O......m.......g

[ErinM]

I may, just may, have lost all of my MC recipes.


All 4157 of them. All downloaded from the BB, for the most part. I was up to July 2002.


I went to try to open the cookbook and I get this error:

"Unable to located the Cookbook C:\PROGRA.....


Please consult the readme file for more information"


If I could find the README file, I would.

Can anyone help? I am trying to remain as calm as possible....

[funnybone]

I'm not sure about that message, but sometimes all you need to do is reboot the computer and these things fix themselves. Unless you have erased the entire program, I can't see you losing just MC and nothing else on your computer. Any other programs affected? Good luck.

[ErinM]

I'll try the reboot and see what happens. No other cookbooks are affected...just the My Cookbook.

[ErinM]

Didn't work :(

[funnybone]

Hmm, maybe someone else can help. I just can't see that it's gone.

[clairea]

Try re-installing your mastercook software. I recently tried to use mine, and I can't remember exactly what the error was but I couldn't open the program at all. After I reinstalled the software I was able to access all of my recipes again.

Claire

[ErinM]

I know. I can see the cookbook. Heck I can even find the file on the hard drive. But it tells me it's not there...

[gertdog]

Erin, are you able to locate the cookbook file on your hard drive (ie not by opening it through Mastercook)? If so, try closing Mastercook and then double-clicking on the cookbook file. This may open Mastercook and the cookbook. Also, if you can see the file on your hard drive, try copying it to a disk or burning to cd. You may be able to re-import it into Mastercook that way.

[ErinM]

Stephanie:

I'm willing to try that. I don't have any blank CDs....not sure where to buy on or how to burn one. If I can get a CD, can you walk me through the process?

[ErinM]

I tried going through the menus. It asked me to choose a recipe destination. When I choose my cookbook, it says "Unable to create"

When I open the thumbs up cookbook, it opens it right up.

[ErinM]

Ok. I've got the file onto a CD. It seems to be there...it tells me that it's taking up space (14.5 MB)

I can't re-import it, it keeps freezing up the program.

Any ideas from here?

My neighbor was going to try to install MC on her computer to see if we could open the cookbook, then knowing everything was there I was going to do a re-install. However, she couldn't even install it...she thinks she may have too little space on her hard drive.

Any other ideas????

[badunnin]

Erin - have you tried uninstalling MC and reinstalling?

[ErinM]

No I haven't. I'm hesitant, because even though I see it, and I see the amount of space it's taking up both on my hard drive and on the CD, I have to wonder if it's really there. If I uninstall and reinstall, I'm afraid I would lose everything...

[badunnin]

Originally posted by ErinM
No I haven't. I'm hesitant, because even though I see it, and I see the amount of space it's taking up both on my hard drive and on the CD, I have to wonder if it's really there. If I uninstall and reinstall, I'm afraid I would lose everything...

lose everything on the hard drive or from MC?

[badunnin]

BTW, I'm using MC to refer to Mastercook, not My Cookbook.

[ErinM]

When I say everything, I mean the My Cookbook. Everything else I know is easily brought back by the program.

If that makes sense...I'm not sure I understand exactly what you're tying to say.

[badunnin]

Ok. I personally would uninstall Mastercook (if you still have the CD) and reinstall. Right now, your cookbook is for all intents and purposes lost, if you can't open it. Would you like to send me the file via email and see if I can open it? That way, when you reinstall, I can send it back?

[cher48603]

ErinM, Here's a link (http://groups.yahoo.com/group/MastercookDiscussion/?yguid=86564010) to a great MC group. You'll probably need to join, but that's just a quick sign up. Pam, who frequents this board (& other MC guru's) are a wealth of info. They'll answer any of your questions. I wonder if you have a corrupt cookbook.

[ErinM]

Originally posted by badunnin
Ok. I personally would uninstall Mastercook (if you still have the CD) and reinstall. Right now, your cookbook is for all intents and purposes lost, if you can't open it. Would you like to send me the file via email and see if I can open it? That way, when you reinstall, I can send it back?


Bethany -

Yes, I would love to do that! I will try to use my school account to send it to you...

[badunnin]

Originally posted by ErinM



Bethany -

Yes, I would love to do that! I will try to use my school account to send it to you...

I'll expect it shortly then. :)

[ErinM]

I just sent it...let me know if you don't get it, for some odd reason my school account wasn't working the right way. I don't know if it's the file or what.

[badunnin]

Nothing yet, but it's a very large file.

[ErinM]

I'm wondering if it was really sent or not. When I hit send, it sent me to a "this page cannot be viewed" type screen. When I sent some text to myself, it shot me right back to my inbox.

So, I'm not sure...

[badunnin]

Originally posted by ErinM
I'm wondering if it was really sent or not. When I hit send, it sent me to a "this page cannot be viewed" type screen. When I sent some text to myself, it shot me right back to my inbox.

So, I'm not sure...

It may not have - nothing yet. There may be a limit on file size that you can send.

[badunnin]

Erin - if you can hang tight for another 24 hours, I'll help you out. I need to get to bed. ;)

[ErinM]

You got it? Awesome. I can wait. Sleep tight! :)

[HealthyinMN]

With mastercook closed, have you tried right clicking on the Cookbook file (the one that ENDS in .MC2) and then selecting open. If it doesnt automatically open, select the mastercook program and see if that works.

[naomike]

Just FYI, I had a corrupt MC file once and Pam helped me retrieve what she could from the file (this was before she joined our BB actually--I found her on a MC help website). If anyone can help, she can.

Good luck!

