About Lost Data
1. Some Legacy users inadvertently have two or more nearly identical family files that are saved in different locations on their computer. If they added people into family file “A” saved in the Data folder today, but open family file “B” saved in a different location tomorrow, they may incorrectly conclude that Legacy has lost the new individuals they just added. Check the location of other family files by visiting http://support.legacyfamilytree.com/article/AA-00901.
This is important to know because sometimes when Legacy has been updated, it loses track of the current file and might locate an older version. If this happens, reload your current family file.
2. On occasion, an update to the Legacy program requires a conversion of the family file to the new format. It is rare, but sometimes the conversion may corrupt data in the family file. If this happened to your file, we regret this unfortunate incident. Do you have a backup file you can restore from? 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: "How do I find missing family files on my computer?" at http://support.legacyfamilytree.com/article/AA-00901.
As with any new version, before updating, do a check/repair on your current version. Please 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 in the error message box so that the repair steps can finish. Do Check/Repair twice if errors are found.
3. Next back up your family file.
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.
4. Download the latest version of your program:
LEGACY: http://www.legacyfamilytree.com/DownloadUpdate.asp
LEGACY 7.5 OR EARLIER: http://support.legacyfamilytree.com/article/AA-00899 and download the final revision (build) of your version.
5. Some actual errors in the count of individuals can be fixed by checking and repairing the family file. Click on File on the menu bar and select File Maintenance > Check/Repair and proceed with the repair. If the error messages occur during the Check and Repair process, click No to finish with the repair. Do Check and Repair twice if errors are found.
6. When the comparing the file size of two or more family files, the size as measured in megabytes is NOT a good indicator of which file contains the most or least individuals. Check and Repair and File Compacting will reduce a file size by deleting unused/unreferenced data without affecting the number of individuals in the files. Also a file of 1 million+ people with only “bare bones” information can have a smaller file size than a file with 800 thousand people rich with lengthy notes, many sources, many events, etc. Do not delete family files with a smaller file size without first opening them and verifying the actual counts of individuals and families.
7. If you have Legacy 7.5 or earlier you should review the information at http://support.legacyfamilytree.com/article/AA-00897.
Windows 7 and Windows 8 employ a User Access Control (UAC) feature called the VirtualStore which is designed to add an extra layer of security protection for applications installed under the Program Files folder. All changes made to files in, and any attempt add files to, the Program Files folder and sub-folders (directory and sub-directories) require special Administrative permission. Because UAC is designed to ensure that Program Files remains completely unchanged from when applications were initially installed, it prevents the family file from being added to.
