Frequently Asked Questions (Submit Technical Issues at Bottom of Page)
Q. Error #12029
A. Customer will need to open port 80 on their router for the app to work.
Q. Error #267; I am trying to reinstall the app, but cannot get it to reinstall on Windows XP. This problem can usually be solved by sending the user the application.
A. The problem that you are having was caused by a leftover install in your Temp directory. This is caused when a program installed previously was not designed to (or had a problem when it tried to) remove its install items that were placed in the Temp directory after the program was installed. To correct this issue you can do one of either two things. 1) Navigate to your temp directory as displayed in your error screenshot and delete all of the items in the Temp directory, or 2) Go to Start > All Programs > Accessories > System Tools > Disk Clean Up and then select the Temporary Files only and select OK then select OK again. After the Temp files have been removed you should be able to install the weather application.
Q. The application seems to be accessing my account.
A. What you are seeing is called a False Positive by Norton and other firewall and Personal Information Protection software providers.
> When you setup these systems with your personal information (i.e. your bank account numbers, credit cards and PINs, etc) then they check every web request that is sent from your machine the see if any of the numbers you setup for protection are ever sent from your machine.
On our side, the request string that the News and Weather application sends to us to ask for updated information is very long and contains a lot of numbers which just tells us about the configuration of your app. This configuration information tells our system what to send back to your application.
Now, when our string happens to have a section of numbers that happen to match your PIN or bank accounts you have the other software checking for then you get a notification that we are trying to send your personal information back to us.
> The shorter the number you tell your system to look for the more likely you are to get a False Positive. So if you have a 4 digit PIN statistically that will render a false positive before an 8 digit bank account number.
> You can find more info about the False Positives on the Norton web site. If you are using something other than Norton then please check the web site for the False Positive information.Q. I get an error message saying another version is running.
A. To see what application is already running. Press the keys "Ctrl"+"Alt"+"Delete", then select "Processes" then find "TrueWeather.exe". Close that application then restart the weather application from your desktop. Please let us know if you need further assistance.
Q. My icon doesn't appear in the task bar and/or the option to put it there is grayed out.
A. The task bar has to be on the bottom and the auto hide feature turned off for it to work.
Q. What is ground clutter?
A. With the development of radar in the last 50 years, and doppler radar in the last decade, a special phenomena has been seen that can both confuse and astonish meteorologists and the general public. This phenomena is called ground clutter. It is simple to understand and detect. When a thin pulse of radio energy leaves a radar antenna, it gradually spreads out in all directions. When this pulse of energy strikes clouds or rain drops, a return pulse is reflected in all directions and some of the return pulse reaches the antenna. The pulses that return to the radar antenna are then plotted on the radar screen by computer. Nearby buildings, hills and towers also reflect radar pulses and they are often mistakenly plotted on radar pictures as precipitation. You can spot ground clutter by viewing a loop of individual radar pictures and looking for stationary radar returns embedded with moving radar returns. These stationary returns are usually ground clutter. Ground clutter often can be filtered out of the radar image due to the development of stronger computers and Doppler radar. However, on some clear afternoons and evenings, some ground clutter sneaks into radar pictures, especially in mountainous regions and around metropolitan areas.
Q. TVS - Tornadic Vortex Signature.
A. Doppler radar signature in the radial velocity field indicating intense, concentrated rotation - more so than a mesocyclone. Like the mesocyclone, specific criteria involving strength, vertical depth, and time continuity must be met in order for a signature to become a TVS. Existence of a TVS strongly increases the probability of tornado occurrence, but does not guarantee it. A TVS is not a visually observable feature.
Q. The application will not launch when I click on it.
A. Are you using any type of firewall and/or anti-virus software? Either could be keeping the weather application from updating and/or receiving. You may need to set them to allow the weather application to get through and/or receive information.
Q. What do the radar colors mean?
A. For in depth definitions and/or explanations about the application, click on "Menu" then "Help...".
Q. The flashing icon is to notify you of news updates when the application is minimized.
A. To disable this option, click on "Menu", "Options", uncheck "Flash tray icon on news update", click on "OK" to save the changes then restart the application.
