NotePager Pro Error 3050 and Pending

[bfittes1]

I have two issues, which I supposed could be related. I installed the software (Version 3) last summer on 9 multi-user PCs. It has worked perfectly since then until last week.

First problem: One of the machines suddenly developed a problem where it would put all messages into "Pending" without any apparent attempt to send. Connection Monitor shows nothing when this happens.

Second problem: While trying to troubleshoot this issue, it appears that we have a problem with the software deleting npp.ldb once you exit the software. So the original user can get back into the application, but another user that tries to use it gets the Error 3050 message that you cannot lock the file. I erased it using an administrator account, but as soon as I got in with a normal user account, the issue reappeared.

No changes made to this one PC that we are aware of.

Any suggestions?

[Tech Support]

In regards to the first problem, it sounds as if the NPPDial portion of the program isn't running when the application starts. Run the program, try to send out a message, then open your Task Manager to see if NPP and NPPDial are in the list. Let us know what you see there.

In regards to the second issue, I'm not sure I understand. Any time NotePager Pro is running, it has to access its database (npp.mdb). Any time the database is accessed, it creates a 'lock' file (npp.ldb). So long as any one person has the application open, no one else should be able to run the application on the same system. NotePager Pro was never intended to be used as a network application, only as a single user, standalone version.

[bfittes1]

On the first problem, I tried what you said and both npp and nppdial show up as "running" in task manager.

On the second problem, understand what you are saying. I believe, however, that once the application is closed, it should delete the lock file, correct? Well, it isn't doing that. It remains, even after the user who set the lock has signed off the system, and even if the machine is rebooted. The user that created the lock can get back into NPP, but another user cannot, since the first user owns the lock file, and it is still there.

All of our installations are standalone installs, although our PCs are networked. We have a plethora of different user accounts, but (obviously) only one user per PC at a time.

[Tech Support]

Hmm.... well, both of these are quite strange.

In regards to the first, since both are running, the Dialer engine should at least be attempting to do something and that should show up in the Connection Monitor. Let's try this:

1) Using the Windows explorer, browse to the c:\program files\notepager pro\ directory.

2) In that directory, you should see a NPP.mdb file. If you have system set NOT to show you the extentions to file types, you'll see a file that is named NPP and the icon of the file will be a small, yellow key.

2a) If you want to view the extentions to files, which I highly recommend, you'll want to go to Tools -> Folder Options.

2b) In the Folder Options, go under the View Tab.

2c) UNCHECK "Hide extensions for known file types" and click on OK.

3) Make a copy of this file somewhere on your computer, preferrably to your My Documents folder or the root c:\

4) After you've made a copy of the database, uninstall NotePager Pro.

5) During the installation, it will prompt you if you want to remove all files, tell it yes.

6) Reboot the computer.

7) Once the computer comes back up, you'll want to visit our website:
http://www.notepage.net

8) Click on the Download button under the NotePager Pro section.

9) After the file has been downloaded, run it.

10) This will take you through the installation for the latest version of NotePager Pro, including any patches we've released since you originally installed the program.

11) After you install the latest version of NotePager Pro, run the program once. Skip or cancel all of the wizards it prompt you to, then close the program.

12) After you've closed the program, go back to your Windows Explorer.

13) Find the copy of the NPP.mdb file that you made, whether you put it in your root c:\ or My Documents folder.

14) Copy this file directly into the c:\program files\notepager pro\ directory. It will ask you if you want to overwrite the file, say yes.

I'll make a second post in regards to the second problem.

[Tech Support]

In regards to the second issue, I was wondering if I could get you to email me the database to support at notepage dot com. I want to see if it does the same thing on one of my test systems to determine if it's the database or some other variable.

[bfittes1]

Should be able to do both of those things yet today. At the wrong firehouse at the moment, but will get to it in a bit.

Thanks.

[OzCom]

Your original post mentioned that you installed a copy of NotePager Pro on 9 machines. Perhaps it is time to think about upgrading to PageGate - the network version. If you need to add a new user or modify a recipient currently, you have to go to each of the 9 PC's to make the change. With PageGate, ALL PC's on your network will access a common database. This is especially usaeful for Public Safety agencies

_________________
Aaron D. Osgood
Streamline Communications, LLC
* Authorized Notepage, Inc. Development Partner and Re-seller
TEL: 207-518-8455
AOsgood@streamline-solutions.net
Creators of AutoPage Spillman CAD interface for PageGate

[bfittes1]

On the first issue, I did what you suggested. Saved the .mdb file, uninstalled, downloaded and installed, copied back in the "old" .mdb file. That seemed to solve both issues, at least based on limited testing.

On the second issue, will email you a copy of the "before" .mdb file.

Have a new problem now. The original software that we had installed was an already registered version that we got from our paging supplier, PagePlus. The new version I installed this morning is, of course, an evaluation version. How do I get that registered, given that I started with registered software?

Thanks for the help.

Barry Fittes

[Tech Support]

Do you know what name or company name the program would have originally been registered under or what the serial number was? If so, please email that information to support at notepage dot com so I can try to track down your registration information based on that.