Windows 7 is built on the foundation code of Windows Vista. Many of the functions and user screens are exactly the same or extremely similar in Vista and Windows 7. CTI Navigator installs and runs the same in Windows 7 as in Vista. Therefore, information specifically on using Vista and Windows 7 has been combined here for the convenience of CTI Navigator users. Instructions that are different in Windows 7 from those in Vista are noted by fushia color. Where Vista or Windows 7 are not specified, the instructions or descriptions apply to both versions of Windows.
[Note: you can use the Windows Find command - hold down the Ctrl key and press the letter "F" key - to successively find every place where Windows 7 or any other term is mentioned in this webpage.]
Click on the topic of interest (listed alphabetically) below to go directly to that section:
See Related Articles at the end of this webpage for links to other information relevant to using Vista and Windows 7.
Windows Vista and Windows 7 have a "User Account Control" (UAC) protection feature that requires a user to "Allow" programs to run with Administrative privileges. Consequently, when installing or running CTI Navigator in Windows Vista or Windows 7, you should select "Allow" on any User Account Control screen. When downloading MLS data or taxes from the Internet into Windows Vista or Windows 7, right-click on the downloaded file and select "Run as Administrator" (for details see Set Program to Run with Administrative Privileges below).
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Due to Vista and Windows 7's extra security measures, programs that need access to Windows system files must specifically be given administrative privileges. To assign administrative privileges during the current Windows session, right-click on the program icon on the Windows desktop (or on the executable program file in Windows Explorer which is the target of the icon) > left-click on "Run as Administrator" > click Allow. Use this procedure to run installation files (such as MLS data or tax files) that have been saved from the Internet into Vista, or to specify that a program open with administrative rights.
Administrative privileges also can be permanently assigned to a program so that each time it runs, Vista or Windows 7 will not require the user to reply to prompts to "Allow". Normally administrative privileges are automatically set by CTI Navigator's installation program. To manually set a program to always run as an administrator in Vista or Windows 7, right-click on the program icon on the Windows desktop > select Properties > click the Compatibility tab > under Privilege Level, check "Run this program as an Administrator" > click OK. The first time you open the program, you may also need to right-click on the program icon > click "Run as Administrator" > click Allow.
If the program icon on Window's desktop does not allow the Privilege Level to be set to "Run as Administrator", open Windows Explorer and browse to the folder that contains the main program file (such as C:\Program Files\CTI Navigator\CTI Navigator.exe). Then right-click on the program file > left-click on "Run as Administrator" > click Allow.
The CTI Navigator program normally installs with administrative privileges. If CTI Navigator does not have administrative privileges in Vista or Windows 7, this can lead to a variety of errors such as 429 - "ActiveX component can't create object", error 380 - "Invalid Property Value", "Permission Denied", or a Windows component error such as "Component vslight.ocx or one of its dependencies not correctly registered - a file is missing or invalid" (see Related Articles at the end of this article). Not having administrative privileges also can result in CTI Navigator updates being trapped in the Windows Virtual Store (where they are inaccessible after Windows restarts) rather than being saved in the appropriate place in CTI Navigator.
Note: If the user Account Control function is turned off (see below), all programs are allowed administrative privileges - which is potentially unsafe (see note 1 in the "Manage User Account Control" section below).
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The User Account Control (UAC) in Windows Vista and Windows 7 is designed to prevent accidental or unauthorized system access or changes (such as by spyware or malware). UAC is much less obtrusive in Windows 7 than in Vista. However, sometimes it may be necessary to temporarily disable UAC (such as to allow a trusted helper like CTI to remotely troubleshoot security issues and/or make changes to your computer's settings).
To confirm whether UAC is on or off in Windows Vista, click Start > Control Panel > Security Center > click the down arrow beside "Other Security Settings".
