1. If you have Microsoft Access, you may be able to open your family file and repair it (if you can't open your file in Access, or you don't have Access, skip to step 4):
- Start MS Access.
- Click on File and select Open.
- Type *.fdb in the File name field at the bottom of the window and press Enter on the keyboard. Access will now see all files with a .fdb extension.
- Browse to the directory where the family file is saved and select it.
- Click on Tools > Database Utilities > Compact and Repair Database.
2. Close Access and then try opening your family file in Legacy again. If you are successful:
LEGACY: Please see the article "How to Check/Repair your family file - Legacy " at http://support.legacyfamilytree.com/article/AA-00749.
LEGACY 7.5 OR EARLIER: Click on File> File Maintenance > Check/Repair and follow the prompts. If the error messages occur during the Check/Repair process, click No to continue with the repair. You can also try clicking Yes in some instances. Do step 1 twice if errors are found. After doing step 1, try Legacy again. If the program works, you can stop here. No further repairs are needed.
3. Export your records into a new Legacy family file:
- Click on File > Export > Export to a new Legacy Family File.Give your new family file a name and click Save and the Legacy Export screen will open.
- Click the Privacy Options button to open the Privacy Options screen. (For Legacy 7.5 and earlier select the Privacy tab.)
- In the lower half of the screen, under Override Private Settings, click the Check All button and then click Save.
- In the Legacy Export screen check mark Include general To-Do items and then click Start the Export.
- If the AutoSource Reminder screen opens, click the Don't Assign a Source button.
- The export will begin. When it's complete click OK.
- When asked "Would you like to open the file you just export to?" click the Yes button.
- Use the new family file and delete the old one when you are satisfied with the results.
4. Please restore your family file from your backup. To restore a family file from a backup copy, please click on File and select Restore Family File. Next, browse to your backup file and follow the screen prompts. For detailed backup and restore guidance with helpful screen shots please visit:
LEGACY: Please see the article "How to Backup a Family File and/or Media Files in Legacy" at http://support.legacyfamilytree.com/article/AA-00868.
LEGACY 7.5 OR EARLIER: Please see the article "Backing Up a Family File in Legacy Family Tree 7.5" at http://support.legacyfamilytree.com/article/AA-00485.
5. If you can't do the above steps, contact Support@LegacyFamilyTree.com.
In Legacy Family Tree the most common reasons for serious file errors are:
• Upgrading to a new version of Legacy as well as updating (adding fixes and enhancements) to your current version when there are undetected/unrepaired in the file.
• Doing tasks that make global changes (importing, merging, renumbering RINs, search and replace, etc.) in a family file that has unrepaired errors.
• Legacy left open and unattended for an extended time (for example, Legacy left open overnight when an automatic Windows update with computer reboot occurs)
• Electrical power failures, power surges or power “brown outs” while using Legacy
• System crash due to abrupt or incorrect system shutdown (for example, low system resources leading to a lockup or crash)
• Faulty hard drives with bad sectors (family file saved in a location where bad sectors develop)
• Exceeding the 2 GB size limit for a family file. As a family files approaches this limit, it is highly susceptible to fatal, unrepairable errors.
• Viruses, worms, Trojans, etc.
Prevention and recovery:
• Regularly do Check/Repair of your family file as preventative maintenance. Click on File on the menu bar and select File Maintenance > Check/Repair and proceed with the repair. If any error messages occur during the Check/Repair process, click No to finish with the repair. Do Check/Repair twice if errors are found.
• Always do Check/Repair before upgrading to a new version of Legacy as well as updating (adding fixes and enhancements) to your current version, before importing files, merging duplicate individuals, renumbering RINs, global search and replace, running Legacy FamilySearch -- in short any task that will make global changes to your family file.
• Use an uninterruptible power supply or APC to protect your computer from sudden power loss and to filter out power surges/fluctuations.
• Don’t leave Legacy open and unattended for prolonged periods. Shut it down if you are going to bed or will be away for more than a few minutes. A family file can be corrupted if Legacy is open when an automatic Windows update with reboot happens.
• Run ScanDisk / Disk Defragmenter regularly on your computer's hard drive and replace bad drives.
• Don’t push the 2 GB size limitation for a family file. As a file approaches the 2 GB limit it becomes susceptible to errors that can’t be fixed
• Back up your family file on a regular basis, especially before any global file operations like importing and merging records, or using any tools like Check/Repair, Advanced Deleting, Advanced Sourcing or Search and Replace which make global changes to your family file. For additional information:
LEGACY: "How to Restore a Legacy Family File from a Backup Copy in Legacy" at http://support.legacyfamilytree.com/article/AA-00869.
LEGACY 7.5 AND EARLIER: Please visit http://support.legacyfamilytree.com/article/AA-00281.
