Consignment Software Troubleshooting

Troubleshooting

Common Causes of Computer Problems

Please don't expect to resolve issues if the computer has not been properly prepared for commercial use. Almost all computers sold locally are intended for home use. They may have slower processors, insufficient RAM memory, inferior components... By all means avoid refurbished hardware.

Speed Up BCSS

From Microsoft: "The most common causes of corruption are bad sectors on storage media, lost clusters, cross linked files, malfunctioning anti-virus software, viruses, and system crashes. Although 99 percent of a file may be intact, a few missing or corrupted structures are enough to stop an application cold, leaving the user frantic and the IT professional in a jam."

If the computer is running slowly or 'crashing', in all probability it doesn't have enough resources (RAM memory, hard disk/front-side bus/clock speed and/or the resources are being consumed by other programs. (There are other causes like viruses, spyware, damaged components...) Right click on the Taskbar and start Task Manager. Click on Processes. Click on the header for memory to sort programs by the amount of memory each is using and observe which are using the most. Next, click on start and type msconfig then click on Startup. These are all of the programs running in the background, using up resources. Most of them can be disabled. Consult with an IT tech or someone knowledgeable before stopping any of them. It's important to understand how a computer works before concluding that any software program is responsible for a computer 'crashing'.
To speed things up, in Program Setup on the General tab, check 'Zero Quantity in Inventory Work Area List?' to only include unsold items in inventory in lists.
In the BCSS Inventory Work Area, select Batch Delete and delete old records.
Click on Inventory then Storage and use the option to send items to Storage. (This will not reduce the size of the database but it will remove items from appearing in lists.)
Consider paying tech support to permanently delete records prior to a date you provide. (The current database could be kept and reloaded if historical information is needed. Shrinking the database in this way will speed up processing.)
Use the time filters to reduce the number of entries listed in the tables. Looking for a transaction from today? Click on 'Today':
For remote computers on a network, in program setup, on the Inventory tab, turn Automatic Discounts off. On the General tab, set the auto backup time to 25:00 to prevent backups on remote stations.
Increase the computer's RAM memory. You might want 2 gigs of RAM for XP, 4 gigs for Vista/Windows 7/8/10/11 (for 32-bit). For 64-bit, much greater amounts of RAM are allowed and preferable.
Perform a Disk Cleanup. (Go to Start and type disk. Select Disk Cleanup.) This removes unnecessary files (like temporary files) from the computer.
Defrag the hard drive. (Start > Programs > Accessories > System Tools > Disk Defragmenter, or search Windows Help for defragment)

Your Computer

Almost invariably difficulties are caused by using:

Laptops - which spin the hard drive about 25% slower than a desktop (to keep them from over heating). They can be suitable for business use if they have adequate resources (RAM memory, free hard-drive space, clock speed, front-side bus speed) and are in good working order (relatively new, free of malware/viruses and unneeded programs).
Computers processors like Atom, Celeron, Centrino, Pentium - often found in laptops and 'off-the-shelf' computers. (See where your processor ranks, and test its speed.)
Business computers connected to the Internet, particularly without adequate virus and malware protection - (Avast, AVG, Kaspersky, Norton and free anti-virus programs are not adequate. Microsoft Security Essentials is good free protection and is included in Windows 8/10.)
Computers infected with viruses, malware, spyware, adware
Computers with inadequate resources (free disk space, RAM memory, clock speed)
Computers with corrupted Windows registries (causes error 1429 - See below)
Windows Vista/7/8/10/11 - For BCSS (and most software) to run properly, the user must be logged into the computer as Administrator to install and run software, or users must be granted permission.
Improper computer use, including no surge protector/power backup, leaving the computer plugged in overnight, shutting the computer off with the power button (vs. Start > Shutdown), stopping BCSS while it's performing a function...
Other software programs. (Go to Control Panel, Programs (or Add/Remove Programs) and remove unused software. Be careful.)
Other software programs. If BCSS was working and stops working, were other programs installed? Quite often the culprit is an update to another program (like an anti-virus program or Windows itself). When BCSS 'stops working' do a system restore. (See Windows help.)
Too many printer drivers. (Go to Control Panel, Printers and delete all unnecessary entries.)
Windows. It's a software program. Like any other it can and does become corrupted and needs to be reinstalled.
Windows Vista 7/8/10/11 User Accounts: If settings are not saving on the computer, go to the Control Panel then User Accounts then 'Change User Account Control settings' and turn UAC off. Also, right click on the BCSS-Run Desktop icon. Select Properties and click on Advanced. Check 'Run as Administrator' and save the change. Click on the Compatibility tab and set all users to run the program as administrator.
Computers at work should be dedicated to work functions. They certainly should not be used to download from the Internet, particularly from BitTorrent sites. If the computer is loaded with unnecessary software, runs too slow, crashes often - reformat the hard drive, reinstall Windows (preferably Win7/8/10/11) and give your computer a fresh start.

