General Chat

try this.
1 make a backup of the backup files to the cloud (free) eg Google drive, one drive etc
2 log in as windows 10 admin, one way is from the cmd box, google login as admin and you will find plenty of help
3 as admin remove ftm, reboot
4 again as admin install ftm, then the patch without running ftm
5 reboot again ftm should now be ok

Found my back up file but it won't open. Fingers crossed I will be able to open it in the near future. All 4MB.

It is Windows administrator logon that is needed to install the patch.

If you have just installed FTM then it will be defaulting to files on the c:\ drive.
You will have to change the settings to point at the backup files on the external drive.
You can check that the folder exists by running explorer.

Using a drive connected to a pc as primary backup is a weak strategy as if the pc is compromised in any way the 2nd drive could be lost too. Use either local NAS or cloud storage. A usb key is another opton so long as it is offline except when backing up. DVD RW may be an option on some laptops.

NAS network attached storage
some routers have a USB port for an NAS drive.

Great advice everyone and I did back up files but can't find them on my external drive that I used to save them on! I will ask my son's friend who installed Windows 10 to see what he can do.

I can't even get into Adminstrator role on FTM.

FTM has bits of IE embedded within it. These are a security problem and the reason there is an issue with win 10. The reg update must be installed while logged on in administrator mode otherwise it won't work.

Otherwise use a machine running win7 so you can recover the data to a ged file and import it into software that will run fine on win10. I use GRAMPS (free) which also has good printing options.

As a general point always keep important data backed up in a non prop format.

Hello Di

I can't help on the technical side. Rollo is the man for that and he has given you a suggestion, but when you say your work will be lost it sounds s though you don't have a back up. Please, please when you are up and running again back your work up on an external disc or memory sticks or something else.

A couple of years ago we had a minor problem with our computer. OH was busy at the time and as we had a small computer company recommended to us we took the computer in to them. It came back with my Family Historian program deleted. I felt sick for a few minutes till the panic went and I realised I had all the data backed up. I had kept the registration number I had when buying the program so used that to reinstall it and then restored the data from my back up.

Needless to say, the computer "expert" denied all knowledge of the program but he won't be used or recommended by us in future.

Hi RolloTheRed
Thanks for the reply.
I've tried this suggestion but after re-booting it comes up with 'FTM has stopped working'.

FTM will run after installing a registry update
https://support.mackiev.com
answer 5697

Hi.Can anyone advise please?

Not had time to do any family history for a couple of years and today on trying to open FTM 2010 it won't open. My laptop has been upgraded to Windows 10. Ive 'googled' but no remedy works so far.
What I wondered was if I bought the latest version would it enable me to open previously saved files? If not all my hard work has been lost. :-(
Thanks in anticipation - Di