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Problem
Obsolete Archive: Transferring a DeskLot Registration to a Different Computer

Solution
This method is obsolete. Please see Knowledge Base Article http://www.desklot.com/Support/Article.asp?ArticleID=37.

What follows are instructions for transferring your registered copy of DeskLot and it's registration to a new computer

1: Backing Up
Before transferring to a new computer, it is highly suggested that you backup your entire DeskLot "User Data and Databases" folder to a safe location in case you find out at a later date/time that you forgot to copy some needed files. You may do this via the "File" menu from the main program screen and then select "Backup Data".

2: Window Sticker Graphic Considerations: Exporting Your Custom Sticker Configurations
In OLDER versions of DeskLot the system references sticker graphics that YOU have added in their original locations. So, if the original user, for example, added a graphic such as a logo located at "C:\My Documents\OurLogo.jpg", then when your new DeskLot installation opens the sticker to print, unless you track down each graphic and copy it to the same location, DeskLot will not be able to find the graphic.

When using "Export" and then "Import" (available by clicking "Windows Stickers" and then "Configure Window Stickers"), DeskLot packages the individual sticker configuration and all graphics used into a "ZIP" file and then puts everything neatly in place for you without you having to search for and copy each individual user graphic that may be used in a configuration.

If in doubt as to whether your DeskLot copy is effected by this, go ahead and use the "Export" function to export the sticker configurations that you use.

3: Make a Note of The "User Data and Databases Folder" Setting in Your OLD Computer
This setting tells you where all of your data files are stored. It is generally a different folder than the folder where the program is actually installed to. Go to "File" and then "Settings". Click the "Networking" tab. Write down what the setting is for the "User Data and Databases Folder". In old versions of DeskLot (versions installed prior to 4.0) it will generally be "C:\Program Files\WalkTheLot DeskLot\". For installations installed after DeskLot version 4.0, it will generally be "C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\WalkTheLot DeskLot\" on Windows XP or below and "C:\ProgramData\WalkTheLot DeskLot\" in Windows Vista.

4: Make a Note of The "User Data and Databases Folder" Setting in Your NEW Computer
Go to "File" and then "Settings". Click the "Networking" tab. Write down what the setting is for the "User Data and Databases Folder". It will generally be "C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\WalkTheLot DeskLot\" on Windows XP or below and "C:\ProgramData\WalkTheLot DeskLot\" in Windows Vista.

5: Install DeskLot on Your New Computer
Download the latest installation from http://www.desklot.com/Download.asp and install it on your new computer.

6: Copying Your Old Data to the New Computer
You will more than likely want to copy your data from the old installation. In general, you want to copy the following files from the "User Data and Databases Folder" of your OLD computer (see above) to the "User Data and Databases Folder" of your new computer (see above). Note: These folders may be different on your new computer than they were on your old computer. If they are, after you are finished installing DeskLot on your new computer and copying your files, see the section "Using DBPathConv.exe".

  • All MDB (Microsoft Access Database) files location in your "User Data and Databases" folder. Some of these will be "DeskLot.mdb", "ImportExport.mdb", "VinLink.mdb", "VinConfig.mdb" and also MDB files for each of your dealership accounts.

  • The entire "UserImages" folder and all subfolders that are contained in your "User Data and Databases" folder of your old computer to the "User Data and Databases" folder of the new computer (this folder holds all vehicle photo's).

  • If you use the Publish MS-Access/ASP data transfer configuration you will also want to copy the "ASP" folder also.

  • If you use the Publish Static HTML data transfer configuration you will also want to copy the "HTML" folder also.

7: Important Windows Vista Note
In Vista, the "User Data and Databases" folder is generally "C\ProgramData\WalkTheLot DeskLot\". Vista will NOT let you browse your computer to see this folder. It is hidden from view by Vista as one of Vista's goofy security features. To access it, you need to find the "Run" command in Vista (generally found somewhere in the "Start" menu). After clicking "Run", in the "Open" dialog box where you type in what program you want to run, type in "C:\ProgramData\" and then when it shows the contents of the "C:\ProgramData\" folder you can click on the "WalkTheLot DeskLot"
folder to view its contents and/or copy files to/from it.


8: Unregistering Your Old Copy of DeskLot
To transfer your DeskLot registration from one computer to another, you must first disable the registration on the registered computer (which means that copy of DeskLot will no longer function as registered and the unlock code issued for that computer will no longer work? ever).

To do this, go into DeskLot and click the "Register" menu which is available from the main program screen.

When the Register menu is displayed, WRITE DOWN THE SERIAL NUMBER, YOU WILL NEED IT LATER. After the serial number has been written down, type the word "UNREGISTER" (with no quotes of course). Note: You will not see your typed word displayed anywhere. Just type it even though it doesn't appear anywhere on the screen. If you make a mistake in the typing, you must exit the Register screen and re-enter it.

Once the Unregister is complete, you will get a message similar to: "This installation of DeskLot has been unregistered. Your validation code is __________. Please give this to DeskLot support to confirm this installation has been unregistered."

You may now exit out of this unregistered copy of DeskLot.

You will need to email the following to the DeskLot staff:

  • The above mentioned Unregister Validation Code.
  • The OLD serial number (which is displayed in the register screen of the old computer).
  • The NEW serial number (which is displayed in the register screen on the new computer).
9: Getting Your New Unlock Code
To get a new unlock code you MUST provide us with the Unregister Validation Code from the old computer (mentioned previously in this document), the Serial Number of the OLD installation and the Serial Number of the NEW installation. You may find the new Serial Number under the "Register" menu from the main program screen. Email these three codes to us and we can issue a new unlock code. If you do NOT provide us with a Unregister Validation Code we will NOT provide you with a new unlock code. You will have to register an additional copy of DeskLot for the new computer.

10: DBPathConv.exe
If the "User Data and Databases" folder is different on your new computer than it is on your older computer, you will need to run the utility "DBPathConv.exe" on your new computer. This utility searches all of your databases and changes any occurrences of your OLD "User Data and Databases" path to your NEW "User Data and Databases" path. To launch "DBPathConv.exe", go to "File" and then "Settings", click the "Networking" tab and then click "Launch DBPathConv.exe". Additional instructions are contained within that program.