Please contact us for any questions or concerns by email or using the online feedback form. If you cannot find the answer to your question below, please check the online help.  

I have heard about certain Trojan horse viruses that allow hackers to take control of one's PC after hours and perform illegal activities.  Will this security system detect these people?

Absolutely, the PC-Alarm and Security System software will monitor your computer's mouse and keyboard while your asleep or away from your PC. It will also shield the desktop from remote control viruses by denying access to your mouse and keyboard. Using this software, you can catch those hackers before it's too late.

I see alarm messages logged in the activity log window, but the system summary window does not show any alarms have been triggered?

All keyboard, mouse and user logins are logged while the system is armed in away mode. (Not to be confused with spy ware, this is the only time keyboard logging occurs.) This information is logged with a logging level of Alarm so you will know everything that happens while your away from your PC. Even if an alarm is not triggered.

The system summary window's - "Number of alarms generated" value will only show alarms if alarm notification messages where posted prior to someone logging into the PC.

I cannot view my .avi files created after an alarm was triggered?

Currently, logging into the PC prior the "time to capture" period elapsing after an alarm, prevents the .avi file from being stopped or ended correctly. This prevents the .avi from being viewed correctly at a later time. The .avi file created is considered invalid. Not logging into the PC between to the time an alarm is triggered and the "time to capture" period expires will resolve this problem for now.

This bug has been identified and fixed.  You can fix this bug by upgrading now: Download Now!

Sometimes when the system is armed in away mode, my user pin is not accepted. Why?

Verify your num-lock key is on when entering your PIN code on the numeric keypad. Starting with version 2.2.5, the num-lock will automatically activate each time the system arms in away mode automatically. 

This bug has been identified and fixed.  You can fix this bug by upgrading now: Download Now!

The application crashes each time I click the video surveillance settings button under Windows 98?

This bug has been identified and fixed.  You can fix this bug by upgrading now: Download Now!

The mouse zone generates alarm notification message every time the software arms in away mode?

This is a known bug and we are currently working on this problem.  We hope to have this problem resolved by 8/28/2003.  All other zones and video surveillance are working correctly.

This bug has been identified and fixed.  You can fix this bug by upgrading now: Download Now!

The network message alarm notification isn't visible on Windows 98?

Windows 98 does not support the Windows Messenger service.  Instead, it uses an application called Winpopup.exe.  Winpopup does not support automation commands and therefore we cannot offer network messaging for our Windows 98 users at this time.

Why must I use numbers only for my PIN code?  Why can't I use characters?

We decided to avoid the same issues that Microsoft Windows has with password entry with the CAPS lock on by only using numeric PIN codes.

The virtual keypad window looks bizarre if the PC-Alarm and Security System software arms while my son is playing a game on my computer.

This PC-Alarm and Security System software requires a default screen resolution of 800x600 to operate correctly.  It will verify your computer's screen resolution each time you execute the application, but this check will only occur one time. Certain games will change the default screen resolution to 640x480 or lower.  If no keyboard or mouse activity is detected for a duration longer than the defined automatic arming period and the system arms, it will use this lower resolution when displaying the virtual keypad.  Although the virtual keypad looks bizarre, it still functions the same.  

To resolve this problem, you can shutdown the PC-Alarm and Security software prior to starting games or disable the automatic arming option in the User Options window.  See Arming Options in the User Options section of the application help for more details on disabling this feature or click here.

Can I stop the application from arming itself and just arm the system manually when I want it to start monitoring?

Yes, See Arming Options in the User Options section of the application help for more details on disabling this feature or click here.

My firewall software asks me occasionally if I want to allow the PC-Alarm and Security System application to open a TCP/IP connection.  Why is it trying to open a TCP/IP connection?

About every two weeks the PC-Alarm and Security System software will check to see if a software update is available on our website.  With the exception of an email alarm notification being posted, this is the only time the PC-Alarm and Security System software will attempt to connect to the Internet.

