Alistair, You can download the Free PAF program off the LDS website. Personal Ancestry File, may not have the grandest of reports, but it's free and updates continually. You still need to back-up to a CD once in a while. Familysearch.org has free downloads of their program. You can have this converted to another program...when you have time. But when your hard drive "takes a swan dive" it is handy to have a program you can get to quickly. Trying again is hard when you've lost everything, but like all of life's lessons, it is painful. I've lost mine before too! I had the hard drive examined by an expert, who retrieved my files. It likely won't happen again. It's another reason to contribute, so there is a copy somewhere when a disaster happens. I've meant to convert my file, but I'm really good at using the PAF. Free is a wonderful help, these days! It is meant to encourage submitting back to the LDS once you get a "full file". Good luck, whatever you choose. The list is a "family" and all of us can sympathize with your disaster. Maybe this is a good time to reevaluate which software you're using, and adding an external Cd, or a back-up taping program. Mary In a message dated 4/6/2009 7:53:10 A.M. Pacific Daylight Time, alistair.macdonald@btinternet.com writes: I'm overwhelmed. My very tentative query has produced an avalanche and I am encouraged to Try Again. As there has been questions raised about my back ups, or the implied lack of them, it might be instructive to spell out my original crash problem and the subsequent hassle of trying to retrieve my lost data. First, the crash. .A corrupted mother board either had to be repaired or I purchase a new computer. I opted for the latter, and my computer workshop started work on the transfers from the old to the new. All went smoothly except that my FTM programme (version 6) refused to move. No problem as I had the installation disc, but it too was unacceptable to my new machine. At the same time it was noticed that my DVD family tree backup discs wouldn't open, nor would saved data from my external hard disc. I also had all relevant data saved in print, but that back up was operationally static. (I kept my memory stick out of the backup picture as it was in use for day to day copying) So, If I wanted to continue with my research I would need a new FTM programme which I bought (FTM 2009) It too was inactive as far as opening my back ups were concerned. Next - FTM Help. After a lenghthy correspondence I was told, almost as an after thought, that my new FTM 2009 did not support FTM Version! 6 containing my four family trees. Solution - download FTM 2005 for a 14 day free trial. This programme, I was assured would act as a go-between which it did, and that brings me back to the present where I am now rarin' to go. It seems a long narrative not directly concerned with trying again, bur someone somewhere may find my experiences useful. Alistair in Kent England ------------------------------- To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to ANGUS-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message **************A Good Credit Score is 700 or Above. See yours in just 2 easy steps! (http://pr.atwola.com/promoclk/100126575x1221621488x1201450096/aol?redir=http:%2F%2Fwww.freecreditreport.com%2Fpm%2Fdefault.aspx%3Fsc%3D668072%26hmpgID %3D62%26bcd%3DAprilfooterNO62)