Question: Changing your Mac's default web browser

?

I get a lot of questions every day and here is a one from today...

• Question: How can I make Firefox the default browser on my Mac when opening links from my email program and others?
  
  
• Answer: You can set Firefox as your default browser by running Safari (I know it sounds weird), then...

1. Select Safari Menu, Preferences...
   
2. Select the General Icon
   
3. Click on Default Web Browser pop-up menu
   
4. Select Firefox
   
5. Close the Preferences window
   
6. Quite Safari

From now on, clicking a link in your email or other program will use Firefox instead of Safari as the default browser.

Question: How do I set up a Wordpress blog with a static page as the home page?

I get a lot of questions every day and here is a one from today...

• Q: How do I set up a Wordpress or Wordpress.com blog to use a static page as the opening screen instead of a list of blog posts?



• A: I first turned to the Wordpress Codex to give me some guidance on this. You can read more in this here - Creating a static front page.
  
  Basically, you create the Wordpress Page you would like to act as the front page for the site. Put your home page content here. Then, create another page and name it Blog, Posts, or whatever else makes sense to you. You need not add anything to this page, as it is only a placeholder to contain the usual posts you would see in a more typical Wordpress blog.
  
  Next, from the Wordpress Dashboard, select Settings, Reading. Under the first option on that page (Front page displays) select the radio button next to "A static page". Then in the popup menus immediately below that, under Front Page, select the page you created to act as the new front page. Under the Posts page, select the second page you created named Blog, Posts, etc. Scroll to the bottom of the page and click the blue "Save Changes" button.
  
  Now when people visit your blog, they will see the static page you defined. You will need to include a link to the Posts page in the sidebar or header in order to allow people to access your blog posts.
  

Do you have a question? Why not drop me a line? Use the Comments link above, send email to me@douglasewelch.com or call the voice mail line at 818-804-5049

Comic: Download Time

What can I say? It has been a problem since the very beginning! (LAUGH)

Non Sequitur for Wednesday, August 04, 2010: "

"

Question: Why am I not seeing email from my college email account?

I get a lot of questions every day and here is a one from today...

• Q: My wife is an adjunct professor at several colleges. Since each has their own email address we either forward her mail from that account or use GMail to pull in email from those accounts. Suddenly, she isn't seeing any email from a particular account. Why is that?
  
  
• A: I walked through this problem with my wife and discovered that the mail wasn't being forwarded from this particular account, rather it was being "pulled in" using GMail's Accounts feature that allows it so access POP mail account and merge the messages with her Gmail inbox.
  
  The solution ended up being a password update in the Gmail settings. This particular college requires a password change each June. Sure enough, this is exactly when mail stopped flowing. She had not updated GMail with the new password, so it could not access those messages.
  
  To help prevent this from occurring in the future, we have added a reminder to her calendar to not only change the college email password, but also to change this password in her GMail setting so mail will continue flowing.
  
  Do you have a password that effects more than one service? Make notes for yourself so you don't break linkages when you change that password.

Do you have a question? Why not drop me a line? Use the Comments link above, send email to me@douglasewelch.com or call the voice mail line at 818-804-5049

Question: Alternating between 2 computers using a DSL modem

I get a lot of questions every day and here is a one from today...

• Q: I sometimes switch between my desktop PC and my laptop using my DSL modem. When I connect a different computer directly to my DSL modem, it can't seem to access the Internet. Why is that?
  
  
• A: Since DSL modems talk directly to your computer, unlike a router which is designed to share a DSL connection, you need to reset the modem each time you connect it to a new computer. This allows the modem to set itself up properly and assign an appropriate IP address to the new computer. You can reset the DSL modem by removing the power for a few seconds and then plugging it back in. If the DSL modem has a power switch, you can toggle that, as well, to reset the modem.
  

Do you have a question? Why not drop me a line? Use the Comments link above, send email to me@douglasewelch.com or call the voice mail line at 818-804-5049

Linksys Router Users: Change Your Password

It doesn't require that you panic over anything, but the Linksys exploit below could potentially effect your router if it still has the default password set to admin.

Again, this ONLY effects certain Linksys/Cisco routers with default password. You can disregard this email if you have a 2WIRE/DLink/other router.

Typically, when I set up a router, this is one item I change, but sometimes over the course of the years, it gets reset back to its default settings.

If you have a Linksys router, like the one above (or one of the slimline black units) let's connect up and make sure password has been changed.