To Disable User Account Control (UAC) in Windows Vista:
To check the status of or change the User Account Control settings in Windows 7:
For Microsoft's explanation of Vista's User Account Control feature, see "What is user account control?" in the related articles and Internet links at the bottom of this web page.
Note 1: After desired assistance and changes have been completed, Microsoft strongly recommends re-enabling UAC (see note 3). Leaving UAC disabled lowers your system security level and essentially causes Windows Vista or Windows 7 to revert to the user security mode of Windows XP. However, if you can’t stand the User Account Control prompts in Vista, but you would still like to retain a some measure of Vista's security, it is possible to set Vista to automatically elevate the privilege level for administrators without prompting. See "Disable UAC for Administrative (Owner) Account" in related articles and Internet links at the bottom of this web page.
Note 2: Two alternative ways to open System Configuration (step 1)to disable or enable UAC are:
- Click Start > All Programs > Accessories > Run > type msconfig in the Open text box > click OK
- Click Start > Control Panel > Administrative Tools > double-click on System Configuration.
Note 3: To re-Enable UAC in Vista, follow the above steps except click "Enable UAC" in step 3.
Note 4: Disabling UAC will also disable Vista's special "Protected Mode" in Internet Explorer 7 or 8.
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An updated version of Outlook Express called “Windows Mail” is included in Windows Vista. To send MLS reports out through Windows Mail in Vista, Windows Mail must be setup with your email account and email provider information (see related article, "Email Service Setup in Windows"), and Windows Mail must be set as the default mail program for Windows (see note 3 below for web-based email such as Hotmail and MSN). To set WinMail as the default email program: open Windows Control Panel > select Internet Options > select Programs tab > in "Internet Programs" section, click Set Programs button > select “Set your default programs” > select Windows Mail in the list of Programs (on left) > select “Set this program as default” > click the OK button (bottom right).
If you have User Account Control (UAC) enabled in Vista, Windows Mail must be closed before MLS reports can be transferred from CTI Navigator into Windows Mail. Otherwise, the UAC in Vista treats the transfer as a separate login attempt and blocks it. If you get a "Login Failed...clsSendMail_Send" error message, you must either:
If you continue to encounter email errors after manually ending WinMail.exe process (described above), you may need to disable the User Account Control and re-start Vista (see note 2 below).
Note 1: Instructions to open the Windows Task Manager are under Program Controls below.
Note 2: If you have an effective antivirus and antispyware program installed (see the related article "Security Cleanup Links") and prefer to leave your email program (Windows Mail or Office Outlook) open, you can disable Windows' User Account Control (see Managing Vista's User Account Control and its warning above).
Note 3: According to Microsoft, "Windows Mail no longer supports the HTTP servers that are used by Hotmail, MSN and other Web-based e-mail providers such as AOL mail, Google mail, and Yahoo! mail." To access web-based e-mail in Vista, Microsoft recommends using Windows Live Mail (see related article, Windows Live Mail...) which is described on CTI's support web page, Email Service Setup in Windows.
Windows 7 does not include any built-in email program (such as Windows Mail or Outlook Express). Windows 7 can use webmail services like Gmail and Yahoo to email from the Internet. To email from within Windows 7, Microsoft recommends downloading Microsoft's free Windows Live Mail (or purchasing and installing Microsoft Office Outlook). Free third-party desktop email programs such as Mozilla's Thunderbird can also be downloaded and installed for handling email in Windows 7. See "Email Service Setup in Windows" in the related articles section at the end of this webpage.
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To send MLS reports out through Office Outlook, Office Outlook must be setup with your email account and email provider information (see related article, "Email Service Setup in Windows"), and Office Outlook must be set as the default mail program for Windows. When Microsoft Office is installed, Outlook automatically sets itself as the default mail program for Windows.
Microsoft Office 2007 and Exchange 2007 no longer include the Collaboration Data Objects (CDO) feature in their installation program. This CDO feature is necessary to allow applications (such as CTI Navigator) to access Outlook-compatible objects in Windows so that email created by programs that are not part of the Microsoft Office package can be transferred into and sent out through Office Outlook.
