* New PC - New Headache..! Media Lost.

[Ron1951]

Hi everyone,
As a member of the limited-pc-knowledge brigade, I am hoping someone can come to my rescue and save me hours of work.
I had to change my pc, and thinking I had transferred everything ok, I was unnerved to find all my lovingly-entered media had disappeared - broken links!

I have all the photos, but they are in several different folders. Should I shoot myself now?
Regards,
Ron

V4.1.3 and now using Windows 7.

[tatewise]

I am sorry to hear that, but don't shoot yourself.
As you say, it sounds like you have NOT lost any Media, but simply broken the file links.
This is quite common when moving from PC to PC, especially if your old PC was Windows XP.

I am afraid I am going to ask a lot of questions, because your details are a bit sparse.
If you can answer as many as possible as fully as possible, it will help us to help you.

Since you have only just joined the FHUG I suspect you did not follow the advice in how_to:move_settings|> Move Family Historian Settings and Projects.

Do you believe your GEDCOM data and Media were in a V4 Family Historian Project structure, or still in FH V3 format?

If you are not sure, then did you use the FH File > Project Window and did you have three levels of Backup options?

What exactly did you transfer?
Were the media in sub-folders within a Project Media folder, or are they all over then place?

Try running the FH command Tools > Work with External File Links and explain what is displayed.
What file link paths are shown?

Is your old PC still functional?
It may be easier to start by making changes there, where the media links are OK.

[Ron1951]

Thanks for taking the time to reply, Mike, but all my photos mention the C drive in the address, so I guess I'm stumped?

[tatewise]

If you answer ALL the questions I asked, then you are NOT stumped.
That is why I asked them!!!!!

The C: drive problem can be fixed, but the technique varies depending on your answers.

[Ron1951]

I followed the advice in the Knowledge Base, which, if I read it properly, seemed to say I was stumped. Forgive my naivete!

Do you believe your GEDCOM data and Media were in a V4 Family Historian Project structure, or still in FH V3 format?
My version is 4.1.3, as previously stated, and I saved the Gedcom file. When adding photos, I clicked on 'Copy to File' or something like that, so I assumed they were now connected.

If you are not sure, then did you use the FH File > Project Window and did you have three levels of Backup options?
I have no idea what you're talking about.

What exactly did you transfer?
The latest Gedcom file.

Were the media in sub-folders within a Project Media folder, or are they all over then place?
Some I copied into the Defaut folder, others, which had two or more people on, I didn't copy, as I linked it to their faces, so I assume they are in maybe 2 or 3 folders.

Try running the FH command Tools > Work with External File Links and explain what is displayed.
Numerous links, all with a X on the Folder name and all the jpegs

Is your old PC still functional?
Yes, but I deleted everything from it. I saved all my stuff for transfer on a Passport, so I could go back and reload it all. If I were to do this, how would I then proceed to transfer this time?

I realise that it must be frustrating for an expert like yourself, but I didn't expect or appreciate the shouting, underlines and apostrophes, Mike. I'm struggling here, what with my limited knowledge of computers and programmes, and I'm sure you appreciate that.

I remain very thankful for your help.

[tatewise]

Sorry about the underlined emphasis, but past experience suggests that if not emphasised it can take a long time to get all the answers and that just prolongs the solution.

From your answers it sounds like you did have a Project structure and all the Media/Photos were OK on the old PC.

I think the best way forward will be to reload your Passport data back onto the old PC, and then I can talk you through how to migrate to your new Windows 7 PC.

Since you confess a limited knowledge of computers and programmes, then we will have to progress slowly to avoid any pitfalls.

By the way, what Windows version is on your old PC (XP, Vista, or something else)?

Let me know when everything is back working on your old PC.

[Ron1951]

Thanks, Mike, I'll give it a try. My old PC is XP.

