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Help and Frequently Asked Questions
This document lists some frequently asked questions about the applications you can find here and provides answers to these (and other, related) questions.
When e-mailing me regarding a possible bug, be sure to mention these things: The name and exact version of the program that the bug occurs on. Which OS you are running the program on (i.e. Windows 98, NT 4.0, etc.). Exactly what the problem is. (Don't merely say "feature X doesn't work"). Detailed steps to reproduce the problem, if possible.

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Why didn't I receive a reply when I e-mailed you?

All e-mail is answered. If you did not receive a reply, your e-mail was not received or your return e-mail address is incorrect. Please check your return e-mail address and re-send your e-mail. Also, make sure your e-mail program and/or spamfilters will accept e-mails from "David De Groot" (mark them as allowed, legitimate or permitted senders).
Sometimes my replies bounce back: that's the case at Comcast.net and AOL (occasionally GMail too, depending on their spam filters). These ISP's refuse our messages for reasons beyond my knowledge. If your e-mail provider is amongst these, please mail me from another e-mail account (you can use Yahoo or a similar free web mail service).
It may also be that your e-mail was deleted by my spam filters. To avoid this, read on.
SOME MINOR TIPS
What's all this about SPAM?

Spam is unsolicited, mass, electronic distribution of email or newsgroup postings. It originates in the form of unsolicited promotion, business offerings, pornography, chain letters, and in the case of newsgroup postings, harassment. Most spam will arrive in your inbox with an inaccurate 'To' or 'From' address. This is why spam is at times difficult to track or block.
What can I do to minimize spam in my e-mail box?
I would suggest that you not send messages back or reply to the sender. Doing so may only indicate to the sender that you are receiving their spam. You can stop unwanted e-mail by setting up a filter system if your e-mail client allows it, or you could use a more effective solution in the form of an anti-spam program like MailWasher.
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Your zip file is only 13kb and my zip program said it's not a valid file.

Such an error is usually due to a communications error that caused the file you downloaded to be corrupted. This mainly occurs when downloading during busy hours. Almost always, discarding the damaged file and downloading a new copy will correct this problem. Another option is to download from another location. If the problem persists though, give me call.
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I get the error: "A required DLL file, MSVBVM60.DLL, was not found".

Since all my programs are written in Visual Basic, you need the vbruntimes to run them. You can download this file from the Support files
page. This package includes more than just the MSVBVM60.DLL and will update all your outdated system files.

I get the error: "You do not have an appropriate license to use this functionality."

This message can appear when there is a version issue with the tab control (.ocx) used by PIXresizer and other programs.
This will fix the problem:
- Uninstall PIXresizer
- Look for a "Tabctl32.ocx" in "Windows\System32" and rename it to "Tabctl32.ocx.OLD"
- Install PIXresizer again
Here's the same procedure in more detail:
- Uninstall PIXresizer from the Control Panel - Add or Remove Programs
- Use Windows Explorer (not Internet Explorer) to go to c:\windows\system32
- Find the tabctl32.ocx file and rename it to tabctl32.ocx.OLD
- If you can't rename it because it's in use, close all of the programs you have running. This includes those in your system tray near the clock. Right click the icons and choose to exit those programs.
- After renaming, install PIXresizer again - make sure you have the latest version.
If you still have the problem, give me call.
I think I've found a bug in one of your programs. Where can I report it?

You can e-mail me (see the readme.txt that comes with the program for the address).
Try to write a brief description of the problem and the exact error message. If the problem is reproducible, please list the steps required to cause it. If the problem is not reproducible, please describe the circumstances under which it occurred. Do include the operating system version and any service packs that may be installed.
Again: when e-mailing me regarding a possible bug, be sure to mention these things:
- The name and exact version of the program that the bug occurs on.
- Which OS you are running the program on (i.e. Windows 98, NT 4.0, etc.).
- Exactly what the problem is. (Don't merely say "feature X doesn't work").
- Detailed steps to reproduce the problem, if possible.
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What about Vista, will your programs run on Windows Vista?

Not all of the applications here will run flawless on Vista yet. I will be updating the programs to make them a hundred percent compatible with Vista, but it will take time folks. Here's a list of applications that are already Vista compatible:
Please check back periodically for updates.
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Where can I find the Application Data directory?

