BilboroughShirley 1,120 Posted May 27, 2015 Report Share Posted May 27, 2015 I am looking for some help to find a software package that will work on Windows 8.1. The program my husband bought me years ago is excellent but will not work on my new laptop that runs on Windows 8.1 or on his PC that is Windows 7. My old software will generate a GEDCOM file but this is in an old version of GEDCOM that will not load into the family tree program my husband uses on his computer. Also his program will not load onto my computer! Basically we are in a mess! We have Ancestry membership but do not want to publish family trees online or store things "in the cloud". I may be old fashioned but I do like my data stored on a device that we own and control. I have looked at family tree software websites brought up using Google and many of them say that Family Tree maker does not work with Windows 8.1. Out there amongst the wealth of expertise of our online community I hope there is a member who can recommend a suitable package or give me a few clues about a way forward. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Enigma. 1,533 Posted May 27, 2015 Report Share Posted May 27, 2015 have you tried using the compatibility mode ? install the software but dont run it - goto program files and find the folder where the software is installed find the exe , right click on it and choose troubleshoot compatibility 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
catfan 14,793 Posted May 28, 2015 Report Share Posted May 28, 2015 Check to see if your family tree program makers have released an update for the program to run on Win 8.1. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
littlebro 234 Posted May 28, 2015 Report Share Posted May 28, 2015 I use Family Tree Maker 2008 successfully on Windows 8.1 though it says XP on the product packaging. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
BilboroughShirley 1,120 Posted May 28, 2015 Author Report Share Posted May 28, 2015 Many thanks for the helpful replies littlebro, catfan and Enigma 1st. I will try what you suggest. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Bing 78 Posted June 4, 2015 Report Share Posted June 4, 2015 I swear by "Brothers Keeper" and it can import (and export) gedcom files. It's regularly updated with new features and has never let me down these past 15 years or more. And it's free. You can pay if you want, which gets you a manual and support, but I've never needed it. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
BilboroughShirley 1,120 Posted April 16, 2016 Author Report Share Posted April 16, 2016 Last week I had a long chat to the people on the Family Historian stand at the Who do you think you are exhibition at the NEC. I explained my GEDCOM file problems and my total lack of success in solving them. The reps explained that this program should be able to load old version GEDCOM files and if I find any problems I should email the file to their help service and they will sort it out! I was impressed. The program is brilliant. It installed easily on my Windows 8.1 laptop and all my old version GEDCOM files were imported straight away with no problems. I am so pleased with this. It has saved me a lot of work and the Family Historian program displays more fields that my old program. This is an excellent relational database and it was on special offer. Made my day. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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