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Been trying to get with Amazing Charts support for the longest time to try to move our database/installation to our other RAID set, but they are never available and keep giving us the run around. What would be the easiest way to move these? I have SSMS installed to the server and have access into it to see/detach databases, just not sure what is the best way to go about this since they kinda left us on our own to do it ourselves instead of helping.

You're gonna need AC support. Leave them a voicemail and email saying system down and usually someone will get back to you. Or page JamesNT directly maybe he can do it.

I agree, I think you will need AC tech support. I believe there is a code that tech support has to put in to get the database to work on a new system. Hopefully, James can chime in here to help. AC support usually wants an appointment for this type of move.

Please email me your contact information and the practice you are with and I can research the issue.

my direct email is mdabeck@harriscomputer.com

Just sent you an email

Will follow this thread so please post updates.

So I was able to successfully migrate the Amazing Charts on my own. Let me tell you they do not make it easy by any measure, but it is fully doable on your own. Here is a list of prerequisites for this:

1. You need to have access to the SQL SSMS. Since Amazing Charts locks the access to their ACSA user, you will need to brute force this solution. See this link for information: https://www.sqlshack.com/recover-lost-sa-password/ (Dont worry, this wont change the ACSA password and I turned on Windows Authentication to ensure I dont even need a password for the administrator user)

2. BACKUP EVERYTHING before you begin. Make sure you have a full copy of your Amazing Charts folder.

Once you have access to the SQL and the Backup, you should be good to get started. So here is what I did:

1. Moved Amazing Charts folder (backup/copy) to the drive you want it to be in. For me it was moving from RAID 1 C: to RAID 5 E:

2. Edit your "systemsettings.xml" AND your "SystemSettings_BACKUP.xml" files to point to the new drive and location of your database. (Basically change the paths to just the new locations).

3. Uninstall Amazing Charts from the Server

4. Delete C:\Programdata\Amazing Charts folder

5. Go into SSMS and detatch all databases and rename your old Amazing Charts folder something else (IE: Amazing Charts.Old)

6. Attach your database files that are in your new folder location

7. Run the Amazing Charts installer and point it to your copied directory (it will remove any files necessary or copy over them)

8. After the install finishes, reboot the server and make sure all the services are started like normal.

That was it, I was able to successfully get the Amazing Charts moved from one location to another, all data intact and no loss of anything. Was definitely a learning curve, but it seems to all have worked out and now speeds to the data are faster (cause I dont know why someone would install a program like that on a RAID 1), but it saved the providers office a $500 fee for moving the files over.

This should also be a good way to go through restoring a failed server, especially if you have a normal SQL install and not the SQL express, but that is just extra steps. If yall have any questions, let me know and I will answer them as best I can!

Thanks for the info. Just an FYI I can't resist. SSMS is SQL Server Management Studio so you don't need the redundant SQL SSMS. Sorry, that was pretty lame of me.

Lol, fair enough.

Hey ITFACTOR,

Couple of questions ? as I am heading the deadline I need to upgrade.
I have access to the sql server (through windows admin hack long time ago). So I need access to SMSS to be able to attach and detach sql data files ? Is that right ?

This way can I move servers too ?

First, Amazing Charts has tools to move or migrate your SQL server. But, there is no reason to have to move the instance of SQL, nothing that complicated.

Server A has AC with its SQL database and imported items.

You install AC on the new server as the main application and it installs the SQL servers. You restore with the backup and all of the information is put into the database. Move over the imported items folders and you are all done.

So Bert you are saying,

1) Build the server B (with windows and standalone sql if needed) . Does AC support standalone sql server(if I want). I remember it used to be a roaring discussion 10 years ago on AC forums
2) Then do a AC backup(which I do almost daily). Copy the imported files over and Restore the AC backup ?

Is it that simple ? why are they asking that $500 ?

Or...... have it all in a VM and just move the VM from computer to computer... VM is the way to go for sure. I'll never go back to bare metal servers.

Neither would I, but for the average user, that would mean hiring an IT familiar with making and moving VMs.

Got it figured out.

I was running V11.1.1 and have not upgraded for over 3+ years running on sql server 32 bits.
Installed a new windows server 2022 VM on the Hyper-V hosts(previous was running windows 2012)
So key was upgrading to Sql 2016(64 bit). Then AC wont install without some lic key.
Make a emergency call to support(first time calling support in 18 years). The support guy took over installed, everything. I need to install V12 tonight

-srini

SQL Server 2016 is not supported on Windows Server 2022. You can expect to have some issues as time moves on.

https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/s...talling-sql-server?view=sql-server-ver16

JamesNT