You can test this yourself by opening your web browser (Internet Explorer, Safari, Firefox) and performing the following:

1. In the address bar at the top of the screen, where you would normally type something like http://cnn.com,

type 192.168.1.1 (RETURN)  (meaning hit the return or enter key)

2. You should see a box asking you to log in

3. Leave the username field blank and type admin as the password

4. Click Ok

5. If you see the Linksys Setup screen, then your router is still configured with the default password and should be changed

6. If you are refused login, then this means the default password has been changed and you should be OK

Contact your computer support person for assistance in resetting this password, if needed. they should be able to do it remotely, if needed.

Again, no need to panic, but this is a great reminder to check your settings every so often.

Researcher will enable hackers to take over millions of home routers

from engadget.com by Sean Hollister

100+ people liked this

Cisco and company, you've got approximately seven days before a security researcher rains down exploits on your web-based home router parade. Seismic's Craig Heffner claims he's got a tool that can hack "millions" of gateways using a new spin on the age-old DNS rebinding vulnerability, and plans to release it into the wild at the Black Hat 2010 conference next week. He's already tested his hack on thirty different models, of which more than half were vulnerable, including two versions of the ubiquitous Linksys WRT54G (pictured above) and devices running certain DD-WRT and OpenWRT Linux-based firmware. To combat the hack, the usual precautions apply -- for the love of Mitnick, change your default password! -- but Heffner believes the only real fix will come by prodding manufacturers into action. See a list of easily compromised routers at the more coverage link.

Researcher will enable hackers to take over millions of home routers originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 21 Jul 2010 06:33:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink Forbes, Ars Technica  |  Black Hat 2010  | Email this | Comments

Questions I answered recently...Moving Wordpress posts between blogs

I get a lot of questions every day and here is a selection from the last few days...

• Q: How do I move posts from one Wordpress blog to another?
  
• A: Under the Tools menu in your Wordpress dashboard are Import and Export commands that let you push content out of one blog and then pull it into another.
  

Do you have a question? Why not drop me a line? Use the Comments link above, send email to me@douglasewelch.com or call the voice mail line at 818-804-5049

Questions I answered recently...June 20, 2010

I get a lot of questions every day and here is a selection from the last few days...

• Q: Windows 7 user receives error "Warning! The registry settings used by the iTunes drivers for importing and burning CDs and DVDs are missing. This can happen as a result of installing other CD burning software. Please reinstall iTunes."
  
• A: This Apple Tech Note lays out the procedure to resolve the issue - iTunes for Windows Vista or Windows 7: Troubleshooting CD issues caused by device filters
  
  

Do you have a question? Why not drop me a line? Use the Comments link above, send email to me@douglasewelch.com or call the voice mail line at 818-804-5049

App: Looking to save money on your driving? - Drivegain

This iPhone app monitors your driving and then gives you feedback on how to drive in ways that increase your fuel economy. I remember "Economy" meters in cars back in the 1970's that we basically ignored, but maybe this will be a little more useful.

DriveGain Wants To Help iPhone Owners Drive More Efficiently
from TechCrunch by Steve O'Hear

DriveGain, a new startup that opens its doors today, aims to help users learn to drive more efficiently and, in doing so, save on their fuel consumption. It's founded by Simon East, an ex-Psion exec and former VP, Technology of Symbian who subsequently founded Cognima (ShoZu), and Dr. Phil Dixon, who has a background in racing car simulations and was a recent Vehicle Performance Engineer with the Renault Formula 1 team. DriveGain's first offering is an iPhone app of the same name that, unlike the plethora of sat-nav apps available for Apple's smartphone, doesn't bark out turn-by-turn directions but gives a range of visual and audio feedback on what changes are required by the driver to burn less fuel.

Cool Project: North Finding Skirt from Maker Faire 2010

What a great idea, and what a great basis for a number of other projects.

North-Finding LED Skirt - CRAFT Video from make magazine on Vimeo.

Get your Netflix (and more) instantly to your TV in a number of ways

It seems many of my friends are huge fans of the Netflix movie service. A while ago, Netflix started offer and “instant play” option which allowed you to watch movies on your computer without waiting for the DVD to arrive.

