Win OS reinstall looses Program files including logs - GCM file found

[Mary Ann Wallace]

Facts:  Gnucash v.2.6.3 originally installed on Win 7 Pro 32-bit (X84) 
laptop.  Hard disk failed 7/2014, but an image of the disk was created 
and shows all logs and data through that date.  Program files and data 
were also able to be copied over to an external drive and loaded onto a 
Win XP substitute computer which was used for Gnucash until 1/16/2015 
when the XP OS failed without having an image backup.  Extensive travel 
delayed repairs and both the Win7 & and XP were repaired this past 
week.  The Win 7, with a new hard drive and Acronis image backup 
restored Gnucash with all the program files and logs up to the last 
6/25/14 log.  Unfortunately, the XP OS that had later data was 
re-installed and the process deleted all program files not originally on 
the OS and because the logs were saved in C/Program Files, these are 
gone.  The only remaining files are GCM files located in Documents and 
Settings under .gnucash.  The last entries were done on 01/06/2015 and 
this file exists:  gnuxmlaacounts.gnucash.20140917001406.gnucash.gcm 
dated 01/06/2015, 6kb.

The manual says nothing about GCM extension files.  I found a program, 
Dolphin, that handles GCM but this appears to be for video games.  When 
I tried to click on the above file, I got an error message saying "No 
suitable backend was found for the file." Gnucash would not open the 
file.  I downloaded Dolphin, but have no idea how to use it or if I 
should. I can't find anything in the manual under backing up and 
recovering data that applies to my situation.

It was my mistake not verifying more closely where my logs were being 
saved on the XP.  I thought they were being saved on an external hard 
drive since I started the program from there. Instead, I found too late 
that they were on the C drive in Program Files.

I do not know programming, although I can follow directions to edit 
registries and the like.  I am a retired CPA/accounting instructor. I 
love Gnucash and was delighted to have found it after being totally 
frustrated with using Quicken.  It's based on sound accounting 
principles and you make adjustments like you would in regular 
accounting.  I thank the developers for developing this program.

1) Is there any way that this GCM file might contain the "image" of 
everything I've done up to the last date, 1/06/2015 and any way of 
restoring it to a log or other type of Gnucash file that the Gnucash.exe 
program would read?  The Win7 is now back in operation has everything up 
until July, 2014 and I've copied the .gnucash with GCM file in /books; 
/checks; /translog from XP to Win7. (checks and translog are empty). Any 
hope?

2) Also, can important data logs be saved to Documents and Settings and 
run from there rather than C:/Program Files for easier backup? 
Apparently, in restoring Windows, users need to be aware that data files 
saved in C:/Program Files will be lost and diligence is required in 
backing them up.

3) I notice each time Gnucash is started, whether or not anything is 
done, a GCM file appears with the current date in Documents and Settings 
and 3kb in size: gnuxmlaacounts.gnucash.gcm.  What is the purpose of 
these files?

Yes, I have pages of printouts and could painstakingly and with many 
days recreate over 6 months of data with the files I have on the Win7 as 
a last resort.  I'm hoping there might be another solution. Thank you 
for any suggestions and help.

Mary Ann

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