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Saving configuration wipes out Registration code
Posted: 30 Oct 2007 04:50
by Ken Warmbrod
Just bought the program. If I click File | Configuration file | Save Configuration, the registration code in xyplorer.ini is wiped out, and the program asks me to purchase it again the next time the program is started.
Problem does not arise if I click File | Configuration file | Save Configuration as... and let the filename stand as xyplorer.ini.
I'm using Vista. I tried installing the program on different hard drives, not only the system derive C:. Same result.
Re: Saving configuration wipes out Registration code
Posted: 30 Oct 2007 07:49
by admin
I can't manage to reproduce this. Your current INI is XYplorer.ini, the data in the top INI section [Register] are there, then you click Save Configuration, and the data are wiped? Not here...

Posted: 30 Oct 2007 08:23
by j_c_hallgren
I couldn't recreate error either...ok, so I'm on W2K but if it's XY issue, then OS shouldn't likely matter...so, Ken, what was your exact full sequence of events? And version used?
Posted: 30 Oct 2007 09:33
by ugus
Has this something to do with the User Account Control feature in Vista?
If you try to turn User Account Control off, do you get the same result? when saving the ini-file?
Here is an example link how to turn it off.
http://www.petri.co.il/disable_uac_in_windows_vista.htm
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Another approach could be to copy the whole XYplorer folder in your program files folder and copy it to your Desktop, Documents folder or anywhere else you are sure you have complete write access.
HTH
Ulrik
Posted: 30 Oct 2007 10:20
by Gandolf
Don't forget that in Vista you can no longer assume that the user will have rights to installation path folders, and if you DO assume it, Windows Vista will secretly "virtualize" that file access (e.g. redirect it where it wants anyway). MS formally recommends that all developers steer clear of such uses of program data folders.
Donald, this might mean that you cannot use the XYPlorer program folder for storing the ini file in.
Posted: 30 Oct 2007 10:31
by admin
Gandolf wrote:Don't forget that in Vista you can no longer assume that the user will have rights to installation path folders, and if you DO assume it, Windows Vista will secretly "virtualize" that file access (e.g. redirect it where it wants anyway). MS formally recommends that all developers steer clear of such uses of program data folders.
Donald, this might mean that you cannot use the XYPlorer program folder for storing the ini file in.
But I have countless Vista users without a problem...
Posted: 30 Oct 2007 10:45
by ugus
admin wrote:Gandolf wrote:Don't forget that in Vista you can no longer assume that the user will have rights to installation path folders, and if you DO assume it, Windows Vista will secretly "virtualize" that file access (e.g. redirect it where it wants anyway). MS formally recommends that all developers steer clear of such uses of program data folders.
Donald, this might mean that you cannot use the XYPlorer program folder for storing the ini file in.
But I have countless Vista users without a problem...
Maybe those users are aware of this Vista issue? so they have fixed it themselves...
If they users have turned off the User Account Control feature I think they don't have any problems with this.
Don,
I think you have some sort of workaround for users who has User Account Control turned on which is default on a fresh Vista installation.
Here is a link from MS that describes how UAC affects applications on Vista.
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/deta ... layLang=en
This can also be of interest as well...
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/927387
Maybe you should have the %appdata% folder as the default when installing on Vista?
Posted: 30 Oct 2007 12:51
by admin
The question is: why would just the regdata be wiped? Or are all other data wiped, too??? Ken, is anything saved in the INI???
Posted: 30 Oct 2007 15:01
by JustinF
ugus wrote:admin wrote:Gandolf wrote:Don't forget that in Vista you can no longer assume that the user will have rights to installation path folders, and if you DO assume it, Windows Vista will secretly "virtualize" that file access (e.g. redirect it where it wants anyway). MS formally recommends that all developers steer clear of such uses of program data folders.
Donald, this might mean that you cannot use the XYPlorer program folder for storing the ini file in.
But I have countless Vista users without a problem...
Maybe those users are aware of this Vista issue? so they have fixed it themselves...
I sidestep the issue by not installing any of my applications in the
Program Files directory.
We recently had to make our application more "Vista compatible" and we had to move all writeable files out of the app's directory...Microsoft doesn't guarantee virtualization in future versions of Windows.
Follow up
Posted: 30 Oct 2007 21:40
by Ken Warmbrod
I did a bit more experimentation and can report the following.
1. The problem is not caused by UAC under Vista. I turned off UAC, and the problem still occurred.
2. The problem is not even with Vista. I'm running a dual boot system with Vista and XP. I set up XYplorer on a data partition, Drive D:, so when I booted from XP, I could run the XYplorer under XP. Same exact result. The sequence "File | Configuration File | Save configuration" wipes out the registration info.
3. What actually gets wiped out appears to be only the section [Register] in XYplorer.ini. The rest of the file seems to be intact.
4. Fortunately, I still have the workaround of "File | Configuration File | Save Configuration as...", so I can modify XYplorer.ini interactively.
Still, it seems odd. Hopefully someone else will be able to duplicate the problem and discover the cause.
Thanks for all the suggestions. I still think XYplorer is a great program!
Re: Follow up
Posted: 30 Oct 2007 22:36
by admin
Ken Warmbrod wrote:I did a bit more experimentation and can report the following.
1. The problem is not caused by UAC under Vista. I turned off UAC, and the problem still occurred.
2. The problem is not even with Vista. I'm running a dual boot system with Vista and XP. I set up XYplorer on a data partition, Drive D:, so when I booted from XP, I could run the XYplorer under XP. Same exact result. The sequence "File | Configuration File | Save configuration" wipes out the registration info.
3. What actually gets wiped out appears to be only the section [Register] in XYplorer.ini. The rest of the file seems to be intact.
4. Fortunately, I still have the workaround of "File | Configuration File | Save Configuration as...", so I can modify XYplorer.ini interactively.
Still, it seems odd. Hopefully someone else will be able to duplicate the problem and discover the cause.
Thanks for all the suggestions. I still think XYplorer is a great program!
Thrilling! So what is different at your end from all us others? Currently I have not the slightest idea. Just 2 questions:
What is your application path (= where XYplorer.exe and XYplorer.ini located)?
Is XYplorer.ini your INI, or do you use another INI?
Posted: 30 Oct 2007 23:28
by Ken Warmbrod
The current application path is: D:\XYPlorer\XYlorer.exe.
XYplorer.ini is in the same dirctory.
I previously used a path on the Vista system drive:
C:\Program Files\Utilities\XYPlorer\XYplorer.exe
Also used XYplorer.ini in that directory. Same result on saving the configuration.
I have set up other configuration files, e.g., ListOnly.ini in that same directory so that I can start XYplorer in different directories with different configurations. The ability to do that was one of the main features that sold me on the program.
Further: The version number, according to the help screen, is 6.40.0000.
Posted: 31 Oct 2007 10:07
by admin
Bizarre... why only Ken? I PMed him for a special debugging session...
Posted: 31 Oct 2007 20:14
by admin
admin wrote:Bizarre... why only Ken? I PMed him for a special debugging session...
Okay, bug fixed with the help of Ken (thanks!).
UPDATE: How to reproduce: call XYplorer.exe /ini=xyplorer ("xy" in lower case!) and save the configuration. Your reg data will be lost.
Problem solved
Posted: 02 Nov 2007 06:41
by Ken Warmbrod
I downloaded the revised beta 6.40.0035 and the problem is solved.
Thanks Don!