Software FAQs

Product Name: Incorporator Pro
Platform: Windows
Current Version: 1.2
Revision Date: 1/31/06
Availability: Out of print; technical support available for registered users

System Requirements:

• Operating System: Windows 98, Me, 2000 or XP
• Processor: Pentium 300 MHz or higher
• RAM: 64 MB
• Word Processor: Microsoft Word 97 or higher to view, edit and print documents; or Microsoft Word Viewer 97/2000 (included with program) to view and print documents 
• Hard Disk Space: 26 MB
• Double-speed CD-ROM drive
• Video: VGA or higher (800 x 600 minimum)
• 14.4 Kbps or higher modem required to access online features, 56 Kbps modem recommended
• Internet access is required for all online features.
• Microsoft Internet Explorer 5.0 or higher required
• Optional: Adobe Acrobat Reader 4.0 or higher

Frequently Asked Questions

Am I eligible for technical support for this product?

What should I do if I have a problem with my Nolo software program?

How can I tell which version number I have?

Why should I register my software?

I have legal questions. Can Nolo help?

Will this program work on Microsoft Vista?

Can I run this program under Windows NT 4?

Why doesn't anything happen when I put the Incorporator Pro CD into my CD-ROM drive?

Is there a Macintosh version of this program?

After I install the program, I can't run it -- I get an error message saying that Incorporator Pro can't open its data file "mycorp.inc" What can I do?

How do I backup the corporation data I’ve entered and documents I’ve created?

Why am I seeing strange error messages that are preventing me from using or installing the program?

How can I make sure that the program is current and up to date?

I am currently running earlier of Incorporator Pro. What's different in version 1.2?

Do I need to upgrade to the most recent version of the program?

How do I uninstall Incorporator Pro?

Am I eligible for technical support for this product?

Yes. Although this program is out of print , registered users are still eligible for technical support until September 2008. If you have not yet registered your software, here's how:

1. Start Incorporator Pro.
2. Connect to the Internet if you're not already connected.
3. Click the "Register Online" button at the bottom of the main Incorporator Pro program window.

For details, see the section on "Policy for Current Versions" in Nolo's Technical Support Policy.

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What should I do if I have a problem with my Nolo software program?

Here are three steps you should take if you have a problem with the software:

Step 1. Review the documentation that came with the program
If you have a problem, first consult the following resources:

• Users' Manual
• Program Help from the "Help" menu
• "Read Me First" file from the "Start" menu

Step 2. Read the software FAQs
Read the rest of these frequently asked questions to see whether your problem is addressed.

Step 3. Contact Nolo's Technical Support Staff
If your problem persists, you should contact our Technical Support staff directly. The quickest way to contact us is by email at support@nolo.com.

If you contact Technical Support, please provide as much information as you can about your problem, including

• the name of the program
• the program version (to access this information, select "About" from the "Help" menu)
• any error messages
• details about what you were doing when the error occurred.

The following information about your computer may also be helpful:

• operating system (for example, Windows 98)
• processor type (for example, Pentium III, 500 MHz)
• RAM (for example, 128 MB) 
• video card information
• printer model

You may also phone us at 510-549-4660 (9 - 5 p.m. Pacific Standard Time, Monday - Friday). However, we urge you to email us first whenever possible.

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How can I tell which version number I have?

Select "About Incorporator Pro" from the "Help" menu to see the version number. If you can’t run the program, open the Read Me file -- it also contains version information.

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Why should I register my software?

Registering your software entitles you to receive technical support. Here's how to register:

1. Start Incorporator Pro.
2. Connect to the Internet if you're not already connected.
3. Click the "Register Online" button at the bottom of the main Incorporator Pro program window.

 If you purchased the program directly from Nolo, you are already registered.

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I have legal questions. Can Nolo help?

Unfortunately, Nolo's Technical Support staff cannot answer legal questions. If you have legal questions, please consult the Help file that came with your software.

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Will this program work on Microsoft Vista?

This program predates the release Microsoft’s Windows Vista and may not work correctly under Vista. In particular, we have identified the following issues:

Program Help: If you try to access the program’s Help system, an error will appear.

Microsoft plans to make a free, Vista-compatible version of WinHelp (winhlp32.exe) available soon for download at http://support.microsoft.com/kb/917607. (As of this writing, the download is not yet available.) You should check there periodically to see if the download has been posted.

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Can I run this program under Windows NT 4?

This software usually works fine on Windows NT 4. Due to the complexity of supporting products under Windows NT 4, however, we do not offer support for Windows NT 4 users. We do support users running this program on Windows 2000, XP, Me, and 98.

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Why doesn't anything happen when I put the Incorporator Pro CD into my CD-ROM drive?

If you can't see the "Welcome to Incorporator Pro" screen when you insert the CD-ROM, double click on My Computer with the CD in the drive. Then double click on your CD-ROM drive icon. If  you still can't see the "Welcome to Incorporator Pro" screen, then go to your Windows "Start" menu, select "Run" and enter "D:\Welcome".

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Is there a Macintosh version of this program?

No. We do not have plans to provide this software for the Macintosh. If you have a PC emulator (such as either Virtual PC or Guest PC) on your Mac, you can install and use this program. Be aware, though, that this configuration is not supported by Nolo Technical Support.

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After I install the program, I can't run it -- I get an error message saying that Incorporator Pro can't open its data file "mycorp.inc" What can I do?

This problem occurs in Windows XP or 2000 when users who are not administrators install the program. You can get around this problem by downloading the required program files and extracting them to the correct locations in the IncPro program folder.

For instructions on how to download and extract the files you need, contact Nolo Technical Support at support@nolo.com.

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How do I backup the corporation data I’ve entered and documents I’ve created?