You can disable the automatic software update checks in the User Options dialog.  Uncheck this option on the Arming Modes window of the User Options window. 

It is recommended that you check for software updates periodically.  You can perform this check manually from the Setting menu.

Why did my windows screen saver stop working after I installed the PC-Alarm and Security System software?

The PC-Alarm and Security System software will disable your default Windows screen saver while running only if this option is enabled.  You can prevent the PC-Alarm and Security System software from disabling your Windows screen saver by un-checking this option on the Security Options window of the User Options window. 

How can I prevent someone that uses my computer from changing my user PIN codes?

You can prevent unauthorized access to the PC-Alarm and Security System user settings by selecting the prompt for PIN code each time activated from the tray menu option on the Security Options tab page of the User Options dialog.  You may want to enable the prompt user for master PIN code when executing main application option also for added security.

Can I hide the keypad while the system is armed?

Yes, to hide the keypad while the system is armed in away mode, simply check the Hide virtual keypad while armed option on the Alarm Modes tab of the User Options window.

Can I prevent the keypad or blank screen from being displayed at all?

Yes, you must disable the automatic arming feature to do so, plus manually arm the system in Stay Mode each time you want the PC-Alarm and Security System to start monitoring.  You may even have adjust each of the zone's settings if you plan to use you PC or stay in that area while armed.

To disable the automatic arming options, un-check the Automatically arm the PC-Alarm and Security System after waiting... option on the Arming Options tab of the User Options window.

See the Zone Settings section of the application help for more details on arming modes and zone settings or click here.

I don't hear any sound when the Phone alarm notification dials my phone?

Verify your modem offers voice support.  Check your modems owner's manual or check the vendor's website online.  If you are certain that your modem supports voice communications, verify the selected sound file for the alarm notification is ZoneSettings\Alarm.wav.  This sound file should work for  modem with voice support.

Sound files must be stored using a specific .wav file format.  If you are trying to use you own sound file and it is not working, please see the next question. 

Can I customize the wave file I hear when the PC-Alarm and Security System software dials my cell phone after an alarm is triggered?

Yes, experienced Windows users can even record their own.  Please see the Phone section of the application help for more details.  You can find the Phone section under the Alarm Notifications topic or click here.

I am having a problem deleting the last file in the File I/O zone's custom settings window.

This bug appears when you try to delete the last file in the selected files list.  There are two ways to correct this problem.  First, add a second file to the selected files list and then delete the file you originally tried to delete.  Second, if you do not want any files monitored by this zone, close the File I/O zone's custom settings window.  Then locate and delete the FileIO.dat file located in the installation folder.  This file is resides in the ZoneSettings sub-folder.

You can fix this bug by upgrading now: Download Now!

I am having a problem testing the Sound zone.  It appears as though the test window stops monitoring any sounds after closing the window and re-opening.

To prevent this from happening while testing the Sound (Microphone Monitor), press the stop button before you close the test or customize window.  This will stop the internal process that monitors the microphone.  If you do not press the stop button prior to closing the test window, it may be necessary to exit and re-start the PC-Alarm and Security Software before you can continue testing.

You can fix this bug by upgrading now: Download Now!

The Keyboard I/O zone does not work correctly if at all under Windows 98.

This bug has been identified and fixed in the 2.00.6 version of the PC-Alarm and Security System software. To download the latest version click here.

The PC-Alarm and Security application crashes occasionally just after I disarm using my PIN code.

There is a known bug with computers running Windows XP with an ESS Maestro sound card.  According to Microsoft, this bug can be fixed by running the latest service packs for XP.  You can find the latest available service packs for XP by going to the Microsoft Windows Update website.  In the Driver updates section install the ESS Technology, Inc. Media Driver Version 5.12.01.1174 driver update.

If your computer is not running Windows XP or does not contain an ESS Maestro sound card, you may want to select the Mute audible alarm tones in the User Options window.  This will disable all sound prompts while the system is armed in away mode.  See the Alarm Modes section within the User Options section in the application help for more details or click here.