* Moving FH settings to a new pc
- Wilfreda99
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Moving FH settings to a new pc
I have been following the Migration Guide to move my FH program and data to my new PC - very many thanks to Tatewise for the guide, otherwise I would have been totally stumped.
The only problem is that I cannot restore the settings, as per item 7. I ran the plug in as per item 3, and it seemed to work in that I have a file "Backup and Restore Family Historian Settings.dat", though it is only 1KB(?). But when I select the sub folder in which it resides on the new pc I get the message "ERROR - Back up data folder has no Family Historian backup data saved."
I have tried selecting a higher level folder and have gone back to the old pc, rerun the backup plugin and copied it into the new pc, but nothing changes.
I am totally stumped and would greatly appreciate your help and advice, I had forgotten how much I have customised it over the years and would hate to start again.
Chris
The only problem is that I cannot restore the settings, as per item 7. I ran the plug in as per item 3, and it seemed to work in that I have a file "Backup and Restore Family Historian Settings.dat", though it is only 1KB(?). But when I select the sub folder in which it resides on the new pc I get the message "ERROR - Back up data folder has no Family Historian backup data saved."
I have tried selecting a higher level folder and have gone back to the old pc, rerun the backup plugin and copied it into the new pc, but nothing changes.
I am totally stumped and would greatly appreciate your help and advice, I had forgotten how much I have customised it over the years and would hate to start again.
Chris
- tatewise
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Re: Moving FH settings to a new pc
Hi Chris.
When you run the BaRFHS Plugin, in the middle of the Status pane it says Backup Data: and identifies its backup folder, which is usually the same as your FH Default Backup Folder, and typically located within your Family Historian Projects folder.
That is the folder that needs to be copied from PC to PC, and if within your Family Historian Projects folder, then that has already been done.
Did you perform step 6) and set the FH Default Backup Folder?
Anyway, when you run the BaRFHS Plugin, ensure the Status pane has the Backup Data: folder set to the copy now on the new PC. If necessary use the Options tab to Choose Backup Folder.
BTW: The Backup and Restore Family Historian Settings.dat file is nothing to do with the backup. That is where the Plugin saves its user dialogue Option settings.
When you run the BaRFHS Plugin, in the middle of the Status pane it says Backup Data: and identifies its backup folder, which is usually the same as your FH Default Backup Folder, and typically located within your Family Historian Projects folder.
That is the folder that needs to be copied from PC to PC, and if within your Family Historian Projects folder, then that has already been done.
Did you perform step 6) and set the FH Default Backup Folder?
Anyway, when you run the BaRFHS Plugin, ensure the Status pane has the Backup Data: folder set to the copy now on the new PC. If necessary use the Options tab to Choose Backup Folder.
BTW: The Backup and Restore Family Historian Settings.dat file is nothing to do with the backup. That is where the Plugin saves its user dialogue Option settings.
Mike Tate ~ researching the Tate and Scott family history ~ tatewise ancestry
- Wilfreda99
- Diamond
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Re: Moving FH settings to a new pc
Hi Mike
Thanks for your advice, I think I was going wrong because I had not set the default back-up folder so it saved them where it wanted. I have tidied up the file structure and set the default backup folder but it still didn't work, kept telling me there was no data, whether I was using the subfolder where the individual items were located or each folder further up the tree.
I think I have got round it by clicking each individual customisation, which then successfully linked them to FH. The standard ones were there already. The only ones that don't work this way is where there are no customisation sub folder, eg 'property box' or 'icons'. If I should need these I will cross that bridge when I come to it. At least my customised diagrams and charts are all there. This was quite a useful exercise for a wet Friday afternoon as it reminded me of some charts, queries etc that I had forgotten all about - even managed to delete a few obsolete ones.
The only things that definitely haven't worked using this method are my customisations to the text scheme - colours, fonts, dimensions etc. But it won't be too difficult to recreate them if I want to. (My new screen is so much bigger than my old one that the default fonts will probably be OK. Also I have realised that a lot of my customisations were to improve the diagram when printing / saving / sending to my relatives - but they are totally uninterested so why bother!!!
