Installation and Activation

When working with NiceLabel you may have come across some unexpected troubles or error messages. Please check the FAQ sections below to see if your problem has already been solved.

NiceLabel software runs in DEMO mode.

Labeling Software NiceLabel is copy-protected with a Hardware Key (that has to be attached to parallel port or USB to function) or a Software Key.

Please verify the following:

1. Install the appropriate NiceLabel edition package from the installation CD.
Select the appropriate NiceLabel edition from the CD. To find out which edition exactly you have purchased, refer to the invoice.

2. Connect the hardware key properly to parallel port on your computer
For parallel port hardware key:
Connect the hardware key to parallel port in such a manner that pins on the key plug into holes in the computer port. Fasten the two screws to secure the key in place. NOTE! Do not remove the screws or try to turn them inside out, this may cause a serious damage to your hardware key and/or computer port.

If you own a printer with parallel port, please connect one end of the parallel printer cable to the hardware key and the other one to your printer.

If you own a printer with serial port, please connect one end of the serial printer cable to the serial port on your computer and the other one to your printer.

NOTE! If you own a serial printer, you cannot connect it directly to the hardware key, because the connectors are not compatible (both are female connectors). Always connect your serial printer to the serial port, and hardware key to the parallel port. It is not necessary for your printer to print "through" the hardware key.

For USB hardware key:
If you have USB hardware key, plug it into one of the available USB ports.

3. Identify hardware key with NiceDiag utility
Please run program "<CD drive letter>:\Updates\HardwareKey\NiceDiag.exe" from the NiceLabel's installation CD. It is also available for download. The program will auto-detect the type of the hardware key and report that info to you. If there is an error with driver for hardware key, you will be prompted so.

Note: You do not have to download the NiceDiag utility, if you have NiceLabel v4 installed. NiceLabel v4 has the NiceDiag functionality built-in. To check your hardware key, do the following:

  1. Start NiceLabel Express or NiceLabel Pro.
  2. Select Help -> Manage License.
  3. Follow on-screen instructions.

In order to access hardware key, HASP device driver must be installed on the computer. NiceLabel software installs the required device driver automatically. If NiceDiag utility cannot find the driver, you will have to re-install it. This can be done by running the HASPUserSetup program that is located on the NiceLabel CD-ROM in the '<CD drive letter>:\Updates\HASP\HASPUserSetup' folder.

Just double click the application HASPUserSetup to start the installation.

To be sure you have the latest HASP device driver, download and install it from NiceLabel FTP site.

4. Set the proper mode of the parallel port
Default setting in most computer configurations for parallel port is ECP printer port, try to change that to standard or bi-directional mode. This can usually be changed in the system BIOS. Look for "SPP" or "Standard mode". Some laptop computers have special program for system setup installed in Control Panel. You can use it to change the parallel port mode.

5. Disable virtual LPT port on your laptop computer
If you have problems with dongle on the laptop computer, you should remove the virtual parallel port that is installed as part of infrared support. It can cause the dongle not to be accessed in a proper way resulting in NiceLabel to be run in DEMO mode.

6. Test the hardware key on other PC computers
Attach the hardware key to the other computer as instructed in the step 2. Install the hardware key device driver and run NiceDiag utility as instructed in the step 3. If the hardware key is properly identified on all tested computers, you have problems with the original PC computer.

Make sure to properly set the paralell port mode as explained in step 4.
Make sure that any properietary software does not have parallel port occupied.
If the problem can be reproduced on other PC computers as well, the hardware key is most probably corrupted.

7. Check the activation procedure with NiceLabel with Software Key activation
If you purchased NiceLabel with Software Key activation, please look here for more information.

8. Make sure you do not run NiceLabel over Remote Desktop Connection
NiceLabel single-user software is per-user licensed software. You cannot use single-user software in multi-user operating systems such as Windows 2003 Terminal Services or Citrix. The user logged on the console will be able to run NiceLabel. You can still use NiceLabel software with a remote desktop connection, but make sure you connect to the main (console) session, otherwise NiceLabel will run in the demo mode. Usually you need to include the command-line parameter "/console" to force connection to the main session.

