OK wonder if any of you PC-savvy folk out there can help me with this

Just did an normal update restart as asked by the PC---it seemed to update and restart fine except.......

I don't seem to be able to open my Free Agent usenet reader anymore. I click on the icon on the task bar but nothing happens

All my posts for 20 + years for reference are in that program so I hope its just a glitch and not a permanent thing.

Any idea what might be wrong here guys?

And is thrre a cure?

--- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
* Origin: fsxNet Usenet Gateway (21:1/5)

On Wednesday, July 12, 2023 at 4:43:44 PM UTC-4, Oke She Moke She Pop wrote:

OK wonder if any of you PC-savvy folk out there can help me with this

Just did an normal update restart as asked by the PC---it seemed to update and restart fine except.......

I don't seem to be able to open my Free Agent usenet reader anymore. I click on the icon on the task bar but nothing happens

All my posts for 20 + years for reference are in that program so I hope its just a glitch and not a permanent thing.

Any idea what might be wrong here guys?

Try accessing it through the Start icon or File explorer. If it opens, create new icons on the task bar.

--- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
* Origin: fsxNet Usenet Gateway (21:1/5)

On 7/12/2023 4:43 PM, Oke She Moke She Pop wrote:

OK wonder if any of you PC-savvy folk out there can help me with this

Just did an normal update restart as asked by the PC---it seemed to update and restart fine except.......

I don't seem to be able to open my Free Agent usenet reader anymore. I click on the icon on the task bar but nothing happens

All my posts for 20 + years for reference are in that program so I hope its just a glitch and not a permanent thing.

Any idea what might be wrong here guys?

And is thrre a cure?

--------
I don't know anything about Free Agent, but in general, when things
don't work correctly, frequently they will work after you restart the
computer again.
Something like that happened to
Bruce recently and I advised him to restart the computer and he was
scoffing at me...then half an hour later he called and said "You're a
genius, it worked."

--- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
* Origin: fsxNet Usenet Gateway (21:1/5)

On Wed, 12 Jul 2023 13:43:43 -0700 (PDT), Oke She Moke She Pop <okeshemoke@gmail.com> wrote:

OK wonder if any of you PC-savvy folk out there can help me with this

Just did an normal update restart as asked by the PC---it seemed to update and restart fine except.......

I don't seem to be able to open my Free Agent usenet reader anymore. I click on the icon on the task bar but nothing happens

All my posts for 20 + years for reference are in that program so I hope its just a glitch and not a permanent thing.

Any idea what might be wrong here guys?

And is there a cure?

Roger, your posts are stored in database files separate from the
program file.

So, *if* you have to reinstall Free Agent, or install a later paid
version, the data files hopefully will be automatically found and integrated/displayed as usual.

--- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
* Origin: fsxNet Usenet Gateway (21:1/5)

On Wed, 12 Jul 2023 22:29:45 -0400, RWC <letsrock@opbox.com> wrote:

On Wed, 12 Jul 2023 13:43:43 -0700 (PDT), Oke She Moke She Pop ><okeshemoke@gmail.com> wrote:

OK wonder if any of you PC-savvy folk out there can help me with this

Just did an normal update restart as asked by the PC---it seemed to update and restart fine except.......

I don't seem to be able to open my Free Agent usenet reader anymore. I click on the icon on the task bar but nothing happens

All my posts for 20 + years for reference are in that program so I hope its just a glitch and not a permanent thing.

Any idea what might be wrong here guys?

And is there a cure?

Roger, your posts are stored in database files separate from the
program file.

So, *if* you have to reinstall Free Agent, or install a later paid
version, the data files hopefully will be automatically found and >integrated/displayed as usual.

Before you reinstall, as distinct from installing an upgrade, it might
be best to backup the appropriate drive (likely c:).

--- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
* Origin: fsxNet Usenet Gateway (21:1/5)

On Thursday, 13 July 2023 at 02:11:38 UTC+1, DianeE wrote:

On 7/12/2023 4:43 PM, Oke She Moke She Pop wrote:

OK wonder if any of you PC-savvy folk out there can help me with this

Just did an normal update restart as asked by the PC---it seemed to update and restart fine except.......

