Installation, Updating and Backup

I use a single PC. I have completed the installation but when I first start the program it reports the connection is lost and it cannot find the back end data file. When I go to the next dialog - Finding Contacts Organizer Data file  - the COData file does not get listed. Where is it?

As you are using a single PC, then during installation you need to make sure that you select both the Main Program component and also the Data File component. Re-run the setup and make sure both are selected when asked to choose the components (choose both components, do not just select the Data File).

I need to install Contacts Organizer on a network for several users. Are there any special instructions?

Contacts Organizer consists of two components. During installation you are presented with a list of the two component options to select for installation. The 'Program (No Data File)' option is the program a user sees, and the 'Data File' option is the file holding all the entered information. Installation of Contacts Organizer PBE for use on a small network (20 users or less) differs from the non-networked installation. The data file must be installed to a shared folder on a computer on that everyone has access to. This should be done before the program is installed on users’ computers. To do this run the setup program and just select the 'Data File' option. Make sure the folder you nominate is one where every user has full read/write permissions. The main program does not have to be installed on a file server that is only holding the data file and does not require a separate licence.

On users’ workstations (network clients) you install only the 'Program (No Data File)' option. After installation, you can run the Contacts Organizer PBE on those workstation. On first run, a dialog box will be displayed indicating a lost connection. After clicking on the OK button you will need to use the file dialog to navigate to the network file server folder where the COData.dat file is stored. Once found, select the file, and click on Open.

Note: If you only have a network of a few computers without a specific file server, you may be installing the data file on a user's PC to a folder that has been shared for everyone. If this is the case, run the setup program twice on that PC. The first time you run setup, select just the 'Data File' option and nominate the shared folder as the install location. On the second running of setup, only select the 'Program (No Data File)' option and save it to a normal program file location.

Following a system crash/upgrade I need to re-install Contacts Organizer. I only have the CD-ROM from the professional version prior to V2.4 although I am now using a later version or Professional with the new serial numbers. What must I do to re-install?

Firstly, if you upgraded your PC ensure you have transferred the licence. You may need to contact us stating the serial number you need to transfer, otherwise the product activation will fail on this new PC.

Next, you must re-install from the CD-ROM choosing the Network Client option. Use network Client even if you are not on a network. You do not need to run the Contacts Organizer after installation has completed.

Next, download and run the latest update from this web site. The update might ask you to indicate where the Contacts Organizer program is installed. Typically this is C:\Program Files\Contacts Organizer however you may have changed this when you installed the software.

Finally, start Contacts Organizer and this time you will be presented with the Product Activation dialog. Enter your transferred serial number and everything should be fine.

I have tried running the update program but it reported there was an error writing to the file COPBE.exe.

Before you run the update, make sure the Contacts Organizer is not running.

I have completed the installation but when I start the program it shows an error saying Run Time Error 5000.

Make sure an Administrator runs the program first, then read the README.TXT file that is installed with the program.

I have just installed my Contacts Organizer Professional on my new Windows Vista PC. It appeared to work but is losing data and configuration settings.

Contacts Organizer Professional is not cleared for use on Windows Vista (Microsoft has made changes in Vista that stops Professional from working correctly); however, the newer Contacts Organizer Personal and Business Edition does work with Windows Vista.

Normally if you install the Contacts Organizer Personal and Business Edition over a correctly working copy of Contacts Organizer Professional, the back-end data file is automatically converted to the new format. This will only work if the older Contacts Organizer Professional is correctly installed (which is not the case in Vista).

Our suggestion is that you purchase an upgrade to Contacts Organizer Personal and Business Edition. If you want to use the data from the older version (assuming you have a zipped backup), we can do a manual conversion of the back-end data file for which we make a nominal charge (currently £30 + VAT). Please telephone us to discuss your specific requirements.

I am installing Contacts Organizer on a Windows XP computer but it comes up with an error saying there is an error writing to the INI file. What is wrong?

In Windows XP or Windows 2000 the Contacts Organizer back-end data file is installed by default in the folder:
C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\Contacts Organizer PBE
All users who are not Administrators need to have read and write permissions to this folder.

I have been backing up my data to different media using the built-in backup feature. Another program caused my PC to crash and now I have found that my COData.dat/PCOrganize.dat file has become corrupted. How do I recover from a zipped backup?

Windows XP or Vista can open a zipped (compressed) file, or use a program such as WinZip. Copy the uncompressed .dat file from the compressed zip file back to the folder where the corrupted COData.dat/PCOrganize.dat is saved. (You must only do this if the corrupted file cannot be used as your act of copying will overwrite the corrupted file. Also note that the date of the file you are copying from the zipped backup may be older than the corrupted file and any changes to data since the backup file was made will be lost and not recoverable.)

On single PCs running Windows Vista the COData.dat is stored in the Public\Public Documents\Contacts Organizer PBE folder.

On single PCs running Windows XP or earlier the COData.dat is stored in the Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\Contacts Organizer PBE folder.

On single PCs the PCOrganize.dat is stored by default in the \Program Files\Contacts Organizer folder.

Now start up Contacts Organizer again and you should be up-and-running once more. If you have lost any subsequently entered data, now would be a good time to re-enter that data. Then take another backup!

I have completed the installation but when I start the program it shows an error saying another program may be stopping it from running correctly. I am using Windows XP as my operating system.

This is a problem with a few rare installations in Windows XP, caused by another application's rogue installation program. You need to install the MDAC 2.8 Update from Microsoft.