If more users want to run NiceLabel software from the same server (e.g. Citrix) use the NiceLabel software with multi-user licensing: the edition is NiceLabel Suite Network, also see products from the Enterprise Series.

9. If the error persists...
If you have tried all of the above suggestions and none of them helps, please contact NiceLabel Technical Support. Specify the following information about you system:

1. Type (model) of your computer
2. Version of the operating system
3. Version and build of NiceLabel software (look into Help -> About dialog box)
4. Version of HASP Device Driver (see NiceDiag utility)
5. Hardware key serial number (see a label on the hardware key)
6. Screenshot of the NiceDiag utility.

Explain what you have already done when trying to solve the problem.

Applies to: all versions, all editions
Last revision: March 19, 2008

I start SETUP.EXE but installation terminates with error message "Cannot run installation module" or "One of the running programs is preventing this installation from continuing normally".

Installation may terminate with the messages "Cannot run installation module" or "One of the running programs is preventing this installation from continuing normally".

Solution: Restart the computer, close all open windows, disable virus scanners and similar utilities and try to run the installation again. Note that after the error message from SETUP.EXE the temporary installation folder(s) (usually C:\~EPNINST or C:\~EPNINSx where x is a number) will probably not be deleted. After the installation is completed, you can safely delete them manually.

Applies to: all versions until 3.6.4, all editions
Last revision: December 2002

I have problems during installation, error message "This operating system does not meet the minimum requirements regarding Automation..."

The message "This operating system does not meet the minimum requirements regarding Automation..." during installation or message "Runtime error 217" while using Nice applications appear. Both messages indicate that system components for Automation support (formerly called OLE Automation) are out of date.

Solution: NiceLabel CD-ROM includes the necessary update. If you do not have NiceLabel CD-ROM available, or this update is not included on your CD, you can get the update on Microsoft website. You can also download the update from NiceLabel FTP server.

Please read the included readme file before applying the update.

Applies to: all versions, all editions
Last revision: December 2001

Existing application that uses BDE does not operate well with latest BDE version installed by NiceLabel installation.

The installation of NiceLabel also installs the latest release of Borland Database Engine on your computer. This is okay if you do not have already installed your copy of BDE. But if you are using an application that relies on a different version of BDE, you may have compatibility difficulties. Because of situations like this the installation program merges as much information from previous installation of BDE to the new one as possible.

Solution 1: Installation program makes the backup copy of existing configuration file (it is stored in C:\Program Files\Common Files\Borland Shared\BDE\ folder on your harddisk). This is useful if some aliases or custom settings are missing from previous version of BDE and you can then manually correct the configuration file.

Solution 2: If you know for certain that your existing applications are compatible only with previous version of BDE and operate unreliably with the latest version of BDE, you can skip the installation of BDE within NiceLabel installation entirely. During NiceLabel installation please select Custom installation and disable BDE. BDE will thus not be installed and existing version preserved on the system.

Applies to: all versions, all editions
Last revision: December 2001

During program upgrade the following message is displayed "Error creating temporary file C:\~epninst\HINSTD.DLL".

During upgrade procedure of NiceLabel software that is copy protected with a hardware key (dongle) the following error message might by displayed: "Error creating temporary file C:\~epninst~HINSTD.DLL".

The error occurs only if you are upgrading to the new version of NiceLabel software immediately after installation of the previous version. The error is caused by INSTALL utility not properly freeing connection to the library files. New installation therefore cannot update them. The error is not likely to appear as upgrade procedure is usually not performed directly after main installation.

Solution: Reboot the computer. This action will free connections to the files. Then start the upgrade procedure again. This time it will complete successfully.

Applies to: all versions 3.X, all editions
Last revision: December 2002

NiceLabel does not start. The error is "Application cannot start because of insufficient user rights. Check the user permisions."

When you start NiceLabel software for the first time, you can see the following error messages:

Application cannot start because of insufficient user rights. Check the user permisions.

or

The error occurred during startup procedure!
The error description: Application cannot write to the C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\EuroPlus\NiceLabel\System folder. Please contact your system administrator to change the access permissions.

NiceLabel software has majority of the files installed under 'Program Files' structure. There are two main folder branches:
C:\Program Files\EuroPlus\NiceLabel
C:\Program Files\Common Files\EuroPlus Shared

The access requirements for these folders are read only mode.

