Will GM 4.0 run ok on XP?

[Whisperer]

I'd like to know if GM 4 will run perfectly fine under XP.

I have GM 4.00.9393 still running on my old W98 machine. I just put a new XP machine into the office and am really not anxious to upgrade GM yet because the structure will need some work. We have massive growth plans for our company but the funding is still about six months away. So, I need to keep this new XP machine very well maintained in anticipation of that growth and don't want to try to install GM 4 on it if it might create a mess. I would greatly appreciate input on whether installing GM 4 under XP is impossible, marginal, or perfectly, 100% fine. If there's a patch, great -- I'll go get it right away.

THANKS!

Jay Newman
President
Invision International

 

[Whisperer]

Okay, found my notes.

My installation consists of c:\Apps\GoldMine with all the program stuff, and then separately c:\Data\GoldMine\MyContactFile for all my custom data stuff. I also have a slightly newer version of GM4 than what's on my original CD, which I had downloaded; I guess I'll just install that after the original program from CD, and then copy everything over from the old machine.

The two key sets of notes are on my web site.

A) From a user forum back then with a real guru:

http://www.silver100.com/x/misc/GM4-move-notes-1999.PDF

B) From the GM4 original CD -- instructions on installing for a P2P network:

http://www.silver100.com/x/misc/GM4-NETWORK-install.PDF

All of that is really a piece of cake: It's essentially just a matter of installing from CD on the main computer as a "Custom" install as described, then just sharing the folder and mapping to it from the workstations, and making sure to configure the database paths accordingly. I've got all that in existence already -- been there, done that!

The only real questions I have at this point, before taking the plunge, are:

1. VREDIR.VXD was an important file to update. I remember that, and it's mentioned in both of the attached files. I don't see such a file anywhere on the XP system, though. What do I do, or do I ignore it?

2. Do I care about the BDE?

3. Do I go with XP’s “Compatibility Wizard” or just go for it in normal mode?

Thanks very much!!!

 

[Whisperer]

... and here's what my W98 GM4 folder structure looks like...

http://www.silver100.com/x/misc/GM4-folders.gif

Jay

 

[Whisperer]

SUCCESS!!!

I'm happy to report that by following the instructions for installing on a network, making sure to create the folders and sharing and mapped drives as appropriate... and then overwriting EVERYTHING with the old W98 files, it worked like a charm!

THANKS FOR YOUR HELP, MY FRIEND!!!

 

[Whisperer]

Well, I spoke too soon! Now, twenty or thirty hours of meticulous troubleshooting later... here's what I think will actually do it for anyone wanting to put GM4 onto an XP machine and use peer-to-peer networking.

If it's an existing GM4 installation then the steps are to do what GM says to do for installing GM4 from the setup file for a network, as summarized below, and then delete everything from the new installation in the Apps\GoldMine folder and in the user's database folder and then copy the contents of those folders in from the previous installation. Also, I would immediately then do an official uninstall of GM from the old computer, then hit Google for how to remove BDE fro the system as well, and then move the originals of those two GM folders to an innocuous safety location and make sure the main folders that were shared and had mapping to them no longer exist! Reboot often. THEN, run GM4!

The summary of steps that also matter are:

- usernames are quirky:
- somewhere it somehow saves paths and/or other things related to usernames
- I don’t know if this is in each computer’s registry and/or elsewhere, but it does!
- use only one username per given computer, period!
- don’t remove and replace the same one in Users; create new ones
- don’t touch the Login tab in Preferences
- set up /u:USERNAME switch in GM desktop shortcut for given computer and user (see below)

- to install, see main steps in NETWORK.DOC file on CD
- create C:\Apps\GoldMine folder before installation
- also create a folder called something like “C:\Data\GoldMine\[Folder for User's Contact File]” for database
- run setup file
- select Custom
- Browse to C:\Apps\GoldMine
- check Workstation Setup Files
- finish

- map network drives on all computers so G: goes to C:\Apps on main machine where GM4 resides and H: goes to folder on main machine in which users database folder resides

- desktop icons show
- Target of:
- G:\GoldMine\gmw4.exe /u:USERNAME
- the /u:USERNAME is an optional switch but it’s very useful for our purposes
- Start in: G:\Goldmine

- on main computer when it prompts for database file on first use of a new username (ie: File – Open screen) have it go to
- G:\[Folder for User's Contact File]

- for workstations when it prompts for database file on first use of a new username (ie: File – Open screen) have it go to:
- H:\[Workstation name for Folder for User's Contact File] {alias path to database for workstations, which was created by user per more detailed instructions on GM4 original CD in file with instructions for installing on a network called NETWORK.DOC]

- on first use on main computer if it asks where to find License.DBF, browse it to:
- G:\GoldMine\License.DBF


Best of luck,

Jay

 

[Whisperer]

I have to rescind a lot of what I said. I was having a problem and I thought I got it solved but it's back. So maybe a lot of the steps above aren't even needed for most people.

