Cannot restore from my backup on PC

I foolishly 'updated' to BaseCamp 4.7.5, but found that it was cropping the location metadata on the JPEGs that it geotagged for me using 'geotag using track' function.

So I created a backup as I had done before, successfully before uninstalling 4.7.5 and installing 4.5.1, which I had been using quite happily before.

Now all I get after waiting for the restore function to work on 4.5.1, is a message 'Restore failed The following problems occurred: An exception occurred during the restore process.'

I've spent two days trying to get back my valuable data; walks, kayaking, cycling routes etc etc over decades and am panicking that all is lost!

I re-installed 4.7.5 and even 4.6 versions with the same error message.

I copied the associated files to a separate disc to 'start afresh' all to no avail.

BTW I have a lot of geotagged photos on my BaseCamp maps - 7,700, 32Gb plus; could this be a problem?

If all fails with restoring BaseCamp on my PC, can GPX tracks be extracted from the database folder...it just looks like a lot of filenames to me. Some people on the forum talk about copying the database as quicker than using the backup/restore procedure, but can't see how to do that.

Any help most gratefully received!

0 SUSSAMB over 2 years ago

You've posted this in the mac section, I'll move it to the PC section

0 SUSSAMB over 2 years ago

As you suggest you have earlier backups have you tried restoring from them? It's unlikely that backups made when you were having the problem will be any help.

0 3980017 over 2 years ago in reply to SUSSAMB

Thanks for moving it!

Yes, I tried an earlier backup from a few years ago, with the same result. BTW, I meant to mention that I have tried clearing the cache, moving all hidden files ( eg appdata roaming etc), reinstalling the three versions etc

0 Eyelet99 over 2 years ago in reply to 3980017

If you look at C:\users\<username>\AppData\Roaming\GARMIN\BaseCamp\Database\4.X, the 4.X will tell you which version of BC you need to match to restore into. Hopefully the will be a 4.5 folder.

These threads might help you:

https://forums.garmin.com/apps-software/mac-windows-software/f/basecamp-mac/277998/basecamp-datafile-reportedly-corrupted-and-no-way-to-restore-neither-from-time-machine-backup-nor-from-an-explicit-backup-made-from-the-app#pifragment-1303=2

https://www.gpsrchive.com/Discussion/viewtopic.php?t=18 If it doesn't you could also post your issue there.

The .backup file is simply a .zip file. If you make a copy of your .backup file, change the extension to .zip, you can open it. It will contain folders matching the software version used to create the backup. In each folder the file AlllData.gdb contains all your track/route/waypoint data and the FolderData.gfi contains the folder structure . The .bak versions are the previous backup files, which you could also rename and try as per the post above.

0 3980017 over 2 years ago in reply to Eyelet99

Thanks for the advice.

The two threads didn't really apply, but I tried to unzip the .backup file as suggested (in my ignorance I just thought that a .BAK file was unique to BaseCamp) and got an error message that two files had filepaths that were too long and couldn't unzip them.

They related to geotagged photos where I'd originally cut the description and pasted it so that instead of a thumbnail on my map saying "20200515 Torquay" for example, it had a description of what the photo was. I skipped those two files in the unzip process. Then I zipped them back into a .BAK file and yes, BaseCamp loaded it OK!

Presumably, when BaseCamp itself tried to restore a backup with the two problem files, this was the issue?

0 Eyelet99 over 2 years ago in reply to 3980017

Not sure but I’m glad you have been able to restore a backup and get your files back.