There is much abuzz about Windows Vista. If you haven’t heard, it is Microsoft’s next operating system, set to release later this month. You can check out the features here:
I think it is amazing the impact of a new operating system to application developers, partners, and ultimately the end users/customers. Consider a major service pack release to an existing operating system…
When Windows XP Service Pack 2 was released, it created quite a bit of havoc for many, as users were uncertain how to respond to a rash of security warnings when launching their daily
applications (“I never had a security warning before, is our application safe to use?”). To be fair it was a double edged sword, Microsoft customers were experiencing significant productivity losses, due to security issues in Windows, and while some could prepare for the upcoming security patch to help (those in the know about service pack 2), many small business owners could not. The result: users were confused slowing productivity at best, as many had to determine what to do with the security warnings, or, at worst, troubleshoot why their application was no longer working.You may be asking, “What does this have to do with ACT!?”
What does this have to do with ACT! you ask? Glad you asked. With the forthcoming release of Windows Vista it seems like Microsoft has done it again. As it pertains to Vista, initial reports are a bit more drastic, in fact ACT! by Sage will not work for many. Reportedly, anything older than ACT! 2007 will NOT run on Windows Vista. This is due to the development environment Vista and ACT! was created in. For simplicity sake, let’s just say that ACT! 2007 was developed in a “Vista aware” environment. Whereas older versions of ACT! were not (afterall Vista wasn’t close to release during ACT! 2006 and prior development cycles). Furthermore, initial reports are that Sage Software won’t be able to put out a patch for customers to make it work, as this is an operating system issue…oh yeah, Microsoft owns that.ACT! users running Windows Vista would have to upgrade to ACT! 2007.”But I don’t have plans to upgrade to Vista anytime soon…” The reason I’m posting this now (as oppose to after my first hand experiences), is that computer makers typically offer a free upgrade
to an operating system when customers purchase close to its launch. If you own an incompatible version of ACT! this could spell trouble. So you buy a new laptop, and you get the Vista upgrade in the mail. With glee you stick the disk in to the computer to install the Vista ‘upgrade’, and
experience first hand that your customer management database application no longer works. You do have the option to Upgrade ACT!, but now you are forced to upgrade, instead of having a choice to do so. I don’t know about you, but in my experience customers don’t typically respond kindly when forced to upgrade. Not a huge deal when it is for a single license (depending on flavor, upgrade is $129-$229), but what if this is for 5 or 10 workstations or more? Becomes a significant cost, not to mention the cost of implementation and downtime.
So be aware, if you are an ACT! user, and intend to upgrade to Windows Vista, be sure your version of ACT!, and any other critical software application is compatible. Windows Vista looks very pretty on the outside, and it may well measure up to the signature marketing that is behind it. However, consider the impact to your business, and make sure all is well with your applications on Windows Vista first. Otherwise, your ‘upgrade’ may create an unexpected ‘downgrade’ to your pocketbook.
UPDATE: Check out this very informative link on the ACT website about supporting Vista, Office 2007, and IE7.
Hi, my name is Travis Campbell, I operate this site. A key to success in any business is to effectively manage your relationships. ACT! is a software product helping millions when it comes to doing just that. This Website is designed to assist both those considering ACT! software for their business, as well as to provide insight to ACT! users who want to effectively use it in their day to day operations. So login, post, browse and enjoy.
OJ-
There are a couple options if you don’t want to continue with ACT, you could consider an online/hosted solution, or go with a simple single user product like Microsoft Business Contact Manager, but be careful it is a resource hog as well. I get people going and coming with that product quite often.
All the Best.
Travis:
I have had ACT 9.0.1.162 since mid-2007, and now I have major problems with Vista compatibility. It keeps crashing, freezing, or just not opening at all. It is also horribly slow. I am getting the same error message some of these other people get about not accessing the database.
ACT says it anything past 9.0 is compatible with Vista, but according to you, this is not true. Before I blow another $170, is there anything I can do? I have to justify this expense to my CFO, and he’ll say “we just bought this program not even a year ago.” Thanks
Cassandra-
The latest version of ACT! 2007 does install on Vista. The problem is it won’t integrate with Word, Excel, nor sync with a handheld under that configuration.
Here’s the full post on the ACT! website:
http://www.act.com/vista2007/
You might consider rolling back to XP Pro. If, however it is a single license $170 might be worth it to upgrade to ACT! 2008.
As a side note, I’ve had more frustration with Vista than any other OS I’ve upgrade to before. (Nothing to do with ACT!)
Hope that helps.
I had ACT! 2006 (version 8.0) and when I got a new computer running Vista, I found it worked, but when I tried to synchronize my contacts with the iPhone through Outlook, using CompanionLink, I was told I had to upgrade to ACT! 2008 or ACT! 2007. I decided to buy ACT! 2007 (9.0) and it works fine with Vista and CompanionLink. I’m able to synchronize my contacts from ACT! to my iPhone through CompanionLink, Outlook 2007 and iTunes. I’m actually using Boot Camp on my MacBook Pro and Vista. I’m waiting for a Mac version from ACT! I tried a number of contact managers for the Mac, but wasn’t able to find something that I liked better than ACT!
David-
Interesting scenario.
FYI, ACT! 2009 Corporate Edition EX and ST now include ACT! for Web, which now supports Safari. It isn’t native Mac, but it is a start. You can run Mac OS, and get to your ACT! DB over the web, instead of doing boot camp or parallels.
Hope that helps.
Here’s my issue… and I’m not even sure anyone will get this… but, hopefully someone will.
