jayno wrote:Thanks Eric
You're welcome jayno.
I have used the preview pane to rebuild my contacts/address book, then done a new backup.
That's good to hear.
I am actually running Barca 2.5 (created Nov 2007), but there is no address.ini file (even now) in my C Drive, only in my F Drive where I have just done the new backup.
Keep your backup safe, because you'll need it.
The odd thing is that I still have Barca 2 on my C Drive and there is an address.ini file in that folder, but it dates back to Oct 2007.
What you could do, is copy that address.ini file to your current installation, but at the same renaming it to import.ini for example. This way your current address.ini won't be overwritten.
Next you'll be able to move addresses from that import.ini to your current address.ini. Afterwards you can simply delete that import.ini.

If after you restart Barca you don't see Import, just go to Tools > Options > Contacts and add it by navigating to your address book folder and selecting it.
I did download the Barca 2.8 setup file at the end of April 2009, but when I tried to instal it I got some odd error/warning messages (can't remember now what they were - but I think they were about the risks of losing files, file conflicts, or not having certain files).
Try to do a clean install and don't import anything yet.
Just make sure to install it into another directory.
When all works as it should you can perform Import > data from previous install to be found under File.
As always make a backup of your version 2.5, just to be on the safe side.
I seem to remember that when I opened the new version it hadn't imported my existing email records properly, but luckily I was still able to use my 2.5 version, so I deleted the 2.8 version. Maybe I should have deleted Barca 2 and 2.5 before I did the 2.8 install, but I don't remember the 2.8 instruction telling me I should do. Of course, I'm very nervous of losing my email records, which are very extensive and important; and now I'm fearful of losing my Contacts too, given there is no uptodate address.ini on the C drive.
No need to delete anything.
If you do take your precautions, then there's nothing to fear.
I've done it several times and not once did I lose my mail.
Take your time and don't rush it.
If your mail doesn't display properly, go to your mail directory after closing Barca and delete all *.idb files. On restart those index files will be rebuild.
When all goes well, you then can delete previous installations.
Sorry to be such a nuisance.
No nuisance at all. It's better to ask then be sorry afterwards.
Keep me informed how it goes and if you do need more info, just give a shout.