Knowing where your application data folders are stored can be useful if, for example, you want to make a backup of your personal data. The application data files for my programs are stored in:
Windows 95*, 98:
C:\Windows\Application Data\Bluefive software\<program name>
Windows ME, NT4:
C:\Windows\Profiles\<user name>\Application Data\Bluefive software\<program name>
C:\WINNT\Profiles\<user name>\Application Data\Bluefive software\<program name>
Windows 2000, 2003, XP:
C:\Documents and Settings\<user name>\Application Data\Bluefive software\<program name>
Windows Vista:
C:\Users\<user name>\AppData\Roaming\Bluefive software\<program name>
* Sometimes, in Windows 95, the application data folder cannot be programmatically found due to missing .dll files. In such a case the application data folder will point to the application's program folder. |
The INF file generates the error: "Please insert the disk labeled x".
 This errors occurs because Windows INF's are unable to handle long filenames. Let's say your directory is named "C:\Internet Files". The installation INF now tries to find the directory "C:\Internet Files" but this is impossible because it can only access the 8+3 form ( DOS) of the directory which in this case would be "C:\INTERN~1"). If however you install from your desktop (mostly "C:\Windows\Desktop") the 8+3 DOSform is OK. So: try to install from your desktop. Or create a "test" folder in the root of your C: drive and install from there ("C:\test") - XP users may prefer to do that.
Right-clicking an INF file doesn't show the "Install" command. What should I do?

This happens when valuable info about INF files inside the Windows registry has been destroyed. You can fix this: by using Notepad, create a file with the following contents:
REGEDIT4
[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\.inf] @="inffile"
[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\inffile] @="Setup-Information"
[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\inffile\DefaultIcon] @="C:\\WINDOWS\\SYSTEM\\shell32.dll,-151"
[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\inffile\shell\install] @="&Install"
[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\inffile\shell\install\command] @="C:\\WINDOWS\\rundll.exe setupx.dll,InstallHinfSection DefaultInstall 132 %1"
Save this file as "Regfix.reg" (use the .reg extension!) and put in on your desktop.
Now doubleclick this file, and the Install command will show again.
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Do I have to uninstall previous versions before installing your program?

Unless otherwise stated in the README.TXT file, no.

Your program doesn't work after installation, what's wrong?

Here are some tips for a good installation:
- Windows 95 and 98 users should check if they have the vbruntimes installed (see the Support files page for info and downloads).
- Windows NT4 users should at least have Service Pack 4 or later installed.
- Always make sure no other programs are running. Not even in the background! (Check your TaskBar for running programs that were minimized, and close them. Also check the SysTray -at the right end of the TaskBar- for running programs in the background, and exit them).
- Reboot your computer. Some system files need to be updated during a reboot.
How do I uninstall a program?
If the program came with an .INF-file:
Open the Control Panel, go to Add/Remove Programs.
Then choose the program you wish to uninstall from the list and press the Add/Remove button.
If the program came with a Setup:
Doubleclick the Uninstall icon in the program folder.
In other cases: Right-click the folder of the program you wish to remove and select "Delete".
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When I start your program, Windows Installer starts to run???
It wants to install a required component? Any idea what is going on?

There's a known problem with the Windows Installer.
- Get the Windows Installer CleanUp Utility. The download link is somewhere halfway this page: http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;290301
- Install and run it, and look for an entry similar to the name of the so called required component. Now delete the entry and all should be fine.
Here you see two examples from the Windows Installer asking for a "required" disk:

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| Example: SmartSound Quicktracks |
Example: WordPerfect Office 2002 |

When I start FontPage it disappears onto the taskbar...

You probably closed the program while it was minimized.
To get things working again:
- start FontPage,
- head for the taskbar and
- right-click the FontPage icon,
- select 'Move' from the popup menu, (this will get you a four-arrow mousepointer)
- now point to the center of your screen and
- don't click any mousebutton, but
- press one of the arrow keys on your keyboard, and move your mouse a little.
Voila! FontPage should now become visible, attached to your mousepointer.
Why can't I find my currency in EuroConvert?

Only the twelve official participators are represented.
Legally, Denmark and the United Kingdom are exercising opt-outs they negotiated from the provisions on Economic and Monetary Union (EMU) of the Treaty on European Union (the Maastricht Treaty) which came into force in November 1993.
What sort of encryption does Mince use?

Mince uses an algorithm of which parts are based on the algorithm used in UUencode, but at the heart of the encryption lies the Visual Basic random number generator.

Is the source for your programs available?

All my programs are copyright materials so the source isn't available.
If I decide to make them Public-Domain, the source code will be included. |
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