Before you create an additional corporation -- or just to play it safe --  you should back up:

• your corporation data file, and
• all your completed corporation document files.

Incorporator Pro's data file (named "mycorp.inc"), which holds the background and document information that you entered, holds information for only one corporation at a time. Therefore, you must be sure all the documents you created for your first corporation are final before you create the next corporation.

To back up your corporation data file:

1. Search for your "mycorp.inc" file, located in the "corpdata" folder (the location of this file and folder varies, depending on which version of the Windows operating system you are using).
2. Select the "mycorp.inc" file by clicking it with your mouse.
3. Choose Copy from the Edit menu.
4. In your "My Documents" folder, create a new subfolder called "Corp Forms Backups" and open this new folder.
5. Choose Paste from the Edit menu.

To back up corporation documents:

1. Open your "My Documents" folder and find the "My Corp Forms" folder.
2. Open the "My Corp Forms" folder and select all the files listed.
3. Choose Copy from the Edit menu.
4. If you haven’t already done so, create a new subfolder called "Corp Forms Backups" within your "My Documents" folder.
5. Open your "Corp Forms Backups" folder.
6. Choose Paste from the Edit menu.
   

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Why am I seeing strange error messages that are preventing me from using or installing the program?

Occasionally, third party software can interfere with installation. If you are experiencing problems during or immediately after installation, please do the following:

• If you were able to finish installation, uninstall Incorporator Pro.
• Restart your computer.
• Quit all other applications running, including anti-virus software.
• Install Incorporator Pro again.

 If you continue to receive error messages, please contact our technical support department by sending an email to support@nolo.com or by calling 510-549-4660.

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How can I make sure that the program is current and up to date?

We keep this program as up to date as possible. Nevertheless, laws and official forms can -- and do -- change. Generally, the information and forms in Incorporator Pro stay current between versions of the software, but the Articles of Incorporation form, an incorporation document that is filed with the state, does change from time to time. Most changes made by the states to their official Articles form are minor and reflect formatting or incidental information changes rather than legal changes, and many states allow you to file a previous Articles of Incorporation form.

However, to be safe, it's always best to use the latest Articles form - doing so ensures that your Articles are filed immediately by the state office when the document is received by the state. If the Articles form has changed and the state requires you to use the very latest form, your Articles will be returned to you unfiled, together with your check for the filing fees and the latest Articles form provided by the state. Having to resubmit your Articles for filing means you will have to delay the filing of your Articles and the start date of your corporation, usually by a week or two. For most incorporators, this delay, if it happens, is not critical, but it is an inconvenience that they would prefer to avoid.

• A state's Articles of Incorporation form can change at any time during the year, so the best way to make sure you prepare and use the most current form is to go online to the state corporate filing office website just after you prepare and print the Incorporator Pro Articles document. Incorporator Pro helps you do this by providing a Filing Office button on the Incorporator Pro State Info window. To compare the Incorporator Pro Articles for your state to your state's latest official form, do the following:
• Prepare and print your Incorporator Pro Articles.
• Click the Filing Office button on the Incorporator Pro State Info window to launch your browser and go to your state's corporate filing office website
• Go to their corporate forms download page and view or print the latest official state Articles form. Note: if your state does not provide a form, go ahead and use the Incorporator Pro form -- it should work fine since it will not have been superseded by a newer state Articles form.
• Compare it to Incorporator Pro articles form you previously printed. The easiest way is to compare form revision dates, which typically appear in the headers of footers of the form or in the heading at the beginning of the text on the first page. If revision dates are not provided on the form, just glance through the form to see whether the state form is arranged differently from the Incorporator Pro form or has different Articles from the Incorporator Pro form.
• If the state website form is more recent or contains different information from the Incorporator Pro form, use the state website form instead of the Incorporator Pro form. The basic legal content should be very similar, so simply copy the information inserted in the Incorporator Pro form over to the state website form, and add any new information that may be required. Normally, changes to the state form will reflect only formatting changes, and will not require you to provide new information. If new information must be supplied, it normally consists of basic name, address and contact information, not legal information.

Comparing state vs. Incorporator Pro Articles forms in this manner usually takes a minute or two, and will help you make sure that your Articles will be filed by the state without delay.

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I am currently running earlier of Incorporator Pro. What's different in version 1.2?

Version 1.2 updates the Articles of Incorporation for the following states:

Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, District of Columbia, Florida, Hawaii, Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Mexico, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia, Wisconsin.

In addition, instructional screen text and web links have been updated. All users who have not yet filed their incorporation documents or who plan on making additional filings in the future should update to version 1.2.

Be aware that if you update, you will need to re-create all your incorporation documents from scratch -- Incorporator Pro 1.2 will not be able to open a version 1.0 or 1.1 data file or convert previously entered data.

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Do I need to upgrade to the most recent version of the program?

Incorporator Pro is upgraded for any new Articles forms each year. Again, please realize that any new Articles forms in new versions are a moving target, and you always will want to check the Incorporator Pro Articles against the latest state forms before mailing your Articles to the state for filing.

New versions of Incorporator Pro also may have new legal and tax information that can be helpful to you in deciding whether to incorporate your business, and to make sure you follow the right procedure in your state.

If you purchased Incorporator Pro more than one year from the date you use it, look at the “Current Version” and “ Revision Date” information at the top of this FAQ page to see if a newer version of the product is available for purchase. Nolo offers a special upgrade discount to previous purchasers of Incorporator Pro.

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How do I uninstall Incorporator Pro?

First, make sure you have back-ups and/or printouts of your documents. Then, choose Start from the taskbar, select Settings, and open the Control Panel. Select Add/Remove Programs, and then double-click the Incorporator Pro item to uninstall the program.

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