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General => Technical Help => Topic started by: Valry on Thursday 14 April 11 12:00 BST (UK)
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Can anyone please help.
Yesterday I decided to delete some files from computer to create space and woe is me - have just discovered I have lost my FTM File.
Any help on restoring it please.
Thanks Valry
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I believe I still have the 'set up' disc also I have an older copy on the lap top - would either of those help me?
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First question...have you emptied your Recycle Bin? If not, you're in luck, because it will still be there.
If you have....next question, do you have System Restore? You should be able to restore to a point before you deleted the files and retrieve them.
If neither apply, sorry, but that's as far as my knowledge goes. But, there are some experts who may be able to retrieve lost files. You may need to find them where you live, and they may be expensive.
It's a bit late now, but my advice is to back up to an external hard-drive every day.
Hope you get your files back,
Leonie.
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Thanks for replying.
Yes I did empty recycle bin (lesson learnt)
I do have a system restore, but have never delved before, which I believe restores each week.
Have just got to pop out so perhaps I will try and find it later - (unfortunately computer literate son who usually sorts out computer illiterate mother is out of the country at the moment - ouch)
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sadly, System Restore wont include application files.
What about your FTM backup file?
suffix is .FBK (as opposed to the main file which is suffix .FTW )
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Hi
Just in case you have got a copy somewhere you have forgotten about ......
( ::) )
WinXP =
(Bottomleft) Start / Search / For files or folders / Allfilesfolders / (part of the filename) *.f* / search
Win7 =
(Bottomleft) Winlogo / In the box "search programs and folders" *.f* / search (magnifyglass)
Either should tell you if you have a useful file somewhere (as well as others)
R
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Hi
You may also want to try something like this .........
http://www.officerecovery.com/freeundelete/
which is supposed to undelete if it has not been overwritten.
I have not tried it, you may be lucky.
R
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Yesterday I decided to delete some files from computer to create space and woe is me - have just discovered I have lost my FTM File. quote]
Do you mean you have lost the program, or lost your tree file?
I am wondering if maybe you just deleted the shortcut icon from your desktop. That would not be a disaster as the program will still be accessible from the start menu. Have you looked there?
If it's your tree file, then Ray's suggestion of Free undelete may be the best option if you don't have it backed up on disc or elsewhere.
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First thank you all for your comments.
After taking note of the comments, now have some improvement. Managed to find one file with a small amount of info on but the info wasnt my family, but it did prove I still had the actual programme on the computer.
Now have located a disc with FTW back up from August 2010 of work in progress which has a lot of my information on.
Dilemma now - I have the programme open on computer and dvd disc still inserted. How do I save the information back to computer so I can remove the disc?
Also would it be better to cut my losses and do catch up or still try to find all of the information.
Your continued help would be very much appreciated.
Valry
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as mentioned yesterday - what about a .FBK file - it should (provided you shutdown FTM normally last time you updated your tree) - be an exact copy of the original .FTW file
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Hi
First run a backup of the file you found to your hard-drive
File - backup
it will probably name your file with today's date
eg valry-2011-04-15.ftmb
it will also confirm where the working directory is
(so you can also check what is in there)
Probably c:\family tree maker\
However, change the file name to something like valry-mk2 before backing up.
Second run two exports (belt and braces)
File - export
run one export as a filemaker file
then another to a gedcom5.5 file
Ensure the file name is same as above ie valry-mk2
Then you can safely close FTM.
It should then save your file as valry-mk2.ftm on your hdd in the working directory above.
I think ................... ;D
Ray
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Thanks both - just picked up your messages. Will have another go tomorrow, hopefully the mind may be a little fresher a.m.
Valry
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YES YES YES. Thank you all for your patience.
I now have a workable copy although it is six months old thought it better to do catch up than trying to find the one I recycled and emptied - more than likely I would have made another right mess.
Thanks Ray, followed your instructions I now have more copies in different formats and with different names but will sort that later. I don't think any will be deleted though.
I certainly must look at an external hard drive option. Being cheeky after this help, what do I actually look for to buy and is it the same sort of 'thing' as a memory stick?
From a technically illiterate computer user
Valry
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you didnt say if you found an .FBK file? These are a standard feature of FTM, unless you disabled it?
It would be up to date with the last updates you did to your main .FTW file .... use FTM's FILE option to drop down a menu and select OPEN ... then in the smaller drop down menu select FBK type files and see whats displayed.
You should recognise the actual File name - click on it and see where you go ;)
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Just go into your local electronics shop and ask for a good external hard-drive. In my opinion, and my tech guru's opinion, LaCie is about the best. I have two, but then I'm OC. ::) (Obsessive-Compulsive)
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Just for future reference, I've used FreeUndelete (as suggested by Ray) on a friend's laptop, very successfully.
'Hat.
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Hi
LoneyB - I 2 luv LaCie, got 2, me 2.
BUT, my brother has had 4 AND they have ALL failed.
RedRog - Just for future reference - Well done, spread the word.
R
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Hi All,
Thanks Ray - tried 'all' the different copies I appear to have made and yes, there is FBK amongst them but they are all coming up as from when I put on to a disc to back them up. Still, worth a try. Hopefully lessons have been learned and as I plod to bring file upto date, other memories besides F.T. will keep coming to haunt me.
Thanks for your patience.
I went into the officerecovery site mentioned, but afraid I chickened out when it said 'download'.
Definitely going to go for the external hard drive - but hearing so many cases of being ripped off just wondered which.
Thanks again one and all and thank goodness for Roots Chat
Valry
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Hi
LoneyB - I 2 luv LaCie, got 2, me 2.
BUT, my brother has had 4 AND they have ALL failed.
RedRog - Just for future reference - Well done, spread the word.
R
I too have a Lacy, but the power supply went bottoms up.
(Lacy wanted silly money for replacement)
Obtained replacement external enclosure for @10pound inc power supply.
It appears power supplies are known to let Lacie drives down.
Brian