Thanks again,
Chris
Thanks for your advice, I think I was going wrong because I had not set the default back-up folder so it saved them where it wanted. I have tidied up the file structure and set the default backup folder but it still didn't work, kept telling me there was no data, whether I was using the subfolder where the individual items were located or each folder further up the tree.
I think I have got round it by clicking each individual customisation, which then successfully linked them to FH. The standard ones were there already. The only ones that don't work this way is where there are no customisation sub folder, eg 'property box' or 'icons'. If I should need these I will cross that bridge when I come to it. At least my customised diagrams and charts are all there. This was quite a useful exercise for a wet Friday afternoon as it reminded me of some charts, queries etc that I had forgotten all about - even managed to delete a few obsolete ones.
The only things that definitely haven't worked using this method are my customisations to the text scheme - colours, fonts, dimensions etc. But it won't be too difficult to recreate them if I want to. (My new screen is so much bigger than my old one that the default fonts will probably be OK. Also I have realised that a lot of my customisations were to improve the diagram when printing / saving / sending to my relatives - but they are totally uninterested so why bother!!!
Thanks again,
Chris
- tatewise
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Re: Moving FH settings to a new pc
Chris, I would really like to get to the bottom of this so the instructions can be improved for others.
To make it easier to explain what should be going on, could you please post here the Backup Data path as displayed in the Plugin on Old PC, and also what that Backup Data path is on the New PC.
I presume you copied that Old PC Backup Data folder to the New PC Backup Data folder?
If we can get this sorted out all those missing customisations will appear like magic.
To make it easier to explain what should be going on, could you please post here the Backup Data path as displayed in the Plugin on Old PC, and also what that Backup Data path is on the New PC.
I presume you copied that Old PC Backup Data folder to the New PC Backup Data folder?
If we can get this sorted out all those missing customisations will appear like magic.
Mike Tate ~ researching the Tate and Scott family history ~ tatewise ancestry
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Re: Moving FH settings to a new pc
A question for my own clarification, since I may be getting a new computer this year.
I do Full Backups to external hard drives, I thought any customizations were part of the Full Backup. So, I thought going to a new computer was as easy as loading FH V6 onto the new machine and then simply doing a Restore from my external hard drive.
Am I wrong in this simple assumption?
I do Full Backups to external hard drives, I thought any customizations were part of the Full Backup. So, I thought going to a new computer was as easy as loading FH V6 onto the new machine and then simply doing a Restore from my external hard drive.
Am I wrong in this simple assumption?
- tatewise
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Re: Moving FH settings to a new pc
Yes, you are wrong Bob.
You must follow the how_to:family_historian_migration_guide|> Family Historian V5 & V6 Migration Guide.
You must follow the how_to:family_historian_migration_guide|> Family Historian V5 & V6 Migration Guide.
Mike Tate ~ researching the Tate and Scott family history ~ tatewise ancestry
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Re: Moving FH settings to a new pc
Thanks, Mike. Good to know before I might have done something I would have regretted.
- tatewise
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Re: Moving FH settings to a new pc
If you wish to know more about this topic then see:
glossary:backup_and_recovery|> Backup and Recovery
how_to:understanding_scope_of_features|> Understanding the Scope of Features
how_to:family_historian_migration_guide|> Family Historian V5 & V6 Migration Guide
It is important that you backup all those customisations & preferences NOW, because you never know when your PC or Disk Drive will crash and leave you without any way to recover them.
glossary:backup_and_recovery|> Backup and Recovery
how_to:understanding_scope_of_features|> Understanding the Scope of Features
how_to:family_historian_migration_guide|> Family Historian V5 & V6 Migration Guide
It is important that you backup all those customisations & preferences NOW, because you never know when your PC or Disk Drive will crash and leave you without any way to recover them.
Mike Tate ~ researching the Tate and Scott family history ~ tatewise ancestry
- Wilfreda99
- Diamond
- Posts: 97
- Joined: 27 Aug 2010 09:29
- Family Historian: V7
- Location: Beds/Bucks border - England
Re: Moving FH settings to a new pc
Hi Mike
Have only just got back onto my new pc, all the icons and the start button on the task bar stopped working/disappeared, which taxed my husband's brain mightily. By a miracle he got it back (I think by pressing the windows key and the L key in case anyone has the same problem and has tried the suggestions on the BT site, none of which worked).