The package of missing Collaboration Data Objects can be downloaded from Microsoft at http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkID=73608. Therefore, to use Outlook 2007 as your default email for all programs in Windows (not just for email created inside Microsoft Office) you need to download this CDO file and follow Microsoft's installation instructions. (Basically you Save the ExchangeCdo.exe file to your Desktop > right-click on and Run this file "as Administrator" to extract to your Desktop > Open the ExchangeCdo folder that is created when you run the "ExchangeCdo.exe" file > then right-click on and Run the ExchangeCdo.MSI installer as Administrator. Both the ExchangeCdo file and folder can be deleted off the desktop once you have confirmed that the CDO feature works to allow email files to transfer into Outlook.) Be sure to have Outlook closed when installing its CDO feature. (If your email provider is using Exchange 2007 Server, you may also need to download and install the MAPI Client code for Microsoft Exchange Server at http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?familyid=E17E7F31-079A-43A9-BFF2-0A110307611E&displaylang=en.) After installing the CDO and/or MAPI client code into Office Outlook, you may need to re-start Windows .
Note 1: To fix a CDO error in other versions of Office Outlook, follow the instructions in the related article below, "Fix Office Outlook Collaborative Data Object (CDO), Active X or Unspecified Email error".
Note 2: If you have User Account Control (UAC) enabled in Vista, Office Outlook may need to be closed before MLS reports can be transferred from CTI Navigator into Office Outlook. To fix an email error (after CDO's have already been installed in Office Outlook) such as "clsMailOutlook", "[Collaboration Data Objects-]", "Function:clsSendMail_Send" or similar error message:
If you want to leave Office Outlook open continuously and also be able to send MLS reports, you can give Outlook administrative privileges during the current Windows session by setting it to "Run as Administrator" (see Set Program to Run with Administrative Privileges below). You can locate Outlook's program file (Outlook.exe) either by using the Windows Search function, or by opening Windows Explorer and browsing to C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\Office12.
Otherwise, if you continue to encounter email errors after manually ending the email process (as described above), or if you prefer to leave your Office Outlook open, you may disable User Account Control (see Managing Vista's User Account Control above) and re-start Windows.
Note 3: Microsoft provides a free Office Outlook Connector add-in (see related article below) to access and manage your Windows Live Hotmail or Microsoft Office Live Mail accounts in Microsoft Office Outlook 2003 or Microsoft Office Outlook 2007.
As an alternative to using Office Outlook for all email in Vista, you can set Vista to use Windows Mail as its default mail handler for mail (see "change default e-mail program" in the Program Controls section below). (See note 4 below if you want to uninstall Outlook.) Windows Mail does not need or use CDO's. Even when Windows Mail is set as the default mail handler for Windows Vista, Office components should still be able to send email through Outlook if Office Outlook is installed. If you do use Outlook, be sure to close it before attempting to email from any program that is not part of the Microsoft Office package.
Note 4: If Office Outlook has been set as the default mail program in Vista but you do not intend to use Office Outlook at all for e-mail, it can be removed without removing the other Office components (such as Word).
To temporarily remove Office Outlook as an active component of Microsoft Office in Windows Vista:
For Microsoft's instructions to remove (or install) the Outlook component in Office 2007, see the related article below, "Remove Individual Office Components".
For Microsoft's instructions to uninstall the entire Office 2007 suite of programs, see the related article below, "Uninstall Office 2007".
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To determine if Internet Explorer is the default web browser in Windows Vista or Windows 7, click Start > Control Panel > Internet Options > Programs tab > Default Web Browser. To set Internet Explorer as the default web browser (if it is not already), click the "Make default" button and check "Tell me if Internet Explorer is not the default web browser."
