Thanks Cheryl, A search brings up my Paf files but I am unable to open Paf to do as you suggest. The only response I get from the icon from the new download is a Security Warning saying - "The publisher could not be verified. Are you sure you want to run this software?" Publisher: Unknown. Options: Run or Cancel (which just deletes the box). I haven't dare to click on Run yet! It's me thats running :-) Marg ----- Original Message ----- From: "singhals" <singhals@erols.com> To: <paf-5-users@rootsweb.com> Sent: Friday, February 18, 2011 7:05 AM Subject: Re: [PAF-5] lost Paf > Marg & Neil Andrews wrote: >> Hi everyone, >> I am helping a niece in NZ with her research and thought it would be a >> good idea to download >> another Paf file onto my computer to fill in her tree. >> >> I have the new one downloaded but not installed yet, because I must have >> done something stupid in the process as now I can't open my own Paf file >> (or any back-up dvd's either). >> Have I somehow uninstalled the original PAF program? >> Is the new download overruling my own records? >> I am hesitant to continue on the installation of the new download as I no >> longer feel confident about what I need to do. My old version of PAF is >> 5.0 and I think the new one is the same. >> I am using Windows XP. >> >> If anyone can help solve my problem or suggest where I can go (apart from >> to a Mental Asylum thinking >> I have lost many years of work), >> I would very much appreciate some help. >> Marg Andrews Queensland Australia. > > Marg? Maybe it's my bad-brain week, but it sounds as if you > d/l the program just so you could open a new set of people? > If you did that, you really really didn't need to. You > can create a separate file for your niece's stuff, by > clicking FILE/NEW and giving it a name like Niece1. > > Other than that, I would agree that when you re-installed > PAF, it probably overwrote all your old preferences, such as > where to look for your file. > > Open PAF, close whatever database opens, which ought to get > you to a post-card-sized box in the middle of the window > with assorted options. Pick FIND and OK and it'll find all > the .paf files on your system. [ or, open Windows Explorer > and tell IT to find all files with .paf in the name. > > Cheryl