Biblesoft Knowledge Base :: How do I reduce (consolidate) the number of CDs I need to install/re-install? How do I backup my downloads?

Biblesoft Knowledge Base

Search the Knowledgebase

Browse by Category

How do I reduce (consolidate) the number of CDs I need to install/re-install? How do I backup my downloads?

The following solution works if you have a CD or DVD burner or some other way to backup large amounts of data.

If your Biblesoft CDs and downloads are already installed, skip to Step 3.

Install all of your Biblesoft CDs.
Install any reference works you have downloaded from Biblesoft websites. This includes both the free reference works and those you paid to download.
Run PC Study Bible to verify that it is working properly.
Close PC Study Bible.
Burn to CD (we'll call this your Consolidated CD) a copy of your RefWorks folder. This RefWorks folder contains the reference works from all of your installed Biblesoft CDs, as well as all your installed free and paid internet downloads. By default, this folder is c:\Program Files\Biblesoft\PC Study Bible 3.0{or 4}\RefWorks. If your CD burning process supports compression, use it, because the RefWorks folder can reach sizes in the neighborhood of 1 Gigabyte, whereas the typical CD holds about 700 Megabytes (0.7 Gigabytes). Because there are so many different kinds of CD-burning software, Biblesoft does not provide technical support on this step.
To reinstall in the future, install your highest version Reference Library CD. For example, if you have a Complete Reference Library 4.0 and a Complete Reference Library 4.1, use the 4.1.
Look through your remaining CDs for the one CD with the highest version later (or after) the version of the Reference Library CD you used. For example, if you installed a Complete Reference Library 4.1 in Step 6, and you also have these CDs:
-- Registration Bonus 4.1A
-- PC Study Bible Version 4.2B Update With Revised Data
-- Wuest's Word Studies 4.2F-2
-- My Heart -- Christ's Home 4.2F

then install the Wuest's Word Studies 4.2F-2.
Run PC Study Bible to verify that it is working, then close it.
Copy all the files from the Consolidated CD(s) you burned, into your RefWorks folder. (Of course, if you compressed the files onto the CD, then they will need to be uncompressed as you pull them off the CD.) Whenever you are asked that a file already exists and do you want to replace it, answer No (but if the file is called Default.J4L, answer Yes). This question may occur 60+ times.
Run PC Study Bible. You should see all of your reference works.
Close PC Study Bible.
Download the latest version. If you have a connection to the internet that is faster than dial-up, click here to download the latest version of PC Study Bible. If you do not have a faster-than-dial-up connection to the internet and your highest version 4 on a CD is less than 4.2, see KB697 to request a replacement/upgrade CD for a small fee.

Notes

Bear in mind that you'll need to replace/redo your Consolidated CD(s) whenever you install a new add-on CD from Biblesoft or download another free or paid add-on. Obviously, your Consolidated CD does not include anything you install after making that Consolidated CD.

Once you make a new Consolidated CD, scratch and discard the old Consolidated CDs. These CDs contain copyrighted material that is licensed only to you.

Once you have made a Consolidated CD, what do you do with your add-on CDs? Although you do not need them whenever you re-install PC Study Bible, you should hold onto them as your ultimate backup.

And don't worry - if this entire process fails and you end up losing add-ons that you downloaded from the Biblesoft website, just contact Customer Service and we'll send you the download links again.

You can also use this technique to "transfer" PC Study Bible from your old computer to a new computer. If you have a transfer cable connecting the two computers, or both computers are on the same network, you can skip the Consolidated CD and copy files from the Refworks folder on the older computer to the Refworks folder on the new computer. Of course, making a Consolidated CD at some point is still a good idea because it serves as a backup when the old computer is no longer available.

The id number of this entry is 246.