I don't seem to be able to open my Free Agent usenet reader anymore. I click on the icon on the task bar but nothing happens

All my posts for 20 + years for reference are in that program so I hope its just a glitch and not a permanent thing.

Any idea what might be wrong here guys?

And is thrre a cure?

--------
I don't know anything about Free Agent, but in general, when things
don't work correctly, frequently they will work after you restart the computer again.
Something like that happened to
Bruce recently and I advised him to restart the computer and he was
scoffing at me...then half an hour later he called and said "You're a
genius, it worked."

Again no luck I'm afraid but thanks for the tip

--- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
* Origin: fsxNet Usenet Gateway (21:1/5)

On Wednesday, 12 July 2023 at 22:21:49 UTC+1, Bill B wrote:

On Wednesday, July 12, 2023 at 4:43:44 PM UTC-4, Oke She Moke She Pop wrote:

OK wonder if any of you PC-savvy folk out there can help me with this

Just did an normal update restart as asked by the PC---it seemed to update and restart fine except.......

I don't seem to be able to open my Free Agent usenet reader anymore. I click on the icon on the task bar but nothing happens

All my posts for 20 + years for reference are in that program so I hope its just a glitch and not a permanent thing.

Any idea what might be wrong here guys?

Try accessing it through the Start icon or File explorer. If it opens, create new icons on the task bar.

No luck I'm afraid but thanks for the info

--- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
* Origin: fsxNet Usenet Gateway (21:1/5)

On Wed, 12 Jul 2023 22:45:31 -0700 (PDT), Roger Ford <mariabus@blueyonder.co.uk> wrote:

On Thursday, 13 July 2023 at 02:11:38 UTC+1, DianeE wrote:

On 7/12/2023 4:43 PM, Oke She Moke She Pop wrote:

OK wonder if any of you PC-savvy folk out there can help me with this

Just did an normal update restart as asked by the PC---it seemed to update and restart fine except.......

I don't seem to be able to open my Free Agent usenet reader anymore. I click on the icon on the task bar but nothing happens

All my posts for 20 + years for reference are in that program so I hope its just a glitch and not a permanent thing.

Any idea what might be wrong here guys?

And is thrre a cure?

--------
I don't know anything about Free Agent, but in general, when things
don't work correctly, frequently they will work after you restart the
computer again.
Something like that happened to
Bruce recently and I advised him to restart the computer and he was
scoffing at me...then half an hour later he called and said "You're a
genius, it worked."

Again no luck I'm afraid but thanks for the tip

Try right clicking on the Agent.exe icon to get a popup menu. Then
click on "Run as administartor" to see if that starts it.

--- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
* Origin: fsxNet Usenet Gateway (21:1/5)

On Thursday, 13 July 2023 at 17:29:02 UTC+1, Jim Colegrove wrote:

On Wed, 12 Jul 2023 22:45:31 -0700 (PDT), Roger Ford <mari...@blueyonder.co.uk> wrote:

On Thursday, 13 July 2023 at 02:11:38 UTC+1, DianeE wrote:

On 7/12/2023 4:43 PM, Oke She Moke She Pop wrote:

OK wonder if any of you PC-savvy folk out there can help me with this

Just did an normal update restart as asked by the PC---it seemed to update and restart fine except.......

I don't seem to be able to open my Free Agent usenet reader anymore. I click on the icon on the task bar but nothing happens

All my posts for 20 + years for reference are in that program so I hope its just a glitch and not a permanent thing.

Any idea what might be wrong here guys?

And is thrre a cure?

--------
I don't know anything about Free Agent, but in general, when things
don't work correctly, frequently they will work after you restart the
computer again.
Something like that happened to
Bruce recently and I advised him to restart the computer and he was
scoffing at me...then half an hour later he called and said "You're a
genius, it worked."

Again no luck I'm afraid but thanks for the tip

Try right clicking on the Agent.exe icon to get a popup menu. Then
click on "Run as administartor" to see if that starts it.

