6.15.4 isn't compatible with Windows 7 which is  probaby why you have the problem. The Recorder6.Info site was intended for new installations and it isn't clear that the information applies to 6.17 above.   I will check the local download as it should  be a 64 bit version with tools, however, it has exactly the same name and size as the one on the Microseft site which is supposed to include the tools.

It may be worth you double checking that the tools haven't installed. They are called SQL Mangement Studio and you should  be able to find them in all programs under Microsoft SQL server 2008. 

You will need the tools to be able to transfer in the database, either by attaching it or using MS Tools to restore from a backup (recorder 6 restore is not capable of doing this). 

You need to install version 6.17 which as long as you have site  is available from www.recorder6.info/Standalone.zip or
www.recorder6.info/Network.zip  depending on the version  you require. Once you have installed Recorder 6 make sure it is working and you can  then attach your original database or restore it using MS Tools. You will then need to run the Recorder 6 upgrades from 6.15 to date to bring the database into line.   

Mike Weideli

Mike, I have achieved the following apparently successfully, but have hit a problem again
1) installed Recorder 6 (v6.17) from the downloaded zipped file.
2) checked it runs okay
3) re-loaded my OS maps

The downloaded application I took from the Local Download option is called
Microsoft SQL Server 2008 R2 Express edition with Tools. So I guess that sounds right.
Looking at the options available from the tabs in the Windows start menu (bottom left), it lists
MS SQL Server 2008 R2
  Input & Export data (32 bit)
  Input & Export data (64 bit)
  SQL Server Management Studio
     configuration tools
     integration services

I have decided it might be easier to bring back the data from the backup, since if I have to disconnect the data from the old database, I assume that might create a new raft of problems.

So do I need to use the above "configuration tools" option to bring back the data from the backup copy?

Nigel

Normally the Recorder restore doesn't work with a new installation. Perhaps it was something which was improved in 6,17 when some other changes were made to the backup/restore.  Have you run the upgrade from 6.15 to 6.17 ? If not you might find that some things don't work as expected as the databse will be out of line with the software ?

I think that all that is wrong is that you need to rebuild the indexes.  This should  always be done after a Dictionary upgrade, but up to now Recorder has continued to work (not poperly though)  even if you didn't do it.

Tools database tools and rebuild each index in turn.

If you open the tools in the Recoder main menu, then choose database tools you will see 4 Rebuild options at the botom of the drop down menu. Click on the top one and wait for it to complete, then do the same for the others. Previously the old index would have remained which would have enabled Recorder to work, but any new taxa added or changes made would not have beeen reflected in many places in the system.