The problem I've been having is that on the workstation the computer gradually/quickly gets unruly and when I try to open GM4 from it I get an error saying it can't find the files needed (DLLs etc) even thought it shows me the mapped drive location that's correct.

I think the problem is twofold: one, I recently changed the Computer Name of the main computer that has GM4 on it, whic is my new XP machine, and two, I looked in the registry and there are a LOT of places where the old Computer Name is still in there and is associated with the drive letter designations that I'm using for mapping to GM and the database.

Maybe I need to either clean out the registries of those old entries or go to new drive letter designations altogether.

At least this is only an issue on the workstation, not the main XP computer where GM is now running like a top! And I think the workstation takes a little time to stop behaving; it seems a reboot may be a reasonably reliable way to get it to behave until I get to the cause of it.

Anyway, unless anyone expresses interest in more info here, I'm not going to see the need to post more on this here.

Thanks for all the help!!

Jay

 

[Whisperer]

I have finally gotten this all resolved and I want to clarify the steps for anyone who might encounter the same situation, which is trying to install GM4 under XP.

The bottom line is that it DOES indeed run smooth as silk.

The complications I ran into, it turns out, were solely due to the fact that I was trying to run it as a network installation with the workstations (remote computers on a peer-to-peer network) being Windows 98 systems!

To do THAT, the steps are:

1. Install GM4 under XP as Admin (Custom - Apps\GoldMine for main program path, data files where you choose; add to install Workstation files; on first logon put user as MASTER and password as ACCESS and hold Ctrl while clicking OK, then direct it to the path for your data files).

2. Install GM4 on each workstation!!! Do a Typical install.

3. On each workstation, go into the GM.INI file and add the following two lines:

GoldPath=\\[admincomputername]\Apps\GoldMine\GMBase
Common=\\[admincomputername]\Apps\GoldMine\Common

4. On each workstation, on initial logon do the same as above and direct it to the path for the data files on the admin machine.

Of course, you need to set up file sharing and mapped drives accordingly.

The reason this works and the normal approach of using just a desktop icon as a shortcut on each workstation that runs the exe on the admin machine doesn't work is that it's trying to use XP to run the exe and tell W98 machines how to operate. Doing it the way I described bypasses that issue because the exe runs locally on each workstation (and it runs faster since there's no transfer across the network to run the program, just for data files).

Jay

 

[Whisperer]

I want to also say "Thank you so much" to you, patrichek, and the others as well, for all the help!!

And also say that the consultant I mentioned, Steck, while being less than omniscient (all-knowing, all-seeing) was amazingly supportive and right there with me through the whole process, and gave me important insights while being a great sounding board as I went through my own troubleshooting -- and was the one who knew to put those two lines in GM.INI at the end of the process once my own consultant had figured out that it needed local exe files!

Jay

 

[Whisperer]

Well, it's failing again, so forget everything I said.

At least the XP installation is working fine so far. Just can't get a workstation to work for very long.

 

[goner]

Wow.. what a train wreck.

Installing GM4 on windows XP isn't rocket science. Richard Young was right, in that you'll mainly see a couple of issues with dialing and that's about it. The only other thing I'd add to that is that you'll also find some major toolbar problems unless you disable visual themes for the application (properties of the gmw4.exe on each workstation).

Beyond that, you would want to use the GOLDDIR= and COMMONDIR= settings in the GM.INI on each workstation (not GOLDMINE= and COMMON=, as you indicated previously)

If your server is XP HOME edition, forget it. It hasn't got the networking underpinnings to handle it.

Otherwise, as for Steck Stecklin knowing more about GoldMine 4.0 than anyone else, I beg to differ -- heck, I'm in the Help|About screen.

Doug Castell
Castell Computers
(310)601-4738

http://www.castellcomputers.com

 

[Whisperer]

You know... you can really piss somebody off by showing up so late in the game...

And having all the answers, no less.

Well, fine then.

We need to buy you an alarm clock so you show up on a more timely basis next time.



Assuming the command lines you gave me work, and I'm sure they will, you're going to probably be stuck with a new client pretty soon... but only if you promise NEVER to show up so late in the game again when I'm in a black hole of time lost to troubleshooting, okay? (I'll want that in writing.)

Thanks!

Jay

 

[Whisperer]

Actually, Steck did give me those command lines that you gave me. I made a mistake entering them in my GM.INI (I had the first line right but the second line just said COMMON= instead of COMMONDIR=.) I also made a mistake posting it on the forum, since I inaccurately reflected what I had.

