Hi Marge and others interested, Marge emailed me her FOWIN6 backup files so that I could try restoring them on another computer. I installed FOWIN6 and tried to restore the two databases on a Windows 98 computer, and got the Dynazip error message. I have Winzip so then tried using it to unzip the files to a directory C:\FO6\data. Unfortunately for both files I got the message that the zip file is empty. I then tried to restore the FO6 presumably zip files to FO10 on an XP computer and received the message the file did not contain a Family Origins backup. I could be mistaken, but I interpret this to mean the file was never backed up to the disk. It could be that the backup went up to the hard drive instead of the floppy or perhaps more likely the problem was with the floppy or perhaps some other problem with the computer. It seems strange, however, that there are named files that are empty. If one had backed up accidentally to the hard disk, I would think that you should have no named files on the floppy. Clicking on properties, each file is 2 kb. Does anyone else have a suggestion for Marge? Margaret Scheffler ----- Original Message ----- From: <MAHowes678130736@aol.com>

If properties shows a size of 2 KB then something went to the floppy drive. It might however be corrupted. I presume that you are trying to recover with the same version that was backed up? FO10 will not read a FO6 backup. If it is corrupted then back to the keyboard. I daily backup my files to a CD. I backup to a second cd when I have made a lot of changes for my bank deposit box. I backup to my second drive periodically and backup to my zip drive periodically. That doesn't mean that I couldn't have a hard drive failure and couldn't read my backups but I am cutting the odds. Several files that I do everything possible to not lose are my Quicken bank accounts, and my Genealogy files. And, Oh my thousands of scanned photos, photos from my digital camera and photos sent to me from others. I think if I lost any one of those files I couldn't ever stop crying. Over the many years that I have had computers, I have had hard disk failures, changes of computers that I couldn't transfer some of the files etc. Several times I have lost all my e-mail folders of various people that have e-mailed me and it broke my heart. E-mail folders have no sure way of backing up because no provisions are made a backup. I always tried to back them up but never could recover them. Anyway it is bedtime so lots of luck to you and I hope you can recover them. Art Pollock Savannah, Georgia ----- Original Message ----- From: "MScheffler" <mscheffl@twcny.rr.com> To: <FAMILY-ORIGINS-USERS-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Sunday, January 05, 2003 11:06 PM Subject: [FO] Unrestorable backup files > Hi Marge and others interested, > > Marge emailed me her FOWIN6 backup files so that I could > try restoring them on another computer. > > I installed FOWIN6 and tried to restore the two > databases on a Windows 98 computer, and got the Dynazip > error message. I have Winzip so then tried using it to > unzip the files to a directory C:\FO6\data. Unfortunately > for both files I got the message that the zip file is empty. > > I then tried to restore the FO6 presumably zip files to > FO10 on an XP computer and received the message the file did > not contain a Family Origins backup. > > I could be mistaken, but I interpret this to mean the > file was never backed up to the disk. It could be that the > backup went up to the hard drive instead of the floppy or > perhaps more likely the problem was with the floppy or > perhaps some other problem with the computer. It seems > strange, however, that there are named files that are empty. > If one had backed up accidentally to the hard disk, I would > think that you should have no named files on the floppy. > Clicking on properties, each file is 2 kb. > > Does anyone else have a suggestion for Marge? > > Margaret Scheffler > ----- Original Message ----- > From: <MAHowes678130736@aol.com> > > > > ==== FAMILY-ORIGINS-USERS Mailing List ==== > The "Family Origins® Wish List" http://formalsoft.com/wishlist.htm > ??? FAQ ??? -- http://www.graabek.com/fow/fofaq.html >

> It seems > strange, however, that there are named files that are empty. > If one had backed up accidentally to the hard disk, I would > think that you should have no named files on the floppy. FOW SHOULD tell you if the backup operation failed and should NOT leave empty named files on the disk. That's something that Bruce can and should fix. OTOH, it's a shame that we preach and preach about multiple, rotating, verified backups and keeping copies offsite for protection against fire, etc. and people continue to rely on a single floppy disk in their desk drawer. Sooner or later, everybody get the same painful lesson - it sure is a tough way to learn how to back up properly. Good Hunting! -- Paul aka Graveseeker on Geocaching.com where YOU are the search engine.