Sidekcik 98 locks up on start 1

[john2wheel]

I am currently using Sidkick 98 as it has far more features than the 99 version. I have been using Sidekick since a very early release (I'm not sure which release but it was all on one floppy disk). Sidekick 98 was never a very speedy opener but today it started to freeze on the opening screen. The last time this happened was with Sidekick 99 about six months ago. At that time I completely removed the program after I saved the user data portion and loaded in Sidekick '98 that I downloaded for the Sidekick FAQ page. I then added my user data to the newly installed Sidekick 98.

I've got years and years of data, both personal and business related in Sidekick and when something like this happens, it worries me that I will someday lose the data (it is, of course, backed up, but time factor comes into play).

What is causing the freeze up? Anyone have a clue?

I am running an Intel Pentium 4, 3.00 GHz with 1 gig of ram.

Thanks for any help!

John

 

[james33]

Dear john2wheel,

Scan for Virae first,
Is the problem only with Sidekick and have you added any other software lately?
Presume you are on XP
(Home or Professional)?

Have you checked that all your Data/Calendar files are Read/Write? i.e. Not read only.
PLease let us know the answer to the above, before we get too deep.

Regards
Jim


Regards Jim
Check the FAQ area of this Forum for answers (If there are any FAQs!) , it could save you a lot of time and effort!

 

[john2wheel]

Jim,

Thanks for the reply. Virus scan was on the 26th (Friday night) but I did it again - no virus. Also ran two anti spyware programs and Norton one button check up. Nothing out of the ordinary.

I use XP Professional.

Doubled checked and the data and calendar files are read/write.

John

 

[james33]

Dear john2wheel,

Before you try to open Sidekick, remove all your Calendar files and Cardfiles from the folder they are in (put them in a Sub-Folder) and then start Sidekick by double-clicking the Sidekick.exe file in the
C:\Starfish\Sidekick 98\Program
Folder.

Sidekick will re-create a blank calendar in Userdata and there will only be a blank cardfile then navigate into the folder that you moved the old ones to and then re-open the calendar and cardfiles.

Regards
Jim

Regards Jim
Check the FAQ area of this Forum for answers (If there are any FAQs!) , it could save you a lot of time and effort!

 

[john2wheel]

Jim,

I tried moving the calendar and card files to a new folder, but still had a problem opening Sidekick. I finally took the path of least resistance and deleted Sidekick and completely reinstalled the program. I was able to open both my calendar files and my card files.

I have had the FAQ pages bookmarked for some time now and use these pages on an occassional basis. While I do wish that Sidekick was a continually supported product, I find that I am able to get the support that I need from this forum and from the FAQ pages. Eventually there will be a program that I like as much or better, but until then, I will continue to use Sidekick.

Thanks for your help, I do appreciate you taking the time.

John

 

[MarcusFabius]

I am extremely pleased to find I am not the only one who regards Sidekick98 as one of the best programs written for the home/business PIM user. Apart from the superb date/calendar functionality, which I think is second to none and far better than Outlook, I am using "Contacts" (i.e., cardfiles) to manage a whole range of databases. On that front alone, I think Sidekick98 is the best. Its architecture is so simple and usable I think it's far more user friendly than Access, although I would agree the latter has power in more places.
A common theme with correspondents is backup and occasional repair of a cardfile. I have found that exporting a cardfile as a comma separated (i.e., .csv) file goes well into EXCEL, although long fields can get cut short in the process. This is something any future version (if we ever get one) might address. I would advise backing up all cardfiles in this way. Then if your Sidekick98 disappears for whatever reason, you can at least use EXCEL to access the data, and have a functional way to process it.
Once a cardfile is in Excel, bulk reformatting can deal with many records in one go. Incidentally, one tip is that if records in a cardfile are indexed numerically in one field, Sidekick98 will order a record with a field value of 100 (say) BEFORE one with a field value of 1. Not what most people would want. My workaround is to write 001 instead of 1. Then Sidekick98 orders the records in the way I want.
If you have many such records with this problem, than either you change them manually (I have a cardfile with records indexed up to 99999!) or else export to EXCEL as a .csv file. Then, in EXCEL, format the indexing column (the one with the numbers) using the CUSTOM field, and type in 00000 over the word "general". Now a value previously shown as 23 will appear as 00023. Then use the EXCEL DATA sorting function to rearrange records properly, and save as a .csv file. Return to SIDEKICK98 and import this new version as a cardfile and your records will now be ordered properly, with the index showing as 00023,00024 etc. Make sure the first record lists the names of the fields you see in Sidekick98.
Like many others, I would pay for an updated version of Sidekick98. Is it really beyond the community's ability to remove the glitches? How about some hackers applying their talents to a really worthwhile cause? But then, perhaps it's too much for them.

 

[MGOBLUE59]

First, let me say I have two systems. One older system running ME and a newer one running XP. I am unable to load the original Sidekick '99 CD to my newer system. An error message stating that I must restart because I am trying to install a program that was formerly installed on that computer. Upon restart no install occurs and I am back a square one.

In an effort to get sidekick off of my old system (ME) I thought I would copy the necessary files and email them and bring them in on the newer system. I was going to try it first with Sidekick '95, as I have both '95 and '99 installed on the older system. In the middle of copying files, including those in the "User Data" portion of '95, I received a call for a new appointment for our business and added the info.

I had moved the files I cas trying to emailed to a Temporary folder. Instead of completeing the process of emailing I decided to go to bed forgetting that every night a Norton Utility runs and locks-up the system, requiring a reboot. So this morning I reboot with Sidekick'99 opened behind the locked up Norton on my desktop.