To set or change a default program in Windows Vista or Windows 7: [see change default email program below]
Change Default E-mail Program: Normally you can use "Set your default programs" as described above to change your default e-mail program in Vista or, once an e-mail program has been installed, in Windows 7 . However, to change the default e-mail program from Office Outlook to Windows Mail or another e-mail program (such as Thunderbird), it may be necessary to customize program access (to block Outlook from interfering with the default) as follows:
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To close a program that is not responding without closing Windows:
To stop a process from running without closing Windows:
To open the Windows Task Manger with your mouse, right-click on the Windows task bar (at the bottom of the screen) and select Task Manager ("Start Task Manager" in Windows 7). To open Windows Task Manager from your keyboard, either (a) press the Delete key while holding down both the Ctrl and Alt key; or (b) press the Esc key while holding down both the Ctrl and Shift key.
To add, remove or repair a program in Windows Vista or Windows 7:
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To activate the Windows Run Command in Vista or Windows 7:
To add a shortcut for a program to the Windows Desktop:
Note: Alternatively, you can copy a shortcut for a program by selecting Start > Programs > right-click on the desired program > select Copy > right-click on the Windows Desktop > select Paste.
There are three ways to change the size of icons in Windows Vista or Windows 7. Note that the selected size will apply to all icons as indicated.
To choose large, medium or small (classic) icon size on the Windows desktop:
- Right-click on the desktop
- Click View
- Select the desired size.
To dynamically vary icon size (change by degrees) on the Windows desktop:
- Hold down the control (Ctrl) key on your keyboard
- With the keyboard's Ctrl key depressed, also depress and hold down the right mouse button
- While both Ctrl key and right mouse button are depressed, scroll the mouse wheel up for larger size icons, or scroll the mouse wheel down for smaller size icons.
To change the size of all text and icons (both on Windows desktop and in programs), change resolution setting for your monitor as follows:
- Right-click on an unused space of your Windows Desktop
- Select Personalize
- Select Display Settings
- Under Resolution,
- To increase display sizes, click and move the slider to the left (which will lower the resolution)
- To decrease display sizes, click and move the slider to the right (which will raise the resolution)
Note: the resolution setting of your monitor determines the size of text and icons inside all programs (such as CTI Navigator). In general, higher resolution displays are sharper (less blurry) but smaller. Normally, LCD monitors should be set to their "native resolution" (i.e., factory default setting). Typical resolution settings for CRT monitors are
- 1024 x 768 for 15 inch monitors
- 1280 x 1024 for 17 to 19 inch monitors
- 1600 x 1200 for 20+ inch monitors.
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To display the Menu Bar in Windows Explorer of Vista or Windows 7:
To keep the Menu Bar visible every time you open Windows Explorer:
Click the down arrow beside Organize on the toolbar
Open the Layout submenu
Check Menu Bar.
To view hidden files, folders and file extensions in Windows Explorer:
Note: Folder Options to view hidden files or folders can also be set in Window's Control Panel:
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To display the VirtualStore Folder in Vista or Windows 7:
Note: CTI Navigator cannot access necessary Windows system files from Windows' Virtual Store location. Also, if User Account Control redirects the MLS data and/or data updates into its Virtual Store, the CTI Navigator program cannot access this data. (Updates will run but there will be no new data in CTI Navigator.) Therefore, if you find a CTI Navigator folder in the Virtual Store, it should be deleted along with all its contents. Both the program and MLS data need to reside in the Windows Program Files folder (or "Program Files (x86)" folder in a 64-bit Windows).
To display the Menu Bar (File/Edit/View) in Internet Explorer 7 or 8:
To keep the Menu Bar visible whenever you open Internet Explorer:
Open the View Menu (simultaneously press Alt+V if the Menu Bar is not already visible)
Open the Toolbars submenu
Check Menu Bar.
To copy the Path of a file or folder into Windows' clipboard:
Hold down the shift key
Right-click on the file or folder
Select "Copy as Path".
