StarCenter user FAQ

Q1: How do I buy StarCenter?

A1: Currently StarCenter is only bundled with PC from the following PC manufacturers below and it is not available as an independent product.
PC manufacturers bundled with StarCenter are:Foundertech,Tsinghua Tongfang,TCL,Great Wall,Hasee Computer Tsinghua unisplendour.

Q2: Why does my PC reboot whenever I insert the StarCenter CD that comes with the PC purchase and does not install software normally?

A2: The PC you purchased is already pre-installed with StarCenter, there is no installation required on you part now. If your PC is affected by virus and does not operate properly, you can access StarCenter restore and recovery functions by pressing designated "Hotkeys" [Ctrl] and [/] keys simultaneously at PC start up and follows the onscreen instructions.

Q3. How does StarCenter operate?

A3: Under Windows environment you can access StarCenter by either pressing designated "Hotkeys" [Ctrl] and [/] keys simultaneously, or click on the icon in the lower right hand corner of your Windows desktop to activate a selection menu.

1.Activate console: You can activate StarCenter console to perform many different functions;
2.Check for alerts: You can check if there are situations that require your attention;
3.Help: Access StarCenter help file
4.About: General information on StarCenter

To access StarCenter Rescue console, termed SatrBase, you will need to restart you PC and pressing designated "Hotkeys" [Ctrl] and [/] keys simultaneously at screen prompt "Press hotkey to access StarBase -- StarCenter Rescue console".

Q4: Why doesn't "Hotkeys" work the first time I start up my PC?

A4: The Hotkeys do not work at StarCenter's first startup;you need to click on the icon at the lower right corner to activate StarCenter console,input activation code before using StarCenter.input activation code before using StarCenter. StarCenter activation policies are as follows:

Class 1: StarCenter console activation code and Class 2: StarCenter console + a. Real time system protection + b. Real time data protection.

If only Class 1 is activated,functions a. and b. in Class 2 will be valid for 90 days, after which they will be disabled, however that will not affect normal operation of StarCenter console. Please contact us to know more about how to activate functions a. and b.

Q5: Why does StarCenter reminds me to register everyday?

A5: It is important that you register your copy of StarCenter to enjoy free upgrade services that will continuously improve various functions in StarCenter, therefore StarCenter will continue to remind you to register if you have not done so after installation to ensure you maximize the benefits StarCenter has to offer now and in the future.

Q6: The trial period for my StarCenter has lapsed, how do I register?

A6: You can contact us StarSoftComm (China), the developer of StarCenter directly via telephone and e-mail to obtain a registration code to elevate your copy to a registered product. Our contacts: Tel: 82893388 ext:830, support e-mail: support@starsoftcomm.com

Q7: I remember designating an important document for protection and have accidentally deleted it, I can only remember its name, can StarCenter help me recover it?

A7: You can use a "search" function in StarCenter to help you recover the document by following these steps:
"System status report "" Display all protection repor t"" Real time data protection "" Important data "" Search""Search documents"The screen will display all documents classified as Important by you, and you can sort by document name, date modified or size of document to help to quickly locate your document.

Q8: I select to re-format my C drive and re-install OS from the CD drive and I can no longer find StarCenter on my system, what happen?

A8: Because you have chosen to re-format your C drive, the process has deleted StarCenter under the Windows environment. To avoid that, you can select to re-install Windows OS using StarBase (StarCenter Rescue console), in addition to installing StarCenter together with the OS installation process, it also protects important operation data.

Q9: My hard disc was defective and I have had it replaced, and I would like to install StarCenter on this new hard disc, what do I have to do?

A9: When you replace your hard disc, you must contact the manufacturer you purchased your PC from to for assistance to install StarCenter on your new hard disc.

Q10: How do I install new Windows OS?

A10: If you are unable to star up your PC into Windows due to virus or hacker attacks, you can access StarBase (StarCenter Rescue console) by pressing designated "Hotkeys" [Ctrl] and [/] keys simultaneously at screen prompt "Press hotkey to access StarBase -- StarCenter Rescue console", select "Install new Windows OS" and follow onscreen instructions to re-install Windows OS.

Q11: I am unable to access malfunctioning Windows OS, and I have important data on my hard disc that I cannot reformat or re-install Windows OS before recovering them; can StarCenter help me in this situation?

A11: Data rescue function in StarCenter solves this "dangerous" and "complicated" situation:
1. Restart your PC, press designated "Hotkeys" [Ctrl] and [/] keys simultaneously to access StarBase (StarCenter Rescue console);
2. Click on "Data rescue" to recover important data on the hard disc and they will be saved in the protected area (hidden partition or HPA);
3. Check if any temporary restore points are available, if so, you can restore the system to any of the restore point;
4. If no temporary restore points are available, you can use "Install new Windows OS" function to completely re-install Windows OS, including formatting your C drive, and your important data has already been saved in the protected area and will not be formatted. After the installation, you can use"Recover rescued data"to safely recover your data.

Q12: What does "Computer C drive back up" mean?

