Okay, here's the report on the resolution of my Legacy error, for those who wanted to know the "end of the story."
After the tech support at Milennia saying there was nothing they could do, a couple of people on the group helped me with putting my family file into a format that I could use in FTM (last resort). Great relief to know there was a way I could access my data at least. I am very appreciative of one of our group who took my file and checked it for errors and put it in a GEDCOM format for FTM. Others had great suggestions/tips. No matter what I tried, Legacy still could not run. I could not count the times I uninstalled (including files left behind) and reinstalled. (clean reinstall from the web). Every time, same error. One person from the group contacted me personally and virtually held my hand through several processes. First, a scan revealed that there was indeed a plethera of problems on my 9-month-old Dell, seemingly resulting from a corrupted Windows update(s). Things had been snow-balling and log-jamming since then. Our first choice was to do a system restore back to a point where all was working well. Unfortunately, my system gave us no options for a restore point that went back far enough. So, then, my Good Samaritan directed me to uninstall all the Windows updates from 2013, one at a time. After turning off Auto Updates and completing that process (took me almost all day today), another scan revealed some remaining corruption. However, for the first time since all this mess started, my Legacy program is now running. I could not believe it when it actually did NOT return the error. I'm trying not to worry too much about the remaining corruption that shows up during a scan, because everything seems to be working beautifully right now. Anything else is going to be dumped in the lap of Dell. (And I did remember to turn back on the Windows updates, and so I'm all updated with good files now.) So, thanks so much for all the wonderful help. And thanks for all the mentions of sympathy regarding my mother's final days. I have been making many trips to my sister's home, and will be on the road again tomorrow. We know she has days at most, maybe only hours now. She is prepared and is ready to go, though it is always difficult to say goodbye, of course. I can now answer genealogy questions from family members whom I will see in the next few days. Thanks again, all, Barbara Sent from my iPad On Apr 10, 2013, at 7:12 PM, Freuler <[email protected]> wrote: > I do not know how many important files and programs you might have on your > computer. Or how old it is. But I do know that after a while it seems Windows > gets "confused" and flaky things start to happen. I would bet if you > reformatted and reinstalled Windows (Dell can help with this or they should > have given you a CD), all your problems would be solved. Even the supposedly > "incompatible" program would work. > > Of course, this means you need a great backup of all your data on the drive > so you wouldn't lose anything. There is always something you forget about and > doing this wipes out everything on your disk. > (Kind of a last resort deal!!) > > On Apr 10, 2013, at 4:59 PM, BK Ford <[email protected]> wrote: > >> I have had a thought that might solve my immediate problem of converting the >> .fdb file to a gedcom, through Legacy, maybe. I have an old laptop that is >> slow as molasses but still configured to use on my network. I am now >> downloading Legacy 6 onto it. Then I will use a thumb drive to copy the .fdb >> file onto the old computer and hopefully get it to limp along long enough to >> convert a gedcom. No, I do not want to continue to use the old one, just for >> Legacy. It takes forever just to open a program. [The download is now >> finished on the old computer; I'll transfer the file and hope to convert it >> to a gedcom, save it onto the thumb drive, and then import the gedcom into >> FTM 2011 I guess. I'm so sad not to be able to use Legacy. It took me weeks >> to learn it.] I do see that I left my Legacy folder on the C: on the old >> laptop, so I'm just going to replace the .fdb in that folder (last modified >> 6-18-2012) with the latest .fdb on my new computer (updated this March). >> Then, at least all my "stuff" is working on the old computer. >> >> Am I making any sense? >> >> >> >> Sent from my iPad >> >> On Apr 10, 2013, at 6:14 PM, "Ron Ferguson" <[email protected]> >> wrote: >> >>> Barbara, >>> >>> I wasn't thinking of Dell, rather a local geek! However you can check the >>> memory yourself - see: >>> http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows7/diagnosing-memory-problems-on-your-computer >>> - and look near the bottom of the page for manual running. >>> >>> Ron Ferguson >>> http://www.fergys.co.uk/ >>> >>> -----Original Message----- >>> From: BK Ford >>> Sent: Wednesday, April 10, 2013 11:42 PM >>> To: [email protected] >>> Subject: Re: [LegacyUG] Panic! >>> >>> See my response within (I hope that's allowed) in all caps to differentiate: >>> >>> >>> >>> Sent from my iPad >>> >>> On Apr 10, 2013, at 4:49 PM, "Ron Ferguson" <[email protected]> >>> wrote: >>> >>>> Barbara, >>>> >>>> I'm afraid that I have just had three hours sleep - I spent much of last >>>> night working on a rewrite of my Photo Album webpages (not yet finished) >>>> so >>>> have not really had chance to absorb the possible causes. UGH!! >>> >>>> What is clear is >>>> that it is an installation problem, or an interaction from another >>>> program. >>>> The fact that you got so far indicates that it may be the latter, although >>>> by no means am I ruling the first option out. >>>> >>>> Have you recently installed *any* other program - especially, but not >>>> exclusively, an antivirus or firewall? BTW. have you tried closing down >>>> your >>>> PC., leaving it for a few minutes and restarting - if so does it still >>>> stop >>>> at opening the Sample file. I know many people still run V6 on WIN7, so >>>> that >>>> is unlikely to be the problem. You may like to try uninstalling, deleting >>>> the C:\Legacy folder shutting down your Anti-virus and Firewall while >>>> installing Legacy - this is not something which I would like to do myself >>>> btw.. >>> ABOVE ARE ALL THINGS I HAVE TRIED. I EVEN UNINSTALLED THE THREE PROGRAMS I >>> HAVE INSTALLED SINCE THE LAST TIME I USED LEGACY SUCCESSFULLY. STILL SAME >>> ERROR. I DISABLED MY ANTIVIRUS FOR A CLEAN INSTALL. SAME PROBLEM. REMEMBER >>> ALSO, THAT I HAVE USED THIS PROGRAM SUCCESSFULLY ON THIS COMPUTER. >>> >>>> There is one other thing which comes to mind, how long have you had the >>>> PC., >>>> and was it new? >>> >>> MY COMPUTER IS A DELL XPS 64 GB THAT IS 9 MONTHS OLD. AS FAR AS I KNOW I AM >>> NOT HAVING OTHER PROBLEMS. >>> >>>> some years ago on my then a few weeks old WIN XP, I kept >>>> having problems running programs (which makes me ask whether you have >>>> tried >>>> running other programs?) only to eventually find out that I had a >>>> defective >>>> RAM. >>> I USE MY COMPUTER NONSTOP EXCEPT THE LAST FEW DAYS WHEN I HAVE BEEN GONE A >>> LOT, AND EVEN HAD IT WITH ME ONE OF THOSE DAYS, AND EVERYTHING ELSE SEEMS TO >>> BE WORKING. >>>> I know that Brian is following this thread, maybe he can advise whether >>>> contacting their technical dept. will help, I'm not sure, but nothing will >>>> be lost by so doing. >>>> >>>> As you will have gathered these are just a few random thoughts, dotting >>>> i's >>>> and crossing t's, when I am more awake, I will switch my head on! >>> >>> IT JUST SEEMED PRETTY HOPELESS TO ME WHEN THE TECH SUPPORT GUY, LOOKING INTO >>> MY COMPUTER WITH GOTOASSIST SAID HE COULDN'T COME UP WITH ANYTHING. THEN >>> WHEN HE SAID THIS HAPPENS FAIRLY OFTEN BUT HE DIDN'T HAVE A LIST OF >>> INCOMPATIBLES ALREADY KNOWN, IT SEEMED LIKE THE WORST NEWS EVER. >>>> >>>> Ron Ferguson >>>> http://www.fergys.co.uk/ >>>> >>>> >>>> -----Original Message----- >>>> From: BK Ford >>>> Sent: Wednesday, April 10, 2013 6:09 PM >>>> To: [email protected] >>>> Subject: Re: [LegacyUG] Panic! >>>> >>>> Ron, >>>> I am sick. I have tried everything. I really thought I had it. First, I >>>> made >>>> sure the user controls were not in place in Windows. (I rebooted after >>>> just >>>> about everything I did.) I followed all your steps, parking the Data >>>> folder >>>> and the .usr files (on my desktop) and then uninstalling AND deleting the >>>> Legacy folder from C:. I then did a fresh install directly from the web >>>> site. I really thought it was going to work. After saying it was a >>>> successful installation, it asked for the language and let me put in my >>>> customer number (to unlock my deluxe edition). (At this point, my data >>>> folder is still outside