Decluttering my Computer !!!

booker81 · **Decluttering my Computer !!!**

Well, I finally got the "key" for my computer, and we will be doing a full overhaul, reinstalling XP and everything....so I need to find the programs I need to reinstall, and backup files.

After an hour, I've found all my pictures and got them in one file....all 1250 of them! There is no organization, no good "names" on most of them, just pictures, pictures, pictures.

This is on top of the 500-1000 pictures I have uploaded to my website (I have a small business account through yahoo, and lots of storage)...all those need to be organized too.

And then not to mention the BOXES of photos I have that I've wanted to scan and organize - on the computer and in some sort of photo album. I easily have thousands of pictures.

I didn't quite realize I was addicted to photos and photography!!! AHHHH!

This is going to take a loooooooooong time. Any tips anyone?

flybygrace · 12-09-2007, 07:14 AM

Declutter it first before trying to organize it. Don't do it all at the same time. Get rid of what you don't want/need first. Then organize what you're keeping. That's one of the reasons why those organizing shows are so successful (and the top tip they give on DIY). After that, I would label all of your photos you have have on the computer, then back them up. Then move on to all your website photos and back those up. Save the scanning of the boxes of photos for LAST - they aren't at risk for disappearing or getting lost in a virtual black hole. The issue I have is that I can never remember what photos I've backed up on cd and what ones I haven't. When I do this on my computer, I'm going to make a "New Photos" folder and a "Old Photos" folder. Upload new pictures in the New Photo folder, back those up and drag them to the "Old Photo" folder and the cycle continues. Also, try really hard to take two minutes when you're uploading your pictures from camera to computer to label each of them - even if it's just the date and a word about where it was taken. ie: "countyfair120807" (12/8/07) if there's more than one, just tack on an "a", "b", etc on the end. Later you could go back and rename if you want, but at least it has the date (so you know how old everyone was) and where it was. I have so many photos of DS when he was a baby that I have no clue how old he was - I'd have to take a random guess - so I'm stuck on what to name the photos.. They remain Photo 017 and Photo 738 to this day. Good luck!

booker81 · 12-10-2007, 04:51 AM

Well, after 12 HOURS of fun, I'm now with a new XP, clean computer, and backed up files...and you bet I'm going to try to keep it this way!

This week's goal will be the webspace - which means I'm going to be making a lot of bad links. I have 5000MB (so that what, 5GB? I can't remember) of space there, and would like to use that as a sort of secondary, easy access backup. That means more orgnaizing, then backing up all the pictures.

It sure is nice having a smooth running machine, and knowing I can now find all my pictures in one area! Yay!