Demo Mode

Nichole74 · 02-09-2003, 03:20 AM

Just installed windows xp pro on salon system and I am having problems keying clients in. A box pops up that says we are running some type of Demo mode ( I cant remember exactly what it said) Have you had this problem?

Andy · 02-09-2003, 07:46 AM

Nichole, your problem is most likely one of two things.

Newer machines run so fast that if you have Helios in your Start Up folder it is possible that the computer can begin to start Helios before the Parallel port to which the dongle is attached become active for authentication of the dongle.

Second possibility and the most likely ... the CBSetup.exe included in the V9.4 CD does not support Windows XP. You need to download from http://www.marx.com the latest CBSetUP.exe and install it to update the drivers to operate the dongle with XP. During the install process you will be asked which type of device it is ... VERSA/LPT is the correct responds.

In either case above you would also have gotten a message at startup of Helios indicating that Helios could not detect the appropriate Hardware Key (dongle) and the software was starting in Demo Mode.

The ONLY impact on the operation of Helios in Demo Mode is that with over 25 clients in the Client Database you can not add an additional client and you can not process any Point of Sale Transactions (Sales Codes).

Nichole, I will email you the latest CBSetUp.exe to excelerate your applicable of same.

Be aware, there are other issues regarding Networking additional Workstations within your salon applicable to V9.4 and Windows XP ... see separate thread on same. I can not remember if you have more than one workstation at each of your locations or not.

Hope this helps ....

Andy Thompson
ACT Business Solutions
Toll-Free 877-777-6717
andy@atso.ca
ACT Help Center [ This Message was edited by: Andy @ ATSO.ca on 2003-02-09 06:55 ]

Tamar · 02-10-2003, 11:13 PM

I had this same problem today but caused it myself cause the printer wouldn't work. When I moved the CPU out to check the connection I made the dongle loosen up from the dingamabob. So I re-dongled and we are printing and dongling again! Woohoo...Andy, I thought I was going to have to call you, hehheh...

Nichole74 · 02-12-2003, 02:41 AM

Andy, thank you. The e-mail you sent seems to have worked. I do get another timer error in helios if I have helios opened both user accounts. It will not let me key anyone in. I then have to log out of one helios account to make it work. We are currently installing the t-ma but are still running on Questar until the end of the month.

Andy · 02-12-2003, 05:44 AM

Nichole, there are issues with the Helios Timer Server program working with Questar (new name SunStar Timers).

Rob at SunStar has been GREAT helping a number of my clients that use Helios ... you can reach him at rob@sunstartimers.com ... He may be able to resolve your problems.

Or if you are switching to TMax that soon, you may wish to deactivate the second workstation from sending time to a bed if it is a problem currently and just use it to add clients etc.

Your call ... call if you need help ...

PS: re your separate email ... tell me your kidding, Helios could not advise you that you needed to download an updated CBSetUp to work with XP ... man oh man.

_________________

Andy Thompson
ACT Business Solutions
Toll-Free 877-777-6717
andy@atso.ca
ACT Help Center [ This Message was edited by: Andy @ ATSO.ca on 2003-02-12 09:23 ]

Nichole74 · 02-18-2003, 03:02 AM

Andy, Thanks again for e-mailing me that little fix it thing. But it started doing it again, so I called Helios. They gave me the same thing you sent me. They (someone named Larry) told me that when we are running Window XP Pro it is to fast for our Helios Version 9.4 that I should upgrade. Also we have set up two user accounts with Windows XP Pro. One is for me (called Nichole) this has all of my person stuff and e-mail access on it. The other is for the salon and employees. We have them both password protected and Helios is on both user accounts as icons that work. Helios does not start up automatically when you log on. If I am doing work on my user account and Helios open and I go to the back to clean beds it goes to the screen saver and goes back to the area where you need to type in a password. My employees then go to the salon account and type in there password and open Helios. It loads but it will not let them key in a client to a bed. I was told you can run Helios at both times on both user accounts. Do I have a problem? They also told me Thursday that if I get the demo problem again to just exit out of Helios a few times and it should stop for a while. I did exit out of Helios 10 times before I called them. They wanted to know why I did not want to upgrade to V10. I guess I just don't see why I want more problems and would like to see it tested further. It is so frustrating when the system is down.