While watching on your computer is ok, most people would like to get the movie up on their big screen TVs. I have been recommending and advising people on how to plug their laptop into their televisions, but for many there are simply too many technological hurdles. Now, though, if you own any number of other devices from a Tivo DVR to a Nintendo Wii, you really don’t have an excuse anymore. Netflix can use these devices already connected to your television to put your movies back where they belong – on your (big screen) TV!

I knew that Netflix supported a wide variety of systems, but it was only when a friend brought over his recently released software for the Wii that is was brought home to me. I have a Wii connected to an older 40” projection HD Monitor. Since the Wii is already in place, all it took was loading the Netflix software CD into the Wii and verifying the Netflix account to get us started. Within minutes we were browsing his Netflix collection using out Wii remote.

While the Netflix software for the Nintendo Wii doesn’t support full HD, the picture and sound was excellent. I am using the component cable to connect my Wii to the television, so that gives you the best picture possible. This might be an excuse to upgrade your Wii connection cables if you are currently using the composite connectors. Don’t let this stop you, though. The Netflix software is free and if you are a current member, you might have already received it in the mail.

(Netflix supports a wide variety of other devices beyond the Ninendo Wii. See a complete list at this page – “TV episodes & movies — instantly to your TV” – on the Netflix site.)

There are other ways of connection your computer to your television. Most HD televisions now include HDMI and VGA connections which allow you to display anything from your computer directly on the screen. This can be a bit more difficult to set up, but nothing that a half hour of my consulting couldn’t solve. While Hulu doesn’t really want you displaying it on your television, it is very easy to do when your computer is connected.

Looking to connect your game console or computer to your big screen TV? Drop me at line in the comments here or at me@douglasewelch.com and we can discuss what it might take. You might have a device connected to your television that can already do the job.

Software: MonkeyJam – freeware lets you create cool stop-motion animation for fun and profit

My son, Joe, is a Lego fan and is always wanting to duplicate the stop-action animations he finds on YouTube. These can be quite complex and without software designed for the process is can be quite hard to do. Enter this piece of Windows software, MonkeyJam. MonkeyJam allows you to create stop-animation sequences easily using your still camera, video camera or web cam.

The most important feature for any stop-animation program is "onion skinning". This is the digital version of what hand animators used to do -- drawing in pencil on onion skin or tracing paper and then comparing that to the next drawing by flipping back and forth between the two. This feature helps to insure that you are moving your characters in small enough increments that your animation will play as a movie and not just a series of still frames.

If you have a budding animator in your house, download and try out MonkeyJam.

I first heard about MonkeyJam in the post below...

MonkeyJam – freeware lets you create cool stop-motion animation for fun and profit: "

MonkeyJam is a neat little freeware prog which lets you create those really fun, cool stop-motion animations you see around. You [...]"

Here is a short video created by the author of this blog post.

DIY: Inexpensive Wiimote-based Smart boards

My son's school has been lucky enough to be able to afford Smartboards for each of its classrooms so that teachers can use them in a number of amazing ways. Students can interact with web pages, flash games, and software using "electronic chalk". Material, both digital and physical, is easily presented to the entire class. The boards open up a wide range of activities never before possible in the classroom, limited only by the imagination.

That said, smartboards can be exceedingly expensive. Second only to the capabilities of smart boards themselves is the inventiveness of hackers, DIY'ers and Makers who set out to use the relatively inexpensive Wiimote game controller to create an less expensive, home brew version of the Smartboard. Even better, building the system can be made part of the educational process for everyone involved .

This article from MAKE: Blog ( Make your own Wii smartboard) details how to create and use this inexpensive system in your own school or group. The video below offers a quick view of the amazing things you can accomplish with such a system.

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Lego iPhone app turns pictures into Lego mosaics

I have many friends, and also a son, who are Lego maniacs. Some belong to Lego railroad clubs, others want to build the Taj Mahal or the Death Star.

The most interesting part, though, is how they surround themselves with Lego. They have keychains and screensavers and cards and magazine and pens and more.

This new iPhone app is sure to reach deep into the heart of any Lego Maniac. It doesn't do much, but it does it pretty well. Simply take a photo with your iPhone, or use one from your Camera Roll, and it will turn it into a Lego mosaic i.e. made up of multi-colored Lego bricks. Tapping the pictures cycles through a variety of color schemes and another tap saves the Lego picture back to your Camera Roll, ready to be downloaded to your computer, emailed or printed.

The Lego app is free, so there is nothing to stop you from downloading it and giving it a try. Below is a picture snapped by my son and then turned into Lego.

