* Re-installing with customisation

[rfj1001]

I had to send my pc for repair which resulted in windows 7 being re-installed on the C: drive. The FH application ran from the D: drive and the project folder was on a network server. FH was fairl

Whilst the pc was away I installed FH on a laptop and accessed the network server for the project folder. Everything worked fine except I did not have any customisation.

Now I've got my pc back I'm in a position to re-install onto the D: drive as previously. (All the files are still there.)

Yes, I've read the KB article, but I'm wondering whether, by doing what I've done already, I've lost the customisation I previously had

Any advice would be appreciated on how I get back to where I was.

Thanks

[tatewise]

This has been discussed many times before.
It is strongly advised that you install FH in its default location on the C: drive.
There are many articles about the dangers of trying to install programs in non-standard locations.

Apart from saving a little C: drive disk space, nothing has been gained by installing FH on the D: drive.
You still have to re-install FH, and all its associated customisations were on the C: drive as explained below.

Wherever you install the program files, FH still keeps most of its customisations in both the Windows Registry and the C:\ProgramData\Calico Pie\Family Historian\ folder.
See how_to:understanding_scope_of_features|> Understanding the Scope of Features.
See how_to:move_settings|> Move Family Historian Settings & Projects.

I am afraid that re-installing Windows 7 will have almost certainly erased all that customisation, and any backup copies.

If your System Restore Points &/or Windows Backups are stored off the C: drive then you could try the following.
Create the C:\ProgramData\Calico Pie\Family Historian\ folder (which installing FH does for you).
Right-click on the Family Historian folder above and choose Restore previous versions.
But the Windows Registry customisation has probably gone.

For the future, the best policy is to use the Plugin Backup and Restore Family Historian Settings which can save all customisations on the network server, and from which they could have been restored.
See glossary:backup_and_recovery|> Backup and Recovery for further advice.

So the message is: Know where FH keeps ALL its data, and make regular backups of it all.

The only other possibility is if you have used any of the FH Export commands to save custom items in the Project Public folder on the network server, from where they can be imported.

[rfj1001]

Thanks Mike for the guidance

I had backups for everything but, like many things pc, when something goes wrong your contingency plan hasn't covered the specific situation your in (just like the original OS fail)

So, given the FH customisation was in both the registry and the program file directory, I'll start again and take your advice and use the plugin for the future.

Regards

[tatewise]

Just to reinforce where the customisations are stored, they are NOT in the C:\Program Files\ folder, but the C:\ProgramData\ folder.

Also I would strongly advise installing FH in the default C:\Program Files\ folder rather than the D: drive.

Ensure you also have an installation data archive as advised in how_to:reinstall_family_historian#installation_archive|> Installation Archive.

If you put the Plugin backups and the installation archive in the Family Historian Projects folder, then it can all easily be backed up together with your Projects on another storage medium.