[tatewise]

When you have resurrected your project in XP, run FH and tell me exactly what it says on the very top window border.
It should be something like:
<your project name>.ged - Family Historian Project - [Focus Window]

Then use Tools > Work with External File Links and tell me exactly what is in the File Links pane.
It may be something like the screen-shot below.
If ALL the File Links are within Program Data Folder - Media as ringed in blue then that is perfect.
If ANY File Links are in C: - Documents and Settings - ... - Family Historian Projects - ... - Media as ringed in red then tell me exactly what it says.
Do any of them have an X against them, or are they all normal yellow icons as shown below?

workwithexternalfielinks.png (66.69 KiB) Viewed 10498 times

[Ron1951]

Hi again, Mike. I ran FH on my old XP system and find the follows:

When you have resurrected your project in XP, run FH and tell me exactly what it says on the very top window border.
It should be something like:
<your project name>.ged - Family Historian Project - [Focus Window]

Family Historian Gedcom - Johnson.ged - [Focus Window]

Then use Tools > Work with External File Links and tell me exactly what is in the File Links pane.

A huge long list (18 screenshots-full). I do not see a Programme Data Folder - Media line. Every icon has a X on it (apart from the C folder etc)

The photos are in are several different folders with differing Links, folders and drives.

Would it help if I sent the screenshots?

[tatewise]

Oh dear!

Firstly, your database is NOT in a Family Historian Project structure.
It is using what we call Standalone Gedcom format, dating from FH V3, where your photos are NOT incorporated into a formal folder structure.
That is why FH says Family Historian Gedcom at the top.

If all the Work with External File Links are marked with an X, then you have not restored your Photo image files to the same folders they were originally in XP.
I assume when you last used FH in XP all your Photos displayed OK.
Examine the Work with External File Links and they tell you the folders where FH is expecting to find the Photos.
Make sure you move/restore your Photos to those folders until the X marks vanish.

Look at my screenshot above.
It says it expects images in C:\Users\Mike\Documents\Family Historian Projects\...etc.
Yours will probably be more like C:\Documents and Settings\{Ron}\My Documents\...etc.

When you have restored your FH database with all its Photos working then we can make progress.

[Ron1951]

Ok, many thanks, Mike. Here I go..!

[Ron1951]

Hi Mike, not sure if you're still out there, but I was shocked to find my photos were still attached to my tree on an old laptop! That would save loads of time, if I can attach/transfer them correctly.
I will follow your original posts and see what I can do.
Thanks,
Ron

[tatewise]

The trick to simplifying the transfer from PC to PC is ensure you have a FH Project and NOT a standalone Gedcom.

If at the top of the FH main window it says Family Historian Project then you can omit STEP 1 below.

STEP 1.
If FH says Family Historian Gedcom at the very top of the main window then you need to convert it.
This is usually easy to achieve on the laptop with all the Media images correctly linked.
In FH use File > Project Window click New Project button and choose Import a GEDCOM file.
Browse to your Gedcom file and click Next and Finish.
Hopefully your new Project will open, and all the media images will look OK.

STEP 2.
Now use Tools > Work with External File Links and check the File Links for a few things.
a) Do they all appear under Project Data Folder - Media?
b) Do any make mention of the C: drive?
c) Do any have a big X through their icon?

Let me know the answer to those three questions before going any further.

[Ron1951]

Thanks, Mike.

Step 1

At the top of the FH main window it says Family Historian Project.

Step 2

At the top of this window there are lots of photos in various folders, all linking back to the C: drive. All of these are marked with an X.

Then, as you scroll down, you get the Project Data Folder, containing photos all in the Media folder, and all of which seem and display ok.

Ron

[tatewise]

The Project is good, and the Project Data Folder - Media are good.

It is just the ones marked with an X that indicate broken links that need repairing.

Each C: drive path tells you where your Multimedia records expect to find each Media file.

You need to work out why those Media files are not where FH expects to find them.
Can you find those files by searching for them using Windows Explorer?

If you can find them, or at least most of them, then the links can be repaired.
If not, then you may have to manage without them.

Let me know what you discover.

[Ron1951]

The pics are not on my laptop, which is where the other photos are still attached and viewable on my tree. They are on my Passport, which is my F drive, when I attach it. I moved them over to free up space on my old PC. Big mistake, eh?!

To sum up then, on my laptop I can access my tree with most pics still attached, but it is an older version of my tree with 6129 individuals. On my PC there are no pics but I have 7043 individuals on there.

