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You are here: Home > Support > Frequently Asked Questions > Electric Quilt 4 > About Installation and Startup

Electric Quilt 4 Frequently Asked Questions

 

I'm trying to install. Why can't I get the "Next" button to work?
You probably have not filled out all of the User Information items. When you are asked for User Information, if nothing appears in the "Company" field, type "Personal Use" or retype your name. You must have something in this field before you can proceed.

Will EQ4.1 work on Windows ME, 2000 or XP?
Yes. Even though the box specifies Windows 95/98, EQ4.1 works fine on Windows ME, 2000 and XP.

Why do I get a "file not found" message when I try to install?
You may not be typing the correct letter name for your CD-ROM drive. Normally the drive is called D. So our installation instructions tell you to: Type D:\setup in the line labeled Open. But if your CD-ROM drive uses a letter other than D, substitute that letter for D. If you do not know the letter name of your CD-ROM drive, you can install this way:

  1. Put the EQ4 CD in your drive.
  2. From the Windows 95/98 Desktop click Start - point to Settings - click Control Panel.
  3. Click the Add/Remove Programs icon.
  4. Click the Install button. Windows will find the CD-ROM drive for you.
  5. Follow the directions on the screen.

Why do I get a "failed to create empty document" message?
EQ4 did not properly install. Please reinstall.

EQ4 won't auto-install. What can I do?
You can install this way:

  1. Put the EQ4 CD in your drive.
  2. From the Windows 95/98 Desktop click Start - point to Settings - click Control Panel.
  3. Click the Add/Remove Programs icon.
  4. Click the Install button.
  5. Follow the directions on the screen.

I can't find the serial number. Where is it?
The EQ4 serial number is on the back of the book, EQ4 Getting Started.

An "illegal operation" message appears when I click the Desktop icon. What to do?
The first suggestion is to upgrade to EQ version 4.1. This free upgrade is available for download. It is also available on the CD with our two newest products, STASH and the book, EQ4 Magic. If you have installed EQ4.1 and are still receiving this error, run the "EQ4 Setup" program found in the Electric Quilt group. When EQ4 starts, it links to other Windows files called DLLs (dynamic-link libraries). These library files are shared by many Windows programs because they help perform common tasks like allocating memory. If you receive this error, it is likely that the problem is a result of one or more faulty DLLs.

Installation stalls at "Searching for installed components." What should I do?
If you receive errors during the installation, they are usually related to the computer that is doing the installation and not the installation file. There are three common causes. Below is a summary of each and steps you can take to attempt to solve the problem.

Cause 1:
You have not allowed quite enough time.

Solution:
When EQ installs it searches your entire hard drive. This can be speedy, or take up to 20 - 30 minutes, depending on your computer. Be sure you are logged off any network, then install and just let it go. Good time for a cup of coffee. When you come back, EQ4's installation program should be waiting for information from you.

Cause 2:
A conflict with a concurrently running program such as a screen saver or virus scanning program.

Solution:

  1. Restart Windows.
  2. Shut down any concurrently running programs and attempt to run the installation. This includes any virus checking software that may be running in the background.
    To do this for Windows 2000:
    1. Click Start/Run, then type "msconfig." This will bring up a screen that starts the computer up in safe mode.
    2. There is a place on the tab that says selective startup. You will want to write down everything that is normally selected, so you can restore it later.
    3. Turn everything off with the exception of "sys.ini".
    4. Restart your computer.
    5. Install.

    To do this, for Windows 95/98:
    1. Press the CTRL+ALT+DELETE keys at the same time. A Close Program window will appear listing all of the applications running in memory.
    2. Click on a program, and then click on the End Task button. Eliminate as many programs as you can from the list. (Some you will not be able to close because they are required by Windows, for example, Explorer.)
    3. Attempt to run the installation again.

Cause 3:
Temporary directory does not exist or there is not enough free disk space.