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To configure appropriate security for CTI Navigator in Windows Vista or Windows 7, first open the Windows Control Panel.
To avoid security conflicts, only one firewall should be active at a time (i.e., run only the Windows firewall or a third-party firewall, but not both simultaneously).
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Microsoft has extended the restricted privilege security model of Windows Vista to Internet Explorer (version 7 and 8) in Vista and Windows 7. This can provide extra protection against malicious code entering Windows through the browser. The new security level is called "Protected Mode." The Protected Mode of Internet Explorer (IE) utilizes the User Account Control (UAC) function to implement the principle of "least privilege" (and therefore is not supported in Windows XP or earlier). Sometimes this extra security can interfere with legitimate actions over the Internet.
Internet Explorer 7 and 8's Protected Mode can be disabled for troubleshooting or performing specific actions in unprotected mode as follows:
below the "Security level for this zone", and directly above the Custom level... and Default level buttons, un-check "Enable Protected Mode" > click OK button > if prompted with "Warning! The current security settings will put your computer at risk", click OK > close all IE screens, then re-open IE for the change to take effect.
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The error message "Remote server does not exist or is unavailable" when logging into CTI Navigator over the Internet, sending new or retrieving existing listing information, photos, or CTI Matchmaker, indicates that: (1) one or more of the Internet components in your Windows is not properly activated, configured, installed or registered; or (2) something such as an Internet Firewall, Proxy Server, or ISP filter is interfering with secure remote computer connections over the Internet. See Configure Security above for instructions to configure security in Windows. For instructions to configure a third-party security program on your computer, see that vendor's help or the related article below appropriate for that program. For specific steps to fix this error, see the related article below, "Fix "Remote Server does not exist or is Unavailable" error (462)".
Also ensure that CTI Navigator is installed and running in Windows Vista or Windows 7 with administrative privileges. Right-click on the CTI Navigator icon on the Windows desktop > select Properties > click the Compatibility tab > check "Run this program as an Administrator" > click OK. You may also need to right-click on the CTI Navigator icon > click "Run as Administrator" > click Allow, the first time you open the program.
If you are still unable to log into CTI Navigator over the Internet or to send information (such as listings, photos, or Matchmakers) from your computer to the MLS server, run the following "SOAP" patch to ensure that Windows and CTI Navigator are using Microsoft's enhanced computer-to-server Internet connectivity codes:
Note: This "SOAP" patch may fail to install if the codes are already up-to-date on your computer. No other files are needed.
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When setting up a network printer in Windows Vista or Windows 7, let Windows locate the printer on the network and add its IP address. If you browse to install a network a printer and manually enter its URL (alphabetic) address rather than its IP (numeric) address, MLS reports may not get routed correctly to the network printer (they may just disappear).
Sometimes application extension files (.DLL or .OCX) must be manually registered to properly support functions in a program such as CTI Navigator. A variety of Active X, Automation, or "Run-time" type errors can result when associated application extension files (also called ActiveX controls) are not registered in Windows for use by the program.
To register an individual ActiveX control (dll or ocx) file in Windows Vista or Windows 7 (see note below for shortcut when registering multiple files):
Registration Shortcut: You can add a file to the Windows Vista registry that will allow you to right-click on any DLL file and simply select Register or Unregister (without going through the detailed commands above). This is especially helpful when registering or un-registering multiple files. To add the Register and Unregister command to your right-click menu in Windows Explorer, go to www.ctimls.com/Downloads/Windows/Vista/VistaDll.reg > click Save > right-click on the saved file in your Vista > select Merge > accept the registry change notice. To also add a file to the Windows Vista registry that will allow you to right-click on any OCX file to register or unregister it, go to www.ctimls.com/Downloads/Windows/Vista/VistaOcx.reg > click Save > right-click on the saved file in your Vista > select Merge > accept the registry change notice. Warning: Before making any registry changes, Microsoft highly recommends that you make a backup of your registry (see related article below, "How to Back up and Restore the Registry in Windows XP and Vista").
