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General => Ancestral Family Tree DNA Testing => Topic started by: Kenneal67 on Thursday 13 August 20 10:54 BST (UK)

Title: Living DNA Problems
Post by: Kenneal67 on Thursday 13 August 20 10:54 BST (UK)
I did a living dna test in March that failed.

I requested another one and eventaully a few months later got a replacement.

Just had an email saying my results are in

Downloaded the autosomal file ( text file) saved to desktop.
Maternal dna cant download
paternal dna cant download

I uploaded the autsomal dna file back to living dna ( think that's what I am supposed to do

tried this 4 times and get an email each time saying upload unsuccessful

Not finding this very easy to navigate

Any comments appreciated

Title: Re: Living DNA Problems
Post by: Talacharn on Sunday 06 September 20 21:55 BST (UK)
The second part of your problem I also had.
I tried to upload my Autosomal file to Living DNA 4 times and had the same message.
Eventually I found the answer.
There is no need to upload to Living DNA as they already have your file.
That is why they will not accept it.
You can upload it to other companies.
In 6-8 weeks they say, you will receive your matches, though it may take 10-12 weeks.
I am still waiting for mine.
It is not clearly explained.
Title: Re: Living DNA Problems
Post by: Kenneal67 on Monday 07 September 20 08:03 BST (UK)
Hi Talacharn,

I agree it isn't explained very well at all.

Also I got an email from LDNA saying they were doing a matching run last Thursday and it doesn't look like that happened as I have no matches yet, unless of course they have done a run and I actually have zero matches.

Either way they aren't very impressive form an admin point of view.
Title: Re: Living DNA Problems
Post by: Talacharn on Monday 07 September 20 08:58 BST (UK)
I ran into problems at the start, as I could not register my kit with them.
After contacting support, for a couple of days, it was my browser and the settings.
I use Firefox and set it not to track me, or place cookies.
Now I have to allow LivingDNA to track me, or I cannot log-in.
Then I have to ensure tracking is swithched off on the DNA page to tick the consent box and see my autosomal file; and as yet the other two are not yet available.
I do not understand why LivingDNA need to track me.

Regarding your second issue, I don't know how long it takes to run a matching test, but if your email from them arrived last Thursday, it is only a few days and they might not work at weekends. At least it sounds like progress, as I have not yet received that email.
Title: Re: Living DNA Problems
Post by: Kenneal67 on Monday 07 September 20 09:03 BST (UK)
I only received that email I actually asked them when the next matching run would take place and that dat has now passed
Title: Re: Living DNA Problems
Post by: Talacharn on Monday 07 September 20 09:15 BST (UK)
Good. At least that is progress.
Considering those taking DNA tests will be newcomers to the process, information on their website is poor. The help pages at least could contain more. Looking at them I found myself going around in circles.
Now my autosomal has arrived, they provide me wiith masses explaining where my Cumbia percentage is derived from. Their geographic areas talk more about the Stone-age and nothing from when there are records. If they put half that effort into helping their customers, it would help.
Title: Re: Living DNA Problems
Post by: Talacharn on Thursday 17 September 20 21:35 BST (UK)
Today I logged-in to Living DNA and found relatives had been added.
As yet I do not have any mt-DNA or Y-DNA results to download.
I was not notified relatives had been added.
Communication is poor, and explanations regarding what is happening, they do not happen.
A standard message from them as explanation would help.
Title: Re: Living DNA Problems
Post by: Talacharn on Friday 18 September 20 14:08 BST (UK)
Today I received an email from Living DNA telling me relatives had been added.
Which I found yesterday.
They suggest, if I want to know more I should visit their shop.
I still do not have any mt-DNA or Y-DNA results to download.
I sent them an email asking about my mt and Y-DNA.
The relatives on their own do not tell me anything.
They are so far away from my tree;, and self, I would not know where to start.
All seem to link to my great-great grandfather, who I was hoping DNA might help me find.
Ready to draw a line under this as money wasted; and I will not be visiting their shop!

Title: Re: Living DNA Problems
Post by: Kenneal67 on Friday 18 September 20 14:10 BST (UK)
Mine is working now 90 plus hits and a couple of new cousins in contact with
Title: Re: Living DNA Problems
Post by: Petros on Friday 18 September 20 16:21 BST (UK)
Uploaded my DNA profile and while slow the matches have appeared. The 2 closest are not on other DNA sites. However, there are many fewer matches than on other sites.
Title: Re: Living DNA Problems
Post by: davidft on Friday 18 September 20 17:44 BST (UK)
Prompted by this thread I logged in to my Living DNA account and I see the details of shared DNA with matches is still "coming soon"

I guess the thing with Living DNA is that it appears to be hugely under resourced and everything takes a long time to happen. They should have a warning on their home page "patience is required", still I hope they get there as I appear to have some good matches on that site that are not on other sites.

