Family Historian User Group

I've just had a new OS installed (Windows 7 instead of XP). I didn't realise this would mean that I'd have to reinstall all my programs from scratch, and it's taking me a long and arduous time.

Regarding FH, it looks like I'd have to dig out my original CD for v4, assuming that that wasn't a download upgrade from v3 or earlier (I can't recall at the moment) and then apply the upgrade to 5 that I bought in March of this year. Problem 1 - the email that came with the upgrade states that I have to download within 15 days. So what do I do now, 7 months later?

Also, I have to assume that all my carefully-crafted personalizations of the program (diagram options, language change etc.) will have disappeared when I'm done downloading - however, these must be stored somewhere and won't have been deleted by the installation of the new OS. Could somebody tell me where they'll be, and how I could apply them to the program if and when I get them installed?

I'd be eternally grateful for any help on the two points.

Gareth

ID:6527

Gareth ~ everything you need to know is in the Knowledge Base Family Historian Installation Guide.
It is a well worn path used by many before you, but your questions worry me that some of your data maybe lost!

Firstly, you only need to install the Upgrade V4 to V5 Download, NOT any of the earlier versions, but you will need both your V5 and V4 Licence details.

I suggest you contact Calico Pie with the original E-mail details, including your E-mail address at the time, and they should be able to revalidate your download.

How have you installed Windows 7?
It think it is impossible to perform an upgrade from Windows XP to Windows 7, so presumably the entire disk drive was reformatted before installation, which I suspect would have obliterated all your Family Historian user data, personalisations, etc (along will all your other My Documents files).
You should have asked the questions before installing Windows 7 as it may now be too late.

What have you preserved from the Windows XP system?
Do you have a full image backup?
Do you have FH Project backups on a DVD, external disk drive, or elsewhere?
Did you Export any of your carefully-crafted personalizations of the program (diagram options, language change etc.) to the Project folder, and back them up?
Did you backup the C:Documents and SettingsAll UsersApplication DataCalico PieFamily Historian folder that holds most personalisations?
Did you use Windows Easy Transfer to copy anything from XP to Windows 7?
Until you can answer these questions we cannot advise you further.

Thank you for such a comprehensive reply! I shall look into each of these points.

It's only the applications that need to be reinstalled, because all my documents and data (i.e. My Documents and subfolders) are still on the computer, including the folder 'Family Historian Projects' with files in it with the extensions .fh_data and .fh_proj, last modified when the OS was replaced, as well as the most recent .ged file, so I'm hoping there'll be some useful stuff on those.

My Windows 7 is 64-bit, and I note the references to this in the Knowledge Base.

I shall email Calico Pie as you advise, to see whether I can get my download revalidated; I have upgrades going back to v3 and maybe before then, but I still have the emails from Calico Pie giving the registration name and key for the past upgrades.

Thank you again for your help, and I now know to check the Knowledge Base.

It sounds as your Family Historian Project data is OK, but see later.

The problems with Windows 7 64-bit only apply to installing FH V2 CD, which does not apply in your case, as you will be able to install the Upgrade V4 to V5 directly.

As how to Move Family Historian Settings & Projects explains, the Family Historian Project folder does NOT usually contain your carefully-crafted personalizations of the program (diagram options, language change etc.)
Only Exported Custom Diagrams, etc, might be saved in that folder.

In XP most FH personalisations were stored in the C:Documents and SettingsAll UsersApplication DataCalico PieFamily Historian folder, and the rest in the Windows Registry.
I am afraid that all those customisations have probably been lost.

Note that the Windows 7 equivalent folder is C:ProgramDataCalico PieFamily Historian.
There are V5 Plugins that allow such customisations to be backed up to your Family Historian Project folder.

Update:
Thanks to your advice, I've now been able to reinstall FH5 successfully, and also update to 5.0.7. In the end I didn't have to contact Calico Pie, since my upgrade exe files were still in the downloads folder.

Everything now is hunky-dory except that the diagram design has defaulted to the factory settings; I shall now scour the User Guide to discover what files contain my personalized version. I'm guessing it's a text scheme, but I need to check.

Wow - that was quick!

It could well be a Text Scheme, but there is no need to discover which files are involved.

Simply download the Backup and Restore Family Historian Settings Plugin, and run the Backup tab option to preserve everything into your Family Historian Projects folder.
Then should the need arise everything can all be restored.
See the Plugin Help & Advice for more information.

Many thanks!