Prevent Crashes in Financial Records 4.1

 

When using the Financial Records program on a Windows XP computer, if the program crashes regularly, please follow these troubleshooting steps.

NOTE: We recommend that the GOOGLE TOOLBAR is removed from computers that make heavy use of FileMaker Pro 4 files. It appears to interfere with FileMaker Operation. You should use the Add or Remove Programs control panel to remove the Google Toolbar for Internet Explorer.

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A. Restart the computer. Set Your System to Display Hidden Files.

Important Note: Only delete .tmp files after a restart. Windows creates .tmp files to perform some task when you reboot. This is why after installing some programs you are prompted to reboot the computer to complete the install. Once you reboot it is safe to delete the files.

1. Click Start, then click Shut Down. Restart the computer.
2. Once the computer has re-started, click Start, then click Control Panel, and then click Folder Options.
3. Click the View tab. Under Hidden files and folders, click "Show hidden files and folders."
4. Click OK.

   Note: Hidden files and folders will appear dimmed to indicate they are not typical items. Usually, hidden files are program or system files that should not be deleted or changed.

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B. Clear the Temporary Internet Files using a Wizard. Clear the TEMP folder manually.

Note: Use the Windows Disk Cleanup Wizard to clear your Temporary Internet Files.

1. Click Start, then All Programs, then Accessories, then System Tools, and then
   select Disk Cleanup. Wait for the window to open.
2. Select (check) only the Temporary Internet Files choice, and then click OK.
3. When asked to confirm the action, click Yes. The window will close by itself.

   Note: You will now clear the TEMP folder.

4. Open the My Computer icon. Open the Local Disk (C:) icon.
5. Open the Documents and Settings folder.
6. Open your <username> folder. Ex: vcv1
7. Open the Local Settings folder (This is a hidden folder. It will appear "grayed out").

   Note: At this point, we recommend that you create a SHORTCUT to the Temp folder on your desktop. This will allow you to easily open and empty it in the future.

8. Create a shortcut to the Temp folder on the desktop. Then, open the Temp folder.
9. Press Ctrl - A to select all the files listed. Press SHIFT + DELETE on your keyboard.
10. When asked to confirm the action, click Yes.
11. Go back to the Local Disk (C:). Open the Windows folder. If you see a warning about viewing these files, click Show Files.
12. Open the Prefetch folder.
13. Press Ctrl - A to select all the files listed. Press SHIFT + DELETE on your keyboard.
14. When asked to confirm the action, click Yes.
15. Close all windows.
16. Right-Clickon your Recycle Bin and select Empty Recycle Bin. You will again be asked if you’re sure you want to delete these files – click Yes.
17. Once your Recycle Bin is empty, Restart your computer to complete the sequence.
18. PLEASE go back to Section A. Repeat steps 2 - 4 but in step 3 choose to hide the hidden files and folders. You can then use the Shortcut to the TEMP folder to open and empty it (perhaps once a week).

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C. Turn off FileMaker Pro Networking.

Note: FileMaker Pro talks to the network as it opens these linked files. If you don't need to share files from FileMaker on this computer, you can turn off FileMaker's Networking setting.

1. Open FileMaker.
2. From the Edit menu choose Preferences then Application.
3. On the General tab, from the Network Protocol drop-down list, choose <none>.
4. Click Done. Click OK. Exit FileMaker.
   
   Note: The next time you open FileMaker, it won’t look for other files on the network.

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D. Change the Default Printer.

Note: FileMaker Pro talks to the default printer while it opens. If the printer has become corrupted, is using an incompatible printer driver, or is a "shared" network printer, this can cause FileMaker to open or act slowly.

Note: FileMaker Pro determines the default printer as follows:

• The first time that FileMaker Pro runs, it sets the operating system’s default printer driver as the default printer driver for the application.
• If the printer driver that is stored for FileMaker Pro is for some reason invalid when FileMaker Pro launches, FileMaker Pro sets the printer driver to whatever the default printer driver for the system is AT THAT TIME.
• If the Print Setup command is used to change printers, FileMaker Pro then writes this value to the Registry and USES THIS PRINTER for all future use (or until you select another printer in Print Setup).

Note: Basically FileMaker Pro's default printer can be set by using the Print Setup command from the File menu from ANY FileMaker file, not necessarily the one that is opening slowly.

1. Open FileMaker Pro. Open any file.
2. From the File menu choose Print Setup.
3. From the Name drop-down list, if you have more than one printer, select another
   printer. Click OK.
4. Exit from FileMaker Pro.

   Note: If you only have one printer, click OK to close the Print Setup dialog box. Create a new printer. If you have HP printers, see How To Install HP Printer from HP Printer Wizard for assistance. Contact Computer Support if needed for help in creating a new printer. Once it's created, repeat Steps 1 - 4.

   Note: For recovery steps, see How To Use the zRecover_FR_Files program.

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