If you’ve been digging through an old hard drive or a box of backup CDs and stumbled on files ending in .ftw or .fbc, you’ve probably felt a small jolt of panic. Years of genealogy research — names, dates, photos, family stories — locked inside a format that modern software barely recognizes anymore. You’re not alone. This is one of the most common headaches for anyone who started building a family tree maker project back in the early 2000s and hasn’t touched it since.
The good news is that Family Tree Maker (FTM) 2005 Starter Edition, while dated, still offers a reliable path for opening and converting these older file types. In this guide, we’ll walk through exactly what FTW and FBC files are, how to convert them using FTM 2005 Starter Edition, and what to do once your data is safely converted into a format you can actually use today.
What Are FTW and FBC Files?
Before converting anything, it helps to know what you’re working with.
FTW Files Explained
An FTW file is the native project file created by older versions of Family Tree Maker, including versions from the late 1990s through the mid-2000s. It stores your entire genealogy database in one place — individuals, relationships, sources, notes, and media links. Think of it as the master file for your whole family history project.
FBC Files Explained
FBC stands for “Family Tree Maker Backup Copy.” As the name suggests, it’s a compressed backup of your FTW file, often created automatically or manually as a safety net. If your original FTW file becomes corrupted or lost, the FBC file is your fallback — but it needs to be restored (essentially converted back into an FTW file) before you can open and edit it normally.
Both formats are proprietary to older Family Tree Maker software, which is exactly why compatibility issues crop up when you try to open them in newer genealogy programs or even current FTM versions.
Why Convert Files From FTM 2005 Starter Edition?
There are a few practical reasons people find themselves needing to convert these older files:
- Software upgrades — newer Family Tree Maker versions or competing genealogy platforms often can’t read legacy formats directly.
- Data recovery — an FBC backup needs restoring before it becomes usable.
- File sharing — relatives using different software need a universal format like GEDCOM to import your research.
- Long-term preservation — proprietary formats risk becoming unreadable as software ages; converting to an open standard protects your work for the future.
Whatever your reason, the process itself is fairly straightforward once you know the steps.
How to Convert FBC Files to FTW in FTM 2005 Starter Edition
Since FBC files are compressed backups, the first step is almost always restoring them into a working FTW file.
- Open FTM 2005 Starter Edition on your computer.
- From the main menu, select File, then choose Restore from Backup.
- Browse to the location of your .fbc file and select it.
- Choose a destination folder where you’d like the restored .ftw file saved.
- Click Restore, and the software will decompress the backup into a usable FTW file.
Once restored, you can open the file normally through File > Open and begin reviewing your data. It’s a good habit to check a few entries — names, dates, and relationships — to confirm the restoration completed cleanly before moving on.
Converting FTW Files to GEDCOM for Broader Compatibility
Once your data lives in an FTW file, converting it to GEDCOM (.ged) is the smartest move if you plan to use any software other than the original FTM version. GEDCOM is the industry-standard format recognized by nearly every genealogy program, from Ancestry to MyHeritage to RootsMagic.
Step-by-Step Export Process
- With your FTW file open in FTM 2005 Starter Edition, go to File.
- Select Export.
- Choose GEDCOM as the export format.
- Pick which individuals or the entire tree you want included.
- Save the resulting .ged file to a clearly labeled folder.
This GEDCOM file becomes your portable master copy — the one you can safely import into modern family tree maker software or any other genealogy platform without worrying about format compatibility.
Common Problems During Conversion (and How to Fix Them)
Even a simple conversion process can hit snags, especially with files that are 15-20 years old. Here are the issues people run into most often, along with practical fixes.
Corrupted or Incomplete Files
If a restore or export fails partway through, try running it again on a fresh copy of the file rather than the one already in use. Corruption often stems from interrupted saves or damaged storage media, not the software itself.
Missing Media Links
Photos and scanned documents linked to your tree sometimes don’t carry over cleanly, since older versions stored media paths rather than embedding the files. Before converting, locate the original media folder and keep it in the same relative location as your FTW file so links resolve correctly.
Software Compatibility Errors
FTM 2005 Starter Edition was built for older operating systems. If you’re running it on a modern Windows version, try compatibility mode (right-click the program icon, select Properties, then Compatibility) to reduce crashes during conversion.
Special Characters or Formatting Glitches
Accented letters, apostrophes in surnames, or unusual date formats occasionally get scrambled during GEDCOM export. Reviewing the exported file in a text editor before importing it elsewhere can catch these issues early.
Backing Up Your Converted Files the Right Way
Once you’ve successfully converted your FTW and FBC files, don’t stop there. Genealogy research represents hundreds of hours of work, and a single format conversion doesn’t protect it long-term.
- Keep at least two copies of your GEDCOM file in different physical locations (an external drive and a cloud backup, for example).
- Re-export a fresh GEDCOM file periodically if you continue adding to your tree in newer software.
- Store original media files separately, with clear folder names matching the individuals or events they document.
- Label files with dates so you always know which version is most current.
This kind of redundancy is standard practice among professional genealogists and archivists, and it’s just as relevant for a home researcher managing decades of family history.
Choosing a Modern Family Tree Maker Alternative
Once your data is converted, you’ll likely want a more current platform to keep building your tree. Most modern genealogy software can import a GEDCOM file directly, preserving names, relationships, and notes from your original FTM project. When comparing options, look for:
- Native GEDCOM import and export
- Cloud syncing so your tree isn’t tied to one computer
- Active development and regular updates (unlike discontinued legacy software)
- Strong source-citation tools if accuracy matters to your research
Making this switch now, while your data is freshly converted and verified, saves you from repeating this same recovery process years down the road.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I open an FBC file directly without restoring it first?
No. FBC files are compressed backups, so they need to go through the Restore from Backup process in FTM before they can be opened and edited like a normal FTW file.
Is FTM 2005 Starter Edition still available to download?
It’s no longer officially supported by newer operating systems, and official downloads are hard to find. If you no longer have your original installation files, check whether a newer FTM version or a GEDCOM-compatible program can handle the conversion instead.
Will I lose data when converting FTW to GEDCOM?
Most core data — names, dates, relationships, and notes — transfers reliably. Media files and some custom fields occasionally need manual re-linking after conversion, so it’s worth double-checking your exported file.
What’s the difference between FTW and GEDCOM?
FTW is a proprietary format specific to older Family Tree Maker versions, while GEDCOM is an open, universal standard readable by virtually all genealogy software available today.
Do I need special software to open a converted GEDCOM file?
No special software is required beyond a genealogy program that supports GEDCOM import, which includes almost every major platform on the market.
