New PC's MLS Backup and Restore

Discussions around the setup, operation, replacement, and disposal of clerk computers, not to include using MLS
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buzaggie
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New PC's MLS Backup and Restore

#1

Post by buzaggie »

Hi Everybody:
I'm a brand new sts and thankfully found this site. My very first responsibility are new PC's that just arrived for all units in my stake. There are 12 total. I'm surprised to see that I have to have someone with an MLS login for each unit on site in order to backup, replace, then restore MLS data. Am I missing something or is this truly the only option? I ask simply because working with everybody's schedule
Plus my own will be a nightmare. Thank you!
russellhltn
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Re: New PC's MLS Backup and Restore

#2

Post by russellhltn »

buzaggie wrote:Am I missing something or is this truly the only option?
Officially, yes. But I think there's some posts on how to move MLS by copying the entire data directory.
Have you searched the Help Center? Try doing a Google search and adding "site:churchofjesuschrist.org/help" to the search criteria.

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rolandc
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Re: New PC's MLS Backup and Restore

#3

Post by rolandc »

russellhltn wrote:
buzaggie wrote:Am I missing something or is this truly the only option?
Officially, yes. But I think there's some posts on how to move MLS by copying the entire data directory.

Yes there is, its part of the lost user name instructions. I do not remember where its at now though.
Roland
jdlessley
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Re: New PC's MLS Backup and Restore

#4

Post by jdlessley »

buzaggie wrote:I'm surprised to see that I have to have someone with an MLS login for each unit on site in order to backup, replace, then restore MLS data. Am I missing something or is this truly the only option?
Had your predecessor created an out of unit administrator user account in each unit's MLS then you would have administrator rights needed do the backups and restore. Assuming he had done that then it is possible the user account is there and all you need is the user name and password. Also assuming he had done that but a unit administrator deleted the user account in an over-zealous desire to clean up the user account list for an annual membership audit then you are stuck with the painful method you described. I have not done the method Russell mentioned. But I do know that if the old computers were running Windows XP then this method may be questionable. The procedure rolandc mentioned is in the wiki article Lost user names (MLS). I'm not sure this will not work because the procedure requires a backup - just the thing you are trying to do.

To avoid future problems such as this I recommend creating a stake out of unit administrator user account in each unit's MLS when you set up the new computers. You will also need to instruct the ward clerks and bishops not to delete that user account.
JD Lessley
Have you tried finding your answer on the ChurchofJesusChrist.org Help Center or Tech Wiki?
eblood66
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Re: New PC's MLS Backup and Restore

#5

Post by eblood66 »

jdlessley wrote:To avoid future problems such as this I recommend creating a stake out of unit administrator user account in each unit's MLS when you set up the new computers. You will also need to instruct the ward clerks and bishops not to delete that user account.
That's what we would do as well but unfortunately the current meetinghouse policy seems to prohibit allowing the STS to have access to financial or membership data (see item 4.14).
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sbradshaw
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Re: New PC's MLS Backup and Restore

#6

Post by sbradshaw »

eblood66 wrote:
jdlessley wrote:To avoid future problems such as this I recommend creating a stake out of unit administrator user account in each unit's MLS when you set up the new computers. You will also need to instruct the ward clerks and bishops not to delete that user account.
That's what we would do as well but unfortunately the current meetinghouse policy seems to prohibit allowing the STS to have access to financial or membership data (see item 4.14).
The out-of-unit administrator on each ward's MLS installation could be the Stake Clerk or an Assistant Stake Clerk, who could work with the Stake Technology Specialist to get MLS installed after all of the computers are installed.
Samuel Bradshaw • If you desire to serve God, you are called to the work.
russellhltn
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Re: New PC's MLS Backup and Restore

#7

Post by russellhltn »

jdlessley wrote:But I do know that if the old computers were running Windows XP then this method may be questionable.
It worked fine for me. I think I just copied the whole unit directory. The location will be a little different between XP and 7, but it's place in the data tree is the same. So once MLS is installed, it's not hard to find where it should go.
Have you searched the Help Center? Try doing a Google search and adding "site:churchofjesuschrist.org/help" to the search criteria.

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Mikerowaved
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Re: New PC's MLS Backup and Restore

#8

Post by Mikerowaved »

Here's what I did when I upgraded my older XP machines to Windows 7...

https://tech.lds.org/forum/viewtopic.php?p=61806#p61806
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