* Transferring data from a CD

[lovelace]

My old Windows Vista computer died but I had put most (but not all, alas) of the FH data on a CD. I now have a Windows 10 laptop have downloaded my Family Historian5 programme. I have now downloaded the CD but cannot find where it is hiding in the computer - I've checked My documents, My pictures, Downloads ... where has it gone? But assuming that I find it (or download it a second time and hope to keep track of it), how can I transfer the data into the Family Historian programme? The data on the disc is in a listing format, that's to say it's not a replica of how it appeared in the FH programme; there's an index of families and when I clicked on any given name, the details of that person appeared. So you see I did see it but it was only when I tried to drag and drop it into the FH icon on the desktop that it disappeared.
Lovelace.

[Peter Collier]

Your old computer is dead, but the data on it may not be irrretrievably lost provided the hard drive itself isn't damaged. Take the hard drive out of your old computer and stick it inside an enclosure/caddy. You can get one for around £10, maybe less if you shop around (something like this http://www.amazon.co.uk/CiT-3-5-inch-SA ... =hdd+caddy). There's no wiring involved, just a couple of small retaining screws and two plug connectors. Start to finish it's a 5 minute job.

Once you've done that you can then connect the enclosure containing your old drive to your new computer with a normal USB cable and copy the files you want off it - it will work in just the same way as a memory stick.

Provided the old drive itself still works well, once you have all the files you want from it you can reformat it (= wipe clean) and use it as a separate back-up drive. Don't rely on it exclusively though if it is a bit clunky or past its best!

[Peter Collier]

I should add, the link to amazon was just to show you the type of thing I was talking about, I have no idea if that particular model is any good or best suited to your needs!

[tatewise]

I have moved this thread to the FH General Usage Forum that is more appropriate.

I know you have FH V5, but please please click the User Control Panel link at top of this FHUG web page, and on its Profile tab enter Family Historian Version 5 so it appears to the right of your postings, then we won't have to ask what you are using in future in order to give the best advice.

So you have installed FH V5 and it is running OK, and presumably opens the Family Historian Sample Project?

You cannot drag & drop Projects into FH. The files must be either copied to the correct folders or imported using FH commands.

The default location for Projects is within the My Documents\Family Historian Projects\ folder that should exist on your Windows 10 laptop.

Exactly what FH data did you put on the CD?
If you mount the CD, is there a Family Historian Projects folder containing your Project?
Or is there a folder that has the same name as your Project name, with sub-folders similar to the Family Historian Sample Project?
Or is there an FH backup .zip file with the name of your Project?

See how_to:v4:understanding_projects|> Understanding Projects and checkout the Project Structure.
If you have the first of the two folder structures I mentioned above, then use File Explorer to copy your Project folder from CD into the My Documents\Family Historian Projects\ folder.
If you have a backup .zip file, then use FH command File > Backup/Restore > Restore Backup and select that .zip file.

I wonder if this is yet another case of no backups to protect against a PC or disk crash?

[LornaCraig]

The data on the disc is in a listing format, that's to say it's not a replica of how it appeared in the FH programme; there's an index of families and when I clicked on any given name, the details of that person appeared.

It sounds as if what you have on the CD is not a copy of your FH project but a CD generated by FH which can be read without the FH program. This is not the same. Unless you have a Gedcom file (.ged) or backup .zip file or project folder as described by Mike I'm afraid you won't be able to load the data into FH.