Thanks Jim but still no luck I'm afraid

--- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
* Origin: fsxNet Usenet Gateway (21:1/5)

On Thursday, 13 July 2023 at 17:29:02 UTC+1, Jim Colegrove wrote:

On Wed, 12 Jul 2023 22:45:31 -0700 (PDT), Roger Ford <mari...@blueyonder.co.uk> wrote:

On Thursday, 13 July 2023 at 02:11:38 UTC+1, DianeE wrote:

On 7/12/2023 4:43 PM, Oke She Moke She Pop wrote:

OK wonder if any of you PC-savvy folk out there can help me with this

Just did an normal update restart as asked by the PC---it seemed to update and restart fine except.......

I don't seem to be able to open my Free Agent usenet reader anymore. I click on the icon on the task bar but nothing happens

All my posts for 20 + years for reference are in that program so I hope its just a glitch and not a permanent thing.

Any idea what might be wrong here guys?

And is thrre a cure?

--------
I don't know anything about Free Agent, but in general, when things
don't work correctly, frequently they will work after you restart the
computer again.
Something like that happened to
Bruce recently and I advised him to restart the computer and he was
scoffing at me...then half an hour later he called and said "You're a
genius, it worked."

Again no luck I'm afraid but thanks for the tip

Try right clicking on the Agent.exe icon to get a popup menu. Then
click on "Run as administartor" to see if that starts it.

--- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
* Origin: fsxNet Usenet Gateway (21:1/5)

On Thu, 13 Jul 2023 12:24:29 -0700 (PDT), Oke She Moke She Pop <okeshemoke@gmail.com> wrote:

On Thursday, 13 July 2023 at 17:29:02 UTC+1, Jim Colegrove wrote:

On Wed, 12 Jul 2023 22:45:31 -0700 (PDT), Roger Ford
<mari...@blueyonder.co.uk> wrote:

On Thursday, 13 July 2023 at 02:11:38 UTC+1, DianeE wrote:

On 7/12/2023 4:43 PM, Oke She Moke She Pop wrote:

OK wonder if any of you PC-savvy folk out there can help me with this >> >> >
Just did an normal update restart as asked by the PC---it seemed to update and restart fine except.......

I don't seem to be able to open my Free Agent usenet reader anymore. I click on the icon on the task bar but nothing happens

All my posts for 20 + years for reference are in that program so I hope its just a glitch and not a permanent thing.

Any idea what might be wrong here guys?

And is thrre a cure?

--------
I don't know anything about Free Agent, but in general, when things
don't work correctly, frequently they will work after you restart the
computer again.
Something like that happened to
Bruce recently and I advised him to restart the computer and he was
scoffing at me...then half an hour later he called and said "You're a
genius, it worked."

Again no luck I'm afraid but thanks for the tip

Try right clicking on the Agent.exe icon to get a popup menu. Then
click on "Run as administartor" to see if that starts it.

Thanks Jim but still no luck I'm afraid

Do you have a backup on it?

Agent uses two directories when running:

The program directory, where agent.exe and some relatively minor files
reside. It is not necessary to back up this directory as it will be
recreated whenever you install Agent.

The data directory is where all Agent folder, filter, contact and
configuration data resides. You definitely want to back up this
directory periodically. If your computer fails and your Agent data is
lost you can use this backup copy of the directory and resume using
Agent where you left off.

When you have this backup you can re-installl Agent and see if that
solves the issue. You can always copy your data back to its original
location if needed.

--- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
* Origin: fsxNet Usenet Gateway (21:1/5)

On Thu, 13 Jul 2023 16:17:54 -0500, Jim Colegrove
<coolg@thecoolgroove.com> wrote:

Do you have a backup of it?

Agent uses two directories when running:

The program directory, where agent.exe and some relatively minor files >reside. It is not necessary to back up this directory as it will be
recreated whenever you install Agent.

The data directory is where all Agent folder, filter, contact and >configuration data resides. You definitely want to back up this
directory periodically. If your computer fails and your Agent data is
lost you can use this backup copy of the directory and resume using
Agent where you left off.

for my version 7 (latest version is 8) the directory to back up is:

C:\Users\<pc/user name>\AppData\Roaming\Forte\Agent

(replace <pc/user name> with Roger or whatever it is)

if this is not the directory for Free Agent then search your system
for a file that's in the directory, namely, agent.ini

apart from this directory having all postings (in .DAT and .IDX files)
it has the very important AGENT.INI file which specifies all your
personal preferences for the layout and size of screen panes, *etc*

now this is probably just me and my computer, but every few months
I would bring up Agent to find all of my settings gone; to avoid
having to re-enter these settings, I made a one-time copy, within the
same directory, of AGENT.INI and then all I had to do was to overwrite AGENT.INI with this copy before restarting Agent

When you have this backup you can re-install Agent and see if that
solves the issue. You can always copy your data back to its original
location if needed.

--- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
* Origin: fsxNet Usenet Gateway (21:1/5)

On Friday, 14 July 2023 at 05:34:56 UTC+1, RWC wrote:

On Thu, 13 Jul 2023 16:17:54 -0500, Jim Colegrove
<co...@thecoolgroove.com> wrote:

Do you have a backup of it?

Agent uses two directories when running:

The program directory, where agent.exe and some relatively minor files >reside. It is not necessary to back up this directory as it will be >recreated whenever you install Agent.

The data directory is where all Agent folder, filter, contact and >configuration data resides. You definitely want to back up this
directory periodically. If your computer fails and your Agent data is
lost you can use this backup copy of the directory and resume using
Agent where you left off.

for my version 7 (latest version is 8) the directory to back up is:

C:\Users\<pc/user name>\AppData\Roaming\Forte\Agent

(replace <pc/user name> with Roger or whatever it is)

if this is not the directory for Free Agent then search your system
for a file that's in the directory, namely, agent.ini

apart from this directory having all postings (in .DAT and .IDX files)
it has the very important AGENT.INI file which specifies all your
personal preferences for the layout and size of screen panes, *etc*

now this is probably just me and my computer, but every few months
I would bring up Agent to find all of my settings gone; to avoid
having to re-enter these settings, I made a one-time copy, within the
same directory, of AGENT.INI and then all I had to do was to overwrite AGENT.INI with this copy before restarting Agent

When you have this backup you can re-install Agent and see if that
solves the issue. You can always copy your data back to its original >location if needed.

Jeez, it gave me a headache just looking at that. Sorry Geoff I know you mean well but about all I know about computers is how to press the "SEND" button ---the rest is just gobbleygook to me. I might be a little knowledgeable about 50's music but on
anything computer-related I am a complete dunce and dunderhead.

All I can say is that hopefully a PC-savvy friend will be here in a day or two to help me out. On one of your questions tho I do have copies of the relevant Free Agent files to hand especially the really important "outbox" ones that store the old posts.

Thanks tho for trying Geoff,much appreciated! .

--- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
* Origin: fsxNet Usenet Gateway (21:1/5)

On 7/12/2023 4:43 PM, Oke She Moke She Pop wrote:

OK wonder if any of you PC-savvy folk out there can help me with this

Just did an normal update restart as asked by the PC---it seemed to update and restart fine except.......

I don't seem to be able to open my Free Agent usenet reader anymore. I click on the icon on the task bar but nothing happens

All my posts for 20 + years for reference are in that program so I hope its just a glitch and not a permanent thing.

Any idea what might be wrong here guys?

And is thrre a cure?

---------
So how were you (or your IRL friend) finally able to fix it?

--- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
* Origin: fsxNet Usenet Gateway (21:1/5)

On Sun, 16 Jul 2023 11:16:39 -0400, DianeE <DianeE@NoSpam.net> wrote:

So how were you (or your IRL friend) finally able to fix it?

After your post, Roger was still using Google Groups.

--- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
* Origin: fsxNet Usenet Gateway (21:1/5)

On Sunday, 16 July 2023 at 16:16:42 UTC+1, DianeE wrote:

On 7/12/2023 4:43 PM, Oke She Moke She Pop wrote:

OK wonder if any of you PC-savvy folk out there can help me with this

Just did an normal update restart as asked by the PC---it seemed to update and restart fine except.......

I don't seem to be able to open my Free Agent usenet reader anymore. I click on the icon on the task bar but nothing happens

All my posts for 20 + years for reference are in that program so I hope its just a glitch and not a permanent thing.

Any idea what might be wrong here guys?

And is thrre a cure?

