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General => Technical Help => Family History Programs, Tree Organisation, Presentation => Topic started by: lddueck on Wednesday 30 December 09 21:01 GMT (UK)
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I have been able to install the FH Resource File Viewer on my Windows 7 PC but cannot seem to add a Resource File, e.g. the British Vital Records Index. I get a "Run-time error 5" message. Hope someone can help!
Thank you!
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I've just installed it on my new computer running Windows 7 and received the same runtime error. I suspect it's going to be an issue needing a patch. I'm looking for one and will let you know if I find one.
Den
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Hi
Falkyrn has also had problems:
http://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php/topic,432941.msg2973687.html#msg2973687
Gadget
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Hi
Thanks but I tried the solution suggested in the linked post before coming onto Rootschat today but no joy :( I'd hoped the same solution would have worked for Windows 7. I've now emailed the LDS tech support. If I get an answer that works I'll post it.
Den
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Hi Den
I think if you read Falkyrn's posting again, he was saying that the BVRI and the 1881 just wouldn't work at all on 64 bit architecture.
His comment about loading in compatibility mode was about the other programs.
I'm interested because I hope to take delivery of a new laptop tomorrow with Win7 Prof.
Gadget
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Sorry I misread that. I also found that my copy of Generations won't work on Windows 7. I don't know why they can't make Windows backwards compatible when they bring out a new version. After all software isn't cheap.
I'm just keeping my fingers crossed that the LDS bods can help.
Den
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Unfortunately you will probably get the same response I did from the LDS - directed to their web page which directs you to contact the church who direct you to the web page.
Although 64 bit systems have been with us for 7 years it appears that the LDS do not have any current plans to update the viewing software.
Please note this applies only to the 64 bit version of Windows 7 as the viewer runs with no problems on the 32 bit version
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Hi
I got a reply from support who told me to do what they had previously advised for Vista...turn compatability to XP service pack 2 or 3. But since I'd already tried that there was no joy. I've replied to them as requested telling them it didn't work and asking if there's a patch but I don't hold out much hope. I hate to say but I think it's going to be a case of not binning the old computer just so we can run the software we already have.
Den
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I've done a bit of research into this today - it appears that LDS used to distribute "Folio Viewer" software as the browser for their Census and Vital Records Index CD's. See Mark Howell's article at http://www.oz.net/~markhow/writing/more.htm. An article on Wikipedia at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Folio_Corporation shows how this product was sold from company to company over the years and probably explains why LDS did not upgrade beyond v4.2. It seems from http://www.nextpage.com/news/releases/pr_061704.htm that even Version 4.5 was compatible only with Windows 2003 and Windows ME. A later article at http://www.cedion.de/fast_sheets/FAST_Folio_Publisher_Product_Sheet.pdf shows that version 4.6 runs on a 64-bit platform, although it does not mention Vista or Windows 7. I'm guessing that this version would be likely to run OK on 64-bit Windows 7 and probably requires the 64-bit version.
Bad news is that according to http://groups.google.com/group/soc.genealogy.britain/browse_thread/thread/8184af4b5a19f7e3?tvc=2 this version 4.6 of Folio Views cost £140 in 2006. It's since been replaced by version 4.7 which might be the proper Windows Vista/Windows 7 version but as a business tool no doubt costs even more!
Even if the alternative of the XP compatibility mode did work it would mean for me as a user of Windows 7 Home Premium a cost of £100 to upgrade to Home Professional in order to be able to use the XP Mode!
It occurs to me that the LDS software might run under WINE - the Windows emulator for Linux. Since I'm running Linux under Sun's Virtual box on my 64-bit Windows 7 PC - specifically Ubuntu 9.10 - this might be a free way of getting compatibility for older versions of Windows for nothing!
Richard
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I'm having the same problems with windows 7 and contacted LDS they didn't give me an answer but said they'd send me a viewer 4.0, why I'm not sure when I have 2 now.I was able to load the viewer to the upgrade 4.02 but not add the resource disk.
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You need to check which version of Windows you are running - if it is the 64 bit version of Windows 7 then the problems referred to above will apply and it will not matter which version of the viewer you have.
To check right click on "Computer" on the desktop and select properties - the information should be there.
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I hope this helps someone else who is trying to run the Family History Resource File Viewer 4.0 and Windows 7-
Microsoft Windows 7 Professional, Enterprise, and Ultimate all allow you to download a Windows XP Virtual PC image known as Windows XP Mode.
