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ADVICE FROM ALL YOU OLD SCHOOL GENEALOGISTS!

ADVICE FROM ALL YOU OLD SCHOOL GENEALOGISTS!

Posted: 23 Mar 2005 3:16PM GMT
Classification: Query
Edited: 26 Aug 2005 12:36AM GMT
AT WITT'S END HERE! I had my PC crash, and when I went to re install the "saved" info from the floppy, it only saved the bare minimum, NO TEXT! So, I am in the process of re-entering all my ancestors on a NEW genealogy program and a NEW computer. My question is this............... How do you all save keep your info, (family group sheets, etc)? Do you just enter it on your computer? Or, do you print it out so you have a hard copy? If so, WHAT do you print out? If you don't print things out, how do you know what info you need to research? PlEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE, give me some advice on this! How do YOU do it? It's driving me NUTS! Thanks in advance!

Re: ADVICE FROM ALL YOU OLD SCHOOL GENEALOGISTS!

Posted: 23 Mar 2005 4:31PM GMT
Classification: Query
Edited: 18 Apr 2006 8:59PM GMT
I'm very sorry to hear about the crash. It happened to me about 10 years ago. I didn't back up often back then.

I now have an external hard drive along with the one in the computer. I save my information on both. I also burn a CD at the end of the month, 2 CD's actually...just in case. On each CD I also burn the entire file of other items, birth, marriage, death certificates as well as obit and a the newspaper articles, wills, and other applicable items. Essentially I burn everything I have on a CD. I keep about 3 months of CD at one time.

I've been told there are places on the web where you can upload your information as a back up for about $30 a year. That's not to say it's available for all to see, it's just an offsite storage facility.

Re: ADVICE FROM ALL YOU OLD SCHOOL GENEALOGISTS!

Posted: 24 Mar 2005 4:07PM GMT
Classification: Query
Edited: 26 Aug 2005 12:36AM GMT
Thanks for the reply! So, you burn your info on CD? I was told that when you do this that when you re install it, you cant re-enter new info.I was all set to go buy an external floppy drive! Is this true? So, you don't print out your information also?

Re: ADVICE FROM ALL YOU OLD SCHOOL GENEALOGISTS!

Posted: 24 Mar 2005 8:57PM GMT
Classification: Query
Edited: 18 Apr 2006 8:59PM GMT
I have uploaded my info to a laptop without a problem. If you just access the material off the CD without actually uploading it, (restore from backup) then you cannot add information as it hasn't been uploaded. I know this works cause I've sent two family members info on CD and they've uploaded it and it works fine.

I do not generally print out group sheets etc. I will print what I many need if I'm working on a specific family to write in any findings. I don't care to lug the laptop. I do keep paper copies of birth, marriage, and death certificates as well as obits and property records, wills, and any newspaper articles. If a distant relative returns a family group sheet with a variety of info filled in, then I will keep those sheets but I don't keep countless binders of group sheets, etc.

Re: ADVICE FROM ALL YOU OLD SCHOOL GENEALOGISTS!

Posted: 25 Mar 2005 11:58PM GMT
Edited: 19 Dec 2005 11:12PM GMT
What I have done is simply buy a couple of these memory stick ($60 at Staples) and back up the pertinent files on them and copy to my other computer. this way they are in 4 differeent places. But if you have a fire or other disaster at home, that will not do you any good, so I also periodically copy the files to my daughter's computer, at her house.

i have found printing not to be very economical, since you tend to make that obsolete, rather quickly as you go along.

Richard

Re: ADVICE FROM ALL YOU OLD SCHOOL GENEALOGISTS!

Marcelle (View posts)
Posted: 26 Mar 2005 1:39PM GMT
Classification: Query
Back when I started, I didn't have a computer, so everything is in notebooks. I'm very structured and organized, but have 12 volumes at present.

I also had a crash, and luckily, I had joined genserv - a genealogy sharing website. I had sent my information there, so I was able to retrieve my own files. Unfortunately, they were not the most up to date, and I still had to add information from much of the hard copy information.

I also burn cd's now - every few months, when I have new information that I've added. Works fine for me.

Good luck - I do share in the frustration.

btw - www.genserv.com if you want to take a look.

Re: ADVICE FROM ALL YOU OLD SCHOOL GENEALOGISTS!

Posted: 26 Mar 2005 6:36PM GMT
Classification: Query
Edited: 26 Aug 2005 12:36AM GMT
thanks so much for the advice!

Re: ADVICE FROM ALL YOU OLD SCHOOL GENEALOGISTS!

Posted: 26 Mar 2005 6:38PM GMT
Classification: Query
Edited: 26 Aug 2005 12:36AM GMT
thanks for the advice!
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