How to Move Birder’s Diary to a New Computer

Use these steps to move your Birder’s Diary data (your database and any sighting attachments) from one computer to another. This can usually be completed in 10-20 minutes.

Overview

There are only two things you need from your old computer: 

  1. Your Birder’s Diary database file, or a backup copy of it.
  2. If you attach photos, etc to your sightings, then you want a copy of the directory that holds the attachments.

Quick overview of the steps required.

  1. Get your Birder’s Diary database from your old computer (backup file or database file).
  2. If you use photos, audio, or other sighting attachments, copy those files too.
  3. Install Birder’s Diary on your new computer.
  4. Activate your Birder’s Diary license on the new computer.
  5. Restore your backup, or copy your database file into the new installation.
  6. If needed, restore your sighting attachments.

Details

1. Get Your Birder’s Diary Data

You will need one of the following from your old computer:

  1. a Birder’s Diary backup file, or
  2. a copy of your Birder’s Diary database file, found in C:\Birder’s Diary\data\database.mdb.

Copy the backup file or database file onto a USB flash drive, external drive, or other storage so it can be moved to your new computer.

2. If You Attached Media (Photos, etc.) to Your Sightings, Get Those Files

By default, sighting attachments are stored here: C:\Birder’s Diary\Attached-Sighting-Documents\

If your files are not there, open Birder’s Diary and go to View |Options…, then to the Special Tab. The attachment folder location is shown near the bottom of that tab.

Copy that entire folder onto your removable device used in Step #1 above.

3. Install Birder’s Diary on Your New Computer

Install your licensed version of Birder’s Diary onto your new computer by going to the Downloads page at www.BirdersDiary.com.

Installers for version 5.0 through the latest version are available at the Downloads page. For versions before v5.0, contact support@BirdersDiary.com.

4. Activate Your Birder’s Diary License on the New Computer

Right-click the Birder’s Diary icon and choose Run as Administrator. The License Information window will open automatically. (You can also open it manually with Ctrl+L.)

Click Activate License and enter your license information. Use your most recent Birder’s Diary license.

Exit Birder’s Diary, then restart it normally by double-clicking the Birder’s Diary icon.

For complete instructions on this step: click here.

5. Restore Your Database

In Birder’s Diary, choose File | Backup/Restore… to open the Backup/Restore window.

  1. On the right side of this window, find the two binocular buttons.
  2. Click the binocular button with the red up arrow (the rightmost of the two binocular buttons).
  3. Browse to the backup file or database file that you copied from your old computer.
  4. Select the file and click Open.
  5. Back in the Backup/Restore window, click Restore.

Always exit and restart Birder’s Diary after a restore operation.

After restarting Birder’s Diary, confirm that you now see all your data.

6. If Needed, Restore Your Sighting Attachment Files

If you copied sighting attachments in Step #2:

  1. In Birder’s Diary, open View | Options…,  Special Tab.
  2. Near the bottom, confirm or change the folder where Birder’s Diary looks for your sighting attachments.
  3. Copy sighting attachment files from your removable storage media into that folder on your new computer.
    1. Copy the entire folder to avoid missing files.
  4. Test that you can open your sighting attachments for a sighting that has attachments.

     

    There is no need to download, install, or import your taxonomic lists. These are stored in your database and will be available after you move your database to your new computer and complete the restore operation.

     If you receive a message during license activation indicating that you have exceeded your activation limit, please send email to sales@birdersdiary.com indicating this, and we will be happy to reset your activation count.

    Moving the backup from one computer to another can be done in many ways and is beyond the scope of this topic. For example, if your computers are connected by a network, you might use Windows Explorer to move the file from one computer to another. Other common methods include copying the backup file to a USB flash drive or memory stick, or saving it to a CD-ROM/DVD disc. Then place that device into your new computer for the restore operation. For help using Windows Explorer or copying files over a network, please see Windows Help.

     If you have no backup file or no access to your previous database, you must download and re-import all of your taxonomic lists which are not included in the Demo database installed above in #1. The web site only contains the latest versions of taxonomic lists – if you do not find your licensed version, please contact support@birdersdiary.com and inform them of what you are doing and which taxonomic lists you need.