Thanks for the post and yes, I am concerned about the post as we very much want all users to have a simple and positive trial experience. I did a little research today and here is what is happening.
ACT! uses Microsoft SQL as it's database and with the trial we include SQL 2005 SP3. When installing on a users machine, if SQL 2005 is already present we skip the installation of SQL to reduce overall installation time. If SQL 2005 is not present, we install SQL 2005 SP3 as part of the ACT! install. We have come to learn, there is an incompatibility between Microsoft SQL 2005 SP3 and Windows XP SP2 that causes a blue screen during installation. We have brought this condition to Microsoft's attention and they have delivered a hotfix to Windows XP SP2 that corrects this problem. We have asked Microsoft for permission to distribute this hot fix to minimize the occurrence of this incompatibility between Microsoft products - they have declined. Microsoft does make the Hot Fix available to Windows XP customer from their support teams.
From an ACT! perspective we want users to proceed with the trial. Here are 2 methods that should help get past the problem of installing an ACT! 2010 trial on a Windows XP SP2 machine. Either should get you up and running:
1) Contact Microsoft Support and ask for the Windows XP SP2 Hot Fix to correct the SQL 2005 SP3/Windows XP SP 2 install incompatibility
2) Update your Windows XP Operating System to SP3, this is available via Windows Update.
After completing 1) or 2) ACT! should fully and correctly install on your Windows XP PC. We are in process of upgrading our system requirements to state Windows XP SP3 is required. This will be reflected on our website shortly.
I am very sorry for this inconvenience and hope this helps. Larry
Thanks for the post and yes, I am concerned about the post as we very much want all users to have a simple and positive trial experience. I did a little research today and here is what is happening.
ACT! uses Microsoft SQL as it's database and with the trial we include SQL 2005 SP3. When installing on a users machine, if SQL 2005 is already present we skip the installation of SQL to reduce overall installation time. If SQL 2005 is not present, we install SQL 2005 SP3 as part of the ACT! install. We have come to learn, there is an incompatibility between Microsoft SQL 2005 SP3 and Windows XP SP2 that causes a blue screen during installation. We have brought this condition to Microsoft's attention and they have delivered a hotfix to Windows XP SP2 that corrects this problem. We have asked Microsoft for permission to distribute this hot fix to minimize the occurrence of this incompatibility between Microsoft products - they have declined. Microsoft does make the Hot Fix available to Windows XP customer from their support teams.
From an ACT! perspective we want users to proceed with the trial. Here are 2 methods that should help get past the problem of installing an ACT! 2010 trial on a Windows XP SP2 machine. Either should get you up and running:
1) Contact Microsoft Support and ask for the Windows XP SP2 Hot Fix to correct the SQL 2005 SP3/Windows XP SP 2 install incompatibility
2) Update your Windows XP Operating System to SP3, this is available via Windows Update.
After completing 1) or 2) ACT! should fully and correctly install on your Windows XP PC. We are in process of upgrading our system requirements to state Windows XP SP3 is required. This will be reflected on our website shortly.
I am very sorry for this inconvenience and hope this helps. Larry