But NiceLabel software needs to have write access to a location on the disk where log files are being written, where user-related data is stored etc. The location of this folder on the disk is:

C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\EuroPlus\NiceLabel\System

All users running NiceLabel software must have full access permissions to this folder. Not just 'read' and 'write' but also 'delete'.

Solution: To resolve the problem, you must set full access permissions to this folder for each user running NiceLabel software. Contact your system administrator, if you are unable to change the access permissions.

Follow these steps to change the access permissions:

  1. Open Windows Explorer.
  2. Select "Folder Option" from the Tools menu.
  3. Go to View tab.
  4. Enable the option "Show hidden files and folders".
  5. Click OK.
  6. Browse to the folder C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\EuroPlus\NiceLabel\System.
  7. Right-click the System folder and select "Properties" from the menu.
  8. Go to Security tab.
  9. Click the Add button.
  10. Enter your username then click OK.
  11. Select the username you have just added to the list.
  12. Enable the option Full Control for "Allow" property.
  13. Click the Advanced button.
  14. Enable the option "Replace permission entries on all child object with entries shown here that apply to child objects". (This option will apply the added full permissions to your username not only on the System folder, but also on all files within the System folder.)
  15. Click OK.
  16. Start NiceLabel again.

Applies to: all versions, all editions
Last revision: April 24, 2006

NiceLabel does not start. There is the error while initializing Stock Management component.

When you start NiceLabel software for the first time, you can see the following error message:

Error while initializing Stock Management component.
Provider cannot be found. It may not be properly installed.

During the startup procedure NiceLabel loads different components, one of the necessary component is a stock management component. NiceLabel software comes with a library of pre-defined label formats (stocks) that you can use during the label design. The library is stored in a Microsoft Access database. In order to have access to the stock database, your Windows system must be configured with the appropriate database drivers.

The error message you see is caused by the lack of the Access database drivers on your Windows system. NiceLabel cannot connect to the stock database and will not run.

Solution: To resolve the problem, you must install the database drivers. You need to install MDAC (Microsoft Data Access Components) and JET (Joint Engine Technology) engine updates. You can obtain them using any of the following methods:

  1. Update your Windows operating to the latest available service pack. You can download the service pack from Microsoft website.
  2. Update the database drivers from NiceLabel CD-ROM. You will find the updates in the folder Updates\MDAC.
  3. Visit Microsoft Support website and search for the MDAC and JET engine updates.

Applies to: all versions from 3.6.0, all editions
Last revision: August 26, 2005

NiceLabel does not start. There is no error message, NiceLabel application just does not run.

You have sucessfully installed NiceLabel software following the installation instructions. When you double click the NiceLabel icon, the application starts loading, you can see the hour glass icon, but then nothing happens.

The reason for the behaviour can be caused by Data Execution Prevention (DEP) functionality. Data Execution Prevention (DEP) is a set of hardware and software technologies that perform additional checks on memory to help prevent malicious code from running on a system. In Microsoft Windows XP Service Pack 2 (SP2) and Windows 2003 Server, DEP is enforced by hardware and by software.

NiceLabel software is detected as software with malicious code that could harm the Windows system and is prevented from being run without any error message displayed.

NiceLabel software does not contain any harmful contents and will not corrupt your Windows system.

A detailed description of the Data Execution Prevention (DEP) feature is available online in Microsoft Knowledge base in Article 875352.

Solution (recommended): Upgrade to the latest version of NiceLabel software. The problem was solved in version 4.0.3.