A12: It means to backup the entire system operation environment including Windows OS, anit-virus software and all application software already installed on the system into the protected hidden partition (HPA), so that you can restore you system back to this particular operation status in the event it encountered problems.

Q13: How does StarCenter perform "Real time data and file protection"?

A13:
1. Your StarCenter default protection mode is set to "Protect my e-mail" and "Protect my MS Office documents";
2. You can add any individual document a document type to be protected by StarCenter by using "Add new policy" function;
3. StarCenter data protection is real time and synchronized, protected data are updated in real time under the protection scheme;
4. Hard disc spaced allocated for data protection is fixed and limited, and it progressive reduces with the increases of data designated for protection; you will be notified if available space is low and be prompted to selectively clear less important document to release data protection space;
5. What very important is: when you unintentionally deleted or lose important data due to system problems, rest assure it is protected in the hidden partition and you will be able to recover it using through StarCenter.

Q14: What do I need to be aware of when setting password?

A14:
1. No default password is set at StarCenter's first use;
2. The same password set under Windows console will also be applicable in StarBase (StarCenter Rescue console), password is case sensitive. You will need your password to access console once a password is set, please keep it safe.
3. Please note that [Caps Lock] and [Num Lock] keys do not light up under StarBase environment, please pay attention to case sensitivity requirement of password input.
4. If you are inconvenienced by password protection process, you may remove it by using "Clear password" function.

Q15: What do I need to pay attention to in setting "Personnel system backup"?

A15: When setting "Personnel system backup, you must close your e-mail application (MS OutLook or MS OutLook Express) when setting "E-mail backup" or backup will not be performed. Default setting of unattended backup in StarCenter is set to "Off" after installation, if re-set to "On" with specific backup interval (e.g. daily, weekly or monthly), StarCenter will backup your selected data at that specified interval.

Q16: What can I do if I come across a hardware driver problem?

A16: StarCenter will automatically detect a potential hardware driver problem, (Note: StarCenter will only report hardware drive error if Windows reports it) and report the error in "Recover hardware driver", "Hardware driver diagnostic" and "Alert center", you need only to click on respective repair button to rectify the problem.

Q17: Why do I need to install anti-virus when I want to perform "System virus scan" function?

A17: This process is normal when you first request to perform "System virus scan", StarCenter will check if an anti-virus software is installed, if not, it will guide you to install the software before a virus scan can be performed.

Q18: What is "IE repair" function?

A18: This function restores IE to its default setting, e.g. "Restore IE browser title" and "Set IE as default browser" etc.

Q19: What can I do if I encountered power interruption when performing "User backup" or "Restore user backup"?

A19:
1. If power is interrupted when performing "User backup", the system will detect that a backup job is not completed after system re-start, and prompt for you decision, you may select "yes" to continue of "no" to abort. Current StarCenter backup rate for contents in C drive is 1G/7-8 minutes;
2. If power is interrupted during "Restore user backup", the system will restart your PC, automatically enters StarBase (StarCenter Rescue console) and perform auto system restore. Current StarCenter restore rate for contents to C drive is 1G/7-8 minutes;
3. If power is interrupted during "Restore temporary point", the system will not activate StarBase (StarCenter Rescue console) automatically and you will have to re-activate "Restore system to earlier status", select "Temporary point" to perform restore.

Q20: How do I free up protected space in the hidden partition (HPA)?

A20: If accidentally or intentionally deleted Data and documents designated to be protected, you can recover them onto your desired recovery path. They however are backed up in the protected area and do occupied hard disc space, you may use "Clean protected area space" to free up more space for future use;
StarCenter provides three approaches in "Clean protected area space":
1. Delete once protected data, meaning the data no longer occupied its original hard disc space when it was created, but continue to exist in the protected area;
2. Delete data currently under protection, meaning there exists copy of the data in the protected area;
3. Delete all data in the protected area, including the above two scenarios. In addition to deleting data under protection, this also deletes data recovered via rescue function.

Q21: How do I know when I do not have sufficient space in my protect area or my C drive?

A21: StarCenter will alert you when the % of protected area or C driver used approaches a pre-determined value, and you can set this value in "Intelligent alert ". The default setting is at 20%, when approaches that value, StarCenter will send an alert at 5 minutes interval and you can use "Clean protected area space" as described above to free m ore space.

Q22: Why does the system enter the scan hard disc status after performing a virus scan (Similar to the effect of improper shutdown or improper startup)?

A22: StarBase (StarCenter Rescue console) deploys Windows startup standard process as benchmark in detecting a proper or improper startup, if the previous shutdown was not proper according to Windows benchmark, StarBase will rectify accordingly. The advantage is to ensure all other necessary processes are activated properly, and the accuracy of data where the scrutiny by Windows is not enforced.

Q23: Why is it that URLs in "Deleted document folder" in "Local IE setting" can be restored but newly added URLs cannot be restored to pre-backup status?

A23: Newly added URLs are not backed up, therefore it cannot be restored.

Q24: Restore "Local input method" in "PC data" cannot be restored to pre-backup status?

A24: StarCenter currently only supports backup for "Microsoft input method" and " Tsinghua unispledour input method".