Software FAQs

For your convenience, we've compiled the answers to the desktop software questions most frequently asked by our customers. If you still have questions after reviewing this document, please send an email to SkillCheck. You will receive an answer within one business day.

A very comprehensive range of questions are answered in the TechTips in our Resources section; click on the "Resources" tab at the top of this page.

General Technical Questions

1. What are the minimum requirements to install and use SkillCheck testing software?
2. What operating systems are supported by SkillCheck testing software?
3. Will SkillCheck testing software run on a network?
4. How much hard disk space does SkillCheck's testing software require?
5. How long does it take to install SkillCheck testing software on a PC?
6. When I install SkillCheck, do I need any special rights?

SkillCheck Testing Software Questions - All Versions

1. A component of SkillCheck's testing software has asked me to provide a password. What is the password?
2. How do I end a test before it is finished?
3. How do I display the password dialog box after a test has ended?
4. I want my scores to print out automatically at the end of a testing session. How do I do this?
5. I want to install SkillCheck on a different PC. Is this possible?
6. Can I retrieve old scores?
7. I can only see part of the software on my screen, and the rest seems to spill off to the right. What's wrong?

SkillCheck Testing Software Questions - Version 4.x 32-bit

(Please note: this version is no longer supported)

1. I get the database error "No database records selected" during or at the end of a test. What is causing this?
2. I would like to purge my scores database (because it has become corrupted or too large or contains data that is no longer needed). How do I do this?
3. I tried to purge using SkillCheck's instructions in the manual, but the system locked up during the purge. What should I do next?
4. Are purged database scores gone for good?
5. Can I back up my scores?
6. I get a License Exceeded error when I try to start my network version, and I know that I haven't exceeded the maximum number of concurrent users. What is causing this?
7. I can't find the double-spaced Typing Test that I had in my previous version of SkillCheck. Where did it go?
8. Setup was unable to copy one or more system files, and SkillCheck does not run. What should I do?
9. Setup is stuck in a reboot loop and displays a message that OLE files are in use. What should I do?

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The Answers

General Technical Questions

1. What are the minimum requirements to install and use SkillCheck testing software?

Minimum requirements for SkillCheck Version 5.x and above are a Pentium 800 MHz PC running Windows 2000 SP2+ , Windows XP Professional (Please note: Windows XP Home, Tablet and Media Centre are not supported) or Windows Vista with at least 512 MB of RAM, a DVD drive (for installation and using audio-based testing), a USB port for license installation (a floppy disk with license files can be provided for those without a modern PC which has USB ports) and a VGA monitor with the display adaptor set to 1024 x 768 or better resolution with 256 or more colors.

Installation files are normally supplied via the Internet in an archived file.

Extracting installation files requires WinZip or similar archiving software.  It is the end user's responsibility to acquire suitable archiving software such as WinZip.  Go to http://www.winzip.com/ to acquire a free trial version of WinZip.  Alternatively, at an extra cost, installation files may be supplied on a USB Flash drive.

Product activation requires and Internet connection at the PC where SkillCheck is installed.  Alternatively, SkillCheck Support may assist you in the activation procedure and should be contacted by telephone.

A sound card is required for tests that utilize audio, including SkillCheck's Audio Transcription and Shorthand, Audio Data Entry and Call Center tests.

2. What operating systems are supported by SkillCheck testing software?

SkillCheck supports:

• Windows 2000 Professional SP2+
• Windows XP Professional (Windows XP Home, Tablet and Media Centre are not supported)
• Windows Vista

On Windows 2000, Windows XP and Vista systems you must have Windows logon PC administrator (full) rights to install SkillCheck software.

3. Will SkillCheck run on a network?

A network multi-user version of SkillCheck's testing software is available that will run on standard LAN Novell and Windows NT/2000/2003 networks. SkillCheck also provides limited support for various WAN configurations.

Click here for more information on SkillCheck testing software's network requirements, or contact SkillCheck Sales for information on network products and pricing.

4. How much hard disk space does SkillCheck's software require?

The system files needed to run any SkillCheck test take up approximately 100 MB of hard disk space. Each product you install (Word 2007, Excel 2007, etc.) takes up approximately 7 to 10 MB, with an average of 7 MB per test. If you plan to install a complete SkillCheck testing software package of typical software-skills tests on your computer, you should have approximately 700-900 MB of free hard disk space on your PC.

5. How long does it take to install SkillCheck testing software on a PC?

Depending on how many testing products you have ordered and the speed of your DVD and hard drives, installation from CD-ROM can take anywhere from 5-25 minutes. Floppy diskette installation is no longer available.

6. When I install SkillCheck, do I need any special rights ?

Yes.  To install SkillCheck on a PC with Windows 2000 operating system or above, you must boot the PC up and log into Windows with "full rights" as the PC Administrator. This is not the same as a "network administrator" as it only applies to logging into Windows on the PC on which SkillCheck is being installed.

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The Answers

SkillCheck Testing Software Questions - All Versions

1. A component of SkillCheck has asked me to provide a password.  What is the password?

By default, all passwords in the SkillCheck system are simply "password" (without quotes), with the exception of Version 4.x and above Advanced Administration, which has a default password of "admin" (without quotes). If you are asked to provide a password, try "password" first. If "password" does not work, it is likely that someone in your office has used the SkillCheck Administrator to change passwords on your system. If information on these new passwords is not available (because the person who changed passwords has forgotten them or did not note them down, for example), try leaving the password field blank when a password is requested and simply press Enter. If this does not work, contact SkillCheck technical support for help in determining your current password. You can change or remove passwords using the SkillCheck Administrator. See the SkillCheck Administrator documentation for information on changing and removing passwords.

2. How do I end a test before it is finished?

You can exit a SkillCheck test before the end. This is normally done when administrators are demonstrating or reviewing the software, or when an administrator needs to end a test for a candidate who can no longer continue testing. Because this function is reserved for administrators only, it is available via a hidden keystroke (rather than an on-screen button or other control). To end a software test, get to the point in a question where a dialog box offers the person taking the test the option to go to the next question or try the question again. At that point, hold down the Shift and Control keys and press F4. The test will end immediately. For other SkillCheck tests (accounting tests, typing tests, etc.), you can use the Shift - Control - F4 key combination to end the test at any time. If you are using an older 16-bit version of SkillCheck, you may need to type "-=-=" (without the quotes) to end other tests.

3. How do I display the password dialog box after a test has ended?

When the test session has ended and a screen has appeared with the text "Please contact your Test Administrator," if you do not see a password dialog box, press F2 to enter the password. (Note: If you are using Windows NT or Windows 2000, you may need to click the mouse one time anywhere on the screen before pressing F2.)

4. I want my scores to print out automatically at the end of a testing session. How do I do this?

From the File menu in the SkillCheck TestCenter, select Print | Options. This command will display different choices for how SkillCheck will print and present scores on the screen. Select an option suitable for your needs. (See the SkillCheck TestCenter documentation for more information on testing and reporting options.)

5. I want to install SkillCheck on a different PC.  Can I do this?

You can move an installed copy of SkillCheck from one PC to another by first uninstalling SkillCheck from the current PC to the original license diskette and then installing SkillCheck to the new PC.

6. Can I retrieve and print previous test scores?

You can print out the scores of the test series that was just administered by selecting "Print Previous Results" from the Print option in the TestCenter File menu. You also use the SkillCheck Scores Database (available from the TestCenter or the Test Administrator) to retrieve previous test scores and create informative and attractive reports. See the SkillCheck Administrator documentation for more information on using the scores database.

7. I can see only part of the software screen and the rest seems to spill off to the right.  What is wrong?

Your Windows display settings may be configured to display large fonts. SkillCheck does not provide support for large fonts. To correct the display, try changing your font setting to display small fonts.

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The Answers

SkillCheck Testing Software Questions - Version 4.x 32-bit

  (Please note: this version is no longer supported)

1. I get a database error "no database record selected".  What is causing this?
   The System or Scores Database may be corrupt. To correct this, you can purge the SkillCheck databases. Before purging the databases, you may want to first save the current databases. You can view the scores database using Microsoft Access. Please read the Advanced Administration document in the SkillCheck Online Manual for full details on purging.
   
   
2. I would like to purge my system and/or scores database (because it has become corrupted or too large or contains data that is no longer needed).  How do I do this?
   At certain points when using SkillCheck testing software, you may need to purge your databases because data has become outdated, a database is too large, or database files have become corrupted due to a power outage or other problem (such as if a person presses CTRL-ALT-DELETE or turns off the PC) that occurs just as a test is ending. Please read the Advanced Administration document in the SkillCheck Online Manual for full details on purging.

   * Note: Using CTRL-ALT-DELETE is not a correct way to exit out of a test; and this may corrupt the database. The only correct way to exit out of a test is to use CTRL-SHIFT-F4. Please refer to the product documentation for further information on proper use of your SkillCheck software.

3. I tried to purge using SkillCheck's instructions in the manual, but the system locked up during the purge.  What should I do next?
   You need to purge the database manually. To purge the database manually:
   
   1. Open Windows Explorer.
   2. Locate SKILLCHECK in your system's PROGRAM FILES folder on the hard drive (Note: SkillCheck may have been installed in a different folder on your computer).
   3. Double-click SKILLCHECK and locate the SCORES folder.
   4. In the SCORES folder, delete SKSCORES.MDB.
   5. Make a copy of the file named SKSCORES.MD_ and then rename the copy to SKSCORES.MDB.

4. Are purged database scores gone for good?
   When you purge a scores database, that information is permanently deleted. If you do not need to save this information, simply purge your databases to free up disk space or eliminate database errors. Note: you may want to save scores before purging.
   
   
5. Can I back up my scores?
   You can save scores by using the Backup feature in the Advanced Administrator. Please read the Advanced Administration document in the SkillCheck Online Manual for full details on backing up your scores.
   
   
6. I get a "License Exceeded" error when I try to start my network version, and I know that I haven't exceeded the maximum number of concurrent users.  What should I do?
   Contact SkillCheck Support for help.
   
   
7. I can't find the double-spaced Typing Test that I had in my previous version of SkillCheck.  Where did it go?
   The double-spaced Typing Test is not available with 32-bit versions of SkillCheck.
   
   
8. Setup was unable to copy one or more system files, and SkillCheck does not run.  What should I do?
   Uninstall SkillCheck. Then close all applications, including any applications that appear in the Windows Task Manager and System Tray (icons on the far right of the task bar) and reinstall SkillCheck.
   
   
9. Setup is stuck in a reboot loop and displays a message that OLE files are in use.  What should I do?
   Contact SkillCheck Support to e-mail SkillCheck regarding purchasing a new license.