General Questions...
     1)  It's only $24.95 - What's the catch?
     2)  Which FileVan do I need? - Windows or DOS
     3)  What kind of files can I transfer?
     4)  Do I need to buy a program for each of my PCs?
     5)  Can I get a printed manual?
     6)  Can I buy FileVan in local stores?
     7)  Can I purchase by direct electronic transfer?
     8)  If I lose the program, can I get a free replacement?
     9)  How do I get a free upgrade?
   10)  Is USB support available?

Cable Questions...
     1)  Can I use any cable?
     2)  Can I make my own cable?

Technical Questions...
     1)  I downloaded it to my PC - How do I install it on my other PC?
     2)  Why won't my PC let me download FileVan as an email attachment?
     3)  How do I uninstall the program?
     4)  Does FileVan delete files as they are transferred (move or copy)?
     5)  Can I transfer files between CD drives?, ZIP drives?, Network drives?
     6)  Can I transfer operating systems such as Windows 98?
     7)  Can I transfer applications?
     8)  I'm tired of swapping cables - Is there a better way?
     9)  Does the DOS version support long file names?
     10)  How fast can I transfer files?
     11)  Does it matter if my drive system is FAT16, FAT32 or other?
     12)  My laptop has no CD drive - Can I install applications from my desktop's CD drive?




General Questions...

1)  It's only $24.95 - What's the catch?
     The catch is that LapLink and pcAnywhere have features that you pay for, but aren't likely to use. If all you want to do is transfer files, you can save a lot of money with FileVan.
up

2)  Which FileVan do I need? - Windows or DOS?
     FileVan (Windows) will run on PCs running Windows  9x, ME, NT, XP and 2000.
     FileVan (DOS) is intended for PCs running DOS and Windows 3.1. If  long-file-name support is not needed, you may also use it on Windows 9x and ME.

     Due to the overlap above, you may use either program on Windows 9x and ME. In this situation, the Windows version is recommended because of it's far greater capability and use of system memory. And it's the same price! Generally, you should use the DOS program only on DOS and Windows 3.1 PCs.

     The DOS and Windows programs can 'talk' to each other, therefore allowing the transfer of files between the oldest DOS PCs and the latest Windows PCs.  You will need both programs to do this.

     The current DOS program does not support long file names. Future DOS versions may. A file with a long name of  'My File Name.Txt' will be transferred as something similar to MYFILE~1.TXT. You have the option of renaming it back to it's long name.  Files transferred between the DOS and Windows programs will be short names even if one or both PCs allows long names (Win 9x, ME, NT, XP, 2000).
up

3)  What kind of files can I transfer?
     While FileVan is able to transfer every file on a PC, it's not always a good idea to do so.  File transfer programs are intended to transfer work files and data files. The problem with transferring large applications (such as Microsoft Office) and operating systems (such as Windows 98) is that not all the files you need are in the Windows folder (or the application's main folder). There are many files placed elsewhere that may be missed. And there are registry settings that only the installation program knows how to  make. Also, applications and operating systems install in ways that are hardware dependent and you may have problems running those applications on a PC with a different hardware mix.  In most case, this means that the application or operating system will not run without problems and may appear to be corrupted when they are not. There's just no substitute for installing with the original disks or CD-ROMS except in the case of very simple applications. Then use a file transfer product such as ours to transfer data files and work files.
If your PC does not have a CD-ROM drive, see Technical Questions 12  (bottom of this page).
up

4)  Do I need to buy a program for each of my PCs?
     No - One license covers up to 3 of your own PCs.  For bulk purchases (government and large companies), one license is required for every 2 PCs.
up

5)  Can I get a printed manual?
     No - Not having a printed manual is one of the factors that makes it possible to offer FileVan for $24.95. We make up for it by making the program intuitive to use and offering fast email technical support when there are questions.
up

6)  Can I buy FileVan in local stores?
     Not anymore. We are now an Internet-only business with all operations centralized at our web site.
up

7)  Can I purchase by direct electronic transfer?
     No - Our bank charges too much for such transactions.
up

8)  If I lose the program, can I get a free replacement?
     Yes - If  your PC crashes, you can get a free replacement program by asking us at replacement@filevan.com
up

9)  How do I get a free upgrade?
     If  your FileVan doesn't run on a new operating system or on your newest PC, ask for a free update at update@filevan.com
up

10)  Is USB support available?
     Not within the FileVan program - But we carry a USB file transfer product - details.
up

Cable Questions...

