Windows XP and Family Tree

Post by **Jean Jeanie** » Sun Dec 18, 2005 9:18 pm

My son is installing Windows XP for me at Xmas. Running on Windows 98 at the moment.

I have everything in "my documents" backed up on CD, ready to load on.

Now I have always created a gedcom when I have added to my tree in Legacy and then saved this to CD.

Is this the right thing to do? I am panicking now in case I have been doing this incorrectly. I worked on the idea that if I lost everything for any reason, I could just download the Legacy programme and upload the gedcom.

Grateful for a reply before 23rd - D. Day for Windows XP

Jean

LesleyB · Post by **LesleyB** » Sun Dec 18, 2005 11:03 pm

Hi Jean
The idea of a Gedcom is that it should be able to be opened in any Family Tree software (if saved as "Gedcom 5.5" in Legacy, rather than a Legacy specific gedcom) so I would think you will be OK. Best if luck with it!!

If it were me, I think I'd also back up the same tree to CD in a Legacy format too, and er, maybe make more than one copy of said tree on different CDs...just in case!! I carry a recent backup of my family around with me on a USB memory stick and wear them at work with (obligitory)name tag round my neck! So, in an odd way they are with me always, in more ways than one! Then, if I come home and find my house has burnt down, I've not lost everything!

Best wishes
Lesley

ASGROOMBRIDGE · Post by **ASGROOMBRIDGE** » Sun Dec 18, 2005 11:43 pm

Hi Jean,

I had the same dilema as you last year so I went for belt and braces, I use Family Tree Maker and I saved it to disc but I also emailed myself a gedcom file which was safe in my email system, as it was I did not need anything as my back up file was also saved.

I felt the safest option was to send myself the Gedcom file that gave me peace of mind and every now and again I send myself an updated one which is always safe on AOL.

regards,
Audrey

Alcluith · Post by **Alcluith** » Mon Dec 19, 2005 12:31 am

Would suggest that you invest on a USB Memory Stick that you can back up your files.
(makes a good Xmas present)

The stick becomes a separate drive. If you then create a briefcase on the memory stick and drag and drop all your files into the briefcase then every week or so if you plug in your stick you can sync your files that way you will always have a backup. if your computer fails you can then retrieve your files or if you have a new computer or operating system you can recover your files.

Post by **Jean Jeanie** » Mon Dec 19, 2005 1:36 am

Hi All

Memory stick on Xmas list now.

But basically, am I safe with what I have done?

Eighteen months ago if my pc had died I would not have been worried, but the amount of time and money spent on the "family" is incredible!!!

Jean

LesleyB · Post by **LesleyB** » Mon Dec 19, 2005 10:15 am

Hi Jean
I know this is a bit archaic, but I'd also print out copies of anything important so that if the technology lets you down you have all the supporting material and could in theory (god forbid!) build the whole tree again! You can print various trees, family groups, ancestor reports etc from within Legacy as I'm sure you know, but also remember all those other bits and pieces you have collected which may also form part of your material.

Best wishes
Lesley

Alcluith · Post by **Alcluith** » Mon Dec 19, 2005 10:15 am

Jean,

Yes what you have done is fine and the gedcom file should import into any family history programme.

I would suggest that you back up "your documents" on CD every month or at least after you have added a reasonable amount of information to your docs.

If you are really concerned then you could always pass your Gedcom file to a trusted 3rd party to store for you.

Post by **Jean Jeanie** » Mon Dec 19, 2005 12:47 pm

Hi Folks

Thanks a lot for the advice and tips. Everything is backed up twice now and if all else fails I have hard copies of all b.m.d's and typed notes where a cert does not exist.

Up until now I have always been happy with what I was doing in the way of back ups.

I guess I am just being paranoid

It's the thought of number 3 son just arriving and wiping my hard drive.

Jean

StewL · Post by **StewL** » Tue Dec 20, 2005 2:33 am

Lesley and all

When my hard drive fried itself a few months ago, I was lucky that I had uploaded a ged. to gencircles, and was able to retrieve it. But unfortunately it was an older version, as I had forgotten to update it when I had added more of my long losts to my home file

But fortunately I had printed out a good deal of the newer information, so I was able to gradually get back to where I was before the crash.
Now past that point $\:D/$

I do like the idea of a USB drive I think I might have to consider getting one of those too at some stage, as I lost a lot more than just my family history stuff, which was more of a problem. (It was all my notes, research and readings from Uni

)

LesleyB · Post by **LesleyB** » Tue Dec 20, 2005 9:52 am

Hi all
Last time my HD went belly-up was Christmas day last year - it was wonky software belonging to to a web cam which my daughter had installed which caused the problem.

Like most folk I did have back ups of my family stuff. What I lost which was most missed was a whole load of (digital) photos from Italy. About half had been printed but I lost the rest...

Best wishes
Lesley

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