Windows Vista & ProCare Software
Does ProCare work on Vista?
Yes. The Current Version of ProCare does run on Vista.
Possible Issues
Things to be aware of when installing and running ProCare on Windows Vista:
- 64 bit Vista and Flash Tutorials (blog article)
- Run ProCare "As Administrator"
- Sharing Folders on Your Network
- Multiple Users on Your Network
- Slow Backup or Repair in ProCare
- Pocket Attendance Tracker
- Web Cameras
- Export Reports to .PDF Format
- ProCare FTP Manager
- Keyless Entry System
- Using VisData.exe
- User Account Control (UAC)
- Older Versions of ProCare
Run as Administrator - Some issues can be solved by running ProCare as an administrator.
Solution 1: The preferred approach is to always run ProCare as a local administrator: Right-click the ProCare shortcut > choose Properties > select the Compatibility tab > under Privilege Level select "Run this program as an Administrator".
Solution 2: To do this one time only: Right-click the ProCare shortcut > Select "Run as Administrator".
Networks: Sharing Folders on Your Network - Although sharing folders is beyond the scope of ProCare Technical Support the following information may be helpful to you and your network technician. Vista offers two forms of sharing known as "Public" folder sharing and "Any" folder sharing. For most ProCare users "Public" folder sharing is probably the easiest to set up as described below. More from Microsoft on Sharing Files with the Public Folder.
Sharing the Public Folder: During ProCare installation select the "Public" folder on the main computer as the location for your ProCare Data, for example \\MainComputer\Public. Once installation is complete go to the "Network and Sharing Center" at the main computer (Start > Control Panel > Network and Internet > Network and Sharing Center) and under "Public folder sharing" select "Turn on sharing so anyone with network access can open, change, and create files". Typically "Password Protected Sharing" should be turned off.
Networks: Multiple Vista Users - You may find issues when more than one person attempts to access ProCare at the same time. This can occur when your ProCare Data Folder is located on a Vista computer AND other Vista computers on the network try to access ProCare simultaneously. Symptoms include the inability for more than one person to sign into ProCare or being unable to check a child in/out while someone else is in ProCare. This is due to the way Vista handles file sharing with other Vista machines using SMB2 protocol.
Solution: This was a known Microsoft issue (knowledge base ID #935366) resolved in Vista Service Pack 1 (SP1). Download and Install SP1 on each Vista machine.
Slow Back Up and Repair - You may find that making a ProCare Backup or Repairing the Database takes much longer than expected. This may happen when your ProCare Data Folder is located on a Vista computer.
Solution 1: Installing Vista Service Pack 1 (SP1) on each Vista computer may resolve this issue.
Solution 2: If you do not have access to Vista SP1 and are running ProCare are on a network try to use the Backup or Repair features directly from the main computer (server) - or you may host the ProCare Data Folder on a Windows XP or 2000 computer.
Pocket Attendance Tracker - The ProCare Pocket Attendance Tracker must be used with a computer running Windows XP or 2000. This is due to compatibility issues with Microsoft Active Sync, Vista, and many existing hand held devices. [Note: Pocket Attendance Tracker is no longer available as of April 2008]
Web Cameras - ProCare PhotoGallery currently comes with the Creative Live! Cam Video IM which requires a special driver for Vista compatibility. Older model WebCams (including the Creative WebCam Instant and WebCam NX) are NOT Vista compatible.
Solution: See Vista Instructions for the Live! Cam Video IM
Export Reports to PDF Format - Reports cannot be exported to "Acrobat Format (PDF)" in Vista. A file of zero bytes is created and cannot be opened by the Adobe Acrobat Reader.
Solution 1: Export to PDF Format from a Windows XP or 2000 computer.Solution 2: To create a PDF on a Vista computer you could download a Free PDF Print Driver like PrimoPDF. Then bring up the Print Preview screen in ProCare. Don't "export" the report, instead select the PDF Driver as your printer and click Print. You may need to run the Adobe Reader as an administrator to open the PDF.
Note: PDF Print Drivers and the Adobe Reader are third party software products that cannot be directly supported by ProCare.
ProCare FTP Manager - Symptom: when trying to send a ProCare backup to an FTP site you may receive ZIP ERROR 280.
Solution: Run ProCare as an "Administrator"
Keyless Entry System - Symptom 1: when trying to exit the Keyless Entry Software you receive error "Keyless Entry Database Compact FAILED! Database already exists." Symptom 2: When clicking the Notepad button within the Keyless Entry Software you receive a message: "Cannot find the C:\Program Files\Keyless Entry\KESNote.txt file. Do you want to create a new file?".
Solution to both: Run Keyless Entry as an "Administrator"
Using VisData.exe - Occasionally ProCare Technical Support may direct you to run a program called "VisData.exe" to help trouble shoot or fix issues with data corruption. Vista does not include the run time files necessary to open VisData.
Solution: Download Msvbvm50 from Microsoft
User Account Control - UAC is a new Vista security feature. It is a complex topic but can sometimes lead to unexpected issues where persons logged on as local administrators do not have the expected administrator rights. See: UAC Step by Step from Microsoft. You may also be interested in How to Disable UAC for a Certain Application.
Installing Older Versions of ProCare - Although we do not officially support older versions of ProCare (9.1.423 and prior) you may wish to attempt to install them on your own. If so, be sure to uncheck the "create shortcuts" option. You'll need to manually create a shortcut to c:\procare.win\pro32.exe after installation is complete.