Andy · 02-18-2003, 06:21 AM

I will shortly be posting my reveiw of V10.0.84 ... shipped yesterday from Helios.

If you wish you could use it as a discussion point with them ... anything to get them to finally address these issues.

_________________

Andy Thompson
ACT Business Solutions
Toll-Free 877-777-6717
andy@atso.ca
ACT Help Center [ This Message was edited by: Andy @ ATSO.ca on 2003-02-18 05:21 ]

Andy · 02-19-2003, 08:30 AM

Nichole, taking Helios out of your start up and then starting it manually once all background tasks have completed at start up should greatly reduce if not eliminate your problem.

The issue here is likely that Helios is being told to start before the system has activated the parallel port therefore the authentication of the dongle does not work.

In the event that Helios does start in Demo mode, you should be able to simply close it down and restart ... all should be well. Always make sure you have your Helios Server up and running properly before you start up the Workstation if you are Networked.

If problems continue and especially on the Workstation then there are Networking issues that need to be address ... see separate thread on that topic.

http://www.tantalk.com/viewtopic.php?topic=2329188&forum=2&17

Hope this helps ...

Andy · 02-19-2003, 08:36 AM

Regarding the two users with programs open issue ... guessing here, but I suspect that your user account has claimed rights to the TCP/IP connection to the Timer Server program running on the server and that is what restricts the Employee user account from sending time to a bed.

Off the top I can not think of a easy solution here except for making sure Helios is closed in your account before you leave the front counter area ... if a staff member is likely to want to use Helios on that workstation.

Not really a solution but will eliminate the problem.

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02-09-2003, 03:20 AM	#1 (permalink)
Nichole74 Join Date: Feb 11 2002 Posts: 439 Rep Power: 7	Just installed windows xp pro on salon system and I am having problems keying clients in. A box pops up that says we are running some type of Demo mode ( I cant remember exactly what it said) Have you had this problem?

02-09-2003, 07:46 AM	#2 (permalink)
Andy Join Date: Jan 25 2000 Location: CT Posts: 1,763 Rep Power: 9	Nichole, your problem is most likely one of two things. Newer machines run so fast that if you have Helios in your Start Up folder it is possible that the computer can begin to start Helios before the Parallel port to which the dongle is attached become active for authentication of the dongle. Second possibility and the most likely ... the CBSetup.exe included in the V9.4 CD does not support Windows XP. You need to download from http://www.marx.com the latest CBSetUP.exe and install it to update the drivers to operate the dongle with XP. During the install process you will be asked which type of device it is ... VERSA/LPT is the correct responds. In either case above you would also have gotten a message at startup of Helios indicating that Helios could not detect the appropriate Hardware Key (dongle) and the software was starting in Demo Mode. The ONLY impact on the operation of Helios in Demo Mode is that with over 25 clients in the Client Database you can not add an additional client and you can not process any Point of Sale Transactions (Sales Codes). Nichole, I will email you the latest CBSetUp.exe to excelerate your applicable of same. Be aware, there are other issues regarding Networking additional Workstations within your salon applicable to V9.4 and Windows XP ... see separate thread on same. I can not remember if you have more than one workstation at each of your locations or not. Hope this helps .... Andy Thompson ACT Business Solutions Toll-Free 877-777-6717 andy@atso.ca ACT Help Center [ This Message was edited by: Andy @ ATSO.ca on 2003-02-09 06:55 ]

02-10-2003, 11:13 PM	#3 (permalink)
Tamar Join Date: Aug 15 2001 Posts: 2,240 Rep Power: 8	I had this same problem today but caused it myself cause the printer wouldn't work. When I moved the CPU out to check the connection I made the dongle loosen up from the dingamabob. So I re-dongled and we are printing and dongling again! Woohoo...Andy, I thought I was going to have to call you, hehheh...

02-12-2003, 02:41 AM	#4 (permalink)
Nichole74 Join Date: Feb 11 2002 Posts: 439 Rep Power: 7	Andy, thank you. The e-mail you sent seems to have worked. I do get another timer error in helios if I have helios opened both user accounts. It will not let me key anyone in. I then have to log out of one helios account to make it work. We are currently installing the t-ma but are still running on Questar until the end of the month.

