Currently, IDRISI is not fully supported under Windows Vista. However, we have been successful in solving most cases. If you have already installed IDRISI and are receiving a "Failed to Set data for " "' error, completely uninstall and reinstall the software according to point 2 below.
Windows Vista implements the best-practice of "least privileges" through a system called User Account Control. "Least privileges" refers to running processes as a user with the least privileges possible, while still being able to do what you are trying to do (work, etc.). This is generally advisable for security reasons since if you run as administrator, and the system is compromised, the damage caused is not limited to your account but may involve the entire machine and/or network. User Account Control can be turned off, but since it affects all processes and all users, it is unadvisable for us to suggest this to customers. UAC works as follows:
In Vista no matter what level of user you login as, you always run processes as a "limited user." Windows XP differs in that when you log in as a particular user, you run processes with the privileges of that user.
This means that in Vista, if you or a process you initiate needs to do something which requires higher level privileges, you must explicitly “request” these privileges. The Run As... context (right-mouse) menu command can be used for most cases where this is necessary. There is also a Run As command line equivalent.
a. When launching the IDRISI installer, be sure to “Run as administrator.” Right-click on the Setup.exe file from the CD or the download file and select Run as Administrator. You will need to do this even if you are logged in as administrator.
b. Near the end of the IDRISI install, a Vista warning message pops up, regarding the install of Client Activator. Choose the "Recommended" option.*
c. After installing, start IDRISI the first time with the “Run as administrator” option. Once you have done this, regular users may run IDRISI normally.
*For users running Windows Vista - Home Edition, this option may not appear at the end of the installation process. Additionally Vista-Home Edition does not allow general users to run IDRISI. In this case, users have two options:
i) Set IDRISI to always run as an administrator. To do this, right-click on the Idrisi32.exe icon or shortcut, go to 'properties' > 'compatibility', and check the box listed 'run as administrator' or
ii) Turn the User Accounts Control off under 'control panel' > 'user accounts.'
Microsoft Vista does not natively support 32-bit .hlp files and no longer distributes the WINHLP32.EXE file required to view .hlp files. Since the IDRISI Help System is in this format, you will need to download and install this legacy executable. Visit the Microsoft Web site to review the legacy issue with .hlp files and download and install this help viewer on your Vista machine.
IDRISI Andes uses the software licensing program Sentinel LM to manage the installation of stand-alone and multi-seat installations. Some common issues are listed below.
1. Launching IDRISI returns the error “SentinalLm: Error[17]: Probably no servers running on this subnet?”
IDRISI returns this error when it cannot find a valid license file. It is an indication that your license file has either been improperly installed or that is it is not valid. The license file we send you will only work on the computer from which the locking code you sent was generated. If you encounter this error, please send by email (IDRISI@clarku.edu) a screenshot of your locking code and a copy of the file ‘LSERVRC’ from your IDRISI Andes folder.
You can generate a screenshot of your locking code by attempting to activate IDRISI. First, launch IDRISI. Since it is not properly activated, the Activation Wizard will display and you will be presented with the option to activate your license. Choose this option and select “enter a license code.” This will display your locking code. Press the print screen button on your keyboard and paste the screenshot into a Microsoft Word® document. Add this document as an attachment to your email to Clark Labs along with the file ‘LSERVRC’ found in your IDRISI Andes folder. These two items will allow our technical support team to diagnose the problem you are encountering.
2. You installed IDRISI and it worked for a short period of time. Now it is asking to “Activate.”
IDRISI will run for a 15 day trial period without the installation of a license file. If you receive the Activate message, it is likely you are operating the license in trial mode and that the license file was not properly installed.
IDRISI requires the installation of a license file which is unique to the computer it is running on. This license file is generated at Clark Labs. If we have already sent you a license file, please go through the activation process and install the one we sent.
If not, you will need to provide us with some information about your license. Please send by email (IDRISI@clarku.edu) a screenshot of your locking code and a copy of the file ‘LSERVRC’ from your IDRISI Andes folder. You can generate a screenshot of your locking code by attempting to activate IDRISI. First, launch IDRISI. Since it is not properly activated the Activation Wizard will display and you will be presented with the option to activate. Choose this option and select “enter a license code.” This will display your locking code. Press the print screen button on your keyboard and paste the screenshot into a Microsoft Word® document. Add this document as an attachment to your email to Clark Labs, along with the file ‘LSERVRC’ found in your IDRISI Andes folder. These two items will allow our technical support team to diagnose the problem you are encountering.
3. Changing the system clock and date on your computer may deactivate your IDRISI Andes.
If the date on your computer was changed after you installed IDRISI, you may experience problems running the program. If this occurs, document the series of error messages you receive and email them to Clark Labs Technical Support. Steps will need to be undertaken to successfully reactivate IDRISI after time-tampering occurs.
The following is a list of common problems that can cause errors activating your IDRISI Andes. Please make sure the following settings are correct on your server and clients.
SERVER
1. Check the date on the server. If the date is incorrect, IDRISI may not operate properly. Also, if the date was changed on the server after the IDRISI license was activated, it may not launch. If the latter occurs, please inform Clark Labs with details of this occurrence. Steps will need to be undertaken to successfully reactivate IDRISI after time-tampering occurs.