I will try and respond to your previous message over the weekend, my brain has gone kerput at the moment.
Cheers,
Chris
Have only just got back onto my new pc, all the icons and the start button on the task bar stopped working/disappeared, which taxed my husband's brain mightily. By a miracle he got it back (I think by pressing the windows key and the L key in case anyone has the same problem and has tried the suggestions on the BT site, none of which worked).
I will try and respond to your previous message over the weekend, my brain has gone kerput at the moment.
Cheers,
Chris
- Wilfreda99
- Diamond
- Posts: 97
- Joined: 27 Aug 2010 09:29
- Family Historian: V7
- Location: Beds/Bucks border - England
Re: Moving FH settings to a new pc
Hi Mike
The backup data path for the old pc is:
FH Projects / 1 other stuff / Family Historian / Program Data
I first copied it along with all the other contents of by back up hard drive into a file called Retrieved contents on my new pc, obviously the file layout was as above. At first I copied and pasted the entire FH Project folder into the appropriate place in my new pc, but the restore didn’t work, as per my first post.
So I set up the Default back up folder in the plug in, manually created such a folder in my file structure and copied the Program Data into it; so file path is now:
FH Projects / Back ups / Program Data / etc.
Running the Restore plug in still didn’t work, hence the manual process I then posted. I had a quick look at FH over the weekend and I can’t really find anything that doesn’t work – didn’t find any icons but I don’t use them anyway.
Thinking of your procedure notes, I think I went wrong because when I first downloaded the plugin ‘backup and restore etc’ the box for back up location was empty and I didn’t realise I had to enter anything in it. I don’t think I have ever been advised to create such a folder, all my backups when I exit just go into the FH Project folder – so I was slightly surprised when they put themselves into the subfolder ‘1 other stuff’. So perhaps you could add something about what you would expect to see in that box?
Similarly, the Default start up folder box was also empty and I left it that way, and it is still empty.
Hope this helps,
Cheers
Chris
The backup data path for the old pc is:
FH Projects / 1 other stuff / Family Historian / Program Data
I first copied it along with all the other contents of by back up hard drive into a file called Retrieved contents on my new pc, obviously the file layout was as above. At first I copied and pasted the entire FH Project folder into the appropriate place in my new pc, but the restore didn’t work, as per my first post.
So I set up the Default back up folder in the plug in, manually created such a folder in my file structure and copied the Program Data into it; so file path is now:
FH Projects / Back ups / Program Data / etc.
Running the Restore plug in still didn’t work, hence the manual process I then posted. I had a quick look at FH over the weekend and I can’t really find anything that doesn’t work – didn’t find any icons but I don’t use them anyway.
Thinking of your procedure notes, I think I went wrong because when I first downloaded the plugin ‘backup and restore etc’ the box for back up location was empty and I didn’t realise I had to enter anything in it. I don’t think I have ever been advised to create such a folder, all my backups when I exit just go into the FH Project folder – so I was slightly surprised when they put themselves into the subfolder ‘1 other stuff’. So perhaps you could add something about what you would expect to see in that box?
Similarly, the Default start up folder box was also empty and I left it that way, and it is still empty.
Hope this helps,
Cheers
Chris
- tatewise
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Re: Moving FH settings to a new pc
Hi Chris.
I am still not absolutely certain that you are reporting exactly what the Backup and Restore Family Historian Settings Plugin is displaying. I do NOT need to know any settings in FH Tools > Preferences.
When you run that Plugin on the Old PC, please check the Status pane, and tell me exactly what is displayed in green against the Backup Data: label.
It should be something that starts with C:\Users\...
Then run that Plugin on the New PC, and check the Status pane, and tell me exactly what is displayed in green against the Backup Data: label.
It also should be something that starts with C:\Users\...
If those two paths really are:
FH Projects / 1 other stuff / Family Historian / Program Data /
FH Projects / Back ups / Program Data /
Then within that Program Data folder will be a Family Historian folder, and within that will be three folders: Plugin Data, Program Data & Tutorial Files together with files Registry.keys and Version.data. Could you please confirm that.
I am still not absolutely certain that you are reporting exactly what the Backup and Restore Family Historian Settings Plugin is displaying. I do NOT need to know any settings in FH Tools > Preferences.
