I'm trying to move my MainBoss Basic to a Windows 7, 8 or 10 computer. How do I do it?
First, make sure you have the correct software
The only version of MainBoss Basic that is guaranteed to work on recent versions of Windows is Version 2.9 Update 9. Older versions will likely encounter errors of one type or another. Therefore, if you are migrating to a recent version of Windows, you must be prepared to install MainBoss Basic on the computer.
To obtain a copy of the latest software, go to the MainBoss Basic Version 2.9 Update 9download page. You must have the appropriate MainBoss Support password to access the page.
To run MainBoss Basic Version 2.9 Update 9, you must have an appropriate license key. If you do not have an up-to-date license, contact MainBoss Support. If your support has expired, you will have to pay a reinstatement fee to reactivate your support, as well as the regular support fee.
Second, make sure you know where your database is
Your database consists of a number of files all stored in the same folder. In the simplest case, this is on the same computer where you run MainBoss; if you run MainBoss on a network, the folder may be on some other computer in the network. When you run MainBoss, the name of the database folder is given at the top of the MainBoss window, in the window's title line. Pay special attention to the drive letter at the beginning of the folder name; this may refer to a disk drive on the same computer where you run MainBoss or on a different computer in the network.
If your database is stored on the old computer, then you have to move it to the new computer. This process is described later on this web page.
If your database is stored on another computer in the network, the situation is simpler. All you have to do is install MainBoss Basic Version 2.9 Update 9on the new Windows computer following the instructions on the software's download page. During the installation process, you will be asked to specify the location of the database folder; MainBoss will upgrade your database if necessary. Once the database has been updated, you will have to install the new software on every computer where you intend to run MainBoss.
If You Have to Move Your Database
You only have to move your MainBoss database if it is stored on a computer that will no longer be in service. If this is the case, follow these steps:
Step 1: On the old computer, make a backup of your MainBoss database
You can do this with Administration -> Database -> Backup. Note that you will need the ADMINISTRATOR password to do this.
Once you have made the backup file, make a copy that you can transfer to the new computer. This might mean copying the file to a data key, burning it onto a CD/DVD, or simply emailing the file to an address that the new computer can access.
Step 2: Install the latest version of MainBoss Basic on the new computer
To install the software, follow the instructions on the page you used for the download. When you are asked to specify a folder to hold the database files, specify the folder where you want the final database to be held and say that you want a new database.
Start the newly installed version of MainBoss and try a few simple operations (e.g. create an entry in the Contacts table) to make sure the software is working properly.
Step 3: Restore your old database from the backup file
On the new computer, use Administration -> Database -> Restore to restore your data from the backup file. If you are told that your license key is now out of date, follow these instructions to enter your up-to-date license key.