2. Please ensure that there are no system environment variables set on the server named LSHOST and LSFORCEHOST. If either of these two variables is set, please remove them temporarily and try relaunching IDRISI. If IDRISI successfully launches, please contact Clark Labs with the details on the other programs needing either or both of these variables. On most operating systems, you can access environment variables through the Control Panel/System Properties. Select the advanced tab and then ‘environment variables.’ You must have full administrative privileges when adding or removing environment variables. Only the system variables need to be altered.
3. NetBios must be installed and enabled on the server.
4. The server must have a static IP after boot up.
5. The server can only have one network card installed. If there is more then one network card installed on the server, you will need to remove these extra cards or use IDRISI on another server.
6. Please make sure that the locking code is not being generated through remote access. It must be generated from the actual machine that IDRISI is installed on.
7. Please make sure that IDRISI is installed on the boot drive. If IDRISI is installed on a secondary drive, it may cause confusion in the generation of the locking code and subsequently the license file.
8. In rare cases, a server may “lose” its license. Simply running the program LOADLS.EXE twice from the IDRISI Andes folder (run it once to remove and again to add) can restore the license. A reboot of the computer may also restore the license.
9. Please ensure that the server has only one host name for the server.
10. The Sentinel License Manager requires that UDP Port 5093 be open. If your firewall closes all ports, you will need to manually open this port for the Sentinel License Manager to communicate out.
If you check all of these items and IDRISI still will not run on the server, please send the following information to IDRISI@clarku.edu.
1. Your customer ID number or the name of the person that IDRISI is registered under.
2. A copy of the file ‘LSERVRC’ from the folder IDRISI Andes.
3. Please run the SET command from the command prompt to dump system settings. Run: SET > SET.TXT. This will create a text file called SET.TXT and save it to the folder specified in the command prompt. After you run this command, attach this file to your email.
4. Please run the LSWHERE.EXE program found in the IDRISI Andes folder. It will display the results to the screen. Please send a screenshot of the result as an attachment in your email to us.
5. Please run the ECHOID.EXE program found in the IDRISI Andes folder. It will return a locking code to your screen. Please send the screen shot of this code as an attachment to your email to us.
6. Please run the command IPCONFIG /ALL > IPCONFIG.TXT from the command prompt. This will create a text file called IPCONFIG.TXT. Please send a screenshot of the result as an attachment in your email to us.
CLIENT
There are two types of client installations; a ‘full install,’ which installs all components of IDRISI on the hard drive of the client, and a ‘thin client,’ which installs only the system files needed to run a client. If the network you are operating IDRISI on is frequently overloaded (slow data transfers), then we recommend a full install. If you are having problems running clients, first ensure that IDRISI runs properly on the server. If the client can still not get a license, refer to the notes below.
1. From the IDRISI Andes folder on the server, copy the program LSWHERE.EXE to the client. Run this program and verify that it can find the license manager on the server. If it is not able to find the server, proceed to step 2 below.
2. If the client cannot find a license, set the environment variables LSHOST and/or LSFORCEHOST to the IP address or the name of the server. Go to Control Panel/System Properties, select the advanced tab and then ‘environment variables.’ Make sure that you set the variables under ‘system variables’. This will tell the client where to find the license.
3. If you are attempting to run clients from a server on a different subnet; all the routers must be set to re-broadcast all UDP packets on port 5093, and UDP packets must be able to go to and from different subnets. All Firewalls must have port 5093 open Since it is the port the license manager uses to communicate through.
The patch available on our website is only for IDRISI Kilimanjaro versions prior to 14.02. Before downloading the patch, verify your IDRISI Kilimanjaro version by going to the About box in the Help menu. Do not use the patch upgrade on any other version besides IDRISI Kilimanjaro 14.00 and 14.01. If you have an older version of IDRISI and wish to upgrade, please contact our customer service department at IDRISI@clarku.edu.
If you encounter difficulties updating with the patch, please see notes below.
1. Please verify the version of IDRISI Kilimanjaro installed on your computer. The patch is for IDRISI Kilimanjaro users only, not for Idrisi32, prior versions or IDRISI Andes. If the Kilimanjaro version is prior to 14.02, you should update. Next, verify whether you have a stand-alone or a multi-seat license, then download and install the appropriate patch.
2. Once the file is downloaded, ensure that you specify the correct path where your IDRISI Kilimanjaro is installed. You will be asked to specify this path if it is not on the default folder, c:\IDRISI Kilimanjaro.
3. If you receive the message: 'Error: Could not open ValidateIO.dll file' when trying to install the patch, you most likely did not specify the correct path where you originally installed your IDRISI Kilimanjaro. If you used the browse button on the patch installation form, it may have added an extra \IDRISI Kilimanjaro into the path (e.g., C:\IDRISI Kilimanjaro \IDRISI Kilimanjaro). You do not need to select the IDRISI Kilimanjaro, just the directories above this one. For example, if you installed in Program Files, just select Program Files from the browse button. This assumes you are using the browse capabilities and not typing in the direct path at the top of the browse form. You can also try typing in directly the full path (e.g., ‘C:\Program Files\IDRISI Kilimanjaro’).