the software, parked on my desktop.) It even asked >>>> what I wanted to do. I chose to open a sample file. At that point, the >>>> hateful error message (same one) came on the screen, and I had to close >>>> the >>>> progam. This tells me that there is no corruption in my data folder or the >>>> .usr files. Now what? I am so upset. >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> Sent from my iPad >>>> >>>> On Apr 8, 2013, at 10:07 AM, Ron Ferguson <[email protected]> >>>> wrote: >>>> >>>>> As I understand the problem, when an attempt is made to start Legacy the >>>>> error appears before the program gets anywhere. >>>>> --- >>>>> Ron Ferguson >>>>> http://www.fergys.co.uk/ >>>>> GOONS #5307 >>>>> >>>>> "Brian L. Lightfoot" <[email protected]> wrote: >>>>> >>>>>> Good ideas. And if you can indeed do either of these with no problems, >>>>>> then it means that your family file is corrupted and causing Windows to >>>>>> shut down Legacy rather than Legacy itself display some sort of internal >>>>>> error. Then it’s time to look for an older ZIP backups of your >>>>>> family >>>>>> file that you might have allowed to be created each and every time you >>>>>> shut down Legacy. These will tend to keep on accumulating in the Data >>>>>> folder unless you use Windows Explorer to delete some of the older ones. >>>>>> I usually keep the three most recent sequential backups. >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> Brian in California >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> From: Paul Kean [mailto:[email protected]] >>>>>> Sent: Sunday, April 07, 2013 8:00 PM >>>>>> To: [email protected] >>>>>> Subject: Re: [LegacyUG] Panic! >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> Betty, >>>>>> >>>>>> Can you open the sample database or even create a new one. Either of >>>>>> these would tell that the install was OK and therefore it must be you >>>>>> database that is corrupt. >>>>>> >>>>>> ..Paul >>>>>> Melbourne, Australia >>> >>> >>> >>> Legacy User Group guidelines: >>> http://www.LegacyFamilyTree.com/Etiquette.asp >>> Archived messages after Nov. 21 2009: >>> http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]/ >>> Archived messages from old mail server - before Nov. 21 2009: >>> http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]/ >>> Online technical support: http://www.LegacyFamilyTree.com/Help.asp >>> Follow Legacy on Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/LegacyFamilyTree) and on >>> our blog (http://news.LegacyFamilyTree.com). >>> To unsubscribe: http://www.LegacyFamilyTree.com/LegacyLists.asp >> >> >> >> Legacy User Group guidelines: >> http://www.LegacyFamilyTree.com/Etiquette.asp >> Archived messages after Nov. 21 2009: >> http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]/ >> Archived messages from old mail server - before Nov. 21 2009: >> http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]/ >> Online technical support: http://www.LegacyFamilyTree.com/Help.asp >> Follow Legacy on Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/LegacyFamilyTree) and on >> our blog (http://news.LegacyFamilyTree.com). >> To unsubscribe: http://www.LegacyFamilyTree.com/LegacyLists.asp > > > > Legacy User Group guidelines: > http://www.LegacyFamilyTree.com/Etiquette.asp > Archived messages after Nov. 21 2009: > http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]/ > Archived messages from old mail server - before Nov. 21 2009: > http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]/ > Online technical support: http://www.LegacyFamilyTree.com/Help.asp > Follow Legacy on Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/LegacyFamilyTree) and on > our blog (http://news.LegacyFamilyTree.com). > To unsubscribe: http://www.LegacyFamilyTree.com/LegacyLists.asp > > Legacy User Group guidelines: http://www.LegacyFamilyTree.com/Etiquette.asp Archived messages after Nov. 21 2009: http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]/ Archived messages from old mail server - before Nov. 21 2009: http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]/ Online technical support: http://www.LegacyFamilyTree.com/Help.asp Follow Legacy on Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/LegacyFamilyTree) and on our blog (http://news.LegacyFamilyTree.com). To unsubscribe: http://www.LegacyFamilyTree.com/LegacyLists.asp
