Tech Forum

Our ward recently got new computers. I downloaded MLS on it but found out that we don't have a backup of our old MLS data and our old computer was already taken. What can I do to get the information on our new computer?

mkeamo wrote:Our ward recently got new computers. I downloaded MLS on it but found out that we don't have a backup of our old MLS data and our old computer was already taken. What can I do to get the information on our new computer?

It's possible to get much of your data back from Church headquarters, but I would first make all possible efforts to get back the old computer that "was already taken." I would also try to determine if it is really true that you "don't have a backup of [your] old MLS data." Did you never back up your data to a USB drive or some other external media, as is required by policy?

Some of the data on that computer cannot be restored unless you can get that computer or a backup. Your old computer transmitted an MLS database backup every month to CHQ, and it is possible to obtain that backup if your other attempts to get the backup data fail. But of course you could lose up to a month of some portion of the data if you end up restoring that backup.

If you are unable to get a backup, we can help you understand how to get back much of your data (certainly callings and financial data can mostly be recovered), but your first efforts should be to get the most recent data. Your stake technology specialist should have been overseeing the process of the computer upgrade and can hopefully help you track down the old computer.

I'd contact the STS to get your old computer back so you can recover the data. IMO, the old computer shouldn't have been removed until you were safely on the new computer.

If you call Local Unit Support we can help restore your membership and financial data by sending the information down to your unit, but it will take 1-2 days to complete the full transmission. A faster option would be to get your old computer back and restore the backup, but if that is not available please call us at 1-800-453-3860 ext 23500.

Sorry if this sound a little faithless, but are the instructions for transferring MLS to another computer (found http://tech.lds.org/wiki/MLS_installation_and_repair) correct?

The instructions say to:
1. do a fresh installation of MLS on the new computer
2. overwrite it with the files from old installation
3. then open MLS and restore from a backup.
4. then call MLS support and reset the security token for the computer

Is it just me or does this sound like more work than necessary? It seems like I should be able to just restore from a backup to a clean installation. What benefit do I gain by transferring the files from the old MLS installation??