Genealogy Chat

Hi, I`m totally useless on the computer, and I`m having real problems when I come to run my census Cds. I keep getting a message to tell me that either the wrong volume is in or that there is an error and it has to close down. For instance it will tell me to load disc 004, and when I put in disc 04 (there is no 004), it won`t even let me close, cancel , or exit and I can only get out using ctrl, alt, delete. I seem to go round in circles, and now I`m terrified of blowing the whole shebang up. Please.....can anybody tell me what I`m doing wrong? And also why is my name always in small black letters when I post a message?

You can send a message to someone by clicking on their (blue) name, but normally you don't need to send yourself a message. Also, it's if you have started a "Thread", it's easier to find your own if it's a different colour. Which census are you talking about - is this the 1881 LDS one?

Hi June We all see our own names in little black letters, you can click on another person's name to send them a message. Can you tell us which CDs you have and where you had them from? Heather

Hi , The discs are 1841 census ones which I got from Stepping Stones and I`m petrified of them now. I`ll need to study the info on putting the whole lot into my documents. I can see the logic in that, but my old brain will have to get to grips with the method first Thanks for that tip. PS. What`s pdf ? You can see what you`re up against? LOL Jay

Hi again, Just remembered that there is a message to say have encountered an error / Maestro exe/ sorry for inconvenience/ report the fault and will have to close. Don`t know if that helps to pinpoint what I`m doing wrong? Thanks for putting me right on the reason for the black letters. Thought it was me doing that wrong as well ! Jay.

June, PDF means portable document format and you need to download Adobe Acrobat to read the CD. That is if your CD is in PDF. I'm not brilliant with computers either, but have you got the CD in the right way up!! I'm sure you've done that bit right! Then you need to go into Start, Programs and find Adobe Acrobat. Click on open and more than likely My Documents will appear and your 1941 census will be somewhere at the end of the documents. This is how I get into my census CDs. Hope this helps, Kathy

I have a Stepping Stones 1841. The Master disk has a folder called Arcrobat_5_Reader, so you should have it. There is also a file called AAInst.txt:- "Adobe Acrobat Reader version 5 is required in order to view the files on this CD. If any older versions of Adobe Acrobat Reader are installed on this PC they must be removed prior to upgrading to version 5. To remove any older versions: Double click on My Computer, open Control Panel by double clicking on the icon and select Add/Remove Programs again by double clicking. From the list on the Install/Uninstall tabbed page select the older version by clicking on it and press the Add/Remove button. Follow the on-screen instructions. Repeat this procedure for any other, older versions of Adobe Acrobat Reader. Once all other versions of Adobe Acrobat Reader have been removed from your PC you may install version 5 by closing this window and clicking the appropriate button on the Stepping Stones startup form." With my census, when I put in the Master Disk, there is a menu and one option is Install Acrobat Reader 5.

Hi , Thanks to all who tried to help. I do have Acrobat(updated) and have done all of those things you suggested. I am wondering if perhaps the discs are scratched after reading Gary`s input re error messages. Though how they could be damaged in any way beats me. PS. Thanks go to Gary re another message he posted about only printing the area you want. I`ve been successful for the first time ever! ! Nice one Gary! Jay.