Instructions generally for software obtained by download and relevant also to software issued on CD-ROM.
Select relevant advice as appropriate.
One of many reasons for Mistral's success in establishing itself as the leading software provider for the industry it serves is that Mistral software is totally 'intuitive' to use. That simply means it comes as naturally or instinctively to use as putting on a pair of shoes for example! That said there are always opportunities for something to go wrong. Particularly during the initial program installation (or Setup) process. A mismatched computer Operating System or incorrectly set computer clock are common examples. Please do accept it when Mistral says that in over quarter of a century of software development and distribution, for every conceivable combination of computer platform (processor), Operating System (Windows version) regional or country setting, keyboard type and user option, Mistral has 1) Never failed to identify and fix a fault and 2) Never found any fault to be due to a failing of a Mistral product!
To install Mistral programs that have been downloaded from Mistral's website, first unzip the downloaded file using Winzip or similar then search for and run SETUP.EXE which is located in the root folder. Follow the simple on-screen instructions and enter the supplied code when prompted.
Please note that Registration Codes supplied by Mistral to install programs from CD-ROM are different to those supplied for downloaded files and the two types are NOT interchangeable. Therefore please ensure that you have asked Mistral for the appropriate type in your case.
Select 'Full Installation' when the prompt appears if you wish to be able to operate the programs in future without the need to keep a Mistral CD-ROM in the CD drawer at the time.
The code is NOT case sensitive. Letters may be entered either as capitals or lower case.
For convenience and accuracy the complete code may be 'Copied & Pasted' (using Ctrl + C and Ctrl + V), including the hyphens, into the code dialogue box.
Your PC system clock MUST be set to the correct date before running SETUP otherwise the code will not work.
Do not alter your system clock AFTER installing the programs and then attempt to run a Mistral program as this will permanently prevent further Mistral program access on that PC.
The code will operate the programs only until the end of the current licence period (if applicable).
The code must be used before 90 days from the date the code was issued (generally the same day you received it).
The code will ONLY work with the program or program suite for which it was issued. It will NOT work with other programs or program suites on CDs or web downloads even though the programs may be understood to be or thought to be similar.
Please note that changes to your computer's Operating System AFTER the date of purchase of Mistral software may affect or even prevent further operation of the programs and for which Mistral can in no way be held responsible. In such an event it may be necessary for you to obtain program upgrades and these are generally chargeable. Mistral does not issue so called free 'patches' so as to collect its needed revenue by other means.
Do not pass any copy of Mistral's intellectual property (software) or your unique Registration Code to unauthorised third parties. It is illegal. It damages our industry and ultimately your career. Codes are also traceable and offenders, when caught, are always prosecuted to the full extent of the law - regardless of location.
If you encounter any problems with your installation then in the first instance please refer to the notes at the end of this section.
Thank you for using Mistral software and for your continued support.
Solutions to most commonly encountered installation problems.
If the installation appears not to work then this might be for any number of reasons. Please do not automatically assume that any problem is the fault of or caused by Mistral. In many hundreds of thousands of installations across every currently available platform and Operating System (over 7,500 possible permutations world-wide!) Mistral has never failed to get an installation working properly. Importantly, NO problem in Mistral's more than twenty five year history has ever ultimately been traced to a defect in any Mistral system. Have you upgraded your Operating System for example? If you have and this was done after you purchased your Mistral program(s) then maybe you will have to also upgrade these as well. Whilst we always endeavour to ensure that our software is 'backwardly compatible' as we are unable to read into the future a promise for the reverse cannot of course be made! As a licensee you will be entitled to a substantial discount for upgrades. As a Mistral 'Corporate Licensee' your software will be upgraded automatically and for no extra charge.