---------
So how were you (or your IRL friend) finally able to fix it?

Sorry Di for delay I've only just seen your message

No,PC is still same.Free Agent program not working so I'm using Google to post here

However my step-daughter (the one who contacted Bruce before when I had communication problems) will be here on Thursday. She is married to a computer whiz so hopefully she'll be able to get me up and running again

--- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
* Origin: fsxNet Usenet Gateway (21:1/5)

On Mon, 17 Jul 2023 10:31:19 -0700 (PDT), Roger Ford <mariabus@blueyonder.co.uk> wrote:

On Sunday, 16 July 2023 at 16:16:42 UTC+1, DianeE wrote:

On 7/12/2023 4:43 PM, Oke She Moke She Pop wrote:

OK wonder if any of you PC-savvy folk out there can help me with this

Just did an normal update restart as asked by the PC---it seemed to update and restart fine except.......

I don't seem to be able to open my Free Agent usenet reader anymore. I click on the icon on the task bar but nothing happens

All my posts for 20 + years for reference are in that program so I hope its just a glitch and not a permanent thing.

Any idea what might be wrong here guys?

And is thrre a cure?

---------
So how were you (or your IRL friend) finally able to fix it?

Sorry Di for delay I've only just seen your message

No,PC is still same.Free Agent program not working so I'm using Google to post here

However my step-daughter (the one who contacted Bruce before when I had communication problems) will be here on Thursday. She is married to a computer whiz so hopefully she'll be able to get me up and running again

One possibility is that Free Agent is running but its window was somehow moved off screen so that
you can't see it. I can think of 3 ways to tell if it is running:

1. If you start Free Agent from the quick launch bar (I think that's what you mean by the icon on
the task bar) and it succeeds in running (whether or not you can see it), the icon should be
underlined.

2. You can open Task Manager by pressing Control-Alt-Delete and clicking on Task Manager. Under
Apps, it would show Forte Agent, which would indicate it is running.

3. By pressing Alt-Tab, you can cycle through your open apps. If Free Agent is runing, its icon
should show up.

If it is running but off screen, you can move it back on screen by following these steps:

1. Press and hold the Shift key and right-click the app's taskbar icon.
2. Select Move in the context menu.Right Click The Taskbar Button
3. Use the left, right, up and down arrow keys on the keyboard to move your window. When you have
moved the window to the desired position, press Enter.

alternatively:

1. Press and hold the Shift key and right-click the app's taskbar icon.
2. Select Maximize in the context menu.

--- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
* Origin: fsxNet Usenet Gateway (21:1/5)

On Tuesday, 18 July 2023 at 06:01:17 UTC+1, Rick Schubert wrote:

On Mon, 17 Jul 2023 10:31:19 -0700 (PDT), Roger Ford <mari...@blueyonder.co.uk> wrote:

On Sunday, 16 July 2023 at 16:16:42 UTC+1, DianeE wrote:

On 7/12/2023 4:43 PM, Oke She Moke She Pop wrote:

OK wonder if any of you PC-savvy folk out there can help me with this

Just did an normal update restart as asked by the PC---it seemed to update and restart fine except.......

I don't seem to be able to open my Free Agent usenet reader anymore. I click on the icon on the task bar but nothing happens

All my posts for 20 + years for reference are in that program so I hope its just a glitch and not a permanent thing.

Any idea what might be wrong here guys?

And is thrre a cure?

---------
So how were you (or your IRL friend) finally able to fix it?

Sorry Di for delay I've only just seen your message

No,PC is still same.Free Agent program not working so I'm using Google to post here

However my step-daughter (the one who contacted Bruce before when I had communication problems) will be here on Thursday. She is married to a computer whiz so hopefully she'll be able to get me up and running again

One possibility is that Free Agent is running but its window was somehow moved off screen so that
you can't see it. I can think of 3 ways to tell if it is running:

1. If you start Free Agent from the quick launch bar (I think that's what you mean by the icon on
the task bar) and it succeeds in running (whether or not you can see it), the icon should be
underlined.

2. You can open Task Manager by pressing Control-Alt-Delete and clicking on Task Manager. Under
Apps, it would show Forte Agent, which would indicate it is running.

