Frequently Asked Installation Questions
- I can't find the registration key/code
- The installation works but Family Historian won't run
- I am trying to upgrade using a free download, but it isn't working
- I can't access the Help
- I can't open the manual “Getting the Most From Family Historian”
Version 2 only:
- I have version 2.3 or earlier, and I can't open the user manual
- I am trying to install version 2.1 or earlier, and it isn't working
If you bought a boxed copy of Family Historian, the installation program will tell you to look for the registration key (or registration code - it's the same thing) on a leaflet inside the box, or on a piece of paper inside the CD envelope. However, in some cases the registration key may be printed in a third location - on the front cover of the booklet "Quick Start Tutorial" at the top.
This can occur if DEP ("Data Execution Prevention") is enabled for all programs on your PC. In that case, you can solve the problem by simply adding Family Historian to the list of programs for which DEP is not enabled. To do this, open 'System' within the Control Panel, and click on the Advanced tab. Click on 'Settings' in the Performance area and choose the 'Data Execution Prevention' tab. If 'Turn on DEP for all programs and services except those I select' is selected, click the Add button and locate the Family Historian executable (usually located at "c:\program files\family historian\program\fh.exe"). Save the changed settings.
Almost certainly something has gone wrong with the download process itself. Check the file size of the downloaded file. Is it as big as it should be? If you have any software that is designed to manage downloads for you, try disabling that, and then try the download again. If you have more than one Internet Browser, try using a different one. Some download files are available in two locations:
www.family-historian.co.uk/downloads
www.fhug.org.uk (downloads section)
If the download failed from one location, try it from another. The fact that it failed when you downloaded it from one location does not mean that the file is corrupt in that location - it may be that your Internet Service Provider has 'cached' a copy of it, and it is their copy that is corrupt.
Alternatively, just keep trying. We have heard of users who finally got the file to download correctly on their 5th attempt.
This problem can occur if you have version 3.0 or earlier and are running Vista. If you have version 3.0, the best solution is to upgrade to the most recent version of Family Historian (3.1) by downloading a free upgrade (see Downloads). In version 3.1, the Help was updated to use a newer and better technology, to get round this problem, and the content was much improved at the same time. So there is every reason to upgrade. However, if you have an earlier version of Family Historian, you can also solve the problem without upgrading by downloading and installing an extra Help program from the Microsoft website, at http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkID=82148.
“Getting Start with Family Historian” is installed as an electronic document. You should be able to open it on your PC by clicking on command on the menu when running Family Historian, or by clicking on the sub-menu, accessible (under or ) from the menu. You need a special program called Adobe Reader to read it. Often, this program will already be installed on your PC. If it isn’t, you need to download and install it (it is a free program). You can download the latest version by clicking on the button below:
The version 2 user manual is installed as an electronic document. You should be able to view it on your PC by clicking on on the menu when running Family Historian, or by clicking on on the sub-menu, accessible (under or ) from the menu. You need a special program called Adobe Reader to read it. Often, this program will already be installed on your PC. If it isn’t, you need to download and install it (it is a free program). You can download the latest version by clicking on the button below:
Some very early editions of version 2 will not install on 64-bit versions of Windows or if your 16-bit subsystem is not working. You can get round this problem by downloading a 'CD-backed Installer' - see Special CD-Backed Installers for more information.