AboutTime is now available in two versions:
-
for systems with Microsoft Internet Explorer 4.0+ installed, and
-
for systems without MSIE 4.0+.
The second version has auto-logon and auto-logoff disabled — these features
require MSIE 4.0+.
Please select one of the following versions:
-
If you
do
have Microsoft Internet Explorer 4.0 or newer installed on your system,
Click Here
to download abouttime_msie.exe (compatible with all current Windows versions, 584 KB).
-
If you
do not
have Microsoft Internet Explorer 4.0 or newer installed on your system,
Click Here
to download abouttime_nomsie.exe (compatible with all current Windows versions, 378 KB).
Just download the self-extracting executable file you have selected, run it,
then run AboutTime.
Press F1 for setup instructions.
NOTE: If you see an error message when trying to start AboutTime, download the
version that does
not
require MSIE 4.0.
AboutTime is © Copyright 1998, Paul Lutus
Message Page
AboutTime is
CareWare
.
Version History
-
Still Version 4.8, but downloads are now self-extracting executable files
instead of ZIP files. Much more convenient.
-
Version 4.8 breaks AboutTime into two versions. One is for systems that have
Microsoft Internet Explorer 4.0+ installed, the other is for systems without
MSIE 4.0+. The second version has auto-logon and auto-logoff disabled — these
features
require MSIE 4.0+.
If, when trying to start AboutTime, you see an error message such as "The
procedure entry point InternetAutoDialHangup could not be located in the
dynamic link library WININET.DLL" or a similar message, download the version
that does not require MSIE 4.0.
-
Version 4.7 represents a major upgrade. Every part of AboutTime has been
revised or enhanced — proxy/firewall support, event logging, local address
caching, unattended logon/logoff, and more.
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Version 4.6 corrects a potential bug in intranets that may
reflect ghost packets due to improperly terminated cables.
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Version 4.5 corrects some minor bugs and creates an
explicit INI file in the program directory, to simplify
automated installation on large networks. This change also
permits the use of AboutTime as a service under Windows NT
(more on this subject in the HELP file).
-
Version 4.2 allows an IP address to be used as a host name
(some installations of Windows 95 would not allow this).
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Version 4.1 corrects a bug in the new server controls.
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Version 4.0 adds new controls to individually enable or
disable AboutTime's time servers.
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Version 3.8 corrects two small bugs. One caused a premature
timeout on the first time access attempt, the other caused
an unnecessary warning dialog when editing time servers.
Common Problems:
- First, read
"A note about Freeware"
If your system reports a "divide by zero" error,
either (1) install Microsoft
Internet Explorer 4.0+, or (2) acquire the DLL file comctl32.dll version 4.70
(dated 5/19/97) from the Microsoft site or elsewhere. The first solution is
easier.
If, when you run AboutTime, your system reports that it is
missing one or more DLL files,
or if the program does not
run correctly,
Click Here
to download the required files.
And
click here
for a full explanation.
If AboutTime sets your clock so that it no longer
corresponds to your local time, do not write to report a
bug.
The problem is that your computer's time zone is not set
correctly. The time zone settings are located in the
Control Panel. Adjust your time zone, then run AboutTime
again.
If the Daylight Time settings on your computer are not correct, you must change
them in the Windows Control Panel.
Some locations have different starting and ending dates for Daylight Time, some
do not use it. All these conditions must be dealt with by Windows, not
AboutTime. AboutTime handles time in GMT, not local time. When AboutTime sets
your computer's clock, it inquires with Windows as to whether Daylight Time is
in effect — Windows must provide this information. AboutTime relies
entirely on Windows for this, and cannot second-guess on its own without
disrupting time display, file update times and many other things.
In summary,
do not write and ask for a change in AboutTime to deal with Daylight Time
— this is not possible. You must do this in Windows itself.
Read the help file that is provided with AboutTime.
Many more problems and solutions are addressed there.
Known bugs and installation problems
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Strange behavior when Windows starts.
This isn't a bug in AboutTime, but it puzzles some users.
The correct procedure to make AboutTime run automatically when Windows starts
is to:
-
Install AboutTime in the usual way, then
-
Create a
shortcut
to the program in the Windows startup folder.
Some people are instead copying the
program itself
— this will cause problems:
-
When Windows boots up, it will launch a copy of Notepad with AboutTime's
initialization file on display.
-
The help screens will not be accessible.
Both these outcomes are solved if you create a
shortcut
to AboutTime in the Windows startup folder, not a copy of the program itself.
Instructions for creating a shortcut can be found in your Windows documentation.
-
A
shortcut
to the AboutTime program looks like this:
— This is what you want to see in the Windows startup folder.
-
A
copy
of the AboutTime program looks like this:
— This is
not
what you want to see in the Windows startup folder.
-
Divide by Zero
I have received some reports of a divide by
zero error. I estimate this affects about 1% of AboutTime
installs. Unfortunately, and to my great frustration, I
cannot duplicate the bug here in my roomful of computers.
This bug is known to be caused by a DLL error in one of
Microsoft's DLL files. A user has written to tell me that
this bug disappeared after he installed MSIE 4.0. I would
love to be more specific, but I have never seen the bug in
person and am entirely dependent on user reports.
Please do not report this bug. Instead, install MSIE 4.0+,
even if you do not intend to use it. According to all
evidence, this will solve the problem.
*** Update ***
If you acquire and install the DLL file comctl32.dll version 4.70 (dated
5/19/97), this is reported to solve this bug. Installing MSIE 4.0+ is easier,
but you may have a reason not to do this.
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Networking Notes
By far the most common AboutTime inquiry concerns setting
up multiple copies on a network. And many people are having
trouble coping with a firewall, which ordinarily will
prevent AboutTime from acquiring Internet time.
Here is a simple procedure to set up AboutTime on a network:
-
If only one computer on your network has Internet access,
install AboutTime there first. Let's call this computer
"alpha"
1
(replace this example name with the actual name of the
main computer).
-
Use AboutTime's default list of client hosts or other hosts
that you prefer.
-
Confirm that this copy of AboutTime can access an off-site
time server.
-
For each computer on the network, install a copy of
AboutTime, delete the default list of client hosts, and
enter a single client host of "alpha"
1
(the name of the main computer on the local network).
-
Confirm that these satellite AboutTime copies can access
the main computer's copy of AboutTime.
If your site has a firewall:
-
Install a copy of AboutTime on the "alpha"
1
machine and enter the correct firewall/proxy port numbers provided by your
network
administrator. In this scenario, the "alpha"
1
machine's time is set from offsite sources by way of proxy ports and the other
machines use the "alpha"
1
copy of AboutTime as a local server.
If AboutTime on the "alpha"
1
computer cannot communicate with the outside world, or the
satellite copies cannot reach the "alpha"
1
computer:
-
Please contact your network administrator. Don't write and
ask for help with this kind of problem. This is an example
of a problem potentially so complex that no number of
e-mails, however long and baroque, could possibly remedy
the situation.
(1) You must replace my arbitrarily chosen name "alpha"
with the actual name of the computer. In case you think
this footnote is trivial and unnecessary, I just got an
e-mail saying, "I can't get your program to find 'alpha'!"
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