How do I install Family Tree Maker 2017 for Windows?
1. Open the email with the link to download FTM 2017. If you have the Family Tree Maker 2017 DVD or USB Drive, you can skip straight to step 4.
2. Click the link to start downloading the program (the file will automatically be saved to your Downloads folder). It will take from 5 to 10 minutes for the download to be completed (the time will vary depending on your Internet connection speed).
3. Go to the Downloads folder on your computer and look for the downloaded file, which will have the name “FTM2017.exe”. Make sure the icon next to the file’s name has changed to the FTM 2017 logo. If it hasn’t, wait for it to change before proceeding.
4. Do one of the following, depending on the installation media you have:
- Download: Double-click the FTM2017.exe file you have downloaded.
- DVD: Insert the Family Tree Maker 2017 DVD into the computer’s drive and click Run Autorun.exe when prompted.
- USB Drive: Insert the Family Tree Maker USB Drive into the computer, open its contents, and double-click the FTM Win 2017 Installer.exe file you will find there.
5. If you are not using an administrator account on your computer, you will be asked if you want to allow the app to make changes. Enter an administrator password and click Yes.
6. If you have a previous version of Family Tree Maker installed on the current computer, you will be asked if you have made backups of your trees. Click the Yes, Backups Made button if you have already made full backups of all your tree files. If you haven't, click Not Yet to back up your files before installing the new version of the software. To find out more about backing up trees, click the Learn How To Backup button.
7. On the Welcome screen of the Installation Wizard, click Next to continue.
Note: If you already have a beta version of FTM 2017 installed, the steps of the Installation Wizard that you see may differ from the ones shown below. In this case, just follow the onscreen instructions, making sure you close applications which are using files that need to be updated if prompted to do so.
8. Review the license agreement, and if you agree to the terms, select the I accept the terms in the License Agreement checkbox, and then click Next.
9. Choose your country edition and click Next.
10. Leave the default installation folder selected, or click the Change button and choose a different folder if you want to install Family Tree Maker in a custom location. Click Next.
Important note: FTM 2017 is designed to run on your computer's internal hard drive, and it is not recommended that you attempt to install on a network or remote location. We recommend using the default installation folder, changing only the drive letter if you have more than one internal drive or partition.
11. Click Install to start the installation process.
Family Tree Maker will begin to install. A progress bar will show you the status of the installation.
12. Once installation is complete, click Finish to exit the Installation Wizard.
Now, on your desktop, look for the new FTM 2017 icon with a green tree on a dark blue background. Double-click it to open your new FTM 2017 program.