Warning

Problems with Windows NT Server software and Windows 95 or Windows 98 clients

If you are using Windows NT Server with all Windows NT workstations, then you can safely use Ainsworth programs in any configuration you desire. The only difficulties we have seen arise when Windows NT Server software is used in conjunction with Windows 95 or Windows 98 client computers.

When Windows NT Server and 95/98 clients are used in the same network, access to default files on the server does not work as expected. This affects and effectively prohibits using a drive letter and a default folder to store individual history files automatically. There are several solutions to this problem.

1. With our software, you can simply select any history file storage except automatic operation when you run the Network Server Installation. The easiest alternate to implement is the Password Protected option for storing our history files. The only disadvantage of this method is that each user must type a password when the program starts, instead of simply clicking on the Ainsworth icon and continuing his or her program automatically.

2. You can also simply replace all your Windows 95 or Windows 98 client operating systems with Windows NT workstations. This is the official Microsoft solution to the problem. Except for the expense, this makes sense.

3. If you are particularly well skilled in working with Windows NT Server, you can create a work-around that allows remote access to default server folders and files from Windows 95 and Windows 98 systems. Several of our clients have done this successfully. We do not offer details on this procedure because we cannot afford to be involved in product support for Windows NT Server. There is no guarantee, for example, that these work-around solutions will stay glued if Microsoft decides to eliminate the bug in successive releases of their products.

It was tempting for us to simply avoid Windows NT Server conflicts by eliminating automatic operation and requiring password access as the only option. This approach would also eliminate the advantage of automatic operation of our programs which has been used for years with Ainsworth software under Novell and similar setups. We hope that continuing to include automatic operation as an option has not caused you any inconvenience.