Q. Cache Server Information
A. 1. The apps, when first started on a network, will get its first packet of information from our servers directly and then listen for about 7 seconds for the UDP broadcast on port 7100 from an app already acting as the local cache server for the network.
2. If no broadcast is received then the app becomes the network cache server and then broadcasts that fact as a UDP on port 7100.
3. Subsequent apps started on the network get their first packet from us and then listen for the broadcast and once received the app no longer comes to us for its data and uses the cache server app instead.
4. Now, if the app that is acting as the cache server is shutdown or cannot get to us for three updates in a row, the first app to try to retrieve its data from the cache server, and sees that it is no longer available, that app then comes to us to get its data and starts acting as the cache server for the network. We call this the Roving Cache Server, which is designed to keep the system administrator from having to monitor and maintain a single point cache server, which is real handy because it is a self-healing system.
5. If you don't want to use the Roving Cache Server you can designate one of the apps to be a Static Cache Server by using the command line option of <-server> in the shortcut string. (Right click on your station's desktop icon, select "Properties", then add "-server" to the end of the "Target:" sting)
Q How do you set the app to open a new browser window each time.
A. The weather application uses the settings that you have set in your browser. To disable the option of reusing windows for launching shortcuts in Internet Explorer 6.0, click on "Tools", "Internet Options...", "Advanced" tab, under "Browsing" un-check "Reuse windows for launching shortcuts" then click on "Apply" and "OK" to save the changes.
Q How do I change the location from which I receive the current conditions and My Personal Forecast?
A. To change the location from which you receive your current conditions, double click on the desktop icon to open the weather application, click on "Menu", "Options" then "View current conditions from the following location:". After you have made your selection be sure to click on "OK" to save the changes.
To change the default page of “My Personal Forecast”, double click on your desktop icon to activate the weather application, click on “My Personal Forecast”, “(Options)” located in the upper left portion of the page then go to “Default location:”. If the changes do not save then you probably need to change your security settings in your browser to allow cookies from us. In Internet Explorer 6.0 click on "Tools", "Internet Options", "Privacy" tab, "Edit" then under "Address of Web site:" enter "Trueweather.com". After entering "Trueweather.com", click on "Allow" then "OK" to save the changes.
Q. (Eudora) "Share with a friend" isn't working.
A. You may need to disable the "Enable mail client if available" feature in the weather application. To disable this feature, click on "Menu", "Options", un-check "Enable mail client if available" then click on "OK" to save the changes.
Q The app disappears when I minimize it. It doesn't show up in my taskbar.
A. It sounds like you have the auto hide feature enabled in your taskbar. To disable it, right click on your taskbar, click on "Properties", un-check the box next to "Auto hide" then click on "OK" to save the changes.
Q I am getting the error message ws2_32.dll not found.
A. You may be missing an operating system update from Microsoft. Try the following link:
http://download.trueweather.com/ws2upd.asp
After downloading/running the update, re-download and install the weather application without deleting anything. If that doesn’t work for you delete/remove all of the previously downloaded components (i.e. installation programs and/or icons) then re-download.
Also, be sure to click on “Open” and not “Save”. Terminologies (i.e. "Open" and "Save") may vary from browser to browser...choose the latter of the two.
Q How do I change the default page in My Personal Forecast?
A. To change the default page of “My Personal Forecast”, double click on your desktop icon to activate the weather application, click on “My Personal Forecast”, “(Options)” located in the upper left portion of the page then go to “Default location:”. If the changes do not save then you probably need to change your security settings in your browser to allow cookies from us. In Internet Explorer 6.0 click on "Tools", "Internet Options", "Privacy" tab, "Edit" then under "Address of Web site:" enter "Trueweather.com". After entering "Trueweather.com", click on "Allow" then "OK" to save the changes.
Q The download site will not except my zip code.
A. Try entering just the 5 digit portion of your zip code.
Q When I click on "My Personal Forecast" nothing happens.
