* FH version 7.0.8.2 backup failure

[mlfreyder]

Windows 10 user FH v7.0.8.2

FH locks up when doing a file backup. Being prompted to upgrade to 7.0.9 but that fails with a " permissions error". Message says to go to the website and download 7.0.9 but no clear way to do that. Do I just down load a new trial version and enter my key?

Would make it easier if there was a link in the instructions.

Mike

[Mark1834]

Exactly that. It’s the same installation file, and “Trial” just means a short duration key.

It’s been commented on here before that the CP instructions could be clearer.

[tatewise]

Download directly from https://www.family-historian.co.uk/install7.

[mlfreyder]

It appears that FH and PC Matic is not working well together. It was under the 7.0.8.2 ver but not 7.0.9. So I disabled PC Matic and FH upgrades but still no Small backup, it locks up and I have to go to the Task Manager to end the operation. The lockup occurs before I am prompted for a file name and location. Full backup is working as I write, as well as Medium backup option. These are not a solution to the Small backup that I use daily to backup the data entry of the day.
Suggestions?

[tatewise]

It is very odd that Small Backup doesn't work, yet Full/Medium Backups do work since they include the same GEDCOM file.

There is the alternative of the File > Backup/Restore > Revert to Snapshot... option for saved GEDCOM snapshots.

One experiment you could try is to use File Explorer to drill down to the Project GEDCOM file and use right-click Send to > Compressed (zipped) folder, which effectively does the same as the FH Small Backup.

Despite disabling PC Matic, I wonder if it has somehow upset the built-in Windows ZIP operation for single files.

If you cannot find a solution, try reporting the problem to CP via their http://www.calico-pie.com/osticket/open.php support ticket system.

[mlfreyder]

Will have to report to CP, the issue is erratic. On a open of FH neither the small or medium file backup work. The full does work, and then if I go back to small or medium they work as well. Close the program and again it duplicates in the same way when I first open. No small or medium backup. I will shut down the PC and startup again just in case our pals at MS did an update I am unaware of and try this all over.

Mike

[tatewise]

Rather than Shutdown & startup, it is better to perform a Restart, which does better reset.
OR
For the most powerful reset, ensure all applications are closed, then hold down the PC Power button until it shuts down.
The PC Power button is the one you use to boot up the PC.

[mlfreyder]

thx Mike

[Jane]

The problem is most likely your Antivirus program trying to be helpful. It is not one I have come across so I can't comment on it.

You could try excluding FH from scanning and any other protection, if that fixes the problem report it to the PC Matic support.

[Mark1834]

It's worth explaining that comment, so users understand why they are doing things, rather than just "because a fellow FHUG user said so".

Windows 8 and 10 (and presumably 11) have a feature called "fast start". This was designed back in the day when most PCs only had relatively slow mechanical hard disks and earlier versions of Windows could be painfully slow to start up. With "fast start" enabled, when a PC is turned off with Shutdown it saves a copy of the state of the core Windows operating system in order to quickly restore this on restart, rather than loading every component from fresh. This gives a quicker restart, but it means that any errors that were there before shutdown are simply copied back.

By contrast, "Restart" bypasses the fast start and creates a fresh copy of the Windows configuration in memory, so errors are much less likely to be perpetuated. "Fast start" is always enabled by default (Microsoft like the aesthetics of a fast starting system), but it is possible to deactivate it by selecting Settings -> System -> Power and sleep -> Additional power settings -> Choose what the power buttons do, and clear the Turn on fast start-up (recommended) checkbox (you will be asked to enter the Administrator password if you are using a limited account).

With modern PCs that boot from fast SSD disks, many users choose to disable this option, as the second or two it might save is not worth the trade-off of not properly resetting Windows ready for the next session.

I'm not sure that a press and hold of the power button does anything other than a normal shutdown, but there may be a subtle difference that I have missed. However, it can be the only option if your PC becomes totally unresponsive and doesn't have an accessible Reset button (thankfully a lot less common than it used to be).

[tatewise]

Mark's explanation is excellent. I'm never sure how far to go with explanations unless the user asks "why?"

Jane may be onto something. I had not realised PC Matic had an anti-virus component.
See the User Guide at https://www.pcmatic.com/userguides/PCMatic_ref.pdf and follow the Whitelisting advice on Page 20 to whitelist FH.

[neil40]

Rather than Shutdown & startup, it is better to perform a Restart, which does better reset.
OR
For the most powerful reset, ensure all applications are closed, then hold down the PC Power button until it shuts down.
The PC Power button is the one you use to boot up the PC.

Hmm. I would not recommend Mike's hard shutdown in normal circumstances. I would only tell people to do that if everything is frozen or unworkable. IE last resort.
You chance that a file is open or being accessed despite everything being apparently closed.
Shutdown or reboot/restart should be ample and as Mark says restart will refresh the session.

[mlfreyder]

Anti virus SW disabled in the startup routines. No matter how I shutdown, power down or restart, I still have the same issue. Now when I try to export a GEDCOM or a query to a excel file FH crashes. I'm about ready to throw in the towel on V7 and go back to V6. Never had any of these issues in V6 and nothing else but Windows updates have taken place. Used the same anti virus SW with 6 that I have now.

[mlfreyder]

And I might add I upgraded to 7.0.11 hoping the issue was corrected, but no luck there either.

[tatewise]

If you did not carefully backup not just all your Projects but also all your customisation settings (Diagrams, Reports, Queries, etc, etc.) with FH V6 installed, then reverting to FH V6 is going to be very difficult, because FH V7 changes the format of most files.

I suspect something else that we have not thought of is interfering with FH V7 file saving somehow.

Before 'throwing in the towel', contact CP via http://www.calico-pie.com/osticket/open.php and they are able to remotely access your PC and investigate what is going wrong.

[mlfreyder]

thx