1) Error #2. The programs to which the code we have recently issued to you are not the ones as described to us. Eg. It is a Mistral CD obtained from a different source or at a different (earlier) time or is a pirated copy or the CD has been physically damaged in some way. solution 1
2) The computer to which a Mistral program installation is being attempted has had previous Mistral programs installed and an attempt to run them with a reversed or failed system clock. solution 2
3) The PC to which an attempt is being made to install Mistral software is being made has had its Operating System (Windows version) upgraded AFTER the Mistral software was purchased. solution 3
4) A previous failed or 'time expired' Mistral software installation was not correctly removed. solution 4
5) There is more than one Mistral software installation on the computer and the Mistral desktop icon is associated with (pointing to) a different installation than the one expected. solution 5
6) Error #3. The country or region in which the software is being attempted to be installed does not match the region for which it was intended. solution 6
Solutions:-
To 1) above:-
Return the CD to Mistral for us to examine and test and replace if necessary. Depending upon what is found it may be necessary to replace the CD and again depending upon what is found there may or may not be a charge for this service. If you think that this reason might apply in your case then you may return the CD-ROM to Mistral Associates at the address shown below and we will examine it. You will not become liable for any charges by doing this and would only become liable for charges for a stated fixed amount and by prior agreement. If you do not agree then the CD-ROM will be returned to you with no charge (providing it is not a pirate copy in which event it will be destroyed). Back
To 2) above:-
As an essential security measure, to protect the interests of Mistral's thousands of legitimate program licensees, if a Mistral program is started on a PC where the system clock has been reversed (set to an earlier date) then a hidden 'Blocking Code' will have been entered into the PC's Operating System preventing a repeat installation. This can be removed either by formatting the PC's hard drive or by contacting Mistral in a live connection (telephone) after paying the appropriate fee and having the code removed. If you think or suspect that this reason applies then please confirm this by completing the Feedback form and we will advise you of a time and a telephone number at which you can call us to have the blocking code removed. Removal of blocking code is conducted free of charge in the first instance. For subsequent administration a fee of one hundred and fifty Pounds (200 Euros, US$270) is levied and required to be paid in advance. Back
To 3) above:-
As with every other software developer in the world it is impossible for Mistral to anticipate issues that might occur with future Operating Systems and which may adversely effect or even prevent running of the programs we produce. It may therefore be necessary to purchase the appropriate upgrade and 'No', upgrades are not 'patches' and again 'No' they are not free. If you suspect that this reason might apply I.e. you KNOW that your PC's Operating System has been changed since purchasing your Mistral programs then if you can tell us what Operating System you are currently using (Windows version NT4, 2000, ME, XP, Vista for example) then we will send you a quotation for the cost of the appropriate upgrade. Back
To 4) above:-
A 'time expired' demonstration copy or out of date 'Corporate' installation can on occasions interfere with new installations. In order to ensure that this does not happen we recommend that all previous installations are first removed using the REMOVE program found on all Mistral CDs. Please do not use any non Mistral program remove or de-installation program or function to do this (the one found in Microsoft Windows 'Control Panel' for example) as these are not designed to cope with the rigorous security systems and checks built into Mistral software and thus will invariably not do a complete job. Running Mistral REMOVE will not delete any calculation files that have been saved and these will still be found and accessible by any subsequent new installation. Again, this cannot be guaranteed if a non Mistral program removal procedure is utilised. Following removal of 'time expired' demonstration copy or out of date installations run Mistral's SETUP program again. Back
To 5) above:-
Using Windows 'Search' enter AWMAIN.EXE as the target program to be located. There should only be one copy found on any one PC hard drive. Even where users have installed Mistral programs provided by many different sources (sponsors' programs for example). Mistral's REMOVE program should locate multiple installations and thus make it possible to identify and remove them one a t a time. However if folder names have been changed (quite legitimately) AFTER a Mistral program installation then it is possible that the Mistral program registry system will no longer be able to find or automatically remove multiple installations. In this event it will be necessary to ignore our advice as detailed in 4) above and manually remove program files and preferably also the folders under which the files were stored. Following removal of multiple installations run Mistral's SETUP program again. Back
To 6) above:-
Request a new Registration Code or in some cases also the re-issue of the software but set for the region you are in or if your computer is set for a different region to the one you are actually in (not uncommon!) then the regional setting of that computer. If in doubt run Mistral's SETUP.exe program again but before proceeding please press 'Ctrl' + 'V' keys simultaneously. A form should appear which displays (amongst other things) 'System Locale:' and 'User Locale:' . Please advise us of the code letters against each of these and we will revert as appropriate with the solution. Back
Mission statement:
"Bringing the benefits of computerisation to our industry - without the historically associated problems."