I backed up my data and exited the program. Now when I try to open, I get the message

"Unrecognized database format 'C:\Birder's Diary\data\database.mdb.'

Please tell me that I can fix this and didn't lose my data.

Hello: (and thanks Gerco!)

Backup is only supported to your local hard drives. Attempting to backup directly to CDroms, DVDs, and some other devices can have unknown results such as these.

A couple questions please:

1. What, exactly, was your specification for your backup file? e.g. device:/dir.../filename.ext
2. What device type did you attempt to backup to?
3. Did you attempt a restore operation?
4. Did you get any error or message during the backup?

Thanks,

Jeff

  Thanks, everybody.  When the program asks me to backup as I close it, I let it send it to the default destination that shows in the window (C:\Birder's Diary\database_bck.mdb).  When I search for this file on my C drive, it cannot find it.  Gerco, when I look for the Birder's Diary/data/ folder that you suggested, I can't find that either. Even when I search my external drive and find an old backup, I get the same message about unrecognized format. I assumed that when the backup was complete, I could always find the file. I guess not.  Oddly enough, I have a pre-upgrade copy of BD 3.5 that WILL open.

Jeff's questions:

1)See above for backup file specification - the one suggested by the program

2)My C drive in my computer

3) I can't open the program to attempt a restore

4) as far as I can remember, the backup finished successfully.

Hi Bill,

I should get onto your system over the internet and have a look. If you don't have a /data sub-directory under /Birder's Diary, this may indicate some disk/file corruption on your system.

Are you around during the day to let me onto your computer? Please reply back and let me know when you might be at your computer next.

Jeff

Ok. First things first.  When I access the c drive, Birder's Diary appears on the same list that the program files folder is on.( not IN program files).  When I open it, I see all the files in the program, and I see one that says database_bck that was created on 9-20-09 (the day I tried to backup) I still get the unrecognized database format message. Anything I try to open that says data or database gives me the same message.

If this information isn't helpful, what hours are you available for communication?  I'm in the eastern time zone; I don't know where you are.  What's the latest we can do this? I'd like to resolve this either way. I still want to upgrade as soon as we're done here.

Hi Bill,

I really need to get onto your system and see what is going on. I am in the mountain time zone. I can be available anytime you need. I usually leave my office around 5pm each weekday. But if you contact me ahead of time, we can setup any time after that. If you get home around 5-6pm EDT, then please contact me then as it will be 3-4pm my time.

Jeff

Hi Bill - please go ahead and post here when you get home Friday afternoon. And we will take it from there.

Thanks,

Jeff

Hi Jeff . . here I am.  My e-mail is wfiero@gmail.com if we get disconnected.  My computer has been somewhat cantankerous lately.

A quick update here.

Bill's system froze/crashed during a BD backup (not likely the cause of the freeze/crash). This resulted in Bill's database becoming corrupted - as well as the backup.

BD uses Microsoft's MSAccess backup/report utility to create backups. Unfortunately, and I have seen this before, the backup process is prone to corruption if something happens to your system during the process. In Bill's case, we were able to find an older backup that he has wisely moved to offline storage. That worked fine, with the exception that he now has to reenter a few months of data. But, better than a lifetime's worht of data.

In v3.7, I have added an extra precaution in that before I start the backup process, I create a 2nd copy of the database, such that should this occur in the future, you will always have a valid copy of your current database.

fyi

Jeff