Also make sure no "Euro Plus" applications are listed in this registry key:

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\AppCompatFlags\Layers]

Delete all entries that list any file listed as "C:\Program Files\EuroPlus\...":

 

Alternatively, you can disable DEP feature on your computer. You have the following two possibilities available:

Workaround 1: Disable the DEP checking for NiceLabel software only. When you will start NiceLabel software, Windows will not check it for malicious code. Please follow these steps:

  1. Run System from Control Panel.
  2. Go to Advanced tab.
  3. Click on the Settings button in the Performance section.
    Performance Options dialog box will open.
  4. Go to the tab Data Execution Prevention.
  5. Enable the option Turn on DEP for all programs and services except those I select
  6. Click the Add button and add NiceLabel executable file to the list. If you use NiceWatch, put it in the list as well.

    c:\Program Files\EuroPlus\NiceLabel 5\bin\nlabel5.exe
    c:\Program Files\EuroPlus\NiceLabel 5\bin\nwatch5.exe
    c:\Program Files\EuroPlus\NiceLabel 5\bin\nwatchs5.exe

Workaround 2: Disable the DEP checking globally for your computer. When you run any application on your computer, Windows will not check it for malicious code. Please follow these steps:

  1. Run System from Control Panel.
  2. Go to Advanced tab.
  3. Click on the Settings button in the Startup and Recovery section.
    Startup and Recovery dialog box will open.
  4. Click on the Edit button.
  5. BOOT.INI file will be opened in the Notepad editor.
  6. Change the parameter
    /NoExecute=OptOut
    into
    /Execute
  7. Reboot the computer.

Applies to: version 4.X and 5.X, all editions
Last revision: March 19, 2008

When running NiceLabel Network client the licenses seem to be lost and I had to re-activate the server. When running some other client, the server seems to be un-activated again.

You have purchased the NiceLabel edition NiceLabel Suite with network licensing. You have installed NiceLabel Network server to your server computer. Then you have installed the NiceLabel client on the same server computer. Using this client you have activated the NiceLabel server installation. You can start and use NiceLabel client.

You have then installed another NiceLabel client to a remote workstation. When you have run this client for the first time, you needed to activate it. During the client activation process you have pointed to the NiceLabel server location of the server computer, but no activation data was available. It looked like the NiceLabel server was not activated at all.

If you wanted to run this second client (from the workstation), you had to activate the NiceLabel server again. When you run the NiceLabel client after the second activation, it started and you were able to use it.

But, when you wanted to start the NiceLabel client installed locally on the server again, the local client also assumed the NiceLabel server is not activated. To get it working, you would need to activate the server again and you would find yourself spinning in the vicious circle.

You just did not make all NiceLabel clients (installed locally on the server and remotely on workstations) work at the same time.

Solution: The reason that this situation occurs is that the first client was not properly activated when installed directly on the server. Each client is activated by providing the path to the NiceLabel network server in the activation application.

Each client must be activated using the UNC style network path syntax, not the syntax with local drives or shared drives.

Let's assume you have your NiceLabel Server installed on the server computer named SERVER in the folder C:\NiceLabel. This folder is shared as NiceLabel to the users. The users have mapped this network share to disk H: on their workstations.

During the client activation you must point to the location of this folder. At this time the client recognizes the activated server and can claim the license. The valid method to access the folder is to use the following UNC syntax: \\SERVER\NiceLabel

DO NOT USE ANY OF THE FOLLOWING SYNTAXES:

C:\NiceLabel (if you are activating the client installed on the server computer)
H:\ (if you are activating the client installed on some workstation)

Applies to: version 4.X, NiceLabel Suite with network licensing
Last revision: August 31, 2005

Whenever I switch on my thermal printer, Windows detects a new device and tries to install the drivers again. How to properly install NiceDriver for such printer?

Some thermal printers are capable of bi-directional communication with the printer. When you connect such printer to the computer running Windows operating system, Windows will detect a device and try to install the drivers for a device. Such printers follow 'Plug and Play' directive and provide their specifications to the Windows operating system for one purpose - easier installation of the printer driver.
'Plug and Play' works over parallel port and USB interfaces.

Usually Windows will not have the driver for your thermal printer ready and will prompt you for the location of the driver.

If you see the message about the new device displayed each time you switch on the printer, you did not properly install the printer driver. To install the NiceDriver correctly, do the following:

  1. Connect your thermal printer to the computer using parallel port or USB interfaces.
  2. Switch on the printer.
    Windows will detect new device. You will see the message 'New Hardware Found'.
  3. Click Next until you reach the step 'Add Printer Wizard'.
  4. Click the 'Have a disk' button.
  5. Browse to the folder with NiceDriver for your printer model.
    If you have NiceLabel CD handy browse to the folder Drivers\<your printer brand>9X2000XP.
    If you do not have NiceLabel CD handy, download appropriate NiceDriver from NiceLabel website, run the downloaded file, then browse to the folder C:\NiceDrivers\<your printer brand>\9X2000XP.
  6. Follow on-screen instructions in the 'Add Printer Wizard'.

