Yes - dnc4U works 100% on Windows 8!

Moreover, unlike Vista & Win7, Windows 8 works straight out of the box under "normal" purchasing situations. By "normal" we mean an end user goes to the shop and buys a computer/laptop, goes home and takes it straight out of the box and installs the software - no IT staff have been involved and messed about with user privelidge settings! We think that Windows 8 is a vast improvement over Vista and especially Windows 7 - OK the Metro interface takes some getting used to, but once you click on desktop, it works just like before only better. (Do not confuse Windows 8 for desktops/laptops with Windows 8 for tablets or phones, dnc4U will not work on tablets or phones)



Here's a quick guide to installation

The first thing to do is download the dnc4U installation file. Get this by clicking Free Trial on the dnc4U webpage. Then you need to decide whether to download the version that does not have an internet connection, or the version that does have an internet connection and performs a licence check for days used is via our server. We do not store any information other than your software code, your start and end dates, it is totally anonymous. The second method is preferable because it is more reliable at giving the full 60 day trial - the non internet connected version can sometimes fail, especially if you accidentally turn back the clock. The second version is also superior for registration, as this is all done automatically.



After making a decision which version you need, you have the option to download either as a zip or an exe file. We suggest you save the file rather than run it - but it's up to you. The zip is simply the exe file already zipped up, but sometimes your Windows settings, firewall or antivirus may not like downloading raw exe files. It depends what make of browser you have, but all will download the file and place it into a download folder. We use Firefox, and once downloaded, it performs virus check and then in the top right hand corner a large down arrow flashes, by clicking the arrow you will open up where it is located. Either open up the exe or open up the zip file.




If you have downloaded the zip, then open it up, and drag and drop the exe file inside onto your desktop (or alternate location it is up to you)



Drag and drop the exe file onto your desktop. At least on the desktop, it is easier to remember where you copied it to.

You then need to install the setup program with full admin rights. Like above, in most cases. you will have these rights. However, we would suggest that you right mouse click the setup file, and select run-as-administrator just to make sure. If you are using an anti-virus program such as Avast that runs any new exe in a sand-box, then you may get an initial setup fail. Simply let the sand-box run it's course, then when it has finished, click continue execution, the setup will continue without problem. After install you will get a pop-up just reminding you that running dnc4U as-administrator is recomended.



The installation program will then take it's course and install the dnc4U program. We have opted to set the default program folder location for Vista, Win7 & Win8 to the users\public folder. This solves all kinds of problems with different user's access to the program, and read/write access of temporary files that dnc4U creates. Unless you have an overriding reason not to, we would suggest you stick with this.



Out of the box settings for dnc4U and Windows 8 work just fine, and running in Windows 8 compatability mode is great, unlike in previous Windows versions where you may have had to set compatability to XP SP2. You can always run the compatability troubleshooter.



Once dnc4U has been installed, then like above, out of the box, with no IT department intervention altering privelidges, dnc4U will work straight away. We would however recommend that you run-as-administrator, just to make sure that you have sufficient level of access. You only need to do this once, and Windows will remember.

On new laptops, it is almost inevitable that you will not have a com port, in which case you will have to install either a USB to RS232 adaptor or an express RS232 card. If you are using a USB adaptor, then we recommend a keyspan. >> Click Here or Here Plug in your keyspan and Windows will go and install the latest drivers automatically, as keyspan are still one of the few vendors that have tested Win8 drivers.

Ten minutes later and dnc4U is installed along with the USB to RS232 adaptor!



In conclusion, installing dnc4U on Windows 8 is very easy, and should not take more than 10 minutes to download, install and update any USB drivers. What we can say with almost 100% certainty is that should you have any problems with the installation, it is amost certainly a problem with user access permissions. What often happens is that an IT department will not give users sufficient access, they may only give them a standard account which in many cases is not enough. The best workaround is to run-as-administrator which will temporarily elevate user permissions just for this program, it will not give users admin permissions to run amok and mess up the computer. For IT departments who do not fully understand this, it is good to google "run as administrator" to put your mind at rest. Maybe Microsoft should have given this option a more apt name such as "run-this-program-with-elevated-access-so-that-it-works-in-Windows-just-like-it-ought-to" not as snappy, but more accurate!