Added: I posted this message yesterday and today i have got a message on Living DNA, spooky  ;)
Title: Re: Living DNA Problems
Post by: Talacharn on Thursday 01 October 20 17:05 BST (UK)
Still nothing regarding my mt and Y-DNA.
My big issue is the lack of information.
It would help to know about the process as most are new to DNA.
Also how long things take.
As with a previous post, I have sent an email to them, but it has not prompted anything.
Thanks to the comments regarding other companies finding more, as I will now upload to them.
Living DNA seem to focus on African heritage. They say I have a tiny amount.
I wonder if everyone, has at least a tiny amount, hoping for a curiosity to buy that part of their test.
Title: Re: Living DNA Problems
Post by: Kenneal67 on Thursday 01 October 20 17:08 BST (UK)
I didn't have any African at all but did unexpectedly have 13 % Spanish and 7% Italian so heavens knows where that slipped in.
Title: Re: Living DNA Problems
Post by: Talacharn on Thursday 01 October 20 20:41 BST (UK)
My DNA is UK and Ireland 89.7%, though the breakdown says there is nothing from Ireland. The largest two percentages make sense. But I do have Asia South Pashtun 8.6% and Africa Nilotic People 1.6%. Pashtun is the Iran area and Nilotic People are from halfway down Africa on the West side. I am looking for my Welsh great-great grandfather; a Williams from West Wales. It is like looking for the needle in a haystack, but not one that spreads to Asia or Africa.
Title: Re: Living DNA Problems
Post by: Romilly on Friday 02 October 20 09:40 BST (UK)

I haven’t had any problems with Living DNA.

This is my Ethnicity Estimate after the last Update:

Great Britain and Ireland
98.7%

South Wales
33.2%

South Central England
17.2%

South England
14.7%

East Anglia
7.5%

Devon
4.6%

Ireland
4%

South Wales Border
3.9%

Northern Ireland and Southwest Scotland
3.3%

Cumbria
3.3%

Northwest Scotland
2.4%

North Wales
1.8%

Southeast England
1.6%

Aberdeenshire
1.2%

Near East

1.3%

Arabia
1.3%

I’m a bit intrigued by the Arabian DNA, - I don’t have it on any other Site!

Romilly  ;D





Title: Re: Living DNA Problems
Post by: melba_schmelba on Friday 02 October 20 11:51 BST (UK)
My DNA is UK and Ireland 89.7%, though the breakdown says there is nothing from Ireland. The largest two percentages make sense. But I do have Asia South Pashtun 8.6% and Africa Nilotic People 1.6%. Pashtun is the Iran area and Nilotic People are from halfway down Africa on the West side. I am looking for my Welsh great-great grandfather; a Williams from West Wales. It is like looking for the needle in a haystack, but not one that spreads to Asia or Africa.
Living DNA is rather notorious, like MyHeritage for giving nonsense data on their ethnicity percentages so I wouldn't pay too much attention to them! Their primary reference samples were from the Peoples of the British Isles project, and although they made a drive to get more samples a couple of years ago, there has been no feedback as to those samples they did receive and whether they have yet analysed or learnt anything from them to improve their estimates.
Title: Re: Living DNA Problems
Post by: Talacharn on Saturday 03 October 20 15:17 BST (UK)
Are there other websites I can upload my DNA to?
I do not need the whole world; just a UK search.
Title: Re: Living DNA Problems
Post by: Romilly on Saturday 03 October 20 15:37 BST (UK)
Are there other websites I can upload my DNA to?
I do not need the whole world; just a UK search.

Did you test with Ancestry, Talacharn?

If so, from there you can upload to My Heritage, FTDNA, Living DNA, and Gedmatch.

Romilly.
Title: Re: Living DNA Problems
Post by: melba_schmelba on Saturday 03 October 20 17:25 BST (UK)
Are there other websites I can upload my DNA to?
I do not need the whole world; just a UK search.
Supposedly by Christmas, MyHeritage are going to implement improvements to their ethnicity estimates. They also do sometimes offer uploads with free tools like chromosome browser, clustering at Xmas too. You can upload now but you'd have to pay about £20 to get those tools (and I think) see ethnicity estimates but you can see matches for free.
Title: Re: Living DNA Problems
Post by: Romilly on Saturday 03 October 20 17:37 BST (UK)
Up until last Christmas, you could upload to My Heritage and see all your matches for free. I did, - and I still can.

However, the cutoff for this was last Christmas. When I uploaded my daughter’s test from Ancestry in January, the upload was free, but to see any of her matches, I had to pay £29+ VAT. This still applies.

The Chromosome browser and clustering are still free.

