Besides giving me a chance to delete any duds that I come across, I also find it more reassuring than letting that the process happen in the background.
Seagate's Wireless Plus hard drive can streamline this step. It lets you copy over photos and videos from Android and iOS devices via Wi-Fi—no computer or cables required.
Like any wireless device, the drive is not without its quirks (sometimes the required app hangs, and Wi-Fi isn't as fast as a cable). But I like that the drive is so easy for others to connect to. It's a simple way to corral pics from every family member's smartphone onto one drive.
Of course, deleting files from your phone is just as important. Here's a trick to make sure you don't accidentally delete an image before you've archived it. Each time you transfer photos, open a note-taking app on your phone, type "COPIED," then take a screenshot. The screenshot will get saved along with the rest of your photos; any that appear before the screenshot can be deleted.
Q: My iPhone is telling me there isn't enough room to take any more photos. But Justin Timberlake just walked by, and I need a pic!
A: Fear not! Here's how to squeeze a few more photos onto a supposedly full iPhone: Instead of using the Camera app, start a new text message and snap a photo from there. The image you take will get saved to your Camera Roll—even if your phone is supposedly full. Crisis averted!
Illustration by Kiersten Essenpreis for The Wall Street Journal
Q: Can you suggest an elegant way to store CDs? We're on Spotify all the time, but we have an extensive collection of classical discs that we're not ready to let go of.
A: If you're a classical music fan, I would steer clear of any shelving or storage container that's specifically sized for CDs. Chances are, you have at least a handful of odd-shape releases that won't fit: operas boxed with a libretto, for example, or those exquisitely designed albums from ECM, which come clad in sleeves too beautiful to discard but that make the album a smidge bigger than standard CD jewel cases.
The most flexible solution is simply to line CDs along a narrow shelf, keeping them in place with small bookends, such as those from the Japanese brand Muji. The nondescript, putty-colored Ls—which go by the name "Steel Divider Board S" on Muji's website—measure 4 inches tall by 3 inches wide, making them perfect for CDs, DVDs and videogames. When tucked underneath the cases, they all but disappear. And they cost just $2.50 each.
A: There are several programs that scan your Mac for duplicate files. They'll even find identical photos, music files and documents that have different names—like a photo from your kid's birthday called "IMG_0049.JPG" in one folder and "smooshcake.jpg" in another.
I use a program called "Gemini," which costs $10, but I found similar apps that are currently on sale. For example, "The Duplicate Finder" is $3 until May 10, and "Duplicate Detective" is the same price until July 1. All are available in the Mac App Store.

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