Old family history program not opening

[Saxyowl]

Hi all, I hope someone can help me open & run an old family history program that used ms-dos. I used it in the early 1990's and has details for approx 500 people. Now using windows xp with all current updates but cannot get the program to open and run. The program was just called "Family History"

[Google]

Open it in Notepad and post the contents here.

[soybean]

Open it in Notepad and post the contents here.

What makes you think he can open it in Notepad?  I rather doubt he can do that.  

[Google]

Well, aren't programs that run in ms-dos coded in bbatch or basic? Either way shouldn't he be able to open it in notepad?

[soybean]

Yeah, I think you have a valid point there.  I was thinking the software probably saved files in some format unique to that application but, I agree, Notepad is worth a try.

[Saxyowl]

Thanks guys, I have tried to open with notepad but it doesn't seem to recognise it. When I click "open" there is a black flash then nothing. The original program was on 3 1/2 " floppy disc. I have copied some to the hard drive but it makes no difference. We are talking about "ark" stuff here
most of the work I did was around 1990-1991 and a few entries were made in 1997. So was probably using windows 95 by then!

[Google]

What sort of files are they? What're the file extensions?

[Saxyowl]

 Hi Mr Google, Sorry but I'm not sure what you mean. When I put the disk in "A" drive 19 different files appear on screen one is FAMINIT and another FHS MS-DOS Batch File. On the face of the disk I have written "Family History" "Type:FHS".

[Google]

Have you tried this:

Click start-->run, type "notepad.exe" without quotes. Notepad will open. Put in the floppy disc, and let it load.

Go back to notepad and click file-->open and select the floppy drive.


Have you tried that method? Becasue I don't think a black screen would flash unless you opened it with dos.

[Saxyowl]

Thanks very much have opened the disk and found install instructions which i've printed and will try to follow. All of your help has been much appreciated.
Regards Pat

[Janby]

What program are you currently using?

[Saxyowl]

The program is called Family History System  and was released by PC-SIC as a shareware program in the mid eighties and we liked it so bought the full version.

[Google]

I am so awed by the amount of people who do not use Google enough.

http://www.familyhistorysystem.com/

Are the file extensions .nam, .adr, or .oth? I did some browsing on that site and you should try downloading the program and opening your files with it.

Unless you've figured it out already.

[Saxyowl]

Thanks Mr Google. When I started this request I did not know that the word 'System' was in the program name. However once I opened the program on Saturday I could read the full name of the program and I then googled it and found the site. I have downloaded the info there and am trying to get it up and working on my computer. Thanks again to you and all the others who have helped me.
Pat

[Google]

No problem...