When a computer with one or more of the above afflictions is used in a commercial environment, it is the computer (and Windows) that becomes confused, overwhelmed and exhausted. It is the computer, not the software program, that 'locks up' and 'crashes'. There's nothing wrong with the software. This has been proven by over hundreds businesses currently using BCSS on commercial-grade, well-maintained computers.

Free Computer Analysis

If you would like to see how many (hundreds of) errors reside on your computer, please download and run the free scan from Advanced System Optimizer. It will check for junk files and folders, disk drive fragments, spyware and malware, privacy traces, outdated/missing drivers, Windows Registry errors and fragments.

After download close the browser window of instructions. The Smart PC scan screen should be present and ready. Select Deep Scan and click the blue Start Smart PC Care button.

At the end of the scan, you'll see a report of its findings. Click the orange Register Now button to purchase the program and repair the errors.

System Requirements

RAM Memory: XP: 512KB (1 gig preferred); Vista/Windows 7/8/10/11 (32-bit): 2-4 gigs; 64-bit maximums (not required for BCSS): Starter: 8GB, Home Basic: 8GB, Home Premium: 16GB, Professional: 192GB, Enterprise: 192GB, Ultimate: 192GB
Clock Speed: 3GHz
Processor: Pentium or AMD (Advanced Micro Devices) - never Celeron or Centrino
Operating System: Windows XP or Vista with latest Service Packs
Commercial grade surge protector

Poor Maintenance

'Disk Defragmentation' and 'Registry Repair' are necessary to keep hard drives and registries clean. (See PC Maintenance.)

Internet Infections

If a computer is connected to the Internet, it must be protected from viruses, spyware, adware and malware. A slow-running or crashing computer are sure signs that the computer is infected. It is said that it only takes 12 minutes for an unprotected computer to become infected when connected to the Inet. ESET Smart Security is the best product available. Free services like Avast and Kaspersky are not adequate.

Windows Security Updates must be performed frequently. Windows should be set to Updated Automatically once per day at a time when the computer is on. By default, automatic updates are set for 3 a.m. when most computers are off. (See Windows Help.)

Troubleshooting BCSS

Please don't expect to resolve issues if the computer has not been properly prepared for commercial use.

Difficulties sometimes arise when program files become corrupted. Corruptions can be caused by power surges or spikes, inappropriate closing of BCSS, hard computer shutdowns, poor downloads, low computer resources, electrical surges, lightning and so on. See Wikipedia's explanation of data corruption.

Fixing the Problem

The new FoxPro version of BCSS includes 2 options under Utilities to make it easy to resolve 'lock ups' and some minor glitches: Rebuild Database Indices and Reset Program. Please use these options to fix minor issues.

The next option is to exit BCSS and turn the computer completely off (not reboot) and retry the function that caused the problem. If the problem persists, restore the last data backup. (If data is backed up daily, data loss will be minimal.) If this resolves the issue, it means that the current database is corrupted and should not be used. If the program will open using the current database, any recent entries could be viewed, recorded and reentered using the backup database.

If using a previous database doesn't resolve the issue, update the BCSS program to the most recent version:

Click on the link corresponding to your BCSS edition to obtain the latest version of BCSS. (Close BCSS and save the bcss.exe file in (C:\BCSS):

Intro Free Intro Deluxe Diamond Virtual

Restart BCSS. If the error still exists, try the last backup again.

BCSS was working. Now it doesn't.

If BCSS was working and now there's a problem, the cause could be any number of things. Unfortunately we can't be there at the time of the occurrence so we have to ask questions to find out what caused the problem. Was another program installed or updated in the interim? Was Windows updated? Are employees shutting the computer off with the power button or interrupting BCSS while it is processing? Electrical surge? (Is there a surge protector between the power supply and the computer?) Email us for free support (or contact Realize Technologies, ) when there's a problem. So far we've been able to fix most issues (in 14+ years).

Error 1806 indicates that the BCSS database has been changed and your files need to be adjusted. Please email support to arrange to have your program updated.

Error 1924 (Sale Form is not an object Line of code with error: Line number of error: 4409 Program with error: APP_TOPFORM.TOOLBAR.ERROR) - sometimes appears when attempting to enter a second sale. This is an indication of a corrupted program file. Please email support to arrange to have your program updated.

BCSS is locked after it has been unlocked. - (See Windows Vista.)

"The resource file is not valid. Overwrite it with a new one yes or no? - It is safe to answer "Yes". The message should go away and no damage will be done to data files.

Email Function Doesn't Work. - Recent Windows Updates have broken the link in the email component used in BCSS. We are waiting for the author of the print preview component to fix it.

Printing Account History limited to 1 page - This was corrected in the 4/26/09 update, version 5.1.2486. Please contact support to update BCSS.