Family Historian User Group

I hope I am using this forum correctly. I have bought a new pc running Windows 7 to replace my old pc running Vista. I use FH5 and did a full backup which I have copied to an external hard drive. Using FH5 on the new pc I thought I could just restore the backup from this hard drive and it would set up my data and media. However, when using restore I can navigate to the backup folder zip file but FH5 doesn't want to open it. I have looked at FAQs etc as this is obviously something that has been done often but can't find an easy answer.

Can anyone help please? Also, can I specify where my data files go rather than just use the FH default.

ID:6514

There are  several issues to cover here.

(1) Copy Project Data

First of all take a look at the FH Installation Guide.
In particular how to Move Family Historian Settings & Projects.

However, creating & copying the Backup.zip file and using FH File > Backup/Restore > Restore should work.
But look at Backup and Recovery for anything you may have overlooked.

Another way to move from one PC to another is to use Windows Easy Transfer as mentioned in the Installation Guide.

(2) Copy Customisations & Preferences

Not only must you move your Project data but also your customisation and preference settings.
The simplest and most comprehensive technique is to use the Backup and Restore Family Historian Settings Plugin.

(3) Relocating Project Data

This is probably best left until you have everything working in default mode on the new PC.
Basically you move the entire Family Historian Project folder to wherever you like using Windows Explorer.
You can rename this folder if you like too.
Then in FH use File > Project Window > Location: and Choose Location..., or More Tasks... > Project List > Choose Location for Projects....  

Apologies again as I think I replied in the wrong way. I meant to reply as follows:

Thanks for such a speedy reply. I did read this article but a couple of paragraphs confused me:


1) 'When restoring a Medium Backup or Full Backup, a new Project folder must be created. Once the restored family tree data has been ratified, then the original damaged Project can be deleted, and the new Project renamed to the original, using File ⇒ Project Window ⇒ More Tasks….'

Does this mean that I must create a new dummy project on my new computer (with almost no data in it) and then try to do restore which will over-write the dummy info?

2) 'If Family Historian Version 5 is installed on both PC, then on the old PC you can use File > Backup/Restore > Full Backup (Entire Project Folder), copy the FH Project Backup - … .zip file to the new PC, and use File > Backup/Restore > Restore Backup on this file. '

Does this really mean I must copy the backup to the new pc (if so, anywhere in particular?) before navigating to that copy or should it be ok to navigate to the backup on my external hard disk.

To me it seems that FH5 restore does not realise that the backup is indeed a zip file (although the properties of the backup confirm that it is).

Paul asked

Does this mean that I must create a new dummy project on my new computer?

NO, the paragraph 1) is catering for recovering an existing corrupted Project.

Paul asked

Does this really mean I must copy the backup to the new pc ... or should it be ok to navigate to the backup on my external hard disk?

The latter should be OK.

It sounds as if the backup file is not being correctly recognised by FH.
On the original Vista PC, what happens if you use FH File > Backup/Restore > Restore on the FH Project Backup - ... .zip file on the external hard disk.
It should pop up a Restore Project From Backup window offering a New Project Name and a Location to Restore to.

If you repeat this on the new Windows 7 PC what exactly happens?

[PS]
I have repeated the above process of transferring an FH Project Backup - ... .zip file from Vista to Win 7 and it worked fine, albeit using a USB pen-drive instead of a hard-drive.

Mike, thanks for your help. It seems that it was my silly mistake which I realised while following your suggestion. I had several backups within a folder but I highlighted the backup before I highlighted the folder so the path was incomplete. So I had c:userspaulgeneologybackup1.zip rather than c:userspaulgeneologybackups and then highlight backup1.zip from the range of backups offered in the box.

I have now restored my original project to the FH5 default location on the new computer.

Thanks again.

Paul

That's great - now onto step 2:

(2) Copy Customisations & Preferences

Not only must you move your Project data but also your customisation and preference settings.
The simplest and most comprehensive technique is to use the Backup and Restore Family Historian Settings Plugin.

See the Plugin's Help & Advice, especially Moving from PC to PC.

Also look at how to Move Family Historian Settings & Projects.