02-12-2003, 05:44 AM	#5 (permalink)
Andy Join Date: Jan 25 2000 Location: CT Posts: 1,763 Rep Power: 9	Nichole, there are issues with the Helios Timer Server program working with Questar (new name SunStar Timers). Rob at SunStar has been GREAT helping a number of my clients that use Helios ... you can reach him at rob@sunstartimers.com ... He may be able to resolve your problems. Or if you are switching to TMax that soon, you may wish to deactivate the second workstation from sending time to a bed if it is a problem currently and just use it to add clients etc. Your call ... call if you need help ... PS: re your separate email ... tell me your kidding, Helios could not advise you that you needed to download an updated CBSetUp to work with XP ... man oh man. _________________ Andy Thompson ACT Business Solutions Toll-Free 877-777-6717 andy@atso.ca ACT Help Center [ This Message was edited by: Andy @ ATSO.ca on 2003-02-12 09:23 ]

02-18-2003, 03:02 AM	#6 (permalink)
Nichole74 Join Date: Feb 11 2002 Posts: 439 Rep Power: 7	Andy, Thanks again for e-mailing me that little fix it thing. But it started doing it again, so I called Helios. They gave me the same thing you sent me. They (someone named Larry) told me that when we are running Window XP Pro it is to fast for our Helios Version 9.4 that I should upgrade. Also we have set up two user accounts with Windows XP Pro. One is for me (called Nichole) this has all of my person stuff and e-mail access on it. The other is for the salon and employees. We have them both password protected and Helios is on both user accounts as icons that work. Helios does not start up automatically when you log on. If I am doing work on my user account and Helios open and I go to the back to clean beds it goes to the screen saver and goes back to the area where you need to type in a password. My employees then go to the salon account and type in there password and open Helios. It loads but it will not let them key in a client to a bed. I was told you can run Helios at both times on both user accounts. Do I have a problem? They also told me Thursday that if I get the demo problem again to just exit out of Helios a few times and it should stop for a while. I did exit out of Helios 10 times before I called them. They wanted to know why I did not want to upgrade to V10. I guess I just don't see why I want more problems and would like to see it tested further. It is so frustrating when the system is down.

02-18-2003, 06:21 AM	#7 (permalink)
Andy Join Date: Jan 25 2000 Location: CT Posts: 1,763 Rep Power: 9	I will shortly be posting my reveiw of V10.0.84 ... shipped yesterday from Helios. If you wish you could use it as a discussion point with them ... anything to get them to finally address these issues. _________________ Andy Thompson ACT Business Solutions Toll-Free 877-777-6717 andy@atso.ca ACT Help Center [ This Message was edited by: Andy @ ATSO.ca on 2003-02-18 05:21 ]

02-19-2003, 08:30 AM	#8 (permalink)
Andy Join Date: Jan 25 2000 Location: CT Posts: 1,763 Rep Power: 9	Nichole, taking Helios out of your start up and then starting it manually once all background tasks have completed at start up should greatly reduce if not eliminate your problem. The issue here is likely that Helios is being told to start before the system has activated the parallel port therefore the authentication of the dongle does not work. In the event that Helios does start in Demo mode, you should be able to simply close it down and restart ... all should be well. Always make sure you have your Helios Server up and running properly before you start up the Workstation if you are Networked. If problems continue and especially on the Workstation then there are Networking issues that need to be address ... see separate thread on that topic. http://www.tantalk.com/viewtopic.php?topic=2329188&forum=2&17 Hope this helps ...

02-19-2003, 08:36 AM	#9 (permalink)
Andy Join Date: Jan 25 2000 Location: CT Posts: 1,763 Rep Power: 9	Regarding the two users with programs open issue ... guessing here, but I suspect that your user account has claimed rights to the TCP/IP connection to the Timer Server program running on the server and that is what restricts the Employee user account from sending time to a bed. Off the top I can not think of a easy solution here except for making sure Helios is closed in your account before you leave the front counter area ... if a staff member is likely to want to use Helios on that workstation. Not really a solution but will eliminate the problem.

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