This topic covers the three items on the Software Updates menu:

 

•checking for software updates

•configuring your update schedule

•renewing your software maintenance

•setting your software update credentials

•setting the software update directory

 

 

Software updates

 

If you've been notified of a new software release to Performance Validator or just want to see if there's a new version, this feature makes it easy to update.

 

Software Updates menu Check for software updates checks for updates and shows the software update dialog if any exist

 

An internet connection is needed to be able to make contact with our servers.

 

Before updating the software, close the help manual, and end any active session by closing target programs.

 

If no updates are available, you'll just see this message:

 

 

Note that evaluation versions cannot be updated.

 

 

Software Update dialog

 

If a software update is available for Performance Validator you'll see the software update dialog, unless your maintenance has expired.

 

 

 

•Download and install prompts you for log-in details if not known, and then downloads the update, showing progress

 

If you haven't set login credentials, you may be asked for your user email and password, which you'll have received when you purchased Performance Validator or subsequent update email.
 

 

Once logged in, the download will start:

 

 

Once the update has downloaded, Performance Validator will close, run the installer, and restart.

 

You can stop the download at any time, if necessary.

 

•Don't download... Doesn't download, but you'll be prompted for it again next time you start Performance Validator

 

•Skip this version... Doesn't download the update and doesn't bother you again until there's an even newer update

 

•Software update options... edit the software update schedule

 

•Manage software maintenance... opens your browser ready for maintenance renewal

 

 

Problems downloading or installing?

 

If you see an error dialog indicating that a connection can't be found and you're sure you're online, try restarting Performance Validator and try again.

 

If for whatever reason, automatic download and installation fails to complete:

 

•Log in to https://www.softwareverify.com/authdownload.php with the details provided when you purchased Performance Validator
 

•Download the latest installer manually, via one of the .exe, .xyz or .zip files that are available  
 

Make some checks for possible scenarios where files may be locked by Performance Validator as follows:

 

•Ensure any open sessions are completed
 

•Ensure any target programs started by Performance Validator are closed
 

•Ensure Performance Validator and its help manual is also closed
 

•Ensure any error dialogs from the previous installation are closed
 

•Check the svlHtmlHelpHelper.exe process is not running

 

Have your license details handy as you may need to copy information into the license dialog.
 

You should now be ready to run the new version.

 

 

Software maintenance expiry

 

If the software maintenance period has expired you won't be able to automatically update Performance Validator as above.

 

Instead, you'll see the software update maintenance expiry dialog:

 

 

You can manage your software maintenance or choose to stop receiving any more software updates.

 

 

Software update schedule

 

Performance Validator can automatically check to see if a new version of Performance Validator is available for downloading.

 

Software Updates menu Configure software updates shows the software update schedule dialog

 

The update options are:

 

•never check for updates

•check daily (the default)

•check weekly

•check monthly

 

The most recent check for updates is shown at the bottom.

 

 

 

Managing software maintenance

 

Software Updates menu Renew software updates shows the software update maintenance renewal dialog

 

 

 Your maintenance expiry date is shown. If you don't need to do anything just Close the dialog.

 

•Renew software maintenance Opens your browser, logging you in to our website from which you can purchase maintenance

 

 

 

 

Managing software update credentials

 

You can configure your software update credentials within the application.

 

Software Updates menu Set software update credentials shows the Software update login details dialog

 

 

The text will be shown in red if the email address looks incorrectly formatted.

 

Testing the login details checks they're valid:

 

•Test login details check your entered details are valid (requires an internet connection)

 

Valid details will be confirmed:

 

 

Invalid details may mean you entered credentials for another application in the Validator suite, or they could have been entered incorrectly.

 

 
You should have received the correct credentials when you purchased Performance Validator, or with any software update emails.

 

If you experience problems, check with your system administrator or contact Software Verify.

 

If you need to clear the update credentials, you can do this directly from the menu.

 

Software Updates menu Reset software update credentials clears the email and password details stored in the application

 

You will be asked to confirm the reset. After resetting the credentials, no software updates will occur.

 
If you later need to restore your credentials, you should have received that information when you purchased Performance Validator, or with any software update emails.

 

 

 

Software update directory

 

It’s important to be able to specify where software updates are downloaded to because of potential security risks that may arise from allowing the TMP directory to be executable. For example, to counteract security threats it's possible that account ownership permissions or antivirus software blocks program execution directly from the TMP directory.

 

The TMP directory is the default location but if for whatever reason you're not comfortable with that, you can specify your preferred download directory. This allows you to set permissions for TMP to deny execute privileges if you wish.

 

Software Updates menu Set software update directory shows the Software update download directory dialog

 

 

An invalid directory will show the path in red and will not be accepted until a valid folder is entered.

 

Example reasons for invalid directories include:

 

•the directory doesn't exist

•the directory doesn't have write privilege (update can't be downloaded)

•the directory doesn't have execute privilege (downloaded update can't be run)

 

When modifying the download directory, you should ensure the directory will continue to be valid. Updates may no longer occur if the download location is later invalidated.

 

•Reset reverts the download location to the user's TMP directory

 

The default location is c:\users\[username]\AppData\Local\Temp