3. By pressing Alt-Tab, you can cycle through your open apps. If Free Agent is runing, its icon
should show up.

If it is running but off screen, you can move it back on screen by following these steps:

1. Press and hold the Shift key and right-click the app's taskbar icon.
2. Select Move in the context menu.Right Click The Taskbar Button
3. Use the left, right, up and down arrow keys on the keyboard to move your window. When you have
moved the window to the desired position, press Enter.

alternatively:

1. Press and hold the Shift key and right-click the app's taskbar icon.
2. Select Maximize in the context menu.

Nope,no luck with this Rick but many thanks for trying!

--- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
* Origin: fsxNet Usenet Gateway (21:1/5)

On Wednesday, July 12, 2023 at 4:43:44 PM UTC-4, Oke She Moke She Pop wrote:

OK wonder if any of you PC-savvy folk out there can help me with this

Just did an normal update restart as asked by the PC---it seemed to update and restart fine except.......

I don't seem to be able to open my Free Agent usenet reader anymore. I click on the icon on the task bar but nothing happens

All my posts for 20 + years for reference are in that program so I hope its just a glitch and not a permanent thing.

Any idea what might be wrong here guys?

And is there a cure?

Did you try uninstalling it and then reinstalling?

--- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
* Origin: fsxNet Usenet Gateway (21:1/5)

On Tuesday, 18 July 2023 at 12:46:41 UTC+1, Bill B wrote:

On Wednesday, July 12, 2023 at 4:43:44 PM UTC-4, Oke She Moke She Pop wrote:

OK wonder if any of you PC-savvy folk out there can help me with this

Just did an normal update restart as asked by the PC---it seemed to update and restart fine except.......

I don't seem to be able to open my Free Agent usenet reader anymore. I click on the icon on the task bar but nothing happens

All my posts for 20 + years for reference are in that program so I hope its just a glitch and not a permanent thing.

Any idea what might be wrong here guys?

And is there a cure?

Did you try uninstalling it and then reinstalling?

No because I'm afraid I might accidentally wipe out all my old posts back to the mid-90's that are stored in the program.

Hopefully my PC-savvy step-daughter will ride to the rescue when she comes to visit on Thursday

--- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
* Origin: fsxNet Usenet Gateway (21:1/5)

On Tuesday, July 18, 2023 at 4:44:04 PM UTC-4, Roger Ford wrote:

On Tuesday, 18 July 2023 at 12:46:41 UTC+1, Bill B wrote:

On Wednesday, July 12, 2023 at 4:43:44 PM UTC-4, Oke She Moke She Pop wrote:

OK wonder if any of you PC-savvy folk out there can help me with this

Just did an normal update restart as asked by the PC---it seemed to update and restart fine except.......

I don't seem to be able to open my Free Agent usenet reader anymore. I click on the icon on the task bar but nothing happens

All my posts for 20 + years for reference are in that program so I hope its just a glitch and not a permanent thing.

Any idea what might be wrong here guys?

And is there a cure?

Did you try uninstalling it and then reinstalling?

No because I'm afraid I might accidentally wipe out all my old posts back to the mid-90's that are stored in the program.

Hopefully my PC-savvy step-daughter will ride to the rescue when she comes to visit on Thursday

You can back them up first as Geoff and I think Jim suggested.

--- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
* Origin: fsxNet Usenet Gateway (21:1/5)

On Tue, 18 Jul 2023 13:44:02 -0700 (PDT), Roger Ford <mariabus@blueyonder.co.uk> wrote:

On Tuesday, 18 July 2023 at 12:46:41 UTC+1, Bill B wrote:

Did you try uninstalling it and then reinstalling?

No because I'm afraid I might accidentally wipe out all my old posts back to the mid-90's that are stored in the program.

Hopefully my PC-savvy step-daughter will ride to the rescue when she comes to visit on Thursday

Roger, since many newsgroup members have shown a strong and
well-meaning interest in your problem with Free Agent, perhaps you
could ask your step-daughter to write down or even write a post, under
your posting name, the details of how she, and/or her computer-whiz
partner, resolved the problem (this coming Thursday).

--- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
* Origin: fsxNet Usenet Gateway (21:1/5)