* Backup/restore problems

[jsphillips]

Hi
Some years ago my computer crashed and I had to buy a new one.
My local guru from the backups restored my data accordingly.
A few years later my computer had a disc sector problem and till it was fixed I used some FH files temporary onto memory sticks.
Recently I bought a 4TB external Expansion disc for backing up all my Internal drives C D E and External G H etx
Works a dream
With all of this going on I have found duplication/triplication of data in FH
2 Questions please
1 What are the default locations for FH Preferences folder, Backup Folder, GED files, Projects Folder,etc.
2 How can I easily identify which folders as above are in use currently
This will enable me to reset the defaults and drag all the dat in the current wrong files to the new deafaults
This also begs the question when FH was installed and the updated to 6.28 where the program was installed
to this end this Housekeeping will put me back on tracj
Any help gratefully received

[tatewise]

It would help us understand better if you could explain where in FH you have found duplication/triplication of data.

Assuming you have used the default options during installation then all FH versions including v6.2.7 are installed at:
C:\Program Files (x86)\Family Historian\ or on a 32-bit PC at C:\Program Files\Family Historian\
You should never alter the contents of that folder.

There is no such thing as an FH Preferences folder, but I suspect you are talking about all custom settings.
Some settings are held in the Windows Registry but most others are held in:
C:\ProgramData\Calico Pie\Family Historian\
You should rarely need to alter the contents of that folder directly.

There is no specific default for the Backup folder.
You can set Tools > Preferences > Backup > Default Backup Folder to wherever you want to save your backups.

The default Location for Projects is typically:
C:\Users\<username>\Documents\Family Historian Projects\
That is indicated in the File > Project Window setting for Location: as My Documents\Family Historian Projects
However, you can change that Location: and keep your Projects anywhere on your PC.
So we need to know your Location: setting to advise you in any detail.

All GED files and associated Project files are held within that Location: specified folder.

It is not easy to identify which folders are in use currently, except perhaps by their modification date.

[jsphillips]

Thanks Mike
I Have a folder called FH Preferences \Family Historian\Diagrams\Customs
Also as you suggested a folder which contains The same sort of Data in the Calico Pie
Each of these folders have different dates...Is this because of changes of folders used when FH4 and then FH5?
some of the data is dated 2013 ?

The other point is in....Diagram Options you can save your setting which I have done ... I do not where this is saved in a folder ?

[jsphillips]

Thanks Mike
In diagram options TEXT you can save your settings as default where does this get saved please ?

[tatewise]

It would be extremely useful if you could provide screenshots of the things you are describing.

I wonder if you really have a folder called: FH Preferences \Family Historian\Diagrams\Customs
I suspect you are actually talking about: C:\ProgramData\Calico Pie\Family Historian\Diagrams\Custom
Anyway, you should not need to alter the contents of that folder directly via File Explorer. Use FH instead.

If you created Custom Diagram Types back in 2013 then they will have that date.

In FH v6.2.7 you should see the same list by using the View > Custom Diagram Types command.
At the bottom of that list, there is the Delete Custom Diagram... option should you wish to remove any of them.

The Diagram > Options > Text tab, Save as default tick option setting is saved in the Windows Registry.
That is a very special data structure that you should never attempt to access.

However, the Diagram Text Schemes themselves are saved along with the other custom settings:
C:\ProgramData\Calico Pie\Family Historian\Text Schemes
But do not mess with that folder. Make any necessary changes within the FH v6.2.7 Diagram > Options > Text tab.

[jsphillips]

Thanks Michael
Will do my best
I have 2 Internal Drives in my computer... C : drive for programs essentially & D: Drive for data ie Docs music photos etc
FHUG 6.27 is installed in my C Drive and appears to have 2017 & 2018 Files
Calico Pie prog is installed on my C Drive
On my D Drive in Documents is Family Historian projects which is ok and works fine (I do not know why this folder)
On my D Drive in Documents is Backups folder with sub folders ie Family Historian Backups.
On my D Drive in Documents a sub folder with FH Setting containing sub folders of Diagrams, Fact types, Icons Fact types is empty as is Icons Diagrams has sub folder of Custom which contain files as Johns custom.fhdx files and a folder Standard containing text box.fhdx file
The C Drive has a main folder of X86 progs one of which is Family Historian containing Books diagrams Facts flags etc. all working OK
My main point I expected the Data File for FH on my D Drive to be sub divided into all Projects Data Backups etc etc in fact everything and not spread around!
Calico Pie is separate
All is working and creating data ok but nowhere is there any guidance in the book "Getting the most from Family Historian 6"
Why is there not somewhere a list of defaults and what files are created
For example when taking ANY action in FH that creates data visual or printed it makes sense to know here this stored.
I have managed to remove some duplicated data with no ill effect.