I can manage without the missing photos, but is there any chance of merging the two trees, to retain the photos, yet on my newest tree? And then just work on one tree on my PC, which could then always be synced to my laptop?

Cheers, Ron

[tatewise]

Yes, it should be possible to achieve all that, and finish up with a Project of all 7043 individuals, and linked Media, including the F: drive ones, all synchronised to both PC.

I propose to guide you step by step rather than describe the whole process in one go.

So step 1 is to copy your old laptop Project with all its linked Media to your Win 7 PC.
Before going into details please answer these questions:
1) Can you easily connect your Passport F: drive to the old laptop and also the new PC (but not necessarily at the same time)?
2) Is there plenty of room on this F: drive to hold the Project and all its linked Media files?
3) What is the name of your Project as shown in the File > Project Window of the old laptop?

[Ron1951]

1) Can you easily connect your Passport F: drive to the old laptop and also the new PC (but not necessarily at the same time)?
Yes
2) Is there plenty of room on this F: drive to hold the Project and all its linked Media files?
Yes
3) What is the name of your Project as shown in the File > Project Window of the old laptop?
Johnson

[tatewise]

Good, then proceed as follows.
1) Connect the Passport F: drive to the old laptop
2) In FH use File > Project Window, single click to highlight the Johnson Project
3) Use More Tasks > Copy Project and click OK to the warning message
4) In Copy Project window leave Name of Copy as Johnson and Items to Copy as Entire Project Folder
5) Click the Browse button and Choose Location for Copy on F: drive and Make New Folder called FH
6) Click OK and check Location for Copy is F:\FH (if not then Browse to F:\FH folder again)
7) Click Copy and wait until it says Copy complete, then click OK and Exit Application
8) Use Windows Explorer to check that F:\FH\Johnson\... folders exist on Passport drive

[Ron1951]

All done, and looks ok Mike.

[tatewise]

OK, we are finished with the old laptop for now, but it still has a preserved copy of your Project.
Now lets turn our attention to the Win 7 PC.

1) In FH, use File > Project Window and check if Family Historian Sample Project is listed.
2) If not, then use More Tasks > Samples > Reset Sample Project and ensure it gets listed.
3) Are any other Family Historian Projects listed there, and what are their names?
4) Under the list, what does it say against Location:? Is it My Documents\Family Historian Projects?

With those answers we will be ready to copy your Project from the F: drive.

[Ron1951]

1) In FH, use File > Project Window and check if Family Historian Sample Project is listed.
Yes, it is.
3) Are any other Family Historian Projects listed there, and what are their names?
No, there are not.
4) Under the list, what does it say against Location:? Is it My Documents\Family Historian Projects?
Yes

[tatewise]

Good, then proceed as follows.
1) Connect the Passport F: drive to the Win 7 PC
2) In FH use File > Project Window, and then More Tasks > Browse for Project
3) Select the F:\FH\Johnson\Johnson.fh_proj file with the three coloured blob icon.
4) Click Open and the Johnson project should be listed in the Project Window
5) Click it once to highlight in blue.
6) Use More Tasks > Copy Project and click OK to the warning message
7) In Copy Project window leave Name of Copy as Johnson and Items to Copy as Entire Project Folder
8) Click the Browse button and Choose Location for Copy as My Documents\Family Historian Projects
9) Click Copy and wait until it says Copy complete, then click OK
10) In the Project Window click the blue text next to Location: and Reset Location to Installation Default
11) Your Johnson project should be listed under Family Historian Sample Project

[Ron1951]

Hit a snag...
1) Connect the Passport F: drive to the Win 7 PC
2) In FH use File > Project Window, and then More Tasks > Browse for Project
3) Select the F:\FH\Johnson\Johnson.fh_proj file with the three coloured blob icon.
Done ok

4) Click Open and the Johnson project should be listed in the Project Window
All that happens is that my tree opens, but 'Johnson' does not appear in the Project Window.

[tatewise]

OK, sorry about that Ron, my mistake, lets try a sightly different approach.

1) Use File > Project Window left-click on My Documents\Family Historian Projects and select Choose Location...
2) In the Choose Location window navigate to F:\FH and click OK
3) Now Johnson should be listed on its own in the Project Window
4) Continue from step 5) above