1)  Can I use any cable?
     No - You must use a 'Laplink Parallel Port' cable.  It is a specially cross-wired cable and has a 25 pin male connector at each end.  A straight-through cable and other cables may look the same but will not work with file-transfer programs.
     There is more info on the cable at cable.html including a cable pin-map for those with a continuity tester.  The right cable is available at most local computer stores. We don't maintain a list of suppliers of the cable - there are so many of them.
up

2)  Can I make my own cable?
     Yes, the pin map is at cable.html. Homemade cables are not as good as manufactured cables due to stray effects (inductance and capacitance) because they are not tightly and controllably wrapped and shielded.  Such affects can slow transfer speed, cause timeouts and in extreme cases, can even cause corruption of transferred files. If you want to make your own cable, keep it as short as possible.
up

Technical Questions...

1)  I downloaded it to my PC - How do I install it on my other PC?
     If you can't download it to both PCs off the Internet, you can download it to one PC and copy it to a floppy disk.  Both the DOS and Windows versions of FileVan will fit on a standard 1.44 MB floppy disk.
up

2)  Why won't my PC let me download FileVan as an email attachment?
     Some email providers (such as  HotMail) and some email programs (such as OutLook) don't allow EXE file attachments. In those cases, you can request that we change the file extension from EXE to something else and send it to you again.  After downloading, you can rename the extension  back to EXE so that you can run it.
up

3)  How do I uninstall the program?
     When FileVan is installed, it is not entered in the 'Add/Remove' program list in Control Panel. Instead it is in the Programs group on your Start Menu. Select FileVan, then Uninstall.
up

4)  Does FileVan delete files as they are transferred (move or copy)?
     No - FileVan merely copies files. The original file is not disturbed.
up

5)  Can I transfer files between CD drives?, ZIP drives?, Network drives?
     Yes - All drives that are initially logged by the program may be involved in file transfer. 
up

6)  Can I transfer operating systems such as Windows 98?
     See General Questions 3
up

7)  Can I transfer applications?
     See General Questions 3
up

8)  I'm tired of swapping cables - Is there a better way?
     Yes - There are other options...
     1) You can install a second parallel port card.
     2) You can use a 2-Way cable Switch Box (swbox.html) - Set to position A for printing. then to position B for transferring files.
up

9)  Does the DOS version support long file names?
     No, but future versions may.  Of course if you use FileVan on older DOS PCs, all files are short-named anyway so it doesn't matter. On newer PCs, if Windows has crashed, only DOS can be used. If you have only a few files to transfer, you can rename the short names to long at the destination PC.
up

10)  How fast can I transfer files?
     Everybody's transfer speed is different.  In general, transfer time is as fast as your PC can go and is mostly decided by the slowest speed of the 2 PCs involved in the transfer. Other factors such as an electrically noisy environment or poor cable quality can cause re-sending of data packets which results in slower speeds.  Other programs running may also result in much slower transfer speeds.  Also transferring many small files can be much slower than transferring 1 large file of the same total size. Most users report a speed in the range of 70-90 KBytes/Sec.
up

11)  Does it matter if my drive system is FAT16, FAT32 or other?
     No - The operating system is sandwiched between FileVan and the drive system. Differences in drive systems are managed by Windows.
up

12)  My laptop has no CD drive - Can I install applications from my desktop's CD drive?
     Yes, you may do so indirectly.  You can make your laptop (or other PC) think it has a CD-ROM drive.  Make a temporary folder on the laptop - call it something like 'CD'.  Transfer the contents of the Windows CD from your desktop to that folder.  After transfer, run the installation program in that folder, usually 'Setup.Exe'.  This way, all the registry settings and hardware-dependent issues are taken care of.  The transfer may take quite awhile since CDs can hold a lot of data.
     Since Microsoft tends to use only short file names on most of it's CDs, you can use either our DOS program (no long file name support) or our Windows version.  We recommend the Windows version because you may later want long file name support and the price is the same.  Either program will fit on a floppy disk for installation on your laptop.
up

 Always free trial and free updates for FileVan products.

If  problems with this site, our site list is - filevan.com, rainyc.com, rainycity.biz, rainycitycomputer.com