Romilly.
Title: Re: Living DNA Problems
Post by: melba_schmelba on Saturday 03 October 20 17:51 BST (UK)
Up until last Christmas, you could upload to My Heritage and see all your matches for free. I did, - and I still can.

However, the cutoff for this was last Christmas. When I uploaded my daughter’s test from Ancestry in January, the upload was free, but to see any of her matches, I had to pay £29+ VAT. This still applies.

The Chromosome browser and clustering are still free.

Romilly.
Thanks for the clarification Romilly. But what use are the chromosome browser and clustering if you can't see any of the matches ??? ;D?
Title: Re: Living DNA Problems
Post by: Romilly on Saturday 03 October 20 18:22 BST (UK)
I meant that you don’t have to pay extra for them, melba.

Romilly.
Title: Re: Living DNA Problems
Post by: melba_schmelba on Saturday 03 October 20 18:46 BST (UK)
I meant that you don’t have to pay extra for them, melba.

Romilly.
Oh I see. I am surprised that you can't even see matches without paying. I am not sure what the point of the free upload is in that case.
Title: Re: Living DNA Problems
Post by: Talacharn on Saturday 03 October 20 18:48 BST (UK)
I took my test with Living DNA pointed there by Find My Past.
On their website, they mention ancestry DNA testing many times; but not Ancestry.

I have now found: 'Remember, when purchasing Findmypast DNA, you also have the option to take advantage of our Deep Ancestry Upgrade - a 3-in-1 test that includes autosomal, mtDNA and Y-DNA.' Other parts of the website suggest all is included.

I am reaching the point of calling it a day. If I do not get any progress next week, I will go somewhere else.
Title: Re: Living DNA Problems
Post by: Ruskie on Saturday 03 October 20 22:02 BST (UK)
Up until last Christmas, you could upload to My Heritage and see all your matches for free. I did, - and I still can.

However, the cutoff for this was last Christmas. When I uploaded my daughter’s test from Ancestry in January, the upload was free, but to see any of her matches, I had to pay £29+ VAT. This still applies.

The Chromosome browser and clustering are still free.

Romilly.

I think the cut off was around Christmas 2018 rather than last year. I remember only missing out on uploading my father’s raw data from FTDNA to My Heritage by a few weeks, and I got his FTDNA results on 18th December 2018, so it must have been shortly after that.

I thought that the chromosome browser and clustering tools are only opened after payment of the “unlock“ fee? It has been a while and I didn’t explore My Heritage results thoroughly before paying to “unlock” but I vaguely remember them not being too useful unless you pay up to “unlock“. I think it was worth paying to do so.

I uploaded my raw data for free years ago.
Title: Re: Living DNA Problems
Post by: Romilly on Saturday 03 October 20 22:25 BST (UK)
No, I uploaded for free Christmas 2018, and I persuaded one of my DNA matches on Ancestry to upload to MH in Spring 2019, -all still free then.

However, my daughter tested Christmas 2019, and when I uploaded her test in January 2020, I had to pay the unlock fee to see her matches.

Romilly.
Title: Re: Living DNA Problems
Post by: melba_schmelba on Saturday 03 October 20 22:44 BST (UK)
No, I uploaded for free Christmas 2018, and I persuaded one of my DNA matches on Ancestry to upload to MH in Spring 2019, -all still free then.

However, my daughter tested Christmas 2019, and when I uploaded her test in January 2020, I had to pay the unlock fee to see her matches.

Romilly.
So that is about £35 including VAT. The MyHeritage test is currently on offer for £49 (often seems to be), however as I understand it there are hidden costs, you have to pay the postage to the US, and also you have to subscribe for at least a year, or perhaps you can also pay the £35 just to get the tool without subscribing, it's all a bit confusing

https://www.amazon.co.uk/MyHeritage-DNA-Test-Kit-Ethnicity/dp/B072SY5JHQ/
Title: Re: Living DNA Problems
Post by: Romilly on Sunday 04 October 20 09:28 BST (UK)

Yes, - the unlock fee is definitely better value, I think.

Romilly.
Title: Re: Living DNA Problems
Post by: Ruskie on Sunday 04 October 20 11:09 BST (UK)
No, I uploaded for free Christmas 2018, and I persuaded one of my DNA matches on Ancestry to upload to MH in Spring 2019, -all still free then.

However, my daughter tested Christmas 2019, and when I uploaded her test in January 2020, I had to pay the unlock fee to see her matches.

Romilly.

I feel ripped off now.  :'( I paid waaay before that.

According to this https://blog.myheritage.com/2018/12/starting-today-new-dna-upload-policy/ paying to unlock all the good features was introduced on Dec 16th, 2018.  :-\
Title: Re: Living DNA Problems
Post by: Talacharn on Monday 05 October 20 17:26 BST (UK)
Today I had a response from Living DNA.

