* Installing current FH data onto new computer running Windows 10

[jojo]

Hi, I have been running FH version 5 for many years (only a basic user to be honest!) but now need to buy a new computer which will be running Windows 10/11 instead of Windows 7. I have been reading/researching the best way to do this but keep getting more and more confused. I am so worried about losing all the information I have on this program! I am aged 72 and have been collating family data for many years and would be distraught to lose it, or the ability to add further info. Can anyone supply me with step by step directions to get up and running on the new computer. Many thanks in advance if anyone can do this!

[tatewise]

Have you checked the FHUG Knowledge Base Family Historian Copy and Migration Guide?

That gives detailed instructions of what steps you need to perform.

The difference in Windows OS is technically unimportant, but it helps if you become familiar with Windows 10/11 before attempting the migration. FH V5 itself is virtually identical in both Windows 7 and Windows 10/11.

If you have been running FH V5 for many years then you installed it a long time ago and that may be a stumbling block.
Do you still have the installation media you used back then?
Was it an installation CD or a download file from the FH website?
If it was a CD, does your new PC have an optical/CD drive?

Was it bought as a full licence or an upgrade from FH V4?

Do you know the installation licence key for FH V5 (and also the licence key for FH V4 if it was an upgrade)?

Sorry about the questions, but the installation process is an essential first step, and there are several alternatives.
The subsequent steps are much easier.
After you have supplied answers to the above questions we can provide the necessary installation steps.
If you have lost either installation media or licence keys there may be workarounds.

[Mark1834]

It’s worth bearing in mind that the upgrade discount from FH5 to FH7 is only £12. Clearly, it’s worth saving that if you can, but If you can’t retrieve your old installation media it’s not a big penalty to have to do a fresh installation of FH7.

Either way, be assured that your data can be safely copied to your new computer.

[ColeValleyGirl]

it’s not a big penalty to have to do a fresh installation of FH7.

Sorry, Mark, but the move from FH5 to FH7 is a huge learning curve... especially when compounded with a change from Windows 7 to 10/11.

Let us wait until jojo confirms or otherwise that they can still install FH5, which MT's questions will reveal.

[Mark1834]

Fair enough - I was thinking in terms of financial penalty if the OP wanted to upgrade rather than stay with their old version of FH.

[tatewise]

I've just discovered a posting by jojo in Sep 2013: lost registration key (10784).
That confirms that FH V5 was a new purchase of a boxed CD and the printed licence key had been lost.

So jojo, you need that same FH V5 CD now to install on the new Window 10/11 PC.
i.e. Use the same installation process as you used for your new PC back in 2013.

If you cannot find the printed licence key then you must use the procedure I suspect you used in 2013.
See the Frequently Asked Installation Questions at https://www.family-historian.co.uk/support/faq-inst
Use the Lost Licence Key procedure at https://www.family-historian.co.uk/supp ... icence-key

P.S. Do we need to Email jojo to remind him to revisit the Forum to see our replies?

[jojo]

Hi all, I had forgotten that I needed to revisit this forum to read replies, thank you! Thanks also for those responses. In answer to the questions asked

I do still have the cd and the installation key, well there are numbers and letters written on boxes and the cover of the cd so am guessing that is what is required.

I have bought a new tower computer with a place to put the cd for installation.

It was a full licence.

Hoping I can make sense of any help you can provide. My son is fine with computers and has offered to sort them for me but doesn't know anything about Family History and the best way to get data from this computer to the new one. I think I am worrying him about losing all my years of work!

Thanks again all

[jojo]

With reference to the lost registration key many moons ago, I remember now I had saved it onto my hard drive in Documents and had to go in my loft (luckily I hadn't thrown the computer away!) and set everything up to retrieve it!

[tatewise]

The licence key has groups of 6 alpha-numeric characters such as 0001H2-VKQ2AZ-TP4MC5-V0B59C-PYF6EN-7BUZ0Y.

You and your son together should be able to follow the advice in the Family Historian Copy and Migration Guide.
That guide ensures everything is transferred from PC to PC and has been used successfully by many FH users.

Since the master copy remains intact on the old source PC until you are happy that the new target PC is fully functional, then none of your data should get lost en-route.

If any of those steps are not clear then please ask specifically about what the two of you do not understand.
That is safer than guessing.

[jojo]

Thank you Mike. One more question, should I download the project onto an external hard disk from the old computer before uploading to the new? Actually one more question (sorry) if I am successful, or should I say when, would you advise updating from version 5 to 7 or no need?

I hate not understanding computers, I do like control in my life, and never stop learning, but the world of computers seem to be never-ending.

[jojo]

Forgot to say, yes that looks similar to the installation key I have.

[tatewise]

The very first thing to do is install FH V5 on the new PC.

Have you studied the advice in the Family Historian Copy and Migration Guide?
Please work through that in your mind until it is more familiar.

The step you are asking about is Copying Project Data, which is not the first section in the guide.
But yes, you must copy project data from your old PC to the new PC via some storage such as an external disk.

You must also consider any Media Files linked to your project.

However, project data may not be everything you need to copy, especially if you have customised any Diagrams, Reports, Queries, Fact Sets, Records Window columns, etc. That is covered by the Copying Program Settings step.

We can postpone decisions about upgrading to FH V7 until after you are happy with FH V5 on the new PC.
Just take one step at a time.

[jojo]

Hi again, Mike, I have now read through the info twice and understand some of it. I have now downloaded the upgrade to V5 to 5.0.11 as instructed on the info. I have an external hard drive which I use to back up but may treat myself to a new one for downloading my family tree info! I don't believe I have any media files or made any customisations just put family data in the project folder. I will be taking tiny baby steps and coming back for more helping hands I'm sure. much appreciated

[tatewise]

Excellent. I was going to check that you had updated to FH V5.0.11

If you really have no Media photos or document images, etc, then that simplifies the process.
Just confirm that in the Records Window on the Multimedia tab that there are no records listed.

Have you ever adjusted any of the Tools > Preferences... settings?
If the answer is NO and you are sure you have never customised anything then that further simplifies the process.

You don't need a new external hard drive just for transferring your Project family tree from PC to PC because that is only a temporary requirement. If your existing external hard drive has a backup of your Project then you are already halfway there.
I'm glad you mentioned backups as that was something I was going to ask about.
It seems you are not such a computer novice after all.

Please explain how you backup to the external hard drive. Does that include your Project family tree data?
There are several possibilities:
1) You use the FH File > Backup/Restore > Full Backup (Entire Project Folder) command saved to external drive.
2) You copy the FH ...Documents\Family Historian Projects\... folders to the external drive.
3) You use some Backup utility to create backups on the external drive.
Once we know which technique you use then we can explain the next baby steps.

[jojo]

Hi Mike, don't give me credit where it's not due My son comes over every now and again and backs up my computer to the external hard drive, I'm sorry to say I don't know what method he uses but think it may be that he copies my project folder to the hardrive. I will ask him for future reference.