The next time you will switch on your printer, Windows will not find the new device any more.

If you still see the 'New Hardware Found' message, do the following:

  1. Make sure you have followed the steps above.
  2. Make sure you are installing the latest NiceDrivers that have 'Plug and Play' support built-in. The latest version is always accessible on NiceLabel website.
  3. Contact NiceLabel technical support.

Applies to: all versions
Last revision: December 14, 2005

I have installed and activated NiceLabel with the Software Key. But suddenly NiceLabel lost its activation information and started running in the demo mode.

You installed NiceLabel software. The activation procedure using your NiceLabel Software Key completed successfully and there were no error messages. NiceLabel could be used.

Next you have changed the regional language settings on your computer and started NiceLabel again. But NiceLabel run in demo mode. The option Help -> Manage License still showed the correct license information.

When you changed the regional settings into some other language, the new language might not have support for some of the characters in your or company name that you used during the activation process. Windows system will handle such special characters as part of the new character set. NiceLabel activation was based on the characters from the language selected during the activation procedure. The new character set causes the NiceLabel activation to fail.

Workaround: Make sure you have the latest version for your NiceLabel edition installed. If you intend to run NiceLabel software on the computer where you will change the regional language settings (for example, this can frequently happen on computers that are in use for testing software), make sure to use letters from English alphabet when providing data during NiceLabel activation process. Do not use any special letters that your local alphabet might have.

Applies to: versions 4.X, all editions
Last revision: February 13, 2006

NiceLabel runs in demo mode after installing Windows XP Service Pack 2 and updating the Aladdin hardware key device driver on Windows Update website?

NiceLabel is compatible with Windows XP Service Pack 2. No extra modifications are necessary to be applied to the system. The functionality of NiceLabel software remains untouched.

However, when Service Pack 2 is installed on the computer and you run Windows Update, the service can find the update for the Aladdin hardware key version 5.11. This is the hardware key that NiceLabel software uses for software protection on some markets. If you choose to install this update, the hardware key will stop working. Microsoft Windows Update does not contain proper ID for the driver. The hardware key is installed as 'Aladdin Knowledge Systems Key 00' and not as 'Aladdin Knowledge Systems Key'. Both Microsoft and Aladdin companies are aware of the problem and are working on its resolution.

For normal operation NiceLabel software requires the hardware key driver version 4.95 to be present, it will not work with version 5.11. On the other hand you need the version 5.11 to be installed so Windows Update service will not prompt you for the update.

Workaround: Do not install the update to Aladdin Knowledge Systems key from Windows Update. This is an optional hardware update, not necessarily important for the system. Select the option 'Hide this item' and it will not be available for you any more. If you have already updated the driver to new version and NiceLabel does not function any more read on.

Solution: Download and install the updated device driver. It is available from Aladdin or NiceLabel website.

  1. Remove the device 'Aladdin Knowledge Systems Key 00' from list of device on your computer. Double click the icon System in Control Panel. Go to Hardware tab and click on the button Device Manager. Select the device 'Aladdin Knowledge Systems Key 00' and delete it.
  2. Download the hardware key device driver version 4.96 or newer. Run the downloaded application and follow on-screen instructions to install the device driver.
  3. Download the updated hardware key device driver version 5.15 or newer. This one is a newer installation than the one offered through Windows Update service. Unpack the ZIP file to a temporary location. Select Run command from the Start menu, browse to the location of the extracted files, point to the HASPDIST.EXE and and then install the device driver like this:

    HASPDINST.EXE /i

  4. You will have two device drivers installed for the same hardware key. Version 4.96 for NiceLabel software and version 5.15 for Windows XP SP2.

Note: If you are having troubles installing the device driver following the steps 2. and 3. above, first try to remove the existing (partially installed) device drivers.

