This is the first entry in what could be an overwhelming journey. Maybe you've had the same experience. YOU'RE DROWNING IN DIGITAL PHOTOS!!!
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We've all been there. You've purchased a new computer, but knowing there are lots of files on the old computer that need to move to the new computer, you don't immediately tackle all of it. Thus my story begins when our very first computer purchased in 1990 sat on a desk in the basement after we replaced it in 1999. Don't get me wrong. I was pretty sure that I had moved all the photos from the old PC to the new one. But I wanted to make double sure - now that it's 2012, and this PC groans more than I do when it wakes up. I was sure that PC death was eminent for this device.
So naturally, I thought it would be as simple as plugging in the portable external hard drive and just moving the My Picture folders to the EHD and then to the new computer. NOT SO!! Guess what? Yep. The USB port on the back of the old PC was NOT the same size. The only other option was 3.5" floppy discs - my kid didn't even know what one of those was when I showed it to him. NEWS FLASH - TECHNOLOGY CHANGES RAPIDLY!!!
Now keep in mind that the photos on the old PC were mostly taken on film for which I had also gotten a CD with the photos so that I could store a backup on the computer too. Who knows where the CDs went once the photos were on the computer. And negatives? No way was I going to retrieve all the photos from those. Even I still have them all filed in box. Somewhere. Maybe you just buy more and more memory cards and never take your photos off the old ones. WILL YOU BE ABLE TO GET THE PHOTOS OFF MEMORY CARDS in the future?
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So my sweet husband removed the hard drive from the old PC and took it to the office with him. A guy there had a device to get the data off the old hard drive and onto an EHD that I could use to move the photos onto the newer PC. In case you've lost track of time, the "new" PC was purchased in 1999. Now in 2012, IT sounds as if it could come to a grinding halt every time it's started. So the journey to get ALL my digital photos organized once and for all begins.
So the good news in all of this is that Panstoria has made yet more improvements to our photo organization & editing software, Historian. Now the software has facial recognition & more. So I pledge to spend at least 15 minutes each day tagging & sorting my photos while watching mind numbing TV, so that I can easily retrieve, enjoy and share my photos with others. Historian will even search your PC or pull in photos from online accounts like Facebook. You can purchase and download Historian by clicking the image in my sidebar.
So I hope you'll check back from time to time to see how this project is going & perhaps be inspired to finally tackle your own PHOTO OVERLOAD. I'm here to help you each step of the way. The first step is the hardest. But just imagine how great it would feel to know that all of your photos, videos & even audio files are organized, and safely backed up. Because we all know that with a hard drive crash, it's not IF it will crash, but WHEN. Make the time to take care of your digital photos. Because we all know that we will never "find" time. We have to "make" time for the people & things that are most important to us. And you know what, you'll be surprised at the power of looking at old photos. Especially with your kids or grandkids. Let the photo rescue & storytelling begin. See you back here soon!
