Really Effective

None of our products are officially supported or tested using the Windows Vista operating system.

However, as more and more people are using Windows Vista this post will be updated with any significant problems (and resolutions) that are reported by users with this operating system.

This is not an exhaustive list and due to several fundamental changes in the Vista operating system it is expected that there may be issues especially with respect to volume adjustment and installation.

Sound Control

• Volume adjustment does not work - there are no known workarounds or resolutions for this issue.

TICK

• No reported problems

After an extended break, some effort has been spent on a brand new and more modern design for the site.   Unfortunately both Sound Control and TICK have not had an update for quite some time now.  No promises and it depends how involved it becomes but I am hoping to release updates soon starting with Sound Control and if the update is well received it will be followed by a new version of TICK.   The new versions will be made available via the new Current Downloads feature, first as BETA releases to gather and fix any bug reports.  Depending on the general feedback and success of the release it will then be made the official download version.  When a release is made details of the changes will be posted as a new news item.  Please feel free to Contact Us if you have any feedback.

First released in August 1998 and updated frequently since, TICK is probably the ultimate freeware dial up enhancer for Windows 95 / 98 / NT4 / 2000 / XP or Millennium-Me. Logs all dial up networking calls including length and cost of call and the amount of data transferred. Uses no runtime files and has POP3 mail checker, finger, ping, web notify tools, pop-up digital display, password database, IP Address finder, context sensitive help and lots more.   Review the Windows Vista Compatibility Notes.

Quick Menu

• Requirements
• Screenshots
• Features
• Download
• Support

Requirements

• Windows 95 / 98 / NT4 / 2000 / XP / Millennium-Me
• Connection to the Internet via a standard Windows Dial Up Networking connection
• For Windows 95 users only - Dial Up Networking v1.3 update

Screenshots

Features

General Features

• Automatically detects internet connection
• Transmit and receive lights
• No run-time files needed
• IP Address finder
• Context sensitive help
• Install / Uninstall support
• *No* nag screens
• *No* restricted features
• *No* Spyware, Adware or Malware
• *No* expiry date
• TICK is free to use subject to conditions given in the license

Charge / Time Band Rates

• Define different charge options for each Dial Up Connection
• Define time ranges and corresponding cost per minute
• Indicate the days which a charge band entry should be considered
• Predefined rates

Web Notification

• Easily check for updates on all your favourite sites
• Automatically recurse down a level for sites with their first page based on frames
• Updated sites are displayed in a list on the left, clicking a site displays it on the right hand side

Display Options

• Intelligent digital display. Can be set to move when cursor approaches
• Display cost and length of call in display
• Display estimated throughput (DTR) in display
• Set your preferred colour for each display
• Customise the decimal places used in each option
• Hide digital display whilst not connected

Tools

• POP3 mail checker
• Finger and Ping facilities

Miscellaneous Options

• Set minimum and maximum charge and % discount rate
• Sound an alarm when you connect and disconnect
• Add and remove a shortcut so TICK can be automatically loaded whist Windows is loading
• Disconnect after X minutes of no activity or after specific times

Logging Options

• Logs all calls made
• Records Date/Time of call, cost and data transferred
• Recovers current log entry if system crashes
• Ability to adjust log entries
• Statistical data estimating weekly, monthly and quarterly bills

Application Options

• Define applications which should be processed whilst connected
• Indicate when the applications should be executed - when connecting or disconnecting and if they should be closed at disconnection
• Ability to indicate the start up status - minimized, maximized, hidden or normal

Password Database

• Keep track of all your passwords
• Never forget a password again

After many years of success I have made the decision that due to personal reasons I have unfortunately decided the current version of TICK and Sound Control will be the last. With regret, this means Vista operating system support will not be implemented. The web site will remain open for the time being and support questions will still be read and answered if time permits. I am not totally discounting future versions but I currently do not have the energy, time, willpower or interest to continue these projects. It has been a difficult past few years and I wish to thank all users for their support and past interest in both TICK and Sound Control. When I think back to 1998 when I made the first public release of TICK (as it is called now) and back to 1999 for the first public release of Sound Control I have received great joy from these projects especially in the early years of development. If you wish to contact us please use the Contact Us facilities. Thank you and goodbye (for now).

The Privileged Instruction error is known to occur when using TICK with Windows XP or above and the Internal Speaker options have been selected. This problem which is usually solved by adjusting your security level (more information in the Related Posts section below) seems to occur on some installations regardless of your Administrator level. The current workaround is to ensure you have no active dial up networking connections and change your sound options from Internal Speaker to None or Wave. Instructions for setting up Wave can be found in the help file. The Internal Speaker option directly accesses the internal speaker which is no longer possible due to restrictions that Microsoft have imposed with some Windows XP or above installations.

Related Posts

• How Do I Uninstall?
• I Have Hidden The Tray / Notification Icon And Now I Cannot Change Any Of My Settings?
• Installation On Windows NT/2000 And Above
• Installing / Uninstalling On A Restricted User Account (Windows 2000 And Above)
• Some Of The Hot Keys Or Standard Keyboards Keys Do Not Seem To Be Working Correctly?
• User Switching (Windows XP And Above)

Due to various limitations TICK is not able to support connect speed if you use Windows NT4, Windows 2000, Windows XP or above. It is hoped that this limitation will be addressed in a future release.