[hadirajan]

Hello again,

This is a follow up to the Tech help: Have you seen this before?

However, here we're looking for fans and customers using IKEA HomePlanner with Windows Vista.
We've noticed that some customers have had trouble installing and running the application. But it's been a very small and limited group of people and we feel we need more information to act on Vista issues.

If you have had any problems with running the IKEA HomePlanner application on Windows Vista, just state your case here with a problem description and hopefully some software and hardware information regarding the computer you're using.

Try to stick with this information tree.
Problem description:
Operating system:
Direct X version:
CPU:
RAM:
Grapichs card:

And remember to be specific about the operating system. Which version of Vista it is you're using. For example: Vista x64 Ultimate with Service Pack X installed.

Thanks in advance!

UPDATE:

We've actually found something very interesting while doing extensive tests on Windows Vista.
It seems that if you've had a previous version of the HomePlanner installed, Vista doesn't only puts files in the "C:\Program files"-folder.

We've found that files are also put in:
"C:\Users\"Your user name"\AppData\Local\VitrualStore\Program files x86(or just "Program Files" depending on OS)\IKEA HomePlanner\Databaser\IKEA"
Also be aware that this folder is most likely HIDDEN. So you need to Hide and then Unhide all your files to make it visible. After this double check that you don't have any saved drawings that you would like to keep in the folder. After you saved the drawings to a new location you should be able to delete the folder with out problems.
Then just install the new version and you should have a working IKEA Homeplanner with the right products and prices.

Since we weren't aware of this location saving program files as well, it's not included in our Uninstall/Install .wsi script. So this is why you probably have problems with old databases after updating your IKEA HomePlanner.

We're currently looking into how we can solve this is the best way and will get back as soon as we have something new to disclose.


Regarding problems with the screen blacking out on you when you’re trying to start planning, we actually found something here as well.
First locate your installation directory, most common is C:\Program Files(x86 or x64 depending on system)\IKEA HomePlanner
Look for the “IKEA Home Planner.exe” file.
Right click on it and check the “Disable desktop composition” box.
This will hopefully resolve some issues that have occurred regarding graphical errors.

[Susan]

I know of a few members who have mentioned this as a problem. I will PM a couple and let them know you are seeking feedback. Thanks so much for reaching out to us!

Susan

	PM definition PM means Private Message or when addended by an S, can refer to PMS. If you don't know what that means, don't ask.

[Harpy]

One thing I am noticing: I run the planner in VMware fusion in Vista Ultimate 32 on an imac C2D 2.16 Ghz because Ikea forces me to do so, but there does appear to be a conflict of some sort between VMware tools and the planner. When I uninstall the planner it takes VMware tools with it and I must reinstall the tools again. If you intend to shut out Mac users (given the choice of 20-20 rather than a platform agnostic program for going forward I must assume this is so), you ought to at least check out that it doesn't do funky things to virtual machines.

I also get scary messages from windows security about "unknown publisher" wanting permission to edit the registry when I install or uninstall.

Also, although I have uninstalled and reinstalled many times, following your advice about restarting, and have checked both visible and hidden files to be sure there is no remaining ikea directory from the old planner anywhere, I do not get the updated database--still getting the old "good until June 30, 2008" when the planner opens. I have deleted all my fpf files and that makes no difference either.

[hadirajan]

Originally Posted by Harpy

One thing I am noticing: I run the planner in VMware fusion in Vista Ultimate 32 on an imac C2D 2.16 Ghz because Ikea forces me to do so, but there does appear to be a conflict of some sort between VMware tools and the planner. When I uninstall the planner it takes VMware tools with it and I must reinstall the tools again. If you intend to shut out Mac users (given the choice of 20-20 rather than a platform agnostic program for going forward I must assume this is so), you ought to at least check out that it doesn't do funky things to virtual machines.

I also get scary messages from windows security about "unknown publisher" wanting permission to edit the registry when I install or uninstall.

Also, although I have uninstalled and reinstalled many times, following your advice about restarting, and have checked both visible and hidden files to be sure there is no remaining ikea directory from the old planner anywhere, I do not get the updated database--still getting the old "good until June 30, 2008" when the planner opens. I have deleted all my fpf files and that makes no difference either.

I hope you understand that the problems you experience running the planner on a Mac via VMware aren't obvious to us at all since the planner isn't intended to run on a Mac nor via VMware. We only test it on PC's today.
And shutting all Mac users out isn't a conscious choice from IKEA, we're limited by the software in today’s planner. This is also the reason why we now are looking into the web planning tool from 20-20 instead. This tool can of course be run on a Mac as well as a PC.

When it comes to the problem with not getting the new planner to work. Have you tried installing the planner to a new folder and not the suggested "C:\Program Files\IKEA HomePlanner". This will hopefully get it to work, other customers have solved the problem temporary by doing this.

[crg2mls]

I have Vista and it took me five days to install the latest software. Now that I have it loaded I am having one problem. While working with the planner it will inexplicably shut down; a window will pop up saying the planner has stopped working. When I reopen the planner all of the work I had done is gone and I need to start over. The only way for me to avoid this is by saving my room each time I add or delete something from my plan. It has become very cumbersome and annoying.

[Harpy]

Originally Posted by hadirajan

[COLOR=black][FONT=Arial]I hope you understand that the problems you experience running the planner on a Mac via VMware aren't obvious to us at all since the planner isn't intended to run on a Mac nor via VMware.

Yes, but for anything except the most demanding gaming, virtualization is *exactly* the same as the real thing. I don't have this problem with any other program, and I write books about windows graphics software using vmware, so this is not normal behavior at all.

EDIT I'm a bit puzzled about your reference to 20-20 being cross platform, because this is what I see listed on their site as the system reqs for their programs:

Windows XP Professional 32 bit platform Edition/Windows Vista 32 bit platform Edition

[saracarl]

I'm having problems with the kitchen planner in vista. Let me get home and I'll give you a solid description, and any system specifics you want.

[ygnition]

a> The application crashes on me occasionally, (with a "Stopped Working dialog") especially when working in 3D mode and moving objects around. Sometimes when i reboot and open it back up, it comes up pretty close to where i left off, but most often it crashes.
b > Coming back from a crash, it will automatically try to reopen the last design, and if the design was complicated with a lot of objects, it will crash on re-opening and you get stuck. the only way to recover is to go delete the last file you were working on using the file system, and forcing it to open with a blank slate
c > The 3D view by default comes zoomed out a bit and off to the left, for some reason. when i click the Home button on ht elower right, it comes up with the correct default view
d > It seems to crash more often when a PDF is open. I blame this on Adobe, however.. Acrobat is a notorious resource hog.
e > when all else fails, a cold start seems to solve most crashes

[crg2mls]

I forgot to mention that at times my planner shows cabinet doors that are not available in the US. For example, Adel Cream (although I wish it were available).

[hadirajan]

Originally Posted by Harpy

Yes, but for anything except the most demanding gaming, virtualization is *exactly* the same as the real thing. I don't have this problem with any other program, and I write books about windows graphics software using vmware, so this is not normal behavior at all.

EDIT I'm a bit puzzled about your reference to 20-20 being cross platform, because this is what I see listed on their site as the system reqs for their programs:

Interesting to know. I haven't got that much experience with VMware myself so I can't really say anything further. But if we will have resources to test this as well I'll be sure to provide you with feedback.

Yes, I'm aware that 20-20 hasn't stated on their site for the time being that it's cross platform. But trust me, this is a big issue for us today so it will be solved with the new planner once it's released.