I am running Windows 7 Ultimate 64-bit on my laptop, and had the same problem outlined in this thread. However, installing the Family History Resource File Viewer 4.0 in the Windows XP Mode virtual PC runs successfully! I was able to install the 1881 British Census Scotland Region with no problem!
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So for users of Windows 7 Home Premium and other "budget" Windows versions then an upgrade costing only £50 or £100 is all that is necessary to be able to download and install XP mode and get FH Resource File Viewer to work once again!
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So for users of Windows 7 Home Premium and other "budget" Windows versions then an upgrade costing only £50 or £100 is all that is necessary to be able to download and install XP mode and get FH Resource File Viewer to work once again!
Not quite - users of the 32 bit edition of Windows 7 can install and use the FH Resource File Viewer without any problems , regardless of the version of Windows 7 they are using.
However users of the 64 bit edition will require Windows 7 Professional, Enterprise, and Ultimate which all allow you to download a Windows XP Virtual PC image known as Windows XP Mode before they can install and run the FH viewer.
Theoretically if you already have a copy of XP it should be possible to use any of the Virtual PC pieces of software (some of which are free) to achieve the same result although I must admit to not having tried this.
(PS I believe there may also have been a considerable amount of tongue firmly in cheek with your response above ;) )
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I have just bought a windows 7 64 bit Home Premium laptop and have found the same problem as the others in this string of correspondence. Has the LDS, or anyone else found a solution yet?
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I also e-mailed familysearch whohave now replied as follows:
"Thank you for contacting FamilySearch regarding your Resource File Viewer 4.0, which isn’t working correctly on your new 64-bit windows laptop.
We are sorry to say that the Resource File Viewer is not compatible with 64-bit operating systems. There is currently no workaround. Our best suggestion at this time is that you use an old computer with a 32-bit operating system to view your Resource Files.
We apologize for this inconvenience and wish you the best in your Family History pursuits."
I hope this is useful to anyone else with this problem. Samuel 1888
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Grrr. One of the main reasons for recently buying a brand new laptop was so that I could do my genealogy research on the move. Having invested in a Windows 7 (64-bit) machine it is very disappointing to learn that I can't run BVRI on it. Sounds like FamilySearch have no plans to remedy the situation.
It should however be possible for a third party to develop a new piece of software which can read the datafiles held on the CDs (or maybe convert the data into a different format which can then be read by something like Microsoft Access).
But I think this would only be possible if FamilySearch published the specification for the datafiles in question. Would they co-operate? Is this information available already?
Dave
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Dave,
I suggest you log onto Family Search and ask them via their e-mail-us facilty. They replied to me within 24 hours. Maybe if enough people raise it they'll take action.
Samuel 1888
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The easiest solution is to install and run a virtual machine on the windows 64 bit computer (for example http://www.vmware.com/products/player/ ) using an older verion of windows (the full installation disk is required)
This basically sets up a computer running in a window on your machine and it can access your drives to install the BVRI disks or any other LDS database software.
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Hi,
On my Vista laptop, I ran BVRI2 in "Network" mode.
I tried to follow the instructions as to how to configure my new Windows 7, so that BVRI2 would again run in Network mode.
However the registry keys are different, so I can't really figure it out.
Can someone please post the instructions on how to edit the registry, so that I can again run this as a network?
Thank you in advance
Tammy
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The easiest solution is to install and run a virtual machine on the windows 64 bit computer (for example http://www.vmware.com/products/player/ ) using an older verion of windows (the full installation disk is required)
This basically sets up a computer running in a window on your machine and it can access your drives to install the BVRI disks or any other LDS database software.
Having just 'graduated' to Windows8, can I assume that the same advice applies as regards running a virtual machine using a 32 bit computer ?
If so, does anyone know of detailed instructions anywhere on how to use VMware or similar software on how to set up such a virtual 32bit m/c ?
That's always assuming, of course, that no-one has yet produced a piece of software allowing access to the LDS 1881 census CDs on a 64 bit m/c !
kirkmichael
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Have a look at this first
http://www.dummies.com/how-to/content/how-to-run-older-programs-under-windows-8.html
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Have a look at this first
http://www.dummies.com/how-to/content/how-to-run-older-programs-under-windows-8.html
Hi M.R.Dien
Many thanks for your reply.
I'm still interested in knowing how to set up a virtual 32 bit m/c in Windows 8, never mind also hearing if anyone has created a piece of software that extracts to data from the LDS 1881 CDs.
kirkmichael