Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Last updated: 15.02.2001 2:16.

1. Registration and purchase. 1

2. Installation. 1

3. Using SIGuardian. 2

4. Troubleshooting & bug reporting. 3

1. Registration and purchase

Q: Why should I register SIGuardian?

A: SIGuardian is not a free software, a lot of time and effort has been invested in making of this program. You can download evaluation (trial) versions and test it for a limited period of time (30 days). Evaluation version stops function after this period. If you plan to continue using the program after that period, you are required to register. Moreover evaluation version has a nag screen reminder to register. After registration this nag screen will be removed.

Q: How can I register SIGuardian?

A: The fastest way to register SIGuardian is to use the online registration form and pay with your credit card. Orders are handled by ShareIt, RegSoft or RegNow, using a secure connection. You can expect to receive your registration details by e-mail within the next 24 hours. More details and link to online ordering form can be found on SIGuardian's home page: http://www.siguardian.com/products/siguardian/index.html , in the help file, or in the Order.txt file, included in SIGuardian package.

Q: I don't have a credit card, or don't want to use it. Can I still register?

A: Yes, some other ways are available, too. Most often used are sending a personal check (cheque, in some countries), or cash, by regular mail. Any e-commerce vendors collecting orders for SIGuardian, ShareIt, RegSoft or RegNow, can accept either credit card orders (online and offline), as well as some other payment types, such as checks, bank/wire transfers, purchase and money orders etc. You can find more details in the Order.txt file.

2. Installation

Q: Should I uninstall previous version of SIGuardian before installing a new one?

A: This is not necessary if you will install new version in the same folder. Just run the setup program, and program will upgrade itself. If you would like to install program to different location, then uninstalling is recommended.

Q: How can I uninstall SIGuardian?

A: According to new Microsoft's specifications for 'Windows 2000 compatible' programs, we don't create icon for uninstall in SIGuardian program group. To uninstall just open the Control Panel, select "Add/Remove programs" option, and double-click SIGuardian's entry on the list.

Q: I'm just uninstall SIGuardian, but when I look into registry using RegEdit, I find what uninstall don't delete registry keys under 'HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\PalickSoft\SIGuardian'. Why?

A: In the current version of SIGuardian all data about your HDD saved in registry under this key. If we (uninstall) delete this data - all information about start S.M.A.R.T. monitoring, start S.M.A.R.T. attributes values and other will be lost. If you're using uninstall to just install new version of SIGuardian - it's very bad to delete this data - results of SIGuardian T.E.C. prognosis may be incorrect. So, what's why uninstall don't delete this data. In future versions of SIGuardian we'll use separate data file to store information.

Q: Can I be notified about new versions?

A: Yes, you can, if you have a working e-mail address. A free mailing list is available for all SIGuardian users - notifications about new versions and current development news are posted there. You can add or remove yourself from SIGuardian Mailing List at any time from SIGuardian's home page, located at:  http://www.siguardian.com/products/siguardian/index.html.

3. Using SIGuardian

Q: I have just installed SIGuardian at Windows 95/98, run it - and system shows error in program or SIGuardian doesn't show any info about my hard drives.

A: For operations with S.M.A.R.T. data under Windows 95/98 SIGuardian using standard Microsoft driver smartvsd.vxd. This driver is copied to you Windows System directory while installing SIGuardian, but for it to start operating you need to reboot Windows.

Q: I have just installed SIGuardian at Windows NT/2000 and it doesn't run normally.

A: Unfortunately, for operations with S.M.A.R.T. data under Windows NT/2000 using Microsoft rules, SIGuardian needs administrative rights. If you don't have administrative rights you can't use SIGuardian under Windows NT/2000. In next major version (2.0 probably) we will fix this restriction.

Q: Info wrong! I have installed SIGuardian but it doesn't show me the remaining time of hard disk life.

A: SIGuardian calculates remaining time of hard disk life based on changes of S.M.A.R.T. attributes. In a normal situation such changes occurs very rarely - once a month or more rarely. So, to see any date in Nearest T.E.C. (probably the date of hard disk life end) you'll need to wait some time - may be days, weeks or months - to change of ANY S.M.A.R.T. attribute.

