I can't find the answer to this question in past forum threads.

I'm still trying to get my Birder's Diary to work after reinstalling the program after reformatting my hard drive because of a malware attack.

I have a backup database with all my sightings but can't get BD to find it and link with it as my save location.

Here is the location of my data file: C:\Documents and Settings\Lew\My Documents\Birder's Diary.

When I enter this path into the Target line in Properties after right-clicking on the binoculars shortcut icon for BD, the  icon shortcuts (Desktop and Startup list) all disappear. The same thing happens when I put quote marks around the path. Every time I create a new shortcut and go through the process, the shortcut(s) disappear. I remember that I used to link BD with my data file by using the path I gave above. Am I doing something wrong?

Hello Llewellyn:

My suggestion would be:

1. Install BD (assuming you have v3.6) into C:\Birder's Diary\
2. Start BD and activate your licenses (see above on how to activate licenses on Vista/7)
3. Choose File | Backup/Restore
4. Browse to and select your backup database file whereever it is on your system.
5. Run the restore - now your database is in "C:\Birder's Diary\data\" where it belongs. And you can start BD normally.

The target field in your BD icon should be (assuming v3.6) "C:\Birder's Diary\BDV36.exe".

If you want that icon to open a different database, then it should look like the following:

"C:\Birder's Diary\BDV36.exe" /DB="C:/somewhere/my-real-database.mdb"

Let me know if this doesn't get you going.

Jeff