I can't install or launch inFlow, what should I do? - Support

If you already use inFlow and have some problems running it, please backup your data before proceeding by following step 1 below. Before you begin, if you’re not sure which version of Windows you’re using please follow these steps from Microsoft to find out: http://windows.microsoft.com/en-CA/windows/which-operating-system

Please note: Before you begin please make sure that your Windows profile (i.e. your User login for Windows) is not the same name as your computer. For example, George’s PC uses the name “George,” as does his login. To solve this issue re-name the computer to something like “George-PC” instead of “George” and try running the installer again.

Step 1: Clean Up
1) If you’ve already started using inFlow there may be important data on your computer you’ll want to save, if you don’t have any data in the program yet you can skip this step and step 2. First open the Services window, complete the following based on your version of windows:

Windows XP or Server 2003: click Start > Run > type services.msc
Vista, Windows 7 or Server 2008 R2: click Start > type services
Windows 8: Windows Key + R > type services.msc

Scroll to SQL Server (INFLOWSQL), right click, and select Stop service. If not there, please move on to step (2).

2) Now we’ll need to backup your data from outside the program, open this folder (see instructions below according to your operating system):

Windows XP or Server 2003: C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\inFlow Inventory
Vista, Windows 7, Server 2008 R2 or Windows 8: C:\ProgramData\inFlow Inventory

And copy the following two files to your desktop: inFlow.mdf and inFlow_log.LDF. Once copied, delete everything in this folder EXCEPT the “Backup” folder (as it contains your automated backups from inFlow with all your information). If you’re not able to see the folders in question please follow these steps to show hidden files/folders: Windows XP (or Windows Server 2003), Vista, Windows 7 (or Windows Server 2008 R2), Windows 8.

3) To uninstall inFlow Inventory from the control panel, complete the following based on your version of windows:

Windows XP or Server 2003: click Start > Control Panel > Uninstall (or Add/Remove Programs).
Vista, Windows 7 or Server 2008 R2: click Start > Control Panel > Uninstall (or Programs and Features).

Windows 8: Windows Key > type Control Panel > Uninstall (or Programs and Features).

If inFlow Inventory is not listed there, please move on to step 4).

4) To uninstall anything that starts with “Microsoft SQL Server” from the control panel, complete the following based on your version of windows:

Windows 8: Windows Key > type Control Panel > Uninstall (or Programs and Features).

(examples include: Microsoft SQL Server, Microsoft SQL Server VSS Writer, Microsoft SQL Server Native Client, Microsoft SQL Server Setup Support Files etc.). If none of these are listed there, please move on to step 5).
5) Next, please go to the directories below:
C:\Program Files\Microsoft SQL Server C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft SQL Server

If there are any folders in here named “MSSQL10_50.INFLOWSQL”, delete it.
If there are MSSQL.1 AND MSSQL.2 (or more), skip to next step.

If there’s only one called MSSQL.1, and no MSSQL.2, etc., then delete the files in these two folders:
32-bit Windows: C:\Program Files\Microsoft SQL Server\MSSQL.1\MSSQL\Data C:\Program Files\Microsoft SQL Server\MSSQL.1\MSSQL\Template Data
64-bit Windows: C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft SQL Server\MSSQL.1\MSSQL\Data C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft SQL Server\MSSQL.1\MSSQL\Template Data

If you don’t see any of those folders, skip this step and move on to the next part.

Step 2: Reinstall inFlow
There are 2 options. We recommend trying option 1 first. If option 1 was unsuccessful you’ll have to repeat the steps above before trying option 2 below.

Option 1 (if you were previously using inFlow):
Download and install inFlow v2.5.1 from here.

Option 2 (if you are new to inFlow and just installing the download from our website didn’t work):
Install inFlow and Microsoft SQL Server (backend database for inFlow) manually via these steps.

PLEASE NOTE: if you’re installing SQL Server separately on a Windows 8 computer please use these steps instead.
If you are successful go ahead and delete those files you copied in step 5) from your desktop.