Help and Frequently Asked Questions

• Why didn't I receive a reply when I e-mailed you?
• What's all this about SPAM?

• Your zip file is only 13kb and my zip program said it's not a valid file.
• What's this zip file thing anyway? I can't open it?

• A required DLL file, MSVBVM60.DLL, was not found.
• You do not have an appropriate license to use this functionality.
• I think I've found a bug in one of your programs. Where can I report it?

• I ran my antvirus on your file, and got warning of a suspicious file?
• Where can I find the Application Data directory?

• The INF file generates the error: "Please insert the disk labeled x".
• Right-clicking an INF file doesn't show the "Install" command. What should I do?

• Do I have to uninstall previous versions before installing your program?
• Your program doesn't work after installation, what's wrong?
• How do I uninstall a program?

• When I start your program, Windows Installer starts to run???
• I found some .mp3 files which Alarm Clock can't play...
• When I start FontPage it disappears onto the taskbar...
• Why can't I find my currency in EuroConvert?
• What sort of encryption does Mince use?
• Is the source for your programs available?

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

• Check your return e-mail address (if your return e-mail address is wrong or not valid, I can't receive your e-mail, so check and double-check that your reply-to address is correct)
• Do the effort to put my full name in the TO: field (not just the e-mail-address)
• Have a subject other than a subject that spammers would use (try the name of the program you have a question about, or enter a short version of the question you want to ask)

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.

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.

1. Uninstall PIXresizer
2. Look for a "Tabctl32.ocx" in "Windows\System32" and rename it to "Tabctl32.ocx.OLD"
3. Install PIXresizer again

1. Uninstall PIXresizer from the Control Panel - Add or Remove Programs
2. Use Windows Explorer (not Internet Explorer) to go to c:\windows\system32
3. Find the tabctl32.ocx file and rename it to tabctl32.ocx.OLD
4. 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.
5. After renaming, install PIXresizer again - make sure you have the latest version.

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.

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.

• 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".

1. 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
2. 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.

Example: SmartSound Quicktracks	Example: WordPerfect Office 2002

I found some .mp3 files which Alarm Clock can't play...


This happens when a codec is missing or when older codecs are in use. You can easily fix this by adding or updating codecs on your system. Sometimes it is necessary to uninstall older codecs before you install the new ones. Here are a few places where you can find new codecs:

• Combined Community Codec Pack
• Codec-Download.com
• DirectShow Filters for Ogg Vorbis, Ogg Speex, Ogg Theora and FLAC
• FFDShow at SourceForge.net
• XP Codec Pack

• 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.

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.