[tatewise]

Like many applications, FH gives you a choice of where to store your data rather than being extremely rigid.
If you could give the full file path for folders it would help me a lot rather than snippets of some of the folder names.

Leave everything on the C: drive alone as it is working fine and is the standard installation setup.

The D: drive Documents\Family Historian Projects is the FH default location for all your Projects.
It is the default shown in the File > Project Window and that is why FH uses that folder.
So no problems or duplication there.

The D: drive Documenst\Backups is presumably defined in Tools > Preferences > Backup > Default Backup Folder and you would have chosen that at some time in the past.
That is where the File > Backup/Restore commands operate on FH backups.
So no problems or duplication there.

The D: drive Documents sub-folders with FH Settings is used by the Backup and Restore Family Historian Settings plugin.
It will resemble the C:\ProgramData\Calico Pie\Family Historian\ folder structure.
So no problems there and it should be retained as your backup of all custom settings.

You may have forgotten, but those D: drive folders were chosen by you to hold your Projects and your Backups.
I advise you not to remove any data as it all looks good to me.

[jsphillips]

Hi Mike
Thanks
All appears ok
It would be nice in the book or help to show all FIXED defaults and how to ascertain the structure path for all the user defined folders. ie when using it to show the path
Thanks again for your help.
Will there be a book for Family Historian 7 (similar to the 6th one I have)
Best regards and thanks

[tatewise]

You will have to contact Calico Pie retarding those points. The FHUG does not have the answers.

There is some tidying up you could possibly perform.
The D: drive Documenst\Backups folder may contain many old duplicate copies of backup compressed ZIP folders for Projects dated long ago that can be deleted.

BTW: Do you save those Backups anywhere else?
Think of what would happen if the D: drive were to irretrievably fail.
Both your main Documents\Family Historian Projects and the Documenst\Backups would be lost.
It is wise to copy those Backups to some other media such as CD/DVD, USB memory stick, external drive, cloud storage, etc.

[jsphillips]

Thanks Mike
My computer is A Dell Desktop with C Drive on a SATA and D Drive on an 2TB SSD
I have 2 External Portable drives...a 4TB Seagate and a 2TB Seagate
All my private data of any description ie Bank, Passwords, Word Docs , Excel files are held on the 2TB named Private and is not attached only when to access its data.
Likewise the 4TB drive is a Backup Drive working With Acronis Backup program and is only attached and in use when a Backup is necessary.
So there are times when neither is attached only using the C D & E Drives of the Desktop
Other times I access the main computer with the Private data 2TB attached to utilise or update its data
Other times the 4TB Drive is attached with the 4TB attached as well to Backup all Internal & Portable Drives
The 4TB can so hold say 10-12 concecutive full Backups
So all is safe and backed up without the worries of Dropbox, ICloud or having encrypted data and under "My Control"
So hopefully Hackers if any will not access any data
I also run Super Antispyware, Malwarebytes , & C Cleaner and ensure my Firefox Browser restricts all 3rd party intrusions.

[ColeValleyGirl]

So all is safe and backed up without the worries of Dropbox, ICloud or having encrypted data and under "My Control"

Where is your off-site copy? Or is your house totally fire-proof?

[tatewise]

... and flood-proof, theft-proof, power-surge-proof, etc...

[Mark1834]

Remember the backup “rule of 3”.

Three copies, on three different media types, in three different locations.

In my working days, I used to keep an encrypted portable hard disk in my office desk, but now rely on local PC storage, real time copied to OneDrive, daily backed up to local NAS, which is in turn backed up to USB hard disk. About once a quarter, I update my full system image on another USB disk. Ideally, that would be in a fire-proof safe, but if the house did burn to the ground, recovering my application files probably wouldn’t be my first priority...