A. It sounds like you have more than one browser and both or neither is set to be your default browser. Check/change the settings both browsers to make sure that you have only one set as your default browser. In Internet Explorer 6.0, you can check these setting by opening it, clicking on “Tools”, “Internet Options”, “Programs” then checking/un-checking the box “Internet Explorer should check to see whether it is the default browser”.
Q Why is the "Share with a Friend" email is only partially showing up?
A. The problem that you are having is most likely caused by not having a default mail handler. In Outlook Express, go into Tools > Options > General Tab. At the bottom of this section is "Default Messaging Programs", click on the button next to "This application is NOT the default Mail handler". If you are using some other program, you will need to the equivalent in that program.
Q The dynamic link library NPWXM32.DLL or Kernel32.DLL could not be found...
Or displaying "This program has performed an illegal operation and will be shut down".A. The problem that you are having may have been caused from downloading the installation program, running it but not completing it then downloading and running a second installation. Once you start the download you must complete the install or you will not have all of the settings. To remedy this situation, re-download without deleting anything. If that doesn’t work for you delete/remove all of the previously downloaded components (i.e. installation programs and/or icons) then re-download.
Also, be sure to click on “Open” and not “Save”. Terminologies (i.e. "Open" and "Save") may vary from browser to browser...choose the latter of the two.
Q Proxy Error...
A. Try using Internet Explorer to download the weather application with the following settings: click on "Tools" > "Internet Options" > "Advanced" then scroll down to "Http 1.1 settings" and deselect HTTP 1.1.
If that doesn't fix the problem, go back into "Http 1.1 setting" and select "HTTP 1.1 through proxy connections".
Q Changing the font settings doesn't correct the problem.
A. Some laptops and pc's have video cards that render their own point font. Thus, no matter what you set it to the video cards uses what it wants too. Therefore, setting it to small fonts doesn't guarantee that the data will be display using that point font. Unfortunately, there is nothing that we can do to fix that particular issue.
Q Proxy Server Problems
A. COX users...Make sure that in Internet Explorer it doesn't have "Use automatic configuration script" selected under connection/LAN settings. It should be set to automatic or nothing. You can check this via Tool > Internet Options... > Connections > LAN Settings...
Q How do you minimize the app?
A. To minimize the weather application, click on the “X” in the upper right hand corner of the display window. If you don’t see/have an “X” you may be using some type of custom fonts setting. The program only supports "Small Fonts" (Normal size @ 96dpi) or "Large Fonts" (125% normal size @ 120dpi), no custom settings in between. You can check, or change if necessary, these settings via: Start (menu) > Settings > Control Panel > Display > Settings (tab) > Advanced... > General (tab).
Q How do you activate the program after you download it?
A. Once the weather application has been successfully downloaded and installed it will leave your station's icon on your desktop, by which you can activate the weather application...If you have no icon you may have downloaded the installation program, which installs the weather application. To make it easier, try going through the download process again. This time when you are prompted, click on “Open” instead of “Save”. Keep in mind that terminologies such as "Open" and "Save" may vary from browser to browser...choose the latter of the two.
Q How do I change the location from which I receive the current conditions?
A. To change the location from which you receive your current conditions, double click on the desktop icon to open the weather application, click on "Menu", "Options" then "View current conditions from the following location:". After you have made your selection be sure to click on "OK" to save the changes.
Q How do I get the app to use the browser of my choice?
A. The weather application uses the browser that you have set as your default. If you have Internet Explorer and Netscape for example, you may need to check/change the settings in both to make sure that you have one set to be your default browser and one not. In Internet Explorer 6.0, you can check these setting by opening it, clicking on “Tools”, “Internet Options”, “Programs” then checking/un-checking the box “Internet Explorer should check to see whether it is the default browser”.
Q Why were some reporting locations removed?
A. The reason why some of them were removed from the weather application was do to their infrequency of sending current condition information. New sources are in research/development and should be available in a later version.
Q How often does the national radar update and where does it come from?
A. The weather application itself checks for new information once every five minutes (looking for watches, warning etc.), but National Weather Service only sends updates approximately once an hour. The radar however is a live feed.
