Help please!

garibaldired · Post by **garibaldired** » Sat Feb 07, 2009 10:47 am

Hi Everyone,

I'll keep my problem brief.
I have a new laptop with Vista and a FTM 2005 programme on my old (still working fine) laptop.
How do I transfer one to the other?

I think there's a compatibility problem too but I'm not sure how to overcome that either!
I have only a basic understanding of computers. so would much appreciate some help here please.

Best wishes,
Meg

LesleyB · Post by **LesleyB** » Sat Feb 07, 2009 12:18 pm

Hi Meg

I have a new laptop with Vista and a FTM 2005 programme on my old (still working fine) laptop.
How do I transfer one to the other?

Step one would be to establish if the 2005 version is compatible with Vista. If not, I think you might need to invest in the latest FTM prog. or look into this update
http://past.familytreemaker.com/vistaupdate/
But it seems there may be some issues:
http://genforum.genealogy.com/install/m ... 19558.html
and on Amazon.com

Works fine with XP, not with Vista, October 16, 2008
By Cookie (U.S.A.) - See all my reviews

A good deal because of free subscription to Ancestry.com, but this 2005 version doesn't work with Vista, and I tried downloading their patch for Vista and that doesn't work either. Well worth it for the free subscription, though.

Latest version seems to be FTM 2009.
You would then need to install your chosen version of FTM on the new PC. (and update patch if appropriate)

Once you have the FTM prog installed on your new laptop it should be easy enough to transfer your family tree files over - do you have a memory stick or do you have both laptops on a network? Just trying to think of a quick way to transfer the data.

I'm sure someone who is familiar with FTM will know the best wsy to go about it.
Best wishes
Lesley

garibaldired · Post by **garibaldired** » Sat Feb 07, 2009 12:45 pm

Hello Lesley,

Thank you very much for all those links. Looks like I might have to invest in the FTM 2009 version doesn't it?
Looking on the bright side I do have a 32 bit Vista installed so I might be ok with the patch.

So basically I install the FTM program on my new laptop then import the file from my memory stick? Is it all right if that's in GEDCOM format? I told you I don't know much about computers!

Thanks again, Lesley.

Meg

LesleyB · Post by **LesleyB** » Sat Feb 07, 2009 1:12 pm

hi Meg

So basically I install the FTM program on my new laptop then import the file from my memory stick? Is it all right if that's in GEDCOM format? I told you I don't know much about computers!

Yes, install program first, then import the family file(s) from your old laptop to the new one - this can be done by saving the family files to the memory stick when on the old laptop, then inserting the memory stick into the new laptop and copying the file(s) over. You may need to know where FTM stores it's family files e.g. Legacy stores family files in a folder called "Data" in the Legacy folder as the default location (default = if it is not told to store them elsewhere)

The GEDCOM format would do fine, but I bet FTM also have their own file type and that would probably do just as well. The family files from the older version of FTM will probably need to be converted into the newer format if you have a newer verison of FTM, but the program will most likely take care of this the first time you open the transferred family file(s) in the new version.

Investing in the updated program might well be worth it - it should save a bit of hassle with patches & etc, and newer versions of programs usually contain useful improvements and additions to the older program.
I don't use FTM, so apologies if the repiles are very general in nature. Someone who uses FTM and knows the program would probably be able to give more detailed help!

Best wishes
Lesley

I've referred to "file(s)" as I don't know if you just have one tree on the go, or several. I have a good number of small fragments - bits that might fit, but I've not proved the connection so cannot yet add them... and these are stored as small (or large!) separate family files. You may just have the one file to transfer over.

garibaldired · Post by **garibaldired** » Sat Feb 07, 2009 1:36 pm

Hi Lesley,

Thanks again!
Yes that all makes sense.
I see the 2009 FTM is rather expensive so it may have to wait awhile. Perhaps I'll go the patch route and see how it unfolds.
FTM won't let me save in FTM on a memory stick, only a hard disk.
See why my head starts to spin when I do this?!

Best wishes,
Margaret

Post by **emanday** » Sat Feb 07, 2009 2:02 pm

garibaldired wrote:FTM won't let me save in FTM on a memory stick, only a hard disk.

Find the FTM file in Windows Explorer on your hard disk (that is the file format FTM uses anyway), then copy that straight to your memory stick just as you would with any file.

garibaldired · Post by **garibaldired** » Sat Feb 07, 2009 4:06 pm

Ok Mary I've done that.

Deep breath and I'll take the next step later.

Best wishes,
Meg

Post by **emanday** » Sat Feb 07, 2009 6:18 pm

Fingers crossed for you

garibaldired · Post by **garibaldired** » Sun Feb 08, 2009 6:54 pm

Lesley and Mary,

You'll be pleased to hear that FTM 2005 is now installed on my new laptop with all my family tree in place.

So far so good.
There don't appear to be any problems but time will tell!

Many thanks also to Bob for his encouraging and helpful PM.

Best wishes,
Meg

LesleyB · Post by **LesleyB** » Sun Feb 08, 2009 7:15 pm

Hi Meg
Good to hear all went reasonably smoothly. Well done!

Best wishes
Lesley