Download the Lego App from the Apple iTunes App Store or directly to your iPhone

Top 10 Posts from TechnologyIQ for 2009

Here is a list of the top 10 TechnologyIQ posts of 2009.

1. Dilbert gets too close to the truth about tech support
   
2. Game: Hedgehog Launch - Addictive
   
3. Online Collaborative Whiteboard - Skrbl.com
   
4. Video: Flip Ultra vs. Flip Comparison
   
5. LA Street Traffic in Google Maps
   
6. Fill out PDF files online with PDF Filler
   
7. Elsewhere Online: Google Earth Integrates Street View
   
8. Audio: State of the Music Industry Panel Discussion – Feb 9, 2009
   
9. New Wells Fargo Envelope-Free ATMs confuse users
   
10. DIY iPHone Dock and Moleskine Stand
    

Installing Microsoft Security Essentials on client's computers

I recently noticed the article below in my reading and it reinforced my recent change in what software I install on my friend's, family and client's Windows PCs.

I was installing a combination of ClamAV and Windows Defender, but upon the release of this new software, Microsoft Security Essentials, I saw an opportunity to stream line things and give the users less to concern themselves with as far as updates and new versions.

Twitter friend and follower @MadMarv saw my original Twitter post when I shared the item below and repied "yeah, I'm starying to roll out MS. Sec. Essentials around the office. Seems less obtrusive than any other AV right now."

Every Windows PC needs an antivirus and anti-malware program to protect it and Microsoft Security Essentials combines both into one, easy-to-install package. If you don't currently have protection installed, or it is out of date, head over to Microsoft's Web Site and download and install Microsoft Security Essentials as a base line of protection.

While it has been true for years that you needn't spend a lot of money (or any money) on you PC protection products, Microsoft Security Essentials simply reinforces that fact.

Microsoft Security Essentials Ranks as Best-Performing Free Antivirus [Antivirus]
from Lifehacker by The How-To Geek

Anti-malware testing group AV-Comparatives.org not only gave Microsoft Security Essentials a top rating for malware removal, but now they've given it their best ranking in their performance test as well.

AV-Comparatives.org ran a series of real-world tests running through common scenarios like downloading, extracting, copying, and encoding files, installing and launching applications, and they also ran through an automated testing suite as well. Once the dust had settled, it became clear that not only is MSE one of only three products that both blocks and removes malware well, but it's also very light on system resources.

Read the entire article

Audio: Live Reading of "A Christmas Carol" - 4th Annual

Yesterday, we held our 4th Annual LIVE Reading of Charles Dickens' "A Christmas Carol" and the audio is now available for your holiday pleasure.

I think this would be great listening while steaming your Christmas pudding, cooking your Christmas goose or enjoying that refreshing "bowl of steaming bishop!"

Listen to the 4th Annual LIVE Reading of Charles Dickens' "A Christmas Carol" from DouglasEWelch.com

You can also watch the video captured live on uStream.tv.

Watch the 4th Annual Reading of Charles Dickens' "A Christmas Carol"

I hope you enjoy it!

Friends in Tech present A Geek Christmas Story

Happy Holidays from everyone here at TechnologyIQ and WelchWrite.com. I hope you enjoy this year's holiday presentation from Friends in Tech. -- Douglas

Listen to A Geek Christmas Story




“Mattie Stevens, a young boy of the early 80’s, dreams of owning a Commodore 64. He sets out to convince everyone this is the perfect gift. But, along the way runs into opposition from his parents and everyone around him including old Santa Claus”

Written By:
Kreg Steppe and Douglas E. Welch

Produced By:
George Starcher – Typical Mac User Podcast
Victor Cajiao – Typical Mac User Podcast - – Typical Shutterbug Podcast
Steve Holden – Tech News Radio - Jersey Boys Podcast – AztecMedia.net

Cast of Players:

Narrator: Kreg Steppe – Technorama

Harvey Stevens: Dad – Kevin Devin

Mandy Stevens: Mom – Susie Murph – How to Grow your Geek Podcast

Mattie Stevens: Son – Daniel Devin

Sandy Stevens: Little Brother – Spencer Holden

Curtz Eisenberg: Friend to Mattie – Harrison Steppe

General Beringer: General – Douglas E. Welch

Lieutenant: Steve Holden – Tech News Radio

Mrs. Little: Katie Floyd – Mac Power Users Podcast

Santa’s Helper: Chuck Tomasi – Chuckchat.com

Santa: Larry Pesce – Pauldotcom.com Podcast

Judge: Victor Cajiao – Typical Mac User Podcast – Typical Shutterbug Podcast

Andrew Carnagie: Andy Helsby – Absoblogginlutely!

