Frequently Asked Questions

This F.A.Q. contains a list of the questions most frequently asked by customers and potential customers of Front Office Football.

Last updated: December 31, 2010

Electronic Licensing and Installation

When I try and run the program, nothing happens?

Vista and Windows 7 require administrative privileges to run certain types of programs. You should try the following four actions:

1. Right-click on the product icon entry in the installation folder (usually under Program Files (with or without the x86)/Solecismic Software/Front Office Football 2007/FrFoot2007.exe. Allow it to run as administrator by checking the appropriate box.

2. Find the downloaded installation program. Right-click on the entry or icon. Allow it to run as administrator.

3. This can apply to earlier versions of the operating system as well. The licensing software requires a file called msvcr71.dll. This is considered a vital part of the operating system. You will often get a message that this file is missing if this is the problem, but sometimes you don't see any message. You can download this file from the above link and place it in the folder with the installation file. Or you can place it in your windows folder (often C:/Windows/System32). As of version 6.4. this file is placed in the installation folder.

4. In rare cases, the above changes do not solve the problem. Click on the Start Menu, then the Computer or My Computer entry on the right side of the window. Click on the System Properties menu near the top of the screen. Click on the Advanced system settings entry on the left side of the screen (this might require you to confirm permissions). Click on the Advanced tab, then the button called Settings under Performance. Cilck on the Data Execution Prevention tab. Make sure the setting for Turn on DEP for essential Windows programs and services only option is selected.

When I run the program after installation, it posts a message indicating it has "stopped working" and crashes to desktop. What can I do?

We are getting a small number of recent reports of this happening with the Windows 7, 64-bit operating system. The problem is that anti-virus software may interfere with the ability of the electronic licensing software to unwrap Front Office Football.

This is doubly confusing because it seems that the process of installing some anti-virus products (particularly AVG and Zone Alarm) is what causes the problem. We recommend that you uninstall any anti-virus product not specifically built for 64-bit Windows 7. We recommend using Microsoft Security Essentials (free if you own Windows) instead.

When reinstalling, or installing a new update, do I need to uninstall, unlicense and relicense the product?

Generally, you don't need to remove the license before reinstalling or installing an update. You need to remove the license only when you're removing the game from a computer and putting it on a different computer.

When reinstalling, you usually need to uninstall the game first. In versions 6.3 or later, there's a link in the product folder to uninstall. For earlier versions, you will need to go into the Control Panel and remove the Front Office Football 2007 software. On Vista, this link is often called Programs and Features. On XP and earlier, it is called Add/Remove Programs.

If unlicensing the product causes a crash, make sure you're running the game as administrator, by right-clicking on the FrFoot2007.exe entry in the installation folder and checking the appropriate box. But remember that if you're only uninstalling so that you can immediately reinstall a newer version, you do not need to unlicense during the process.

After downloading or trying to install the game, I am told it's not a Windows application or a file wasn't found. What should I do?

Lately, we've been having many customers report this problem. And they often report the download is very small. It should be around 41 Mb. If this keeps happening, switch browsers and try the download again. If the file size is correct, make sure you have the file called msvcr71.dll in your installation folder.

I am trying to locate the folders (universe, leagues, import, export) the game uses in versions 6.3 or later?

These folders are now under the AppData folder in your Users/Your_Profile_Name folder. However, these folders are hidden, by default, in Vista and Windows 7. So, in your file manager (My Computer or Computer on the Start Menu), go to the Tools menu, select Folder Options, click the View tab, and make sure you check the box to show Hidden files and folders.

I've run out of licenses due to hard disk crashes or computers that no longer work. What can I do?

We want our customers to have some flexibility with the licensing system. So ViaTech, in most cases, is willing to reset your licenses. Contact ViaTech support to make that request. Make sure to white-list elicense.com in your anti-spam settings.

Front Office Football

I can run the game, but not all functions work. I can't always save games, or view box scores and game logs?

In some cases, you need administrative privileges to run programs that can save or modify files. Go to the product's installation folder. Go to each folder in the installation (universe, leagues, leaguehtml, export, import), right-click on the folder itself, select Properties, then the Security tab. Make sure your account has permission to modify, read, write and execute files in each folder.

If you still can't read box scores and game logs after doing this, go to the Global Game Options window within the game. Select Choose/Edit Color Scheme, then check the box for Use custom box and log browser.

This is somewhat easier with version 6.3a, in that the folders for the universe and leagues are no longer under the installation folder. They shouldn't require the same permissions level.

Is Front Office Football completely compatible with Windows 7?

We are looking into this question. There's no reason it shouldn't be compatible. One early problem we're finding is that a higher percentage of installations require the msvcr71.dll file in the same folder as the installation file, or in the windows/system32 folder. This file is placed in the installation folder when installing Front Office Football 2007, as of version 6.3a. We are still working with ViaTech, our licensing company, to figure out any remaining problems with installation under Windows 7. It is essential that the installation program has full permission to run with administrative privileges. Once the product is installed and the license is in place, you do not need those privileges.

Is Front Office Football completely compatible with Windows Vista?

The electronic licensing works, and ViaTech is working on a function that allows complete control over the license in the control panel, as you have with earlier operating systems. Front Office Football works as well, and, as of version 6.3, behaves as a native Vista application for the most part.

If you run into problems, as always with Vista, try giving the executable and all folders under the installation administrative privileges.

Of course, try the demo before purchase to see if it runs on your system.

I've pressed the F1 button, but I get a message that the help file can not be read?

Microsoft decided to "retire" its own help product with the introduction of Vista. At some point, Front Office Football will use the new html-based Windows help system (as the card game does). But, for now, you can visit Microsoft and download their help patch and install it.

Would you tell me if and when your next product is coming out?

Because of the difficulty in determining exact release dates, and even whether a product will take shape, I want to avoid building high expectations. I think a small company like this operates optimally, long-term, with as little hype as humanly possible. I promise you that as soon as I'm ready to release any information, it will be posted on this web site. But I do appreciate very much that people are still interested in my work, more than a decade from the beginning of Front Office Football.

My question isn't addressed here. Are there more answers?

Yes. There is a secondary F.A.Q. page.