As it is, I've now made sure GM.INI has the lines she gave me and that you pointed out need to be done the way you said, and it's still not working. I'm getting alternating error messages saying "Share violation - Context: Open \\computername\apps\goldmine\Users" and saying it can't find the License file and saying Users.DBT (if I got that correct from memory) can't be found or accessed.

Oh, well.

 

[goner]

well, the thing is, you're pretty far along in this.. the proper way to accomplish this procedure is to install goldmine on the 'server' and make sure gm4setup.exe is in the \setup\goldmine\ sub-folder of the main goldmine folder. Then, from a workstation, log into the goldmine on the server (as a master-rights user) as you would in a normal installation (run gmw4.exe at the workstation(s) via shared network path or mapped drive). Then, go to file|configure|license manager where you'll find an 'install locally' tab. Use this tab to install to a local path on each workstation (c:\apps\goldmine\ is best) and it will set up the INI files and such FOR you.

When this is all done, at each workstation, you'll have a 'workstation' install and not a FULL goldmine. This will include a gmw4.exe. Go to the properties of each of these and set them to run in win 2k compatibility mode and disable visual themes. This will provide you with the best user-experience.

Now, there's lots more to know and the word link, etc. are all entirely seperate topics unto themselves...

Give me a call and maybe we can figure something out if your install is STILL hosed.



Doug Castell
Castell Computers
(310)601-4738

http://www.castellcomputers.com

 

[Whisperer]

REALLY appreciate the help, man.

Before I tackle this, a few quick questions come to mind:

1. Currently, there's nothing in Apps\GoldMine\Setup\GoldMine. So, do I just copy gm4setup.exe into it?

2. BDE is on the 98 workstation from the GM install. I'd just as soon remove it if I don't need it. When I remove GM from there before the steps you described, should I also remove BDE? (I guess yes since if it's needed the steps you described will put it there, and maybe in some special way it wants. I have the clear Borland instructions on the simple steps to removing BDE from the folder and from the registry -- no problem.)

3. You realize of course that to run gmw4.exe from the workstation, even using the Run command, is an iffy thing since having tried this before I got the same issues as trying to run it from the workstation using a desktop shortcut. My hope is it will work at first after a reboot, which has usually been the case for a few launches.

4. Where do I find an option to tell it to run in W2K mode? I'm running a 1999 version of GM4 (4.00.9303) on a Win98 workstation. (I see nothing along those lines in GM now, on the server, prior to the installation steps you describe.)

5. How do I disable visual themes? (I see nothing about that in GM on the server.)

6. As to links, I assume paths and mapped drives is all I care about, plus local programs to run the files, and since I used to use SUBST commands so a common drive designation worked for all computers (admin and workstation) I should be fine in this respect, right? (It turns out some older links use a computername instead of a drive designation, and some day those need to be changed or else I just do them as I encounter them for now.)

(After this, yeah, I think a call is in order. Or, you can call me any time, any hour -- afternoon/eve/late eve is best: 800-454-8464 -- rather than type a reply if you like).

Thank you again.

Jay

 

[goner]

1. Yes. Make sure it's the proper version and that it's named, exactly, gm4setup.exe.

2. Ideally, BDE is in the \setup\bdeshare\ folder on the GoldMine server. It gets there via running the gm4seup.exe on the server, pointing the the existing (or desired) location of the gmw4.exe (in other words, the goldmine installation folder) and doing a CUSTOM setup and selecting NOTHING but the 'workstation setup files' option. This option has two sub-options (details button) which, if both are checked, will place the both the gm4setup.exe and the bdeshare in the proper spots. I'd suggest doing this.

3. It shouldn't produce issues. I suspect the main bunch of issues you've previously experienced were setup related..

4a. 4.00.9929 is the absolute last version of GoldMine 4.0 and I'd suggest you get on it. 9922 and 9926 (I think) were also available and either should suffice, but why do things only 95%? Get 9929 and update your server goldmine first, then complete step 2, then move on.

4b/5. On the XP workstation, once you'v used the install locally tab, you will have a gmw4.exe on the workstation itself. Go to the folder and right-click on the gmw4.exe (or a shortcut to it you place on your desktop) and go to properties. There you'll find a compatibility tab. There you'll be able to set it to run in win 2k mode and disable the visual themes (like the rounded window edges and the other fluff windows XP is good for..)

6a. Well, linked documents is a whole 'nother subject.. If you move from one machine to another, you, invariably, will have issues. A neat link updater utility is available from Richard Young's site,

http://www.prior-analytics.com

and is a very handy thing to have, indeed.

6b. Yep, I found you.. 1-800-4-LIVING.. Give me a call when you've digested the above stuff. It can be a lot to tackle.. An, there are options, of course, if you'd rahter throw your hands up and have someone remote in and take care of the whole mess for you...



Doug Castell
Castell Computers
(310)601-4738

http://www.castellcomputers.com