Q The program doesn't seem to be updating, why?
A. There are a couple of things you need to check. When you are running the weather application., are you maintaining an active connection to the Internet? For the weather application to operate it needs to be on and maintain an active connection to the Internet to receive information. Keep in mind that some Internet services will automatically disconnect you after their predetermined amount of time. Also, have you tried refreshing (Click on Menu > Refresh) and/or rebooting your pc?
Q My “Auto Connect” seems to be having trouble “auto-connecting.” It only connects when I manually connect it.
A. The "Auto Connect" is a feature used to automatically maintain your connection not to launch the weather application. What you may be looking for is the “Launch with Windows” feature? This feature, when activated, will automatically start the weather application when Windows starts and try to connect you to the Internet. You can select this feature by double clicking on the desktop icon to open the weather application, click on “Menu”, “Options”, check the box next to “Launch with Windows” then click on "OK".
Q The crawls and/or the local area warning map are not working, why?
A. The only time that the crawls and/or the local-area warning map (Show Alert) are shown is during the duration of a watch and/or warning or when issued by the station. However, you can customize these features (i.e. number of times the crawl will scroll across your screen) by opening the weather application, clicking on “Menu” then “Options”.
Q Part of the windows are cut off and/or some of the text is missing, why?
A. It sounds like you may be using some type of custom fonts setting. The weather application will only support "Small Fonts" (Normal size @ 96dpi) or "Large Fonts" (125% normal size @ 120dpi), no custom settings in between. You can check, or change if necessary, these settings via: Start (menu) > Settings > Control Panel > Display > Settings (tab) > Advanced... > General (tab). Keep in mind that if one doesn't work to try the other.
Q Since I downloaded the app my computer is automatically connecting to the Internet, why?
A. Being that the weather application has to maintain an active connection to the Internet to operate, it has two default settings to automatically maintain connection. To turn off the first option, double click on the desktop icon to open the weather application, click on "Menu" then uncheck the "Auto Connect". The second option is to “Launch with Windows”, if you do not want the weather application to launch with Windows (which in doing so will automatically try to connect as well), open the weather application, click on “Menu”, “Options” then uncheck the box “Launch with Windows”.
Q The program will not stop starting when I start Windows.
A. It sounds like you have the “Launch with Windows” feature enabled. To turn this off or on, double click on the desktop icon to open the app, click on “Menu”, “Options”, and uncheck the box "Launch with Windows" then click on "OK" and restart the application.
Q Why does the application not display the wind chill factor.
A. Wind Chill calculation starts when the ambient temperature reaches 40 degrees. When the temp is 40 degrees or less you can view the wind chill by scrolling down using the arrows next to the temperature.
Q Is there an application for Mac and/or WebTV users.
A. Applications for those users may be available some time in the future. Unfortunately, they are not available at this time and will not be this year.
Q How do I uninstall the program?
A. There are two ways to remove the weather application from your computer. The first is from your control panel that can be accessed via Start -> Settings -> Control Panel -> Add/Remove Programs. The second is from your program files that can be accessed via Start -> Program Files -> the name of the [weather] application installed -> then select Uninstall.
Q Where does the local weather information come from and what areas/cities does it cover?
A. The current weather information (temp.,wind dirction, humidity ect) comes from the National Weather Service official reporting station for (name of the city) at (name of the reporting location).
Q How often is the information updated?
A. The weather application checks for new currents information (i.e. temperature, wind speed, watches, warnings etc.) once every five minutes and breaking news is issued as it becomes available. However, National Weather Service only sends information updates once an hour.
Q. Error creating registry setting.
A. It sounds like you are on a network and you don't have the proper permissions to download/install programs. Your network administrator will need to install the program for you and/or give you the permissions to do so.
Q. I get an error message saying another version is running.
A. To see what application is already running. Press the keys "Ctrl"+"Alt"+"Delete", then select "Processes" then find "TrueWeather.exe". Close that application then restart the weather application from your desktop. Please let us know if you need further assistance.