‘Due to the global situation surrounding Covid-19 and the restrictions that we are all following, we are operating with a reduced staff. We're sorry that this has meant our customer service response time has been increased and that you have received a delayed reply.

It looks like you bought your kit through our partners at Find My Past, and did not purchase the Deep Ancestry upgrade when you purchased. This means we have not run the mitochondrial or Y-DNA tests and therefore have no results available to view or download.

If you would like to receive your maternal and paternal ancestry, you can purchase this upgrade through the store in your portal.’


Having received my autosomal file and relatives, the Y-DNA and mtDNA data continued to offer the same message. ‘Sorry there was a problem downloading your Y-DNA/mtDNA data. Please try again later.’ Nothing says I have to upgrade to see this information. Why not say I have to pay for the upgrade?

Their shop, offers a ‘Deep ancestry upgrade’ for £29.00, which goes on to say; ‘See your mtDNA and YDNA reports and explore your ancient migration paths spanning 80,000yrs, historic data and maps, and see where people live today who share your DNA.’ I want to go back one generation, not 80,000 years. What my family were doing in the stone-age, is of no interest.

I have decided not to purchase their upgrade. The information they offer and more importantly their lack of information is poor. These may be difficult times, which seems the perfect excuse for them, rather than accepting they are under-staffed. This was my last hope in going back a generation: so it is time to call it a day and get on with my life. I will delete my information and findings from Living DNA. Thanks to the Rootschatters who have helped over the years; and GOODBYE!
Title: Re: Living DNA Problems
Post by: Kenneal67 on Monday 05 October 20 17:30 BST (UK)
I did that upgrade too think it was 29 or 30 quid. Told me my haplogroups.
Title: Re: Living DNA Problems
Post by: Talacharn on Monday 05 October 20 17:34 BST (UK)
I have had enough of the company, they can shove it where the sun does not shine.
Title: Re: Living DNA Problems
Post by: kc_1560 on Saturday 10 October 20 04:25 BST (UK)
When I originally tested with Living DNA i was quite happy with the breakdown, especially for England-it matched my paper trail quite well, though I know it's not necessarily as simple as that. It was also interesting to get my haplogroup. But with the latest update I am suddenly 9% Tuscany, which makes no sense. I also paid AUD$110 for the well being report, but was very disappointed as it's full of very general information like: 'If you spend a lot of time indoors, you may benefit from vitamin D supplements.'

I wrote to them to say that this kind of information was not value for the money I paid-they said it may become more detailed in the future :(
Title: Re: Living DNA Problems
Post by: Matti on Wednesday 18 November 20 14:40 GMT (UK)
I tried to upload my FTDNA file but it does not work. It stops in the first stage. It is not possible to fill in the names.

It would be nice to see more specific ethnicity estimation. What earlier was British Isles on FTDNA changed to 1/3 England and 2/3 Ireland in the new version.
Title: Re: Living DNA Problems
Post by: Talacharn on Wednesday 18 November 20 15:48 GMT (UK)
I had the same problem at the start. They said their website did not like the Firefox browser, I was to clear all cookies and allow tracking. I continued to use Firefox and cookies were not an issue. Every time I entered their site, I had to ensure tracking was enabled. Then I could fill in those fields. Once registered, each time I still had to ensure tracking was turned off to enter the site and again to find my files. Why they need to follow everything you do I don't know, as others do not have that issue.
In the end, I was so fed-up with them I deleted my account.
Title: Re: Living DNA Problems
Post by: Matti on Thursday 19 November 20 07:52 GMT (UK)
I had the same problem at the start. They said their website did not like the Firefox browser, I was to clear all cookies and allow tracking. I continued to use Firefox and cookies were not an issue. Every time I entered their site, I had to ensure tracking was enabled. Then I could fill in those fields. Once registered, each time I still had to ensure tracking was turned off to enter the site and again to find my files. Why they need to follow everything you do I don't know, as others do not have that issue.
In the end, I was so fed-up with them I deleted my account.

Thanks for the help. I usually use Firefox but Microsoft Edge had no problem.
Title: Re: Living DNA Problems
Post by: Matti on Friday 20 November 20 14:06 GMT (UK)
This was quite useless. The only thing I got for free is the ethnicity estimation which told me that I am 100% European. Now they are trying to sell me "upgrades"...

Today I mailed the sample of the 23andMe test, so let's see what interesting information they can offer me. Now all the big companies are covered, and I would say that FTDNA gives the most for your money. Once you have paid the test, you can see all the trees of your matches unlike on Ancestry where you need to have a subscription in order to see the trees.

All these tests have cost $1199. Was it worth it? Probably not...