Q: HELP! SIGuardian shows that my hard drive life ends at next month! (Nearest T.E.C. in next months)

A: Be calm. First of all, this may occasionally be change in S.M.A.R.T. attributes - just wait for few days or weeks - and you'll see that Nearest T.E.C. date will change and go further into future. But if this doesn't happen - we recommend you make regular backups of important (personal) data from this hard disk.

Q: During start of SIGuardian in Windows95/98 something tries to read disk drive "A:". May be this is virus?

A: No. This is normal operation of Microsoft 'smartvsd.vxd' driver.

Q: I just buy new hard disk and immediately start monitor it using SIGuardian. And SIGuardian predicts nearest T.E.C. in next three months! So, what I must to do? Does I must change this HDD? If Yes, how I can argument this?

A: Fall of S.M.A.R.T. attributes (and so - prediction of nearest T.E.C.) is normal condition for new hard disks. During some time (one-two weeks) falling will stop and T.E.C. goes in future dates.

Q: I just buy new hard disk from Quantum and immediately start monitoring it using SIGuardian. And SIGuardian permanently reports about changes in "Spin-Up Time" (time of start spindle rotation) attribute and predicts nearest T.E.C. in next few months! What I suppose to do?

A: It's absolutely normal and long-time ago known effect for Quantum drives. Just wait a little (one-two weeks) and falling of this attribute stops and T.E.C. goes in future dates.

Q: I have a hard disk more than two years old. Why SIGuardian shows what all attributes is 100% (in progress bar), but some obvious changed (have values like '81')?

A: The problem in S.M.A.R.T. standard. Current realizations of it don't allow SIGuardian to know start (first) values of S.M.A.R.T. attributes. So, then you start monitoring of 2-years old HDD with SIGuardian, SIGuardian suppose what values at first run of it is 'start' (initial) values - independently new or 2-years old HDD you're using. Once again - it's limitation of S.M.A.R.T. standard, not SIGuardian.

Q: One of S.M.A.R.T. attributes of my HDD (manufactured by IBM) changed very often. What's the problem and how to avoid it?

A: No problem at all. This attribute value is drive temperature. If you don't want to be informed about it changes, just go to "Options" tab, select this HDD in left box and then uncheck this attribute in the monitored attribute list.

4. Troubleshooting & bug reporting.

Q: I use motherboard with VIA chipset and SIGuardian reports what "smartvsd.vxd was not found", but this file does exists. What's the problem?

A: With some motherboards with VIA chipset in Windows 95/98 SIGuardian reports what "smartvsd.vxd was not found", but this file does exists. This problem exists if you are using Ultra DMA driver provided by VIA. We don't have any solution for this problem except removing this driver. All rival S.M.A.R.T. analyzing programs don't work on this configuration either. For you information - Windows 98 on such motherboards normally detects and works with Ultra DMA, so you don't need VIA Ultra DMA driver at all (as far as we know).

Q: I don't use integrated in motherboard IDE controller, but use additional PCI controller (such as Promise FastTrack and others), but SIGuardian doesn't detect my disks. Why?

A: SIGuardian under Windows 95/98 can detect hard drives connected only to main IDE controller - because of limitations of Microsoft "smartvsd.vxd" driver. Under Windows NT/2000 it now detects only first 4 devices.

Q: I think I have found a bug. Where and how can I submit reports about found problems?

A: You can e-mail description about any problem you find to the PalickSoft ( support@siguardian.com ). Please be sure to check if you are using the latest version of program, problem may already be fixed at that time. When describing your problem, try to include as much information as possible for author to be able to repeat the problem - reproducing the error is the first and most important step to solution. Please also include a short description of your computer, and SIGuardian and OS version  that you are using.

Q: Can I make a suggestion for a new feature?

A: Sure, new suggestions are always welcome at info@siguardian.com . All of them will be at least considered, and many have made it into the program already.