My company uses ACT! 5.0. My boss doesn’t like it enough to upgrade… so, that is where I’m stuck. I am using Microsoft Office 2007, and the templates I use to make sales documents WILL NOT work with my version of Office. It says something along the lines of “Can Not determine version of windows” and frankly, I have no idea how to solve it. We REALLY don’t nor will want to upgrade to a newer version of ACT! This is just such a hassle.
BTW, thanks so much for the replies. :]
Leah-
Not sure what to tell you here, the bottom line is, Word 2007 isn’t supported with that version of ACT! (about 8 years old). Try downgrading office to Office 2000. Does your boss know that if the database crashes, it is no longer supported to repair by ACT!?
I just received a new Desktop computer with the 64-bit Windows Vista and tried to load the ACT 6.0 but could not. Error message said “could not load and unsupported 16-bit application”. Very disappointed.
Is there another contact program that will run on Vista that the Database + Notes & History could be transferred?????????
Norm-
Congrats on your new computer. The issue is 64-bit windows. It is now supported in ACT! 2009, did not work with previous versions. You might want to upgrade or move to a different product if you are using it for business, as ACT! 6 is no longer supported (if something happens to the DB).
Hope that helps.
My client has been running Act 2.0 for Windows on Win ‘95 for years. He wants to preserve his data base and move it to a new Dell runing Vista , but we are unsure where to begin.
Is Act 2007 going to be compatible with Vista?
Will Act 2007 read the data base from Act 2.0 for Widows?
If not, how would you suggest we preserve our database and convert it to some form that Act 2007 can access?
Lawren-
Actually ACT 2007 is not going to be your best solution for him on Vista, I recommend ACT! 2009 (which is currently the latest version). You’ll first have to upgrade the 2.0 database to version 6, and then move it to the new and improved 2009 format.
Hope that helps.
Travis -
Hi again, I am a long time ACT user and we have spoken before. I am currently running ACT 9.0 Version 9.0.1.162, Hotfix 1 with a two user shared database. WE have been limping along on our last upgrade (myriad problems with Outlook, Notes, etc) but nohting to really prompt an upgrade.
Now the database is freezing 5-6 times a day forcing a complete re-boot, etc.
My question is – Does it make sense to upgrade to ACT 11.0? Will this “fix” my database freezing issues? I have hired a local ACT guru and he couldn’t solve my issues and now I am wondering if an upgrade is the way out.
Are there the same “usual” ACT problems with ACT 11.0 ?
Thanks
Mark
I was just checking to see if anyone knows of the compatibility of ACT6.0 with Windows XP SP3. We still use ACT6.0, and plan to upgrade soon to 2009, but need to keep operating on 6.0 for a couple more months.
We have been using ACT6.0 on XP SP2 very successfully.
Does anyone use ACT6.0 on XP SP3?
Thanks.
Hello. I am having trouble opening our database. We recently had to reinstall the software on our server due to a virus. We made a backup of the database, but when we try to open it, I get an error stating that the database can not be opened because it is not a shared database. In case you are wondering, this database was being “shared” prior to this happening. I am not sure if the error is referring to the same thing.
Any suggestions would be appreciated on how to resolve this. Thanks. – Chris
I use ACT 2005. I recently got a new computer using Vista. I had XP & Act 2005 worked but really dragged the system down. I use it only for the database, I do not do the mail merge or documents etc. Will ACT 2005 work on Vista? If not, is there another database manager you could suggest without dragging my system down? I use the contact area & notes area almost exclusively.
Any suggestions would be appreciated.
Thanks,
Julie
Julie-
Since ACT! 2005 is no longer supported, you might consider finding an alternative product. The challenge there is migrating the data to the new product. Best option would be to upgrade to ACT! 2009, where the data migrates much easier. Hope that helps.
Chris-
Yes, it is referring to it as a network share. You need to share the DB in order to access it over the network, check and make sure the supplimental files folder is shared. Sometimes it is as simple as unsharing and sharing again (within ACT!) for it to work. Hope that helps.
Fred-
Haven’t run ACT! 6 for some time, I’m not sure. If you test it and can report back here that would be great.
Others tried ACT! 6 with XP SP3?
Mark- (my apologies about the commenting system being disjointed, will be improving it in the future)
Can’t say for sure if ACT! 2009 will “solve” your problems or not. My concern is if you have database issues, and upgrade will not correct that. You might be wise to invest to have the database examined, and fixed….then move forward once you are assured it is clean. If this is something you need assistance with, feel free to contact me directly.
I am on the board of a Non Profit that takes care of people in there homes over sixty years. With funding getting tighter and needs increasing we are looking to fund raising and donations to provide services.
During the past ten years of Act I have bought three versions of Act.
Each one harder to use and with very expensive service. yet as i look at what is on the market I am drawn to ACT. Can the 2010 version be run with Office 2007 and Microsoft seven.. We can get Act from Tech Soup, but my main concern is support cost. Any suggestions would be welome. Thanks in advance for your reply. 608-295-3869 central ttime
Chuck-
I hear your pain. A lot of people are struggling out there at the moment. ACT! 2010 works with Office 2007, and Windows 7, yes. I cannot speak for others, but customers who have purchased through our site, seem grateful for the help found in the bonus package offered with each purchase. At the moment, that includes, video training, addon software, and a couplee books. You might also look at the ACT! website for consultants in your area, or checkout our (a href="http://www.actasap.net/consulting" target="_blank">consulting page.
Also if you join the site, I give some free video training as well. Hope that helps.
-Travis
My wife has ACT 2009 (11.0.0.367) installed on her computer, (VISTA). I bought it a few months ago, before the official Windows 7 rollout. The upgrade disk has arrived and I'd like to upgrade her system to Windows 7. I'm nervous; will her current version of ACT work with Windows 7?
Hey Notetome-
Windows 7 is only supported with .
Hope that helps.
-Travis