Recovering from a computer crash without the Vault

This document explains how to recover from a computer failure without the use of Vault with Exact.

Document 5112  |  Last updated:  04/18/2019 RR2

The steps below outline how to recover TOTAL or WinTOTAL Aurora from a computer failure without the use of Vault and Exact. If you are uncomfortable with the process described or you don't feel confident that you can complete it, consult a local technician for assistance.

Due to the complexity involved in recovering from a computer failure without the Vault, our support technicians are unable to assist you with this process.

In order to move files from one computer to another, they need to be copied to a removable storage device (thumb drive, external hard drive, etc).  Copy the entire [My] Reports, [Shared] Reports, WinTOTAL, and Database folders from their location on the old machine and paste them on a removable storage device before beginning.  If you're unsure how to do this, please contact a local technician for additional assistance.  The default folder locations are:

  • WinTOTAL
    • Standalone - C:\ProgramData\a la mode\WinTOTAL
    • Server - C:\Users\Public\Documents\a la mode\Data\WinTOTAL
  • Database
    • Standalone - C:\users\[username]\documents\a la mode\Database
    • Server - C:\ProgramData\a la mode\WinTOTAL\Spectrum\Database
  • [My] Reports
    • C:\Users\[yourusername]\My Documents\a la mode\Reports
  • [Shared] Reports
    • C:\Users\Public\Public Documents\a la mode\Reports
  1. Install and register TOTAL on the new computer.  For instructions on installing and registering TOTAL, click here.
    Report Files:
  2. Close TOTAL, press Windows key + E to open Windows Explorer, and navigate to the removable media that your files are stored on.

  3. Copy the entire [My] Reports folder by right‑clicking it and selecting Copy.

  4. Press Windows key + R to open the Run dialogue box.
  5. Type (or copy and paste) %tsa6% into the Open: field and press Enter or click OK.

  6. Select the Common Paths tab on the upper left.

  7. Click Open to the right of the My Reports path.

  8. Right‑click a blank area in the window that appears and click Paste.

  9. Click Yes to overwrite (or merge) the folder and files if prompted.

    Depending on the number of files you have, transferring them to a new computer can take some time.  Keep in mind:  your computer is making a copy of every report file that was in the Reports folder on your old computer.  For best results, let your computer finish copying the files before continuing.
  10. Repeat Step 2 through 10 for the [Shared] Reports folder.
    Databases and User Settings:
  11. Repeat Step 2 through 6 for the WinTOTAL folder.
  12. Click Open to the right of the Data Files path.

  13. Repeat Step 8 and 9 for the WinTOTAL folder.
  14. Repeat Step 2 through 4 for the Database folder.
  15. Type either (or copy and paste) C:\Users\[username]\Documents\a la mode (standalone install) or C:\ProgramData\a la mode\WinTOTAL\Spectrum (server install) into the Open: field and press Enter or click OK.

  16. Repeat Step 8 and 9 for the Database folder.

That's it!  You've recovered most of your data to TOTAL on your new computer.  To learn more about how Vault with Exact prevents data loss and allows for seamless recovery after a computer failure, click here.

Before following the instructions in this document, you need to install and register WinTOTAL on the new computer.  For instructions on installing and registering WinTOTAL, click here.  After installing WinTOTAL, verify that it opens correctly with no error messages, then close it again.

In order to move files from one computer to another, they need to be copied to a removable storage device, such as a USB thumb drive or external hard drive.

Backing up your files

  1. First, press Windows Key + E on your keyboard to open Windows Explorer, and navigate to the location where WinTOTAL is installed.  Typically, this is located at X:\a la mode​\WinTOTAL or X:\Win2000.

    The X in the above path refers to your hard drive's letter that it was assigned by Windows.  For example, if Windows has assigned your hard drive a letter of E, your WinTOTAL .ZAP files would be located at E:\a la mode\WinTOTAL.
  2. After navigating to WinTOTAL's program folder, right-click on the FILES folder and choose Copy.

  3. Now, navigate to your removable storage, right-click on an empty area, and select Paste.  Or, simply press Ctrl-V on your keyboard.  Be patient, this process may take some time.
  4. After copying the FILES folder, return to WinTOTAL's program folder and copy the IMAGES, NETWORK, and USERS files to your removable storage, as well.

Backing up your databases (QuickLists, Users, etc)

After your files have finished moving to your removable storage, you need to move the SQL databases from your old hard drive to your new computer.  Here's how:

  1. Press Windows Key + E on your keyboard to open Windows Explorer, and navigate to one of the following paths:

    Windows 7:
    C:\Program Files\Microsoft SQL Server\MSSQL.1\MSSQL\Data
    Windows 8:
    C:\Program Files\Microsoft SQL Server\MSSQL10_50.ALAMODE\MSSQL\DATA
    For 64 bit machines the database files will be under the datapath C:\Program Files(x86)\.
  2. Now, right-click and copy the WinTOTAL.mdf file, then paste it to your removable storage.  Do the same for the WinTOTAL.ldf file.

Now that you've got everything backed up on your removable storage device, you're ready to start moving it to the proper location on your new computer.  Here's how:

Restoring your files

  1. Press Windows key + E on your keyboard to open Windows Explorer, and navigate to the removable media that your files are stored on.

  2. Copy the entire FILES folder by right‑clicking it and selecting Copy.

  3. Press Windows key + E again and navigate to the WinTOTAL directory on the new computer.
  4. Right‑click in the blank space of the next window and click Paste.

  5. Click Yes to overwrite (or merge) the folder and files if prompted.

    Depending on the number of files you have, transferring them to a new computer can take some time.  Keep in mind:  your computer is making a copy of every report file that was in the Reports folder on your old computer.  For best results, let your computer finish copying the files before continuing.
  6. After copying the FILES folder back to your new computer, return to your removable storage and copy the IMAGES, NETWORK, and USERS files to your new computer, as well.

Restoring your databases

Before copying the databases over, you need to stop the SQL Server.

  1. Press the Windows key + R on your keyboard.

  2. Type services.msc in the Open: field and press Enter or click OK.

    Services

  3. Locate SQL Server (ALAMODE) in the list of services.

    Depending on the version of Windows you were using when WinTOTAL was installed, this service may be listed as SQL Server Agent (ALAMODE) or MSSQL$ALAMODE.  Locate the version installed on your PC, then proceed with the instructions below.
  4. Right-click SQL Server (ALAMODE) and choose Stop from the drop‑down menu.

Now your SQL service is stopped.  For convenience, don't close this window, as you'll need to right‑click the service to start it again once you're done copying your files.

  1. First, copy the WinTOTAL.mdf from your removable storage.
  2. Now, navigate to one of the following paths:
    Windows 7:
    C:\Program Files\Microsoft SQL Server\MSSQL.1\MSSQL\Data
    Windows 8:
    C:\Program Files\Microsoft SQL Server\MSSQL10_50.ALAMODE\MSSQL\DATA
  3. In the path from above, right-click and Paste the WinTOTAL.mdf file.  Now, just simply repeat these steps for the WinTOTAL.ldf file.

After copying both the WinTOTAL.mdf and WinTOTAL.ldf files, bring up the Services.msc window from earlier, right-click the SQL Server (ALAMODE) entry and choose Start to restart the SQL service.

Finally, open WinTOTAL's Appraisal Desktop and click through each folder it contains, making sure to wait until all of the files are added to the database between clicking on each folder.

To learn more about how Vault with Exact prevents data loss and allows for seamless recovery after a computer failure, click here.

Related Links