* unrecognised file format

[angela9551]

Hi, This is my first post to this site and I'm hoping someone is able to help me recover 15 years of research into my family!

I'm still using FHv2.3 and have had no problems until moving over to Windows 10. I've now "lost" two of my family trees, the most recent a few days ago. I was working on my tree with Ancestry opened when Ancestry froze. Not wanting to lose my tree I went through the usual process of Save As and then Exiting to back up as I have done countless times. When I next tried to open the file I got the screen message "unrecognised file format". I tried restoring the compressed zip file and to my horror got the second screen message "unable to open zip file. Cannot restore".

I am not technically literate when computer things go wrong so if someone is able to help please be kind to a computer user dummy!

[tatewise]

Welcome to the FHUG Angela. I will be as kind and as plain speaking as possible.

I have moved this to the FH General Usage Forum, because the User Group Forum is for help with using this FHUG website.

First a disclaimer: FH V2.3 is well over 11 years old, and I last used it over 8 years ago, so might be a bit rusty!
It is also possible that this old FH version is not compatible with Windows 10.
I am sorry, but I need to ask several questions to understand your situation.

When did you upgrade to Windows 10 and what did you upgrade from? Windows 7 or Windows 8.1?
If you only upgraded recently, what other programs have you used that read/write files?
I ask because if you have only upgraded recently, and not used your PC much, then it may be a Windows 10 problem rather than an FH problem.

How do you open your Gedcom file?
Do you double-click the file, or do you open FH first and open it from there, or should FH open it automatically?
So exactly what commands do you use to open your Gedcom file?
How many different Gedcom files do you have, and which ones have you tried?

Likewise, exactly what commands do you use to restore the backup zip file?

I may ask you post screen-shots of your PC screen later on.
Would you know how to do that? If not I will give step step instructions.

[angela9551]

Hi Mike,
Thank you for your prompt response.
I'll try and respond to each of your points as they were written so to begin with:
I think it was last Dec time when I upgraded from Windows 7 to Windows 10 but only did so after contacting FH to check re compatibility. I did have some initial problems but that was to do with having to have a new hard drive. I then re-loaded the FH program and it was working ok until now.

The only other program I use is Adobe Reader XI. I tend to use my laptop just for doing family history. I haven't even got Windows Office on. Notes I make on Notepad or Stickies! The rest of my usage is on the internet. As for usage I'm on my laptop most days!

To open a Gedcom. file I first double click on the FH icon on the desktop; that opens to a blank page with the featured icons across the top. I click on Open and that takes me to "Look in Archive Folder". I then open the drop down menu to get to ARCHIVE Family Histoy which list all the names of the trees, so for example I would then highlight BARNFATHER.Dec.2013 which would appear as the File Name, click on Open and it would usually open up with all the members of this family and I would be able to continue with my research. It's this last bit that's not happening and where I get the message "unrecognised file format"

I have 8 Gedcom files but my BARNFATHER one, the one I was working on at the time, is the only one that won't display the names. I lost another tree some time ago from the same problem. I did try to get help from someone I know but I was told that the work had gone completely so I just accepted his word.

To close the file at the end of working I click on the File icon, then go to Save As, the file name appears and I click Save, that then asks me if I want to replace the Gedcom file, I click Yes. Next I go back to File, click Exit and I get Backup the current file before exiting? I click Backup which takes me to Archive, I open the drop down menu and highlight BARNFATHER.Dec.2013 which is a compressed zip file.

I shall need to be instructed re post screen shots - not a clue what you mean!

Hope this is good enough for you.

Many thanks,
Angela

[tatewise]

Hi Angela,
Apart from FH zip backups, do you create any other backups of your files?
If not, we must talk later about the importance of that, and how to do it.

It is somewhat disturbing that both the Gedcom file and the Backup zip file appear to be corrupted.

Every time you create a Backup zip file, FH includes the date and time in its filename.
(At least it does in FH V3 and all later versions, so I hope FH V2 does too.)
e.g. BARNFATHER.Dec.2013 - 2016-07-13 2028.zip
So do you have any earlier FH Backup zip files from before the problem?
If you can answer yes to this, and can restore one of those earlier backups then apart from recent changes the problem can been fixed.

BUT it would be wise to make a copy of your faulty BARNFATHER.Dec.2013 Gedcom file before you overwrite it with a backup.

If that does not offer a solution we will have to dig deeper and that may need screen-shots.

[angela9551]

Mike you're a genius!

As soon as you mentioned dates attached, I knew what to do! This may seem obvious to you but I realise now that it was not a good idea to have a spring clean of all the old BARNFATHER files that I'd assigned to the waste bin! Luckily they are still in there and so I have been able to retrieve the latest dated version of my tree. I've obviously lost some work but not the past 15 years worth. I've also learnt several other lessons from this debacle. This has been a steep learning curve! Thank you so very very much. I'm most grateful.
Angela

[tatewise]

Angela, I am glad to have helped.

BUT think!
If instead of just a corrupted file, your whole disk drive or PC had crashed, what would happen to your 15 years research?
It is VERY important to create backup copies of your Family History folder of files on some other storage device.

15 years ago you might have used floppy disks.

Do you know what I mean by a pen-drive or memory stick?
Do you know how to use one, plugged into a USB port, to save backup copies of files?
That would be better than nothing in case your PC bites the dust.

