I need advice on backing up document files on an old Dell XPS 400 that is about to crash.?

Question

Please forgive the long question since I tend to be wordy, but need to explain the facts.

I currently have a Dell XPS 400 desktop that is about ready to crash. I also have Mozilla, which I understand is not any good. As it stands now, can be on the computer for 5 minutes or an hour or 2 and then gets locked up, so have to shut if off.

I have no computer knowledge other than basic Google search, e-mail etc. I don’t know how to download or save my files to a thumb drive or a DVD/CD RW disk? I found both in our house, since my (late) husband was somewhat of a computer geek himself, till he got dementia and then did not know how to do anything, or even know where he was or who he was prior to his death.

So hopefully this week will be buying another computer desktop (before) my current crashes for good. Now after doing some research, a lot of them talk about backing up the entire computer/programs, but (if) I get another computer, would I actually need this?

My concern is to save all of my word and excel files that I have updated over the last 20 years, especially for taxes, financial etc. We only had (maybe) 100 photos saved to our word files or under pictures or anything else. In other words, like I said am a complete computer stupid.

Answer 1

If you are paying someone to setup the new computer, this should also include transferring your data from the old one as well. If not then ask them and pay a little extra.

If you are not tech savvy you would struggle

Answer 2

"no computer knowledge." You need to get someone with knowledge to do it for you.

Answer 3

Copy all your files to an external Hard Drive.

Answer 4

Get a One Terabyte External Hard Drive. They are plenty cheap these days.

Copy all your data files to it,

In fact save all your data to it. Then you can move it to any computer.