How to Use Updates and Patches
Help Using MetaStock Updates and Patches
Most patches are full program files in a compressed format. When you double-click on the patch, the files uncompress and replace the existing program files. Other patches are mini-applications that fix a small problem in an existing file. Most Equis patches are of the first variety. All patches need the full version of the program be installed on the hard drive before they can run.
Errors
All Equis patches will congratulate you upon completion. If you run a patch and do not get a message that says your program has been updated, something went wrong.
Some errors when running a patch are due to an incomplete download of the patch file. To verify you downloaded the complete patch, compare the size indicated on the web site with the file that is now on your hard drive. If the description of the patch on the web site says the patch is 2.1 mb and the size of the file in Windows Explorer is 2,122 KB, you downloaded the full patch. If Windows Explorer says the size is 1,423 KB, there was an error downloading the patch and you need to try downloading it again.
Another common error when running a patch is missing files or information. A patch looks for the files it is supposed to replace, and also looks for information in the Windows registry. If a file or registry entry is missing, the patch will quit without completing its installation.
With both of these errors, part of the patch will run, but you will not get a congratulations message at the end. When this happens, first check the file size as described above. If the file size is correct, you will need to reinstall the original product, and then run the patch again.
Installing the patch
All of the patches posted on our web site this year will install from anywhere on your hard drive. Earlier patches did need to be placed in the appropriate folder before being run. Check the patch description to see which type of patch you are downloading. If it is a new patch, the easiest thing to do is save it to your desktop and run it from there.
- When the Save As dialog appears, click the Up One Level button (the yellow folder with an upwards pointing arrow) until the Save in: box at the top says Desktop.
- Verify that the filename is the name of the patch.
- Click Save, then wait for a message indicating that the download is complete.
- You should then see the patch on your desktop. Double-click on it, and the patch will do the rest.
If it is an old patch that needs to be run from a specific location, follow these steps:
- When the Save As dialog appears, click the Up One Level button (the yellow folder with an upwards pointing arrow) until the Save in: box at the top says My Computer.
- Navigate to the appropriate folder. (If the patch needs to be run from C:\Equis\Dlwin, double-click the C: drive, then double-click Equis, then double-click Dlwin.)
- Verify that the filename is the name of the patch.
- Click Save, then wait for a message indicating that the download is complete.
- Now double-click the My Computer icon on your desktop and navigate to that folder. (repeat step 2 - double-click C:, then Equis, then Dlwin)
- Double-click on the patch file to run it.