Solution:

  1. Determine that a temporary directory exists by typing "set" in a DOS window. (To get a DOS window, point to Start - Programs - MSDOS prompt.) The temporary directory is usually in any of the following locations: \WINDOWS\Temp or \DOS\Temp. This directory will also contain at least one directory with the name _lstmpxx that contains any files that were being decompressed during the installation.
  2. Delete any of these files from this directory. A great deal of memory is required during installation. If you can free any more disk space, do so.
  3. Attempt to run the installation again.

I get the error message "EQ4\RES\DEFAULT1.PJ4." What is this?
If you receive the message, "EQ4\RES\DEFAULT1.PJ4 contains an invalid path." this means one of two things:

The first time you installed EQ4 you put it on a drive other than C, but did not create a new folder to put it in.
Explanation: See the Special Installation Notes in the EQ4 Getting Started book (page 3). Here's what to do:

  1. Install EQ4 again, but this time, at the Choose Destination Location screen, click on the Browse button and change the drive to the desired location (this is if you want a drive other than C).
  2. In the Path field, after the drive name, type: EQ4
  3. Click OK.
  4. You will be asked if you want to create the folder.
  5. Choose Yes and continue with the installation.

Or, the second time you ran the installation (in order to link EQ4 with other EQ program's library files), you did not choose the same destination folder as you did the first time. (In other words, you told EQ4 the wrong address for the other block library files, so EQ4 can't find them.)
Here's what to do:

  1. Install EQ4 again, this time, choose Link to other EQ programs.
  2. Be sure you choose the same path as the original installation. If you have put EQ4 on E:\EQ4 for example, be sure you choose this same path when you reinstall in order to link.
  3. Be *sure* you when you link to Sew Precise or BlockBase that you link to the LIB folder in Sew Precise or BlockBase, not just to the Sew Precise or BlockBase folder.

I'm reinstalling EQ4, Sew Precise and BlockBase onto my new computer. Does it matter in which order I install the programs?
Install Electric Quilt last in order to link all your programs. If your version number is 4.1, reintalling it will automatically link all EQ programs. If your version number is EQ4.0, install the program once, in order to install all files. Then either install the program a 2nd time in order to choose the "Link to other EQ programs" option, or install the free EQ4.1 upgrade which will then link the programs for you.

I downloaded the EQ4.1 upgrade. All was fine. But now when I try to open the program I get the error message "EQ98 caused an invalid page fault."
Please do this: on the Desktop choose Start, Programs, Electric Quilt, and click on the EQ4 Setup. Then try getting into EQ4 again.

I get the error message "INSTALLATION ERROR:ISSET_se." What should I do?
Reboot the computer. If that does not help, then clean out your Windows/Temp folder.

I installed EQ4.1, but the screen flashes. Why?
Screen flashes usually mean that another software, open and running, is causing a conflict. We've seen this happen with programs like Bonzai Bob, and even with a desktop graphic of a waving American flag. Try closing all other programs that are running. To do this, hold down the CTRL key and the ALT key on your keyboard while you press the DELETE key. In Windows 95/98 this brings up the Close Program box. Close everything except Systray and Explorer. In Windows 2000 and XP use CTRL + ALT + DELETE to bring up the Task Manager button. Click this. Click the Applications tab. Click on End Task. Then open EQ4.1 and see if your screen is no longer flashing. By trial and error you can determine which program was causing the conflict.

Why do my blocks look like they're displaying so oddly?
If you have opened an EQ3 or BB1 project, the blocks in the EQ4 library will temporarily look oddly colored because you are seeing them in EQ3 or BB1 colors while your project is loaded. Exit from EQ4, enter again without opening a project, and you'll see the EQ4 library blocks in their normal EQ4 colors.

If the blocks look odd and you do not have an EQ3 or BB1 project loaded, try setting your graphics hardware acceleration down and see if this makes a difference. To do this, start at the Windows desktop. Click Start - Settings - Control Panel - Display - Settings tab - Advanced button - Performance tab. You'll see a slider bar for Graphics hardware accelaration. If yours is set on high, slide the bar to the left to turn it down a notch or two. Then look at EQ4 again to see if there's a difference.

 


  
   
 

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