Alternatively, do you know how to backup files to a CD/DVD?

[steveflanuk]

There are also some other backup options available to you.

If you have a GMail account, then you should get 15Gb (that's nearly 4 basic DVD's) of free storage to Google Drive (Google's equivalent to Microsoft's 'Cloud') - which can then be accessed direct from the internet.

Another alternative, if you access your emails online (rather than using Microsoft Outlook), is that you can always send yourself an email and attach your backup file to it - which, again, can be accessed direct from the internet.

[angela9551]

Thank you to both Mike and Steve for your helpful suggestions. I shall indeed be backing up my files; I hope never to be in this situation again. Lesson learnt!

[angela9551]

I also meant to ask if it would be straight forward to upgrade from v2 to the latest Family Historian version and what would I need to do?

[tatewise]

There is an overview in how_to:about|> About Family Historian under How To Upgrade and Upgrade Notes.

In your case, you would need to buy a new Full Licence for V6 that can be purchased from Calico Pie at the Family Historian website mentioned in those notes.

You simply install that V6 and it will replace your V2 and automatically adopt your family history data.
You could carry on working with your data in much the same way as in V2 but, as you can image, much has advanced in 11 years, so you have a learning curve to catch up and adopt the latest features:

1) how_to:v4:introduction_-_what_s_new_in_v4|> Introduction to What's New in V4

2) how_to:v4:understanding_projects|> Understanding Projects

Please digest those topics, and ask questions about them, before you upgrade to V6.

[angela9551]

Many thanks, Mike. I will do as you say and again, very many thanks for all your help, Angela

[Gowermick]

Angela,
Not withstanding all the good advice you've been given, your problem arose because you decided to do a bit of spring cleaning by 'deleting' unwanted files. My advice on this is not to delete anything! (Murphy's law says as soon as you delete something, you'll find you want it!) With the cheap cost of storage these days, instead of deleting old files, why not just move them to somewhere safe like an out of the way directory, then, should problems occur, you can just move them back.

[tatewise]

Mike, I am sorry to contradict you, but Angela's problem arose because for some unknown reason both a Gedcom file and its Backup Zip file were saved incorrectly by FH/Windows 10. Furthermore, if the problem had been more serious, such as a disk/PC crash, then it would have been irrelevant what files were retained or deleted, and the only recovery would be from external backups, which I hope Angela will be creating ASAP.

[Gowermick]

Mike,
I agree, but I was referring to Angela's comment about spring cleaning and deleting some files, which compounded her problem by not allowing her to go back to an older backup.
Personally, I have backups on CD, USB flash drives, USB Solid state drive, a NAS drive, my PC, my Laptop etc etc, about 15 years of research generates a lot of file, mainly media.

[angela9551]

Hi guys, Just taken delivery of 13 new usb memory sticks and currently backing everything up! I've learnt something!

[Gowermick]

Angela,
Good going. Just remember to 'Eject' them properly before unplugging them.
(find drive in windows explorer, right click then select 'Eject'. Windows will tell you when it is safe to remove it)

[tatewise]

Yes, or find and click the Safely Remove Hardware and Eject Media icon in the Notification Area bottom right (near the date/time and speaker icons). On Windows 10 the icon looks like the white outline of a USB memory stick with a small tick. You may have to click on the up arrow Show hidden icons button.

[Jane]

2016-07-21_153740.jpg (13.33 KiB) Viewed 10350 times

Just to show you the icon Mike mentioned above.

[angela9551]

Thanks to all for your help again and keeping a close eye on me! But going through the proper ejection process was something I did know! Just waiting to take delivery now of the FH Book on v6 (due Monday) and then I shall purchase the upgrade from v2 to v6 that I see is available at the FH Store. Then we'll see what happens!!!! So definitely a move towards the 21st C! Angela

[tatewise]

There is not actually any difference between the Upgrade from any Version and the Full licence downloads, and both are the same price.
Calico Pie only posted the Upgrade from any Version to avoid existing V2 & V3 users like you from asking then how they upgrade.

[angela9551]

Hi, Just letting you know I've now got v6 and beginning to familiarise myself with it. I've even added some photos to one of my trees! But I am having trouble adding new facts. In truth I can't do it all. As I said in an earlier post I would be getting the manual too, which I now have and although it seems straightforward and simple to add facts, the drop down menu just isn't dropping down. I've also tried doing it in the Sample Project but that is just the same. Any ideas, please?
Angela

[tatewise]

Yes, that is a common problem when upgrading from V2, but is easily fixed.
See how_to:family_historian_installation_problems#v2_v3_upgrade_to_v5_v6_upsets_fact_sets|> V2/V3 Upgrade to V5/V6 Upsets Fact Sets.
You may need to reveal the ProgramData folder as explained in the link to it.
If you do not understand ask again.

You will also have to create the proper Project structure after that problem is fixed.

[angela9551]

Once again, Mike, you have come to my rescue! Thanks very much for your help. Fingers crossed, but all seems to be hunky dory now. Your kindness is much appreciated.
Angela

[tatewise]

Angela, do you understand what needs to be done to convert your V2 standalone Gedcom into FH Projects.
See how_to:v4:understanding_projects|> Understanding Projects.

You may also find topics in how_to:key_features_for_newcomers|> Key Features for Newcomers of interest.

[angela9551]

Thanks Mike, will take a look. Something else to learn about!
Angela