Naomi

[gertdog]

Erin, sorry I wasn't here last night to respond to you! Since you've backed the file up to a cd (and sent a copy to Bethany), you have a copy in case something happens during a re-install of Mastercook.

I found this entry under "Errors- corrupt cookbooks" in my "Mastercook 5.0 and 6.0 User Guide" written by Pam Erickson (the same Pam, I believe, mentioned by Cher above):

Do you have a cookbook that won't open or crashes the program when you try to open it? Is it a favorite, irreplaceable cookbook (NOT one that you could easily recreate -- recipes collected from e-mail lists, etc.)? Post a message on the message boards:

(deleted because it's a link to the old Sierra boards- try the link Cher posted)

and the moderators will try to assist you. It would also be helpful if you could give an estimated number of recipes that are inside the cookbook and the size of the cookbook file. The only things that will be recovered from the cookbook are just the recipes. Categories, cuisines, and other classifications will be lost. It is very important to keep your files backed up regularly!

I hope you find a solution- I can imagine how awful you'd feel if you lost all those recipes! :(

[ErinM]

I joined the yahoo group and posted there. Apparently the cookbook is corrupt....The program stopped responding when I had My Cookbook opened, and I chose "End Now". From what I've now read NEVER EVER DO THAT. That's the way cookbooks get "corrupted". Although I have to wonder if that's really the problem since it's not saying it has some kind of fatal error or something along those lines.

I downloaded winzip and took the file from 14.5MB down to .31MB, so Bethany, I resent to you if that's OK....I hope I don't do anything to cause any harm to your MC!!! If you're hesitant to try, I understand. I also sent it to that cookbook recovery address.

I'm hoping between all of the things I'm doing, that I'll somehow get them back!! Fingers crossed, everyone and thank you so much for your concern! :)

[Terrytx]

:( So sorry this is happening to you. This has happened to me 2 times, and believe me, I know how you feel. One time the DH was able to get it back and one time all was lost. Now he does a back-up once a week for me.

[badunnin]

Erin - I emailed you as well, but I received your message, no attachments. Could you try sending again?

[ErinM]

It's coming! It was also received by the cookbook recovery people, so somehow, I may be lucky and get it back. Now that I have a CD, I will religiously burn it once a week!

Thank you!

[badunnin]

Got it! I'm unzipping now.

[badunnin]

Erin - it looks like it is a My Cookbook issue. I couldn't open it either. :( Hopefully, the group can help you restore it.

[ErinM]

Ack! Darn. If only I could figure out what it is, because it's there, right?

Thank for trying Bethany! I owe you one!

[ErinM]

Well, it's a loss.

One of the Pams from the help site was able to recover 78 recipes. The rest are just gone.

Looks like I'll be starting over...I will be sure to do regular backups now!!!

[HealthyinMN]

Oh no! =( I am very sorry to hear that most of it is unrecoverable. Did you get the Community cookbook? If you got a lot of the recipes from the BB at least some will be easily accessable (hopefully!)

Good luck! Let us know if you would like anything posted for you.

[badunnin]

Oh Erin I'm so bummed for you! Would you like my MC file? It doesn't have nearly the number as yours, but it's a start!

Hey.... we could all trade. I know there are some here I'd LOVE to get my fingers on. ;)

[ErinM]

Originally posted by badunnin

Hey.... we could all trade. I know there are some here I'd LOVE to get my fingers on. ;)

Let's do it! The main reason I always wanted MC to was to collect the recipes I wanted to make...the cookbooks that come with the program really do nothing for me.

In the end, I decided to just reinstall MC and start from scratch...I even decided not to put the other cookbooks on there (I know I'll always have the disk if I really want them) So, all the more room for good stuff!

I can share 78 recipes! :D

Plus, I will be starting once again from the beginning of BB time, downloading anything without meat in it or that can be made easily veggie...

[badunnin]

Mine is winging its way to you now. ;) It's not much, but it's a start!

[ErinM]

Bethany:

I got your cookbook! Thanks! One small problem...I can open it, but I can't save it to my MC....any ideas?


Lord I am usually not THIS computer illiterate!

[badunnin]

Let me try something different.

[badunnin]

I'm running the very ancient 5.0, and when I opened your cookbook, it automatically saved it. Or, you can copy all the recipes (with ctrl-A) and paste them into a new cookbook you create.

[ErinM]

Wierd. If you're running an old version, mine should automatically open it, which it does, but for some reason it's not saving it. I even followed the same procedure to the my repaired cookbook there, and that worked.

:confused:

[badunnin]

Did you try to copy and paste them into another one?

[ErinM]

Huh. That didn't even work. I think the problem is that it recognizes your cookbook as a "my cookbook" and since I already have one of those it won't let me do another one...

[badunnin]

I'm stumped.

[ErinM]

Here's what's even more wierd...I can open your cookbook and look at a recipe. But when I hit "back" your cookbook totally disappears.

[MISSINDI]

Hey Erin! That totally sucks that you lost 'em all! I can completely relate. I haven't even loaded my MasterCook software on my computer yet, so don't have any there I can send you, but I do have the Community CLBB Cookbook that JeAnne put together -- will that help? Happy to trade... :)

[ErinM]

Missindi, that is so sweet of you. But I know Jeanne put the book together so people would donate to charity, so I don't want the book without doing that. Let me make some arrangements to do that, once I do, I'll let you know!

And when I gain back my collection, properly entered and backed up, I'll share with anyone who wants it!:D

[MISSINDI]

That is very honorable of you and true to JeAnne's intentions. I made my donation when I got the cookbook and am sure you will "pay it forward." :D