Support PC Coach Light Support General Topics

General PC Coach Light Support
Here you will find answers to general questions about PC Coach Light on requirements, backing up data, and how your PC settings effect PC Coach Light.

 
Serial #s Preferences Difference Between PC Coach Light and Elite
Backups Appearance Transferring Data to a new computer
Manuals Compatibility Installing
     
QUESTION:

Where do I find the serial number for my PC Coach Light software?
ANSWER:

When first installing the software, the serial number can be found on the cover of the CD-Rom envelope. After installation, it can also be found when you have the program open - choose Help/About PC Coach from your top toolbar and you should see both the serial number and your current version number.
QUESTION:

I get an "Invalid Serial #" error when I try to install the software. Why?
ANSWER:

You probably made a mistake typing in the serial #. PC Coach serial numbers are in the following 11-digit format:
TWO LETTERS, TWO NUMBERS, LETTER, SIX NUMBERS.

Invalid serial # errors often occur when the firth character is mistakenly typed in as a number, especially when that charachter is the letter "I" -- please make sure you have not typed the number "1" for the fifth character.

QUESTION:

How do I back up my PC Coach Light program?
ANSWER:

The only essential folder needing scheduled backups is your User folder, which contains your calendar data. To back up your calendar/user data:
1.
 Open Windows Explorer / My Computer.
2.
 Locate the PC Coach directory on the appropriate hard drive (Most likely C:\pccoach2 or C:\pccoach3).
3.
 Open the PC Coach file and locate your user folder. Your user folder will have a title with the first 5 characters of your log-in name followed by _01. For example, Chris Athlete's user folder is titled Chris_01.
4.
 Drag and drop this file onto your backup device.

Please note: When backing up your user folder make sure the resultant files are not marked as "Read Only." If the files are read only, you will not be able to access your data in PC Coach until you remove the Read Only attribute from each file. To remove the Read Only attribute, right click on each file in the folder, choose Properties, and uncheck Read Only (you will need to do this for each folder, sub folder, and file).

QUESTION:

I have backed up my data onto a CDR or CD-Rom, but since reinstalling it I receive a 'Data Base Missing' error when I try to open a workout.
ANSWER:

Your data has probably been converted to 'read-only' files. To turn the read-only attribute off you must go to every sub-directory of your user folder (some may not have any files in them, so you can skip these), including the Calendar folder which has further sub-folders, and select all the files in each sub-directory. Next, right click on each of the selected files and select 'Properties'. Last, you will need to un-check the read-only box in each of these selected files properties and click 'ok'. Next time you back up your data, if possible, use a Zip drive to do the backup; do not back your data up onto a CDR or CD-Rom.
QUESTION:

How do I copy my training data from PC Coach Light to a new computer?
ANSWER:

First, install your PC Coach Light software on the new computer. You will want to use the same registration name that you used for the installation on the first computer. Then, copy your entire user folder (for example, c:\pccoach2 or 3\your user name\) from the first computer onto a diskette or zip disk. Now go to the new computer and paste that user folder into the same directory (e.g., pccoach2 or 3). When you go into the program, you should see your user and you should be able to access your data. If your data does not appear, then you probably have used a slightly different registration name. In this case, do the following steps (on the new computer): Go to c:\pccoach2 or 3\(your user folder)\name and open this file in Wordpad or Notepad. Copy the text as it appears after the =. Go to c:\pccoach2 or 3\pcc_sys\pccoach.ini. Look through the lines of text until you see AutoLogin=. Paste the text that you copied from your name file onto this line immediately after the = with no spaces. Save and close.
QUESTION:

When I open up my PC Coach program I have noticed that the text on some of the screens is cut off and unreadable. Is there a fix?
ANSWER:

Most likely this is due to your font size selection in your Windows Settings. First, close out of PC Coach. Then, most users would fix this by choosing 'My Computer' on your Desktop, then choose Control Panel / Display / Settings and click on 'advanced'. Change your font size to normal or small and save/apply your changes. You should be able to see all the text next time you open up PC Coach.
QUESTION:

I just received my new PC Coach software but was surprised to find there was no user's manual shipped with it. How do I learn how to use the software?
ANSWER:

Since the introduction of PC Coach 2.0, all manuals are built into the software - this includes your PC Coach Help. To learn how to navigate around PC Coach and how to use the features in PC Coach choose Help/PC Coach Help Topics from your top tool bar. Under the 'Contents' tab you can read through the topics as they are sorted or under the Index tab you can look topics up alphabetically. Another option is to review the tutorial that can be accessed from the graduation cap icon on your top toolbar. Choