Sometimes an installation of RTG Bills that worked initially will stop working. Often you can fix the problem by reinstalling the software. However, there are some issues to consider before you try that.

In the information that follows, we only refer to RTG Bills, but the considerations are exactly the same for RTG Timer.

• Why reinstall?
• Same version
• Different versions
• Install upgrades
• Further help

Why would RTG Bills stop working? Here are some common reasons:

1. A virus or worm
   Malicious programs can damage the files used by RTG Bills. If you download a program infected with a virus and run it, it may delete or corrupt files. If you receive a worm as an e-mail attachment and open it, it may also delete or corrupt files.
   
   
2. Hardware problems
   A failing hard disk may write defective information into a file. This is very rare. A more common experience is a disk crash (a completely inoperable hard disk) that requires you to restore RTG Bills from a backup onto a new hard disk.
   
   
3. Defective installation or uninstallation programs
   It is possible for an installation program (used by software other than RTG Bills) to overwrite system files with older versions of the same file. It is also possible that an uninstallation program (for other software) could delete files that are needed by RTG Bills.
   
   
4. Cleaning up your hard disk
   Sometimes people delete files that they think are not necessary, only to find that they were required by RTG Bills. There are many files in both the Windows system folder and the RTG Bills folder that are essential to the proper operation of the program.
   
   
5. Installation of an older version
   If you install an older version of RTG Bills into a folder that already contains a later version, you can end up with some files from each version. A mixture of files from two different versions is unlikely to work properly.

Before you proceed, you should check the version numbers.

If you have the installation file for the version of the program that you have been using, you should have no problem reinstalling the software. So we will explain how you can check if that is the case.

The RTG Bills program file is Rtgbills.exe. Find that file in the RTG Bills folder and right-click the icon. Choose Properties from the menu. Click the Version tab. The File version will be a number similar to 2.8.0.13. The first number is the major version (2) and the second number is the minor version (8). This is what we refer to as Version 2.08.

Assuming you looked in the right folder, this is the version of RTG Bills that you have been using.

Next you must find the installation file that you received when you purchased RTG Bills. It may be on a CD, or it may be a file that you downloaded. Either way, look for a file named Bills.exe, Bills001.exe, or Bills002.exe.

When you find the file, right-click on the icon and choose Properties. These files have the version number in the Description. For example, on the General tab, it might say RTG Bills and RTG Timer Version 2.08. You can also look on the Version tab as you did before. You will find a number like 2.8.0.0, which again means Version 2.08. (Ignore the last two numbers; they don't have to match.)

If the installation file is the same version as the software you were using, or if it is a higher version (not likely), you should have no trouble reinstalling the software. Just double-click the icon to start the installation program. Be sure to install the software in the same location that you were already using.

When you reinstall the program, it will overwrite any defective files with good copies that are stored in the installation file. It also makes new entries in the Windows Registry, which can fix problems there as well. Your existing data files are not changed.

We saw in the last section that it is easy to reinstall RTG Bills if the installation file has the same version as the software you were using before the problem arose. Just install again!

If the installation file is an older version, you should not use it in this way. If you do, it will overwrite some files with older ones, but leave others unchanged. The result is a mixture of files that will not work together correctly.

Why would you have an older installation file? We offer free upgrades to RTG Bills, and you may have used those to get to a later version. Those upgrade files are not complete and they usually will not repair problems with the installation. Each free upgrade file is only designed to work on a complete, working copy of a specific version of RTG Bills and change it into the next higher version.

There are two ways to proceed if you have an older version of the installation file:

1. The best solution is to buy the RTG Bills Upgrade. For a modest charge we will send you a CD, or allow you to download the installation file, with the latest version of RTG Bills. The RTG Bills Upgrade is really a complete copy of RTG Bills and RTG Timer, so it has all of the files you need. Install the latest version and you will solve problems caused by missing, corrupted, or outdated files.
   
   
2. The other alternative is to install the older version in a new location, then upgrade it to at least the version you were using. This process is discussed in the next section.

This section is for you if:

• Your installation file is older than the version of RTG Bills that you were using.
  
  
• You prefer to spend time fixing the problem yourself rather than buying the upgrade to the latest version from RTG.

Check here to see if the upgrades you need are still available. If not, buy the RTG Bills Upgrade.

Assuming the required upgrades are available, use the following procedure:

1. Use the installation file to install RTG Bills in a completely new location. For example, if you have RTG Bills installed in the standard location, C:\Program Files\Rtgbills, you might install it now in C:\Program Files\Rtg2.
   
   
2. Upgrade the version you just installed to the next version. Choose File > Upgrade > Yes to start RTG Upgrade to do the upgrade. Choose Check The Internet For Upgrades and select the upgrade to the next version. Install it.
   
   
3. Repeat the preceding step until you get to the version that you were using.
   
   
4. Start RTG Bills and verify that it is the correct version and that it appears to work properly.

If you have trouble with the upgrades, see Fixing Upgrade Problems.

We are happy to answer any support questions you might have. Send us a message.

When you report a problem, please be very specific about what you did and what you saw. If you get an error message, write down the exact text of the message as well as the title of the message box.