Procedure for Reinstalling Water Solutions Software

Reinstalling or installing Water Solutions Software on another computer can be accomplished fairly easy. But, you will need to have your original program CDROM, your registration code, access to the Internet and a method for transferring or restoring your data. If you are installing Water Solutions onto a Windows Vista or Windows 7/8/10 computer you will need to have a Vista/7/8/10 compatible install disk from Oak Bay Technologies. If you are not sure you have a Vista/7/8/10 Compatible install disk, check the label on your disk. If the Version number is followed by the letter ‘V’ e.g. 5.00V or 2.02V then you have the correct install disk. If your disk does not have the Version number followed by the letter ‘V’ your disk is not compatible and you will need to purchase a new install disk from Oak Bay Technologies, Inc. If your new computer does not have a cdrom/dvd drive you will need to purchase a new install disk and add instruction for the seller that you need a USB flash drive instead. Install software may be purchased elesewhere on this site.

You may make your own flash install by copying the install files from your cdrom to the usb flash drive.

It is important that you follow these steps carefully to ensure that your program and customer data will be installed properly.

Back up your data file to a safe and secure location; e.g. flash drive.

If you are installing the program on Windows XP or Windows Vista or Windows 7/8/10 you must have Administrator privileges.

If you tried to install your original incompatible program onto a Vista or Windows 7/8/10 computer, uninstall the WS software before beginning the new installation including deleting the Water Solutions Folder and its contents.

Note: We also recommend disabling the User Access Control UAC.

Vista – Click on Start, All Programs – Accessories and Run. Enter msconfig and click on run. Click on the Tools tab. Scroll near the bottom and click on Disable UAC. Click on Launch. Restart your computer.

Win 7 Click on Start -> All Programs -> Accessories -> Run. Enter msconfig and click on run. Click on the Tools tab. Near the top of the list click on Change UAC Settings. Click on Launch. Change the slide position to the bottom option. Click on OK. Restart your computer.

Step 1. Program Installation

Insert your program Vista/7/8/10 compatible CDROM in to your computers CD/DVD drive. The installation program should start automatically. If not, explore the contents of the cdrom/dvd and execute the program setup.exe. Follow the instructions and answer the questions during the install. After the install program has completed you will need to restart your computer. You may use a usb flash drive to install your program as well. See above for more info and info on how to start the program install.

Step 2. Register Program

Start Water Solutions. Version 2: Click on COMPANY-> COMPANY INFORMATION.

Version 3,4 ,5 or 6: Click on TOOLS -> PROGRAM SETUP -> GENERAL -> COMPANY

Fill out the indicated company information. Your Company name must be the same as indicated on your registration code card or email. You must fill in Name, Address, City, ST, ZIP and your Phone number. Note this information is available by clicking on Help -> About on your old computer. The program will display your Registered Name and Registration Code.

After you have successfully entered your company information return to the main menu. Click HELP on the MENU Bar at the top of your program window. Click on About. Click on Register. Enter your registration code. Remember the first character of each group is capitalized. All other characters are lower case. The dashes must be added. Double-check it for accuracy. Click on REGISTER, a message will appear thanking your for registering. Acknowledge the message and return to the main menu.

Step 3. Update Software

Click on HELP -> UPDATE WIZARD. Click on the update wizard icon (single click only). Water Solutions will now check if an update is available. If there is one available you will be prompted if you want to download and install the update. Choose yes. 

Depending on the speed of your connection to the Internet the download process may take up to 45 minutes to complete. Once the download has completed the update program will start automatically. Follow the instructions and answer any questions.

Disconnect form the Internet.

Please Note: If you purchased your program or an update disk prior to November 2012 Microsoft made changes to your Windows operating system that will likely create an error on your first update attempt. If this is the case, there is potential fixes. First, click on START->ALL PROGRAMS->THE WATER SOLUTIONS FOLDER->CHECK FOR UPDATE (this works for disks shipped after 5/11). This will start the update wizard. Follow the onscreen instructions. If you do not have the Check for Update option in your Water Solutions Program Group (disk shipped prior to 5/11), you will need to call Tech Support for an alternate update method.

