RootsMagic
Frequently Asked Questions

Installation Questions

Questions about installing or the full program or demo, or moving the program or data to another computer.

1. I am getting a new computer. How do I move my RootsMagic and data to the new computer?
2. When I try to install RootsMagic it says the program is already installed, but I uninstalled the program and it doesn't show in the Control Panel Add/Remove programs list.
3. I'm having trouble installing RootsMagic. I get an error message or the install just seems to stop partway through.
4. How can I move my data files from one computer to another?
5. I was using the demo. How do I now install the full program?

Back to FAQs

STILL GOT QUESTIONS?
If your question still is not answered, please email us at: Support@GenealogySupplies.com (Please ensure that you include your name and postcode) or call 01722 716121

1. On your old computer, make a backup of your database by doing "File > Backup" from the RootsMagic menu. Change "Save in" to your floppy drive (A:) and then click Save to create the backup.
2. Insert the RootsMagic CD in your new computer and follow the prompts to install the program.
3. Run RootsMagic on your new computer.
4. Do "File > Restore backup" from the RootsMagic menu on the new computer.
5. Click the "Browse" button next to "Backup to restore". A file open dialog will appear.
6. Change the "Look in" to your floppy drive (A:).
7. You should now see the name of the backup you created on the old computer. Click on it and then click the "Open" button.
8. Now click "Begin restore" and your database should appear on screen. - Updated: January 14, 2004

Top

The Microsoft Installer Engine is confused and doesn't realize you have uninstalled a previous version or the demo already. Here is how to "unconfuse" the installer engine. This involves editing the registry, which can be dangerous if you don't know what you are doing, so if you aren't comfortable editing the registry, contact us to step you through it.

1. Do "Start > Run" from Windows
2. Enter "regedit" and click the OK button. This will start the registry editor.
3. Click the plus sign in front of HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE
4. Click the plus sign in front of "Software".
5. Click the plus sign in front of "Classes".
6. Scroll way down (there are a lot of items under "Classes") until you reach "Installer". Click the plus sign in front of "Installer".
7. Click the plus sign in front of "Products".
8. Look for a folder named 1B1A4B9DC012A6C... (it goes on). Click on that folder and on the right side of the screen you should see it list the "Product Name" as "RootsMagic".
9. Press the Delete key on your keyboard to delete that 1B1A4B9DC... folder.
10. Exit from the registry editor.
11. Restart your computer
12. You should now be able to install RootsMagic. - Updated: January 14, 2004

Top

3. I'm having trouble installing RootsMagic. I get an error message or the install just seems to stop partway through.

1. Uninstall RootsMagic from the control panel
2. From Windows Explorer, completely delete the RootsMagic folder (c:\Program Files\RootsMagic)
3. Look in your Windows folder (C:\Windows or C:\WinNT) for a folder named "Downloaded Installations"
4. In that folder are a number of folders with cryptic names. Look in each folder, and delete any folder that contains either "RootsMagic.msi" or "RootsMagic Demo.msi".
5. Restart your computer
6. Insert the RootsMagic CD and install it. - Updated: January 14, 2004

Top

4. How can I move my data files from one computer to another?

The best way to move your data files is to:

1. Create a backup of your database to floppy using the "File > Backup" command.
2. Restore the backup on the other computer using the "File > Restore" command from RootsMagic's main menu.

A RootsMagic database is made up of 33 files, so don't try just moving the .rmg file or your database will not be complete (in fact it won't even work). By using the backup method above, all 33 files are transferred to the new computer. - Updated: January 14, 2004

Top

5. I was using the demo. How do I now install the full program?

You need to uninstall the demo version before installing the full program from the CD. Make sure the CD is NOT in the drive, then do "Start, Settings, Control Panel, Add/Remove Programs". Select "RootsMagic demo" in the list and click "Remove".

Then insert the RootsMagic CD into the CDROM drive and install the program.

In some rare situations, following the above steps still leaves the demo installed. If this happens, follow the above steps to uninstall the demo, then use Windows Explorer to physically delete the c:\program files\rootsmagic folder from your computer. Then insert the CD to install the full program. - Updated: January 14, 2004

Top

STILL GOT QUESTIONS?
If your question still is not answered, please email us at: Support@GenealogySupplies.com (Please ensure that you include your name and postcode) or call 01722 716121

Back to FAQs