Genealogy CDs

[SID HAWES]

Hello I'm new on here and I'm a not very computer minded pensioner. My problem is that I have quite a number of Genealogy CDs including the complete 1881 Census, which I could use on my old PC (Windows 7). This PC sadly died and I had to buy a new one, I bought a laptop with Windows 10 installed. Non of my CDs will run on this as apparently they are not compatible with later Windows versions.
1) Is there anything I can do, or are these CDs now useless?
2) Would it be possible to buy a laptop and have Windows 7 installed and if so hopefully they would work?

Many thanks

Sid Hawes

[Elaine ..Spain]

Welcome to the forum.
I can't answer your question as to how you might get the CDs to run on a Windows 10 computer, but if you need access to the 1881 census you will find this is FREE on www.ancestry.co.uk
You will need to sign up for a FREE registration, but you can then search the transcriptions of the census.

http://search.ancestry.co.uk/search/db.aspx?htx=List&dbid=7572

[Elaine ..Spain]

It's also available on FamilySearch, along with a number of other datasets relating to UK genealogy.

https://familysearch.org/search/collection/list/?page=1&region=UNITED_KINGDOM_IRELAND

[SID HAWES]

Thanks Elaine I have already done that. It's all my other CDs I'm concerned for.

Sid

[Anne in Carlisle]

You might be able to pick up a 2nd hand laptop, have everything except the operating system wiped and use it just for the CDs.
Anne

[SID HAWES]

Thanks Anne, I'll try that
Regards

Sid

[Guest]

good idea Anne good luck Sid

[Guy]

The limiting factor is not the operating systm but whether the new laptop is 32 or 64 bit.
If it is 32 bit most of the CDs including the LDS CDs (1881 census, British Vital Records etc.) will run but you may have to first ensure you have Folio Viewer 4 updated to 4.02 installed.
Then you need to start the Folio Views (The LDS viewer software) software in compatibility mode and select one of the older operating systems dispayed such as Vista.
The software will then run as normal.
This will often work with 64 bit computers but it does not always work with 64 bit computers some times you will get an error message.

Cheers
Guy

PS It should also be noted that the online familysearch 1881 census is not complete as it does not contain the Scottish regions (The LDS was denied permission to provide those online).

[Darksecretz]

what you could do is install a 'virtual machine' that runs win7 onto your win10 machine.

[Guy]

what you could do is install a 'virtual machine' that runs win7 onto your win10 machine.

Not if it a 64 bit computer, the LDS software will not run on it in Windows 7
Cheers
Guy

[SID HAWES]

Thanks Guy that's very informative.

Sid

[Grimsqueaker]

Not if it a 64 bit computer, the LDS software will not run on it in Windows 7
Cheers
Guy

A 32bit Virtual Machine would resolve this, ie: install Windows 7 32bit. It doesn't matter if the physical hardware is 64bit

[Guy]

A 32bit Virtual Machine would resolve this, ie: install Windows 7 32bit. It doesn't matter if the physical hardware is 64bit

Yes, apologies to Darksecretz I have checked my own records and have found that Folio Views 4.02 will also run in Windows 7 in much the same way as it runs in Windows 10
For full details see

http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~framland/framland/1881.htm

My only excuse is I am recovering from pneumonia and not thinking clearly at present
Cheers
Guy

[Grimsqueaker]

That's ok Guy, hopefully the recovery will be speedy...

[GallowayLass]

Sorry to hear you have been ill Guy. Get well soon.

[Guy]

Thanks, it is just my body (and mind) telling me I am not 20 any more, but very annoying not thinking clearly.
Roll on summer
Cheers
Guy

[Darksecretz]

Thank you Guy, I do hope that you recover quickly. [and we all get brain fog when we are ill]