  1. Download the command-line utility HINSTALL.EXE, extract the ZIP file to the temporary folder then run the utility like this:

    HINSTALL.EXE /r

  2. Download the command-line utility HASPDINST.EXE, extract the ZIP file to the temporary folder then run the utility like this: HASPDINST.EXE /r

In both cases you will remove the partially installed HASP device driver, so the computer is ready for the fresh installation. Reboot the computer if prompted to do so.

Applies to: all versions, all editions with hardware keys (excluded are DLP (Dongle Less Protection) editions, Standard editions and NiceLabel Suite Network)
Last revision: August 5, 2005

I have troubles running the client for NiceLabel Suite Network. It complains that there is no license available or NiceLabel system databases cannot be accessed.

The license is always occupied by NiceLabel Pro application. Whenever the label is designed or printed the license is occupied. Even, when you run NiceForm or NiceWatch on their own, the license is still taken because NiceLabel Pro is also running in the background. Its icon is not visible, but it is listed in processes in Task Manager.

Please follow the check-list below and make sure your system complies with it.

  1. The user that is currently logged in needs to have full (read, write, modify AND delete) permissions to the NiceLabel System folder on the server. All other folders can be accessible in read mode. The location of this folder usually is \\Server\NiceLabel\System.

    Make sure the following is true:
    - The NiceLabel user has full access permissions to files in the System folder.
    - The files in the System folder are shared to the NiceLabel user in full mode.
    - The files in the System folder do not have 'read-only' attribute set.

  2. If you have NiceLabel server part installed on some domain server computer and are running NiceLabel client under some non-domain user, you might have troubles accessing the license information from the NiceLabel server (it depends on your access permission policy to the server).

    There are two workarounds:
    - Run NiceLabel client under a domain user (with access to the domain server).
    - Enable the guest account on the domain server.
    Open Start -> Settings -> Control Panel -> Administrative Tools -> Computer Management. Select Users from Local Users and Groups. Open properties of the Guest account and enable it.

  3. If you are running License Manager on some client, the license will still be occupied, even if NiceLabel Pro is not running. License Manager also takes one license.
  4. If you use Novell Netware, make sure that you have enabled support for long filenames.

For version 3 also verify the following:

  1. Make sure that NET DIR setting in BDE Administrator points to the same folder for all clients. During the client installation process the value is correctly set, but perhaps some other application has changed it later.

    The default folder specified for NET DIR is NiceLabel System folder (NiceNet\Bin\System) on your NiceLabel server computer. Use must use the UNC-style folder syntax. If you have the server with name MY_SERVER and are sharing NiceLabel main folder as NiceNet, you would write \\my_server\nicenet\bin\system as the value for NET DIR folder. Check the value of NET DIR on other working clients first.

    If one of the clients has this setting set to some other folder than the other clients, it will lock NiceLabel internal databases for itself and no other user will be able to access them.

    To change NET DIR setting, do the following:

    - Start BDE Administrator from Control Panel.
    - Select Configuration tab.
    - Select Drivers, then Native and finally Paradox.
    - Select NET DIR parameter and make sure it points to the correct folder.

    You can simply verify such situation by presence of *.LCK files in the System folder on the server. It is safe to delete all *.LCK files. Then set the proper settings for NET DIR.

    More information:
    Locking Paradox database in multi-user network environment

  2. Make sure that the network drive used in NET DIR is mapped to the same drive for all clients.<

    If this network folder is shared as \\server\net and you have it mapped as drive H: (so that H: points to \\server\net) make sure that all clients use H: letter for this share. If only one of them will have location \\server\net mapped to G:, the connection to NiceLabel system databases will not work for this client.

  3. If you are running NiceLabel Network client on the server computer as well, you must make the following modification to the BDE Administrator. Make the modification on the server computer only. LOCAL SHARE parameter for database access must be set to TRUE.

    - Start BDE Administrator from Control Panel.
    - Select Configuration tab.
    - Select System, then INIT.
    - Select LOCAL SHARE parameter and change it to TRUE.

    This step is particularly important when using Citrix environment, where NiceLabel server and client installations are made on the same computer.

Applies to: all versions, NiceLabel Suite Network edition
Last revision: November 14, 2005

If you have any additional questions, suggestions, bug report or need more information please contact the NiceLabel technical support.