Free Ancestry UK Access this weekend

[Nick_Ips]

Thankyou smudwhisk, problem solved. My screen resolution was 1024x786. Increasing it to 1200x960 has left the menu items the same (i.e. 'Save Image' rather than 'Save to my computer') but the behaviour is different - no new tabs, instead the image just downloads. I now have to change a whole load of other settings so I don't go blind trying to read the screen!

3sillydogs, your problem is easy    Go to 'Tools' and 'Options' from the menu at the top, or 'Options' if you have the menu bar hidden. the first page 'General' has a section called 'Downloads' about half-way down. Select the 'Always ask me where to save files' option.

This should always then prompt you with the 'Save To' window - the folder location should default to the one you previously used, so you only need to change the filename.

Or alternatively reduce your screen resolution down to 1024x768 and it will work fine 

[Gadget]

3SD - if you go to Tools on the top bar and then Options - General, you ill be able to change the destination of downloads to Desktop or whatever:

(Just seen that Nick has explained but here's a snip)

[Fogmoose]

Another weekend of freeloaders slowing things down for subscribers!

Once again I question why I bother to subscribe to these sites. I didn't mind when it was just the occasional free weekend, but now, between the two main sites it seems to be at least once a month. Judging by comments on here and elsewhere, I'm sure that a lot of people, who perhaps would have subscribed, now just sit and wait for free weekend. In fact some people ask when the next one is as if it it their right to expect one.

I know that makes me sound as if I begrudge people getting it for free, and perhaps I do. It's about time that Ancestry and FindMyPast rewarded their loyal customers.

I'm afraid that StanleysChesterton's post has made me even more cross. Genealogy is an expensive hobby, I know that and luckily I am in the position to be able to afford it and that is one reason why I like to help people on here. Perhaps I should stop doing that and just let them wait for free weekends as it appears we are our own worse enemies by supporting the subscription sites. It doesn't sound to me as if many people who take advantage of the freebies actually go on to subscribe, they just wait for the next one!

Genealogy need NOT be an expensive hobby. What makes it so is pay sites like @ncestry gouging people and hoarding publicly available information. And yes I know the argument that they pay loads of money and they perform a valuable service and all that, but it doesn't change the fact that everything they do would be done eventually at free sights like FreeBMD FreeCEN and RC. I'd rather support volunteers and other Genealogists who are helping people in the hobby. Folks here at RC have helped me immensely and I'd like to think that's the way it should be.

I am glad you can afford to spend large amounts of money on this. I and many others cannot. But we still deserve the same access to our ancestors as you do.

[3sillydogs]

Thanks Gadget and Nick, I'll give it a go, but if all else fails, I'll ask son, take the eyes cast upwards at his old mother who can't learn new things

[3sillydogs]

Genealogy can get expensive and while it may seem unfair to those that pay their subs these free weekends are often the only way some of us get access to overseas records.

Here in South Africa we had one pay site for genealogists  and when it closed down it seems that @ncestry  acquired the database, which with the current exchange rate makes it very expensive to buy a sub to a pay site. Never mind ordering certificates etc. 

That is why forums like RC are invaluable to us and those free sites that volunteers put great effort into getting more records online.

[KGarrad]

When I was employed, I had subscriptions to Ancestry and FindMyPast.
Now that I am unemployed, and the subscriptions are more than I get paid per week, I simply can't afford it!

So, I walk to my local library, and use Ancestry Library Edition for free.
I can get up to 2 hours internet time per day, all for free.

I see no difference between that and a free weekend?

In the meantime, I reciprocate by offering lookups of Manx records, if people ask.
And downloads of images of PRs, or photographs of graves, bridges, castles, etc! (All of which I have done in the last 12 months!).
Or offering my 40+ years of experience here on RC, in answering queries.

Do I feel guilty? Not a bit!!

[rosie99]

I don't think any of us with subscriptions are saying that you should not get free access weekends, what we are complaining about is that we are not offered extra days on our subscriptions to compensate.      

[*Sandra*]

I don't think any of us with subscriptions are saying that you should not get free access weekends, what we are complaining about is that we are not offered extra days on our subscriptions to compensate.      

Sums it up nicely Rosie. 

[groom]

I don't think any of us with subscriptions are saying that you should not get free access weekends, what we are complaining about is that we are not offered extra days on our subscriptions to compensate.      

Exactly Rosie - it's another case of companies not caring about their loyal customers, just wanting to attract new ones.

The only thing that does niggle is when people complain that on the free weekends they can't see certain records or download things!