For more details, see the related article below, "Register dll or ocx files".
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If the CTI Navigator function currently incurring an error previously worked on this computer and all other approaches to fixing the error (see CTI's Menu of Error Fixes) have failed, you can use the Windows System Restore function to reset Windows back to when everything worked correctly.
To Restore Windows Vista or Windows 7:
Note 1: System Restore does not affect data files. However, any programs or program updates that were installed later than the Restore date will need to be re-installed.
Note 2: See related article below for Microsoft's instructions for "Re-installing Windows Vista".
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If requested during normal business hours, CTI can access your computer over the Internet to provide remote troubleshooting assistance for the CTI Navigator program as described below.
To Install the CrossLoop® Peer-to-Peer Screen-sharing program for remote assistance:
To Use CrossLoop (after installation):
- Call CTI Tech Support (800-533-1031 between 8 am to 6 pm M-F) to request that a senior technician open a CrossLoop connection for remote assistance. Please identify yourself, the name of your MLS, what the problem or error is that needs to be investigated, and if a senior tech is not currently available, your call-back phone number. Call-backs are in the order received and cannot be scheduled for a specific time.
- Launch CrossLoop (at the end of installation or later by double-clicking the installed CrossLoop icon on your desktop)
- If prompted to "Create a CrossLoop Account" the first time you open CrossLoop, click Skip (or X to cancel)
- Click the grey "Share" tab if it is not automatically selected
- Give the CTI technician the 12-character Access Code on your CrossLoop Share screen (a new Access Code is randomly generated each time you open CrossLoop and it expires if not used)
- Once CTI tells you they are ready, click the Connect button
- Click Yes at the CrossLoop Warning screen to allow a CTI tech "to connect and share control of your computer."
- The first time you run CrossLoop you may need to click the "Unblock" button on the Windows Firewall Security Alert screen (or "Allow" or "Trust" for any other firewall, security or antivirus program). If you are using Windows Vista, see note 2 below.
To close a CrossLoop remote connection, click the Disconnect button on the CrossLoop screen. CTI cannot remotely connect to your computer unless you run the CrossLoop program and provide a current access code (as described above). If you do not expect to need further remote technical support from CTI in the near future, you can remove the CrossLoop program from your computer as you would any other program (go to Control Panel and select Add/Remove Programs or in Vista select Programs and Features).
Note 2: Vista and Windows 7. If you are running Windows Vista or Windows 7, you may need to temporarily disable User Account Control (UAC). To disable UAC, follow the instructions in the related article, "Configure Security Settings in Windows"
Note 3: Disclaimer of Warranty. All services are provided under the terms and conditions of CTI's license agreement accompanying CTI Navigator. Assistance in any form is provided only as a convenience to licensed users of CTI products. Problems and solutions may depend on the nature of your system environment and other parameters that are unknown to CTI. By requesting assistance, user agrees that actions and solutions described, suggested or implemented by CTI staff are entirely at the user's own risk and are provided without warranties of any kind. Under no circumstances, including negligence, shall CTI or any of its employees be liable for any direct, indirect, incidental, special, punitive, consequential or other damages, loss, cost or liability whatsoever that result from or are related to use of technical support provided by CTI.
Note 4: Security. Both programs use encrypted data for privacy during transmissions, and both require you to initiate a connection. No one can connect to your computer using these programs without your permission and participation.
Note 5: Viruses. The only information transferred during either of these remote connections is the pixels for screen display, mouse operations, and keystrokes. Since no files are transferred, these connections are not vulnerable to spreading any known virus.
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Related articles and Internet links:
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To return to CTI's on-line menu of Help & Support for CTI Navigator, click here or use the back arrow at the top of your Internet browser. To go directly to CTI's menu of Error Fixes, click here.
rev.10.26.09