[jsphillips]

Thanks Mike Mark & Cole Valley girl.
I failed to say I also Have LIVE FULL AVG which has been set not to conflict with Malwarebytes or any other prog.
as far as 3rd Copy offsite Backup see Marks comments
I am a Householder not a business and keeping offsite would mean my Shed or my Workshop/Garage, both too damp.
I am aware that if the danger did not happen outside of my study I would GRAB the backup Backup Drive.
No matter what you decide to do there is always the element that something is not covered.
Thanks all for your comments
My main point being ouside of Full control ,Dropbox ICloud etc are hackable or open to view by authorities ( I have nothing to hide but prefer my privacy)

[davidf]

I am a Householder not a business and keeping offsite would mean my Shed or my Workshop/Garage, both too damp.
I am aware that if the danger did not happen outside of my study I would GRAB the backup Backup Drive.

I share the distrust of cloud storage (which is not necessarily immune to ransomware type attacks - which has a nasty habit of infecting everything attached to the infected computer)

A detachable drive is probably the best defence against ransomware; the question is where to keep it if you can't leave it at work (assuming that does not give problems - some employers are justifiably wary of employees bring in personal portable backup media).

I have thought about my car - in that if my car is present when there is a fire, I am likely to be present and therefore likely to try and move my car away. I am not sure that damp is necessarily a direct problem. Temperature might be in that mechanical drives will not like sudden changes in temperature (such as when being brought inside for use) and I am not sure any drive would like the humidity changes involved in bringing a drive in from somewhere cold.

At the moment my immediate back up drive is in a case in a fleece jacket - which I would grab (at least during the winter) if having to make a sudden exit.

Perhaps a fire-proof safe may be a good idea!

[tatewise]

I suspect quality USB memory sticks are relatively immune to outdoor damp/humidity and temperature fluctuations.
Just let them become accustomed to the indoor environment for a few hours before use.
Also, just like most media, cycle them through backup usage and don't expect them to retain data forever.

[ColeValleyGirl]

Others will do things differently and/or have different needs, and (as OP has said) may not trust cloud storage). However, this is my backup regime. I am not a business, but a retired IT specialist; however, I saw enough data loss that should have been impossible while I was working that I'm super cautious now. (Ask me about the flooded car-park and the servers kept in the basement; or the helpful security guards who let 'the pc support team' aka the local scallys remove all the servers for maintenance -- including the backup servers which were kept on-site; or the once in a century flash flood which took a data centre out...). I live quite a bit above a flood plain, but I've learned the core lessons anyway.

• Main copy of user data on Desktop.
• User data synched to OneDrive (my off-site copy). Having reviewed the associated risks, I'm happy with them. I don't hold any password data in OneDrive (all in Dashlane -- encrypted), and any really sensitive stuff, of which there isn't much, is encrypted before it gets to the cloud. I used to use DropBox but moved to OneDrive when it started encrypting data in transit and at rest.
• User data synched from OneDrive to two local (primary and secondary) NAS devices (two devices in case one fails, and local NAS devices for speed of restoring in case Desktop fails).
• User data also synched from OneDrive to a laptop for off site working.
• User data also available via OneDrive from my phone (not useful for genealogy data, but invaluable for other stuff).
• User data also available online from any PC via OneDrive with my credentials (in case I don't get the laptop out of the house before it burns down -- the cats will take priority).
• Weekly backup of websites, which is then off-sited from host service to primary NAS.
• Daily full backup of the entire PC hard disk to primary NAS.
• Daily full synchronisation of NAS contents from primary NAS to secondary NAS.

Desktop PC, Laptop, Primary NAs and secondary NAS are all in different rooms. Laptop is in cupboard next to front door so that I can grab it easily, along with my handbag and phone.

Belt and braces not optional.

[Mark1834]

And I thought I was slightly paranoid...

Out of curiosity, I carried out an audit before the holidays of our IT power consumption. Adding up all the stuff that runs 24/7 gave around 120 W (measured, not guessed from specs). That includes the Freeview box and several IP cameras, PtP radio link to an outbuilding, switches, routers, NAS, etc. That’s about £250 a year, before I’ve even switched anything on...

[tatewise]

That is why I switch off as much as possible, especially overnight: Freeview TV, set-top DVR, desktop, laptop, router, and CH gas boiler and thus CH pump.
It not only saves me money but also hopefully helps environmentally too.