* How to migrate CD V6 to new laptop without CD drive or CD in lockdown. Any ideas?

[GlennyE]

Hi All. Currently in lockdown in Wales 167miles away from my V6 CD with a laptop in its death throws. I decided to buy new shiny laptop but it doesn't have a CD drive and I'm itching to migrate my project from old Windows 7 laptop to new Windows 10 laptop before the old one finally gasps its last. I understand that I cannot use my CD key (daughter could find that for me) on the trial version. Is there any other way I can get Historian up and running on my new laptop without having to purchase the program again please?

[ColeValleyGirl]

You can buy an external CD/DVD drive (attaches via USB) for £11-12 online, which is cheaper than a new licence for FH6.

However, if you buy a new licence for FH6 now you'll get a free upgrade to FH7, so that *might* be a cheaper option overall if you're intending to move to FH7. It's impossible to know until pricing for FH7 upgrades is announced.

If your old laptop isn't absolutely dead, you might be able to share the DVD drive from the old laptop via a network.

You'll probably want to use the Backup and Restore plugin to transfer all your settings and customisations; and you'll need to transfer all your project data as well -- how are you intending to do that?

[tatewise]

If I understand correctly, you are with your failing Win 7 laptop and new Win 10 laptop, but your FH V6 CD is miles away.

You can only use your CD licence key in conjunction with your actual FH V6 Installation CD.

So your daughter needs to find that Installation CD and copy it onto a USB memory stick that can be posted to you.
Or post the CD to you so that you can copy it onto a USB memory stick or use a USB CD drive as Helen says.
See how_to:family_historian_installation_details|> Family Historian Installation Details where after the flowchart it says:

If you only have an Installation CD, but your new PC is a Netbook/Laptop with no CD drive, then on any PC with a CD/DVD drive, copy the entire contents of the Installation CD onto a USB pen drive memory stick and install from that instead by running the Setup file.

The full migration process involves copying your Projects and also your custom settings as mentioned by Helen.
See how_to:family_historian_migration_guide|> Family Historian V5 & V6 Migration Guide for step by step instructions.

[GlennyE]

Yes that's right I have my old and new laptops but no cd which is at home. My project has been backed up to a usb stick and Dropbox so no worries about data being lost I was just hoping there might have been a quicker fix than waiting for the cd to arrive through the mail ie a download that the original licence key would work with. I'm still finding my way around v6 so would not be thinking of upgrading just because there was a new one out, in addition to the unexpected expense of replacing my laptop, so I will continue to work with what I have which I'm happy to say works extremely well for me. Thanks both of you for your reply.

[tatewise]

Please use the Backup and Restore Family Historian Settings Plugin from the Plugin Store and run it in Backup mode.
Save its backup folders to USB memory stick and Dropbox for input to the Windows 10 laptop.
If you don't do that, any customisations of Diagrams, Reports, Queries, Plugins, Fact Sets, Records Window Columns, etc, etc, will NOT exist on the new Windows 10 laptop. Those customisation details are NOT included in Project backups.

[David2416]

Would copying CD to cloud storage save waiting for the post?

[GlennyE]

Thanks Mike I'll bear that in mind. I was going to work through the migration guidance.

I'll have to see if my daughter is up to the challenge of copying to cloud and then see if it works but its worth a go. Thanks for the suggestion.

[tatewise]

Yes, using cloud storage should work as long as you agree on which cloud service to share or your daughter knows how to send a shareable link to the uploaded CD.

[GlennyE]

I asked her if she'd copy and upload and it was a straight no. It seems that's a step beyond her capabilities or willingness to help so my husband is putting the disc in the post. I'm hoping he's packaged it well and it survives Royal Mail. Thanks again. I will have to practice patience in the meantime.