When you run that Plugin on the Old PC, please check the Status pane, and tell me exactly what is displayed in green against the Backup Data: label.
It should be something that starts with C:\Users\...
Then run that Plugin on the New PC, and check the Status pane, and tell me exactly what is displayed in green against the Backup Data: label.
It also should be something that starts with C:\Users\...
If those two paths really are:
FH Projects / 1 other stuff / Family Historian / Program Data /
FH Projects / Back ups / Program Data /
Then within that Program Data folder will be a Family Historian folder, and within that will be three folders: Plugin Data, Program Data & Tutorial Files together with files Registry.keys and Version.data. Could you please confirm that.
Mike Tate ~ researching the Tate and Scott family history ~ tatewise ancestry
- Wilfreda99
- Diamond
- Posts: 97
- Joined: 27 Aug 2010 09:29
- Family Historian: V7
- Location: Beds/Bucks border - England
Re: Moving FH settings to a new pc
Hi Mike
Thanks for that, no I wasn’t looking at the green file path in the plug in.
I went back to the old pc and created a folder called Backups and selected it so the green file path was:
C:\Users\Chris\Documents\FH Projects\Backups – then I ran the backup.
I have copied it into the same position within FH on the new pc in File Explorer and, as you say, it contains the Family Historian Folder within which are 3 folders and 2 files exactly as you describe: Plugin Data, Program Data & Tutorial Files together with files Registry.keys and Version.data.
Within FH I have opened the plug in and the status in green shows C:\Users\chris\Documents\FH Projects.
Should I select and add ‘\Backups’ to the green file path before I run the Restore? (The Plugin Data folder is empty which, presumably, is why its date has not changed)
I have deleted the ones I tried earlier. When I looked at the contents of Fam Hist folder I realised that I had only copied in the program data folder and left the other data in a different folder – came to the conclusion that it would be easier to start again.
Thanks for that, no I wasn’t looking at the green file path in the plug in.
I went back to the old pc and created a folder called Backups and selected it so the green file path was:
C:\Users\Chris\Documents\FH Projects\Backups – then I ran the backup.
I have copied it into the same position within FH on the new pc in File Explorer and, as you say, it contains the Family Historian Folder within which are 3 folders and 2 files exactly as you describe: Plugin Data, Program Data & Tutorial Files together with files Registry.keys and Version.data.
Within FH I have opened the plug in and the status in green shows C:\Users\chris\Documents\FH Projects.
Should I select and add ‘\Backups’ to the green file path before I run the Restore? (The Plugin Data folder is empty which, presumably, is why its date has not changed)
I have deleted the ones I tried earlier. When I looked at the contents of Fam Hist folder I realised that I had only copied in the program data folder and left the other data in a different folder – came to the conclusion that it would be easier to start again.
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- tatewise
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Re: Moving FH settings to a new pc
Yes, that all fits perfectly and as I suspected.
Yes, choose the \Backups folder, and untick Allow Restore Registry Data then the RESTORE will work perfectly.
Yes, choose the \Backups folder, and untick Allow Restore Registry Data then the RESTORE will work perfectly.
Mike Tate ~ researching the Tate and Scott family history ~ tatewise ancestry
- Wilfreda99
- Diamond
- Posts: 97
- Joined: 27 Aug 2010 09:29
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- Location: Beds/Bucks border - England
Re: Moving FH settings to a new pc
DONE IT!!
In fact the colours of the Focus window didn't change to those I had set up but everything else has, as far as I can tell. When I ran the restore, having unticked the box as you said, there were 2 or 3 commands come up in bright pink, which I guessed at the right response (can't remember what they were).
I am going to quit while I'm ahead, very many thanks, Mike, for sticking with this, I am looking forward to doing some family history again,
Have a good weekend,
Chris
In fact the colours of the Focus window didn't change to those I had set up but everything else has, as far as I can tell. When I ran the restore, having unticked the box as you said, there were 2 or 3 commands come up in bright pink, which I guessed at the right response (can't remember what they were).
I am going to quit while I'm ahead, very many thanks, Mike, for sticking with this, I am looking forward to doing some family history again,
Have a good weekend,
Chris