Retrieving PAF back up data and GEDCOMS from a memory stick

Laraine

An elderly relative on the East coast, who is not a church member, used to utilize PAF a number of years ago. He saved a large amount of family history data in back up files and GEDCOM's on memory sticks (thumb drives). He is now 86 years old and his health is failing. A niece of his is trying to retrieve the data from these memory sticks, but nobody has the PAF program and she has been unable to successfully open any of the files. I live in Oregon and will be traveling to Salt Lake City for a family history research trip to the FamilySearch Family History Library from Oct 29 - Nov 5th. I am wondering if the Family History Library in Salt Lake City has any technology onsite that could retrieve the old PAF files from the memory sticks. If so, I am wondering my relatives could send the memory sticks to me, then I could bring them in with me to the Family History Library when I travel to Salt Lake City.

Does anyone know if the FamilySearch Family History Library in Salt Lake has this technology onsite?

Thank you,

Laraine Clark

genthusiast

If you download/install the free Ancestral Quest Basic application (which took the place of PAF) you should be able to open the .paf and .ged files. Here is the open/import/restore screen from the application:

You can download the free Ancestral Quest Basic from:

https://ancquest.com/AQBasics.htm

"Ancestral Quest runs on both the Windows operating system and on Mac OS X. It is compatible with Windows 11, Windows 10, Windows 8.1, Windows 8, Windows 7, and with Mac OS X 10.7 or later. Ancestral Quest will not run on smartphones or tablets that use Android or iOS. It will not run on Chromebooks."

Also any local FamilySearch Family History Center should have the application installed. I hope that helps your relative access the data before your trip.