J.P. Morgan: Grant Bichocco – Mr.Grant.com

UPS Guy: Paul Asadoorian- Pauldotcom.com Podcast

Skipper: Rylie Starcher

Tip of the Hat to the old Christmas Commodore 64 Demo


Previous FiT Holiday Specials:

• Halloween – Server Room of Horrors – 2005


• Christmas – A Geek Christmas Carol – 2005


• Halloween – Server Room of Horrors – 2006


• Christmas – Lucky the Reindeer and the Island of Misfit Geeks – 2006


• Halloween – It’s the Great Server Chuck and Kreg! – 2007

This has been a Friends in Tech Production.

Wordpress 2.9 upgrade fails on GoDaddy shared server(s)

(Update 12/19/2009 - 1341 PST - Received links on how to export and import database into new 5.0 version of the database. Working with some knowledgeable others to help me do the process.)

(Update 12/19/2009 - 1024 PST - Looks as if my main database is still in mySQL 4.0 format although GoDaddy support 5.0. Probably never had need to upgrade DB since I moved there. Support email sent in on how to upgrade database)

Hmmm. Upgrading your Wordpress installations is typically a part of good system management, but when trying to install the latest version of Wordpress 2.9 this morning I received the following error.

Upgrade WordPress
Downloading update from http://wordpress.org/wordpress-2.9.zip.

Unpacking the update.

The update cannot be installed because WordPress 2.9 requires MySQL version 4.1.2 or higher. You are running version 4.0.27.

Installation Failed

I am not sure if this effects all of GoDaddy's shared servers or just mine, but it could effect a lot of people if their default install of mySQL is this version.

What are you experiencing with Wordpress 2.9 installs on shared servers?

Free Disney "The Princess and the Frog" Music in today's LA Times

Today's LA Times contains an advertising wrapper pointing people to free music downloads form Disney's new movie, The Princess and the Frog.

Visit this web site: https://www.amplified.com/disneylatimes/ and enter the code RK4F3TM. Four songs from the movie will download as a compressed ZIP file and then decompress into the four individual tracks.

Look to the The Welchwrite Bookstore and more this Christmas

Looking for gifts for the special people in your life?

Start your search in The WelchWrite Bookstore and more, in association with Amazon.com.

I have highlighted books, software, podcasting equipment and more in my store, or you can shop for anything the Amazon.com provides.

The WelchWrite Bookstore and more

Outgoing Email, Roadrunner and the iPhone

I have had this question twice now over the last month, so I decided to take the time to write it up in case anyone else might need it.

The Problem

While you can easily set up your Roadrunner.com email address in your iPhone, sending email is more problematical. You can send email if you are connected via WiFi, but sending mail when using the cellular data network fails. It seems your iPhone cannot connect to the outgoing email server.

The Solution

When researching this problem for the first client to ask, I came across this tech note from Apple.com

iPhone: What to do if you can't send or receive Mail

This tech note gives you the steps necessary to select an outgoing email server provided by AT&T specifically for iPhone users. This outgoing mail server should work regardless of your connection to the Internet.

Elsewhere Online: Cool cable storage and management trick

I came across this hint on Lifehacker.com

Tying up your computer cable mess with a daisy chain from Wellington Grey on Vimeo.

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Windows 7 - Should you upgrade?

Microsoft released Windows 7 this week. While early reviews are calling it a big improvement on Windows Vista and even the venerable Windows XP, I am going to issue my usual guidelines for upgrading.

* If it ain't broke, don't fix it

If you machine is working fine, then you probably don't need to upgrade unless there is a feature that Windows 7 provides that you simply MUST have

For Windows XP users, an "upgrade" to Windows 7 requires a complete data backup, hard drive re-format and re-install of all your applications. This might be enough to dissuade most XP Users. Also, if you are still using Windows XP, there might be some parts of your computer that are unsupported in Windows 7.

* Get Windows 7 with a machine designed to run it

The best way to have a smooth transition to Windows 7 is to buy a machine that was designed for it. This would include machines available today with Windows 7 pre-installed, as well as recently purchased machines that came with a free upgrade to Windows 7.

