Genealogy Chat

Can someone please help me, we rebooted the FTM disc cos we had installed the new vista windows system, on reboot it says we have 14 days left of the free trial, cannot remember the code for the FTM, can someone tell how I can keep my database, all the ancestors are on it, I bought this FTM 18 months ago, Would appreciate any help, im desparate as I would lose all my hard work. Best wishes Yvonne

The first thing you do is back your data up by exporting a gedcom file from your FTM. This can then be imported into FTM again at a later date, or an alternative family tree software program. Once you have done this your data will be safe! What version of FTM do you have - where did you buy the disc - was it originally a free trial?

Hi Elaine My dad bought me the FTM 2005 from PC World its cost £30 at the time. I will what you said now and give it a go. Many thanks Elaine much appreicated, will let you know what happens. Best Wishes Yvonne

Surely the 14 days refers to your Ancestry Free trial subscription, not FTM itself. Your FTM program and your data files separate from each other and should all be there on your disk. Any problems with running FTM, then just re-install using your original disk. I'v had to do this once or twice in the past. Your data is held separately from the program so it is not affected if you re-install. If you continue to have problems, then post the details.

As Peter said, you should not have any problems with the continued use of FTM if it was a genuine copy purchased. But - having said that you should regularly back up your data so that if you do have any hardware problems then your work is not lost.

Elaine is absolutely correct. It is always a good idea to make backups before embarking on major system upgrades, just in case.

Hi Peter Many thanks for your advice. The original FTM application is still on the disc under old windows xp, in the new Vista Beta windows files the FTM was originally installed on 28.02.05 with all files attached, 51 mb, the full application, but up to now I have not been able to open this file, still more things to try to open it, but have heard I should have really backed up this total file as on this new windows install slight corruption can occur and availability of file is unavailable. Things were running great until my partner knackered the whole thing and now Im virtually in tears cos I cant get my FTM back. Much appreciated to everyone and you Peter Best Wishes

OK take it step by step. First of all, can you open FTM? If not, then put your original FTM disc in and re-install.

Hi Peter I can open the FTM but it comes with a message saying buy now or buy later or learn more.

That seems a though you are not running the full program. Put your FTM disk you got originally and re-install.

Hi Peter I have asked my partner, and he said that is the original disc where the message comes up, I can see all my ancestors and find them ok when it comes on but just the message keeps popping up.