Home Forums Discussions Problems Lost Data, can't restore Backup, HELP!!!!

I was upgrading from 4.060 to 4.062 and everything was going well, two out of 3 computers (including the main one where the database is located), while upgrading the 3rd computer, I couldn't connect to the database, I went back to the main computer and I could no longer access the data!. I've tried rolling back to 4.060, I even tried system restore (which had worked for me in the past), but nothing. Now, it tries to set itself up as a new, blank database where I need to enter my practice information, and I need my existing data. I did a back up just prior to the upgrade, but when I try to do a restore with the enc file, it tells me that it can't communicate with the SQL server. My main database in in a Vista Home 64 bit and the two other computers are in XP. Back in March, I had a horrible time upgrading from 3.7 to 4 and wrote about it here, it's been working well until I tried the upgrade.
How can I restore the enc file with the backup restore utility or is there any other way????

I'm ready to give up and look for another program...

Thanks for any help anybody can give me.

First of all YOU SHOULD NOT USING VISTA Home in a BUSINESS Environment. That might be your beginning of your NETWORK issues.

OK, so I shouldn't be using Vista home, but that doesn't help me now. What should I do now? Any ideas?

Is it the vista home machine that won't work ? I have run into an issue of Vista machines not connecting to the network on more than one occasion.

Did you uninstall the version of AC you just installed and then re-install the version 4.060 ? You would need to do that and then use the restore function of the backup you made.

Have you tried pinging/leaving a voice mail for guardian support - they often come on even when they are closed and return emergency calls - need to make it clear that you can't get your program up and running).

Thanks, Steven, i called support and they called me back, right now they are working remotely with my computer. It is not a network issue, as it is the Vista that has the database and it can't connect with it. Luckily I have a backup in the Vista and in one of the XPs, problem is that the backup utility won't work on either one, stating it can't connect with SQL. So, here's hoping that tech support can help me remotely. Thanks!

NetDrives, keeps your network resources connected.

http://www.amazingcharts.com/ub/ubbthreads.php/topics/14055/NetDrives_Free_Utility_to_Map_#Post14055

Hope it works out for you - guardian angel do go above the line of duty. You might consider changing out your Vista machine - I have purchased very inexpensive computers as workstations and even one to house the database would not cost much and you wouldn't be fiddling with the 64 bit vista issue.

Take care and let us know if they get it working.

Update:

Guardian Angel tried, but couldn't restore the backup on the Vista, he said he'll call back on Tuesday. So, I decided on my own to copy the backup file to the other two XP's (one desktop and one laptop), tried to restore the backup file to those, the desktop didn't work out, but the laptop did, so at least I have one working station with all the accessible data...but I can't have the Vista "see" the laptop (this is a very old laptop and I don't want to have my database there as I don't know how long that computer would last. So, I'm taking a break today, what I'm thinking of doing tomorrow is to copy the files from the laptop and copy them on the Vista and see if that would work. Should I try copying the whole folder or which specific files would I need to copy? I would have the same problem when the time comes to replace the laptop, so how do I move the database to another computer?
Thanks!

hp60md:

You have to understand that unlike Access, the database files you keep referring to are SQL databases. But, they link or work with the SQL Server Express engines. You can but should NOT simply move the folder or databases witout disconnecting these.

If you feel comfortable that ALL of your data is on your laptop, go to the Vista machine that you want to install your main program on. Uninstall everything AC. Uninstall the program and any databases. Go to the other machine. Uninstall everything AC.

Now go to the machine that you want to be your main machine. Install V4 just as you would for the first time, SQL Server and AC, everything. When it gets to the part of migrating data, don't. It should be a virgin install as if you haven't even started your practice yet.

Now go back to your old laptop and go to the AC folder. Right click on Amazing Utilities and choose Run As Administer. (If that option isn't available, then just left click -- AC recommends elevating it to admin status). You will see the goofy IT guy and the three selections. Ignore Mr. IT and the three selections. At the top of the window is Advanced Options. Click on this and then select: Detach and MOVE databases. It will give you an opportunity to browse and move them. I would browse to your "main computer" and move them to the desktop. If you can't move them there, then move them to an external hard drive. If you don't have one, buy one. Today. At Best Buy or Staples or somewhere!

You could have moved them directly to the AC folder on Vista, but then you are committed to that working correctly. With them on the desktop or external drive, you have your data and can play with it as you need to. Technically, you can connect that folder to the SQL engine on your Vista using Amazing Utilities there. So, that is one option. Just put the folder your moved with the databases on the Program Files or the root drive and you're good to go. The second option is to now copy and paste the "free" databases to the brand new AC folder on your main computer and let them overwrite the databases there. Either way, you will need to let Mr. IT guy reconnect the databases to SQL Server. The files you need, which will of course be in the folder you moved are the three databases with both the .mdf and .ldf files, Data001, Illustrations and ImportedItems. You may need to manually move your Imported Items.

By the way, once you move the databases from your old laptop to the new Vista machine over the net or to an external hard drive, then back it up to 50 DVDs or external hard drives. I am exaggerating here, but you get the point.

Once everything is working on your new setup, then uninstall everything AC on the laptop and reinstall and connect.

It really would help to get either XP Pro or Vista Business or Ultimate. Home belongs at home.

Also everyone should stop thinking in terms of backing up AC only. Backing up AC is an afterthought, a bonus, and a quick way to restore. I hate to say mission critical, but it is. BACK UP YOUR ENTIRE SYSTEM. Back it up multiple times in multiple places. Backup your "server" every night. On top of that, backup AC and other small modules you may have. And, with SQL, I, personally, would never upgrade or make a major change with only the AC generated .enc file. I need something I can SEE.

FYI: The Amazing Utilities will also allow you to detach and move the whole folder. This is another option, but I think hb would do better moving just the databases.

Another way which would be possibly much simpler would be at the point where you detach and move databases you choose instead to just detach the databases. It's the choice above I believe. Then you could just copy and paste the AmazingCharts.mdf and AmazingCharts.ldf files to the main machine that has been completely redone and let them overwrite the two files there.

Good morning! Thanks, Bert, for the advice. I didn't feel comfortable detaching the database because I've tried this before and it was almost impossible to attach them where I wanted. So, this is what I did: I copied from the laptop the files you mentioned above into its own new folder (named "files from laptop), I copied my main folder (where the main database is supposed to be, named Amazing Charts V4) into another backup folder, then I copied and pasted the laptop files into the Amazing Charts V4 folder, overwriting everything, and it worked! It probably worked because there was already a blank database in V4 attached to the main computer, so all I had to do is overwrite it. It is still a mystery why the database was erased to begin with and I don't know how to prevent that from happening again. I feel nervous about uninstalling,deleting old stuff since it was a nightmare doing it the first time (even though I followed all the instructions). So, I went to the other computers, and reset the pathways, and all is working now...except for a minor problem: one of my computers is shared by another staff member under her own account, and when trying to use AC from her account, it won't connect, although it would connect fine under my user account, so I don't have a clue why that is. I may need to just delete her account and it will be just one account, but shouldn't she be able to connect under her own user account?

I'll take your advice about system backup and external hard drives, as eventually I'll need to upgrade my XPs into whatever else Microsoft comes up to replace Vista and I'm sure it won't be fun.

Thanks, everybody for your advice.

Dr. B