Step 4. Restoring or Transferring Your Data

On you old computer use the Backup Data feature FILE->BACKUP DATA to backup your current data. The destination location should be a storage media that is compatible to both your old and new computer.

Click on FILE->RESTORE DATA. Follow the prompts to restore your data file from your backup source. Note: The restore program is looking for a file with a .mdb suffix.

If this does not work check out the manual method below. If you still have problems you may call Oak Bay Technologies, Inc. Tech support at 360 437-0718 for guidance.

If you are using the multiple company version, use the manual transfer method to transfer the balance of your companies data to the Water Solutions folder.

Step 5. Updating Data Files

After restoring your data files Water Solutions may prompt you that your data files need updating. Click on Okay. You will see a progress bar that will indicate the update progress. Once the update process has completed you are done!

Note: Don't worry if you do not see the Update Data prompt. This only means that you have been using the latest version of Water Solutions and no update of your data file is required.

Manual Data Restoration is covered below.

Step 6. Program Options

After transferring your data please check your manual and review your program options to ensure you have such things as your default postcard format, late fee choices etc. selected.

This completes the (re)-installation on a new or old computer.

Step 7. Palm Driver Installation

If you have the Pro Plus – Palm extension, in order to make your Palm compatible with Vista or Win 7/8/10 64 bit Operating Systems you will have to complete a couple of extra steps to install all the right support software. First be sure you have palm desktop version 4.14 or later and install it. If you do not have version 4.14 you may obtain it at

http://aceeca.com/index.php?option=com_attachments&task=download&id=19

This version is compatible with Vista and Win 7/8/10. At this point your palm USB driver will not work. You will need to go to

http://aceeca.com/index.php?option=com_attachments&task=download&id=27

and download the 64bit driver. Follow the installation instructions to replace the palm USB driver installed by default. Once you do all this it will work fine.

Manual Data Restoration Method

Version 2 – Water Solutions Professional

You must use a file manager program like Windows Explorer to manually copy the data on your old computer to a transfer media and then copy from the transfer media to the correct folder on your new computer replacing the test data that comes with the new install. The most likely default data location for version 2 on your old computer is c:\program files\water solutions\sampledata.mdb or c:\program files\oak bay\water solutions\sampledata.mdb. Your actual data file name will be either sampledata.mdb or wsdata.mdb. On your new computer you may find that the default location is c:\program files\oakbay\water solutions\wsdata.mdb or c:\programdata\oakbay\water solutions\wsdata.mdb. If you are unable to locate your programdata folder it is most likely hidden by default. You will need to change your computer settings to unhide hidden files and folders.

Again your new computer data file must be named wsdata.mdb. If transferring your data file named sampledata.mdb you must rename it to wsdata.mdb before copying it to the new computer. Note: In October of 2012 the name of the data file changed from sampledata.mdb to wsdata.mdb.

Simply copy and replace the data file on the new computer.

Hint: If your data file is larger than 1414Kb (1.4Mb) then it will not fit on a floppy disk. You will need another media source that will handle larger files. Our favorite is a USB Flash drive. Or, on your old computer you may attach your data file to an email and mail it to yourself on your new computer. Once retrieved use the RESTORE function to properly transfer your data. Version 2 software must have its data file named sampledata.mdb or the program will not work.

Version 3, 4, 5 or 6 Water Solutions Professional Plus + Extension

You must use a file manager program like Windows Explorer to manually copy the data on your old computer to a transfer media and then copy from the transfer media to the correct folder on your new computer replacing the test data that comes with the new install. The most likely default data location for these versions is c:\program files\water solutions\WSdata.mdb. On your new computer you may find that the default location is c:\program files\oakbay\water solutions\WSdata.mdb or c:\programdata\oakbay\water solutions\WSdata.mdb. Simply copy and replace the data file on the new computer. If you are unable to locate your programdata folder it is most likely hidden by default. You will need to change your computer settings to unhide hidden files and folders.