OK. I try to open Sidekick '99 and it opens but there is no data on the right hand side of the cardfile area. I have customer names, but no info. I begin to get concerned as you all know Sidekick can act a little strange at times. I went to open Sidekick '95. Note: It never mattered which version of Sidekick I opened, the "User Data/Cardfiles could be accessed by either version. Instead of opening I got an error stating that the necessary .DLL File YINTL.DLL could not be found. Well I found it and copied it back to where it should go. There were several more .DLL files it requested and I went through the same process with them, each time it requested a different .DLL file until I got them all into the ?right spot?. I then tried opening '95 and a small window opens that say's the following: "Important Note: You have changed your Sidekick Registry Information. Please specify the data directory of Sidekick." A place or box is provided to enter the directiory the information is supposed to go into but being a non-geek I have know clue how to find what I am supposed to put in this box.

It actually has this series of letters in the box like an example. It reads: ?\DATA\ That's all it says. Also, this small window will not close unless I reboot.

All I can say is help. We run a Mid-size, high-end portrait studio and all of my customer and scheduling info is on Sidekick and the back-up system I use called "MegDat", from eAcceleration does not seem to be of any help. I thought I was doing a Internet back-up using MegDat. What is really strange is I am able to l;ocate the files but because '95 and '99 have some kind of symbiotic relationship I am unable to access them.

Now that I have the suggestion about backing up user data using excell, I will make an effort to do it that way. But until I can get help on the above issues it is quite irrelavent.

 

[james33]

Dear MGOBLUE59's,

The Data directory in Sidekick98 resides in the
C:\Program Files\Starfish\Sidekick 98
Folder and is called Data

The Data directory in Sidekick99 resides in the C:\Program Files\Starfish\Sidekick 99
Folder and is called Data (Less sure of this one but fairly sure it is correct though it is a while since I had it installed or used it)

The Data directory in Sidekick95 is in the C:\SKW2\
Folder and again I am not as sure as I am of Sidekick98 or Sidekick97(Internet Sidekick) but see for yourself.
These are all the default locations, if you have installed them somewhere else then that is the location.

To your problem with Sidekick99 where all the data is not visible and I quote:

I try to open Sidekick '99 and it opens but there is no data on the right hand side of the cardfile area. I have customer names, but no info.
See
thread807-720094
and my post in same about the faq pages.(click on thread link above)

The funny thing is I have the signature on my post to say to check the FAQ pages (but they are on my site now though)follow the links from the FAQs here.
Regards
Jim

Regards Jim
Check the FAQ area of this Forum for answers (If there are any FAQs!) , it could save you a lot of time and effort!

 

[CaptCJJ]

john2wheel:

I am a very LONG time user of '98 and love it. Best program of it's kind.

I recently changed offices and now my '98 will NOT load. The loading screen comes up and only 2-3 progress bars at the bottom, then freezes. Have original disk, but it 'stalls' and won't let me re-load. Have tried just about everything-am desperate !!! Running XP Pro on Dell DM 051, 300 Ghz and 1 GB Ram. If you have ANY suggestions, please contact me directly @ cjj5@bellsouth.net. Thanks.

CaptCJJ

 

[james33]

Dear CaptCJJ,

I have a very occasional problem like that (I am back from XP and again on Win2000) but if I reboot it goes away.
I know that now I have been on XP and Win2000 I rarely restart like I used to on Win98SE (I had to or it crashed)!
If that doesn't help please describe the error message that comes up when you try to re-install SK98
Another thing to do too is to clear all the .SKTmp files out of your Userdata folder and any Untitled.SKCard files too.


Regards Jim
Check the FAQ area of this Forum for answers (If there are any FAQs!) , it could save you a lot of time and effort!

 

[CaptCJJ]

james33:

Thanks for the feedback. 1). Last week, I was able to get it to boot up (2x)...even with the Symantic. NOTE: All my data is in another file, NOT in the same file as the program.

I do NOT receive an error mesage when I try to re-install. The demo shield comes up and when I hit "install", I get a pop up box that says "please wait"...and that's all that happens.

Again, when I either try to open the program, I get the Sidekick 98 box, and 4 (progress) bars come across the bottom and it 'stalls'.

Any help would be GREATLY appreciated.

CaptCJJ

 

[james33]

Dear CaptCJJ,

As I said, the temp cardfiles and other Temp or Orphan files are created in the
Starfish/Sidekick98/Userdata Folder
so try clearing all the .SKTmp files out of your Userdata folder and any Untitled.SKCard files too.
Another thing is to make sure that ALL the calendar files have had their properties changed from 'ReadOnly' if you had backed them up on a cd to transfer.
If any of the calendar files are still read only, then as the time is changing (All the time)! the program will not load

See how you get on with the above and please post back.

See the Faq pages on my website at

http://siderealb0x.250free.com/

for the list of files that constitute a calendar.


Regards Jim
Check the FAQ area of this Forum for answers (If there are any FAQs!) , it could save you a lot of time and effort!

 

[CaptCJJ]

Jim:

Good news...my IT tecchi (albeit on vacation) was able to remotly unlock my Symantic anti-virus (SAV) and lo and behold, it loaded !!! Now...you can be assured that I wil NOT turn Sidekick off unless absolutely necessary - but I have bookmarked this page as well as copied your very useful tips and e-mailed them to myself for future refernce when MR. Tecchi returns. Thanks again for being 'there' - wherever 'there' is :>))) CaptCJJ

ps. For the life of me, I cannot understand why no one hasn't picked up the Sidekick program, updated it and reissues it - it is clearly one of the BEST programs I have ever used.

 

[james33]

Dear CaptCJJ,

I have entered your solution and another one into the following FAQ page here:

Freezing at Splash/welcome screen + Install Freezes

faq807-5203

Thanks for posting the solution back it helps us all.


Regards Jim
Check the FAQ area of this Forum for answers (If there are any FAQs!) , it could save you a lot of time and effort!