If you are using Windows 7 already, or planning on upgrading your existing computer, I would love to hear and share your experiences with other TechnologyIQ readers. Leave them as comments here or send them to techiq@welchwrite.com.

Recently "Noted" Items from my reading

Remember Your Home WiFi Password

One call I get quite frequently from my clients is for help in remembering and/or discovering their WiFi passwords. Typically, they have a guest coming to town who wants to connect to their network, but since the password is stored in their computer, they don't remember it. I call this "speed dial syndrome", where you don't remember phone numbers anymore, because you always just select them from your address book.

So, as a way of addressing this problem, I have taken to carrying around my P-Touch labeler and putting the password right on the router. This seems to be an obvious place to look for password when someone asks. You could be a bit more discrete than my photo above and put the label on the bottom or back of the router, but you also need to be able to remember where it is. I have one client who put it in her rolodex, but doesn't typically remember that it is there.

Routers from the 2WIRE company help to solve this problem by labeling every router with its password. On the underside of the router you should see a 10 digit sequence in square brackets i.e. [1234567890] This is the default wireless password for your specific router.

Additionally, you should also place a sticker for the password for the router itself. This password is required to change the settings of your router. The password should be changed from its default when it is installed, as there are a few exploits which can take advantage of routers with default passwords. Of course, since you use this password so infrequently, most people have no idea what it is.

There is one final fallback you can use, too. If you can't remember your password at all, most routers allow you to reset them back to their factory settings, including default passwords so that you can login and modify the settings back to the way you wish.

Do you have questions about your network, your router, your software? Leave them as comments here on the blog or send them along to techiq@welchwrite.com. I'll be glad to answer them.

Wii now available at reduced price

We really enjoy our Wii game system, especially the Lego series of games including Lego Batman, Lego Star Wars and Lego Indiana Jones. The Wii has recently dropped in price to $199, from its typical $250, which makes it even more inticing.

You can find links to all these games and more in the Welchwrite Bookstore.

Coffee-related iPhone Wallpapers from Rohde Design

Latte (320x480 Wallpaper)
Originally uploaded by Mike Rohde

I went looking for some new wallpapers for my iPhone and came across this collection by artist and online friend, Mike Rohde. Most of you know I am really into coffee, so I love this collection highlighting all the different styles of coffee in Mike's Unique style. These images were originally part of the 2008 Sketchtoon Coffee Calendar.

Mike is also getting a lot of buzz over his "Sketchtoon" note- taking at a variety of conferences including SXSW. He recently released an iPhone app containing his Sketchtoons for SXSW in an easy-to-use "stack of images. Free Download from iTunes App Store

Mac Users: Please, please, please set up Time Machine!

I ran into the librarian at my son's school yesterday and saw that she had a new Mac. Her old one had died unceremoniously, but the administration had the budget to replace it quickly. One thing I noticed, though, is that she had not yet setup Time Machine on the new iMac.

Mac users, there is no reason NOT to set up Time Machine on your Macintosh. This feature, added with Mac OS 10.5 backs up your entire Mac -- data, applications, settings -- and then updates any changed files on an hourly basis. All it takes a an external hard drive (I usually recommend on about 250GB in size). Theses drives are on sale all the time for prices around $50. This is a great investment to give you substantial peace of mind about your Mac.

While Apple touts the ability to easily restore deleted or damaged files using Time Machine, my use of the software has almost always been to restore a Mac that has crashed or build a new Mac that looks exactly like and old Mac -- including email, settings, desktop pattern, printer, everything!

I had a client who happened to get a lemon iMac. The unit died after 2 weeks, but we had set up time Machine from the very beginning. It had taken several hours to move data from her Windows machine and set the Mac up the way she wanted it and all that would have been lost if we didn't have a Time Machine backup. Instead, we were able to plug her backup drive into the new Mac, select "Restore from Time Machine Backup" during the setup and about 15 minutes later she was working again -- with all her original settings.

I recently had to replace my Time Machine backup drive, as I was using an older, leftover drive I had lying around the office. I found this Seagate FreeAgent Go drive (250GB) on sale at a local retailer. I like it, as it is small, quiet and requires no external power cable. It is powered directly from USb port of the computer.

Mac Users -- if you haven't set up Time Machine on your mac -- DO IT TODAY! You have nothing to lose and everything to gain -- including peace of mind.