Technical Support...

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Frequently Asked Questions
If you are having problems take a look at our FAQ page first...

Security Keys
Most of our programs are protected against unauthorised operation using a security key. The key must be mounted on a printer port of the machine upon which it is being run.   Drivers must be installed to allow programs to address the key without detriment to other devices attached to the port.

Drivers on this page When Required
Windows 9x, ME, 2000, XP drivers v 5.41 Win 9x, ME, 2000 and XP (not Windows NT4)
Windows NT4 drivers v5.41(Legacy) Win NT4 only
Windows 3.1x  drivers v5.38... Win 3.1x only
SuperPro Interface (sspvbas1.dll)... Required only when running the PowerTube suite.
Pro Interface (sswin.dll)... Required only when running Tube Sheet Diagram or Floormap
Windows 9x, ME, 2000, XP Drivers v 5.41

Download Windows 9x, ME, 2000, XP drivers v 5.41 (ssd5410-32bit.exe, ~4.3Mb)
This is a single executable installation file. We recommend that it be downloaded into a previously created directory titled c:\isl.

After downloading, run the file c:\isl\ssd5410-32bit.exe... it will install into...
c:\Program files\Rainbow Technologies\Sentinel System Drivers\..., and will then automatically install the new drivers.  Just accept all the prompts including the request for 'Complete' installation. 

The drivers will be installed by the Microsoft Windows Installer (MSI).  If MSI is not already loaded on your machine, it will be loaded automatically as part of the installation, but it may require one or more re-boots.  Just follow the prompts.  

If the installer detects a previous Sentinel driver version, it may remove it automatically, or may ask that you remove it manually, or it may ask if you wish to modify it... depending on the version.  If manual removal is requested, use the Control Panel 'Add/Remove Programs' utility to remove all references to 'Sentinel System Drives' or similar.  This may require a reboot; thereafter re-run c:\isl\ssd5410-32bit.exe

After the drivers have been successfully installed, the temporary file c:\isl\ssd5410-32bit.exe can be archived or deleted.

Windows NT4 Drivers v5.41(Legacy) 

Download Windows NT4 drivers v5.41 (ssd541legacy.exe, ~240Kb)
This is a single self-extracting WinZip file. We recommend that it be downloaded into a previously created directory titled c:\isl.

After downloading, run the file c:\isl\ssd541legacy.exe... it will unzip to...
c:\Program files\Rainbow Technologies\Sentinel System Drivers\Legacy\...

After the file have been successfully unzipped, run setup.exe from the \Legacy directory, i.e. ... 
c:\Program files\Rainbow Technologies\Sentinel System Drivers\Legacy\setup.exe 

This file does not load the Microsoft Windows Installer (MSI)

Windows 3.1x Drivers v5.38

Downloading, Decompressing and Installing the Drivers v5.38

Download Windows 3.1x Sentinel Drivers (~drv538.exe, ~400Kb)...
This is a single self-extracting executable file which will decompress into several sub-directories. We recommend that it be downloaded into a previously created directory titled c:\isl.

After downloading, run the file c:\isl\~drv538.exe... it will decompress into...
c:\isl\drv538\win_31\...
c:\isl\drv538\win_9x\...
c:\isl\drv538\win_NT\...

After decompression, you will be asked if you wish to install the drivers immediately, or defer their installation until later. We recommend immediate installation. 

If a floppy backup of these drivers is required, then copy all files in c:\isl\drv538\... and all its sub-directories onto a single disk. Label the disk 'Portable Sentinel Drivers v5.38'.

After the drivers have been successfully decompressed, the temporary file c:\isl\~drv538.exe may be archived or deleted.

Installing the Drivers v5.38 Later

If the drivers were not installed following their decompression, they can be installed at any time later either automatically or manually. We recommend the automatic method.

  • Automatic Installation (quiet mode)
    Just run c:\isl\drv538\setup538.exe. This auto-detects which operating system being used, and installs the relevant drivers. It is completely silent, requires no user intervention, and takes only a few moments. Just wait until the hourglass disappears. Restart Windows on completion.
  • Semi-Automatic Installation (with user intervention)
    To install the drivers semi-automatically (with some user intervention), use the /q4 command line switch, e.g. c:\isl\drv538\setup538.exe /q4. This auto-detects which operating system being used, and installs the relevant drivers, but also allows some user control of the process. Re-start Windows after installation.
  • Manual Installation.
    The drivers are supplied in three directories. Select the appropriate directory for the operating system, then run one of the following...
    c:\isl\drv538\win_31\install.exe
    c:\isl\drv538\win_9x\sentw95.exe
    c:\isl\drv538\win_NT\setupx86.exe
    Re-start Windows after installation.
 
SuperPro Interface v5.00
Required for older versions of the Powergen PowerTube suite
Do not install this file unless you are having problems

The Sentinel SuperPro is an advanced security key which we use only with the PowerTube suite. The SuperPro key requires a support file, 'sspvbas1.dll', to be located in the windows 'system' directory. The latest version, dated 28th June 1997, is available here.

Download SuperPro Support (~spvbas1.exe, 90Kb)...
The file should be downloaded to a previously created directory titled
c:\isl.
After downloading, run the file
c:\isl\~spvbas1.exe... it will copy sspvbas1.dll into the windows 'system' directory.
After installation, the temporary file ~spvbas1.exe may be archived or deleted.

Restart Windows after installation.

 
Pro Interface v2.3
Required for older versions of Tube Sheet Diagram and Floormap
Do not install this file unless you are having problems

The Sentinel Pro key is used with our Tube Sheet Diagram and Floormap programs. The Pro key requires a support file, 'sswin.dll', to be located in the windows 'system' directory. The latest version, dated 9th Sept 1998, is available here.

Download Pro Support (~sswin.exe), ~90k)
The file should be downloaded to a previously created directory titled
c:\isl.
After downloading, run the file
c:\isl\~sswin.exe... it will copy sswin.dll into the windows 'system' directory.
After installation, the temporary file
~sswin.exe may be archived or deleted.

The correct installation directory should be as follows...
...Win3.1/95/98 : c:\windows\system,
...Windows NT : c:\winnt\system... (not c:\winnt\system32).

IMPORTANT NOTE :
ALL OTHER COPIES OF SSWIN.DLL MUST BE DELETED FROM YOUR COMPUTER !
It may be easier to delete all existing copies of 'sswin.dll' before installing this new version.



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isl@inspection.co.uk
Copyright © 2003, ISL. All rights reserved.
Created and Published by Inspection Software Limited.
Last updated:  18 June, 2003