Frequently Asked Questions

1. Can you run the Cool Info XP executable on Win9X, NT 4.0 and Win2K without actually running the installation - that is you could just copy the executable from one machine to another and it would work just fine or even run it from a CD?
   
   Yes and no. Generally in Win NT 4.0 and Win 2000 this will work. Cool Info 99 has the following dependencies: Windows Scripting Host, DAO (Data Access Objects), and a few Custom ActiveX Controls.
   
   Basically if your network is running IE 4.01 SP1 and above you will have a compatible version of Windows Scripting Host, as for DAO basically it is only installed with another application that uses it like Microsoft Access. The custom ActiveX controls "should" work as long as they are located in the same directory as the Cool Info executable.
   
   That said however, We always strongly suggest installing the application. This can easily be done via a few simple lines in the users login script. If Cool Info XP isn't installed then install it in silent mode, if it is installed then export to a central database.
   
   
2. Is it possible to start Coolinfo.exe in a WinNT Logon script to create a MDB -File of each User who logon to the Server, without running any Software/License installation on each users PC?
   
   Yes and no is the answer, Cool Info must be installed on each machine, but when a site license is purchased you get a custom installation that includes your registration information and a silent install mode.
   
   This way you can do a simple check in the logon script to see if it is installed and if not then it will install silently. Then each machine can export to a central database.
   
   
3. I am able to successfully export machine data to an MS Access database, however, when I do the export from a second workstation, it simply overwrites information previously entered into the database.
   
   Cool Info records the same Computer ID for multiple computers. Is this problem possibly related to the hard disk imaging process we used to initially load these computers, or is this something related to Cool Info?
   
   This is related to the imaging process of setting up your new machines. To correct this you will need to delete the Registry key HKLM\Software\Creation Software\MachineID from your image installation. Cool Info will automatically generate a new key for the machine.
   
   
4. Is physical RAM recorded anywhere when using the database format? I know it exists when using the text option?
   
   Inside tblComputers there is a field called RAMTotalBytes that contains total physical memory.
   
   
5. How do I export user info to a common MDB file?
   
   Basically it is very simple, all you need to do is have each client export to the same database name via the command line or the interface.

   For example: 
   coolinfo.exe /O /Q /D /F:\\myserver\myshare\allmachines.mdb
   

   
   
   
6. How do I check to see if Cool Info is installed through a script and if not install it?
   
   An easy way to automate the installation to the client is to add the install to all users?login scripts. First check for the existence of Cool Info and if it was not found install it in silent mode using the /S installation switch.

   The following is an example:
   
   @ECHO OFF
   rem The following checks to see if Cool Info needs to be installed
   
   rem Change the last path to match where you have the Cool 
   Info installation located
   If not exist c:\progra~1\Creation\CoolInfo\CoolInfo.exe
   \\myserver\myshare\install_location\setup.exe /S
   

   
   
   
7. Can I run Cool Info from a Network Share?
   
   A Cool Info can be run from a network share, but it is highly recommended that you install it.
   
   Cool Info has the following dependencies: Windows Scripting Host, DAO (Data Access Objects), and a few Custom ActiveX Controls.
   
   Basically, if your network is running IE 4.01 SP1 and above you will have a compatible version of Windows Scripting Host, as for DAO usually it is only installed with another application that uses it like Microsoft Access. The custom ActiveX controls "should" work as long as they are located in the same directory as the Cool Info executable