* Updating to Family Historian 7.0.17.1

[waveydavey2016]

I would like to update to FH v7.0.17.1. I have a Windows 7 PC connected to the internet and currently own and run version 7.0.15. When I click check for updates, FH says "Unable to determine if new updates are available. Please try again later". Is it just me who is getting this message? Is it because I have Windows 7? I hope not because I could do without paying out several hundred pounds right now!

[neil40]

Go to this page and download the installer https://www.family-historian.co.uk/install7
It looks the same as the exe file I got via the FH check for updates option

[Mark1834]

Continuing to use Windows 7 is risky. Free upgrades to Windows 10 are still available, or have you already determined that your current hardware is not compatible?

On FH upgrading, downloading, saving and running the new version is the strongly preferred method, as it is more reliable than the in-product upgrade, and gives you a route back to your old version if there are any problems (assuming you also have that installation file).

[waveydavey2016]

Many thanks, I could do update to Windows 10. Unfortunately my Windows 7 PC - which isn't particularly powerful - runs smoothly and quickly. It doesn't need saying that if I update it to 10, it will chug along and using it will become a chore!

[Mark1834]

OK, but W10 is no slower than W7, as the days of each new Windows version being slower and more hardware demanding than its predecessor are happily gone.

[ColeValleyGirl]

It is a Windows 7 problem, but there's a fix in 7.0.17.1 that will make it less likely to happen. Follow the suggestion made by neil40 to download the installer and then run it.

However, the root cause of the problem is Msoft no longer updating Windows 7 in line with later versions of Windows, so there's no guarantee that other problems won't show up down the line. I understand why you don't want to update your existing PC to Windows 10, or spend the money to replace it but maybe an upgrade to the hardware would be a halfway house?

[tatewise]

I endorse Mark's comments that Windows 10 is still available for free and usually runs just as fast as Windows 7.
Just Google search for "upgrade windows 7 to windows 10 free 2022" and all is explained.
As Helen says, a cheap upgrade of RAM or SSD can make a big difference.

[NickWalker]

Unfortunately my Windows 7 PC - which isn't particularly powerful - runs smoothly and quickly.

It won't run smoothly and quickly if it gets hacked which will almost inevitably happen at some point. Every month new security holes are found for operating systems and once hackers are aware of them they start to target them. In a supported operating system like Windows 10 or 11 these security problems are fixed (in theory) by security updates that are released each month but you don't get those for Windows 7 so the security holes remain open. It's a bit like leaving your front door unlocked all the time. You may never get burgled and it's far more convenient than having to lock and unlock it but it's risky!

[waveydavey2016]

Hi there,
Thank you for your good advice which I immediately went to act on. I downloaded the Windows 10 updater, it fired up but after the Windows splash screen said something like "There has been an error and this program will not run error xxx-xxxx". Do you have any suggestions what might be causing this? I have Kaspersky Internet Security running - might that be the cause?
I did try googling - it said "unlock" the file or run as administrator - both of which didn't work - computers, eh?!?!

[tatewise]

I presume you are talking about the Windows 10 Media Creation Tool.

It is known that leaving anti-virus products running often interferes with Windows 10 updates, so close Kaspersky.
Also, close any other non-Windows background programs that run processes in the background.
It may also be necessary to update any out-of-date device drivers.

Have you taken full backups of all your sensitive files?
Are you sure you can re-install programs you have bought (like FH), i.e. have you got the installation media and licence?

The Windows 10 update should preserve all those files and programs, but better safe than sorry

[waveydavey2016]

Thanks Mike for the advice - I'm not sure how to update out of date device drivers. But will look it up. But in regard to your other questions: All my photos are uploaded to google photos and the few programs I have (Kaspersky, Printer Driver, MS Office, FH) I have uploaded to Google Drive. As well as, of course, my extremely precious FH backup!

[tatewise]

Just to be clear, it is the program installation media files and the license keys or account details that need to be preserved.
I'm not sure what you have copied to Google Drive.
e.g. For old FH V6.0 it would be an installation EXE file such as install_fh6.0.0_dl.exe and a licence key with the format: HNVR7W-7JEZ5A-ZAXY3F-994Q91-39CJDK-AU9TET-KH61NT
However, for FH V7 it is your CP Account Username and Password that is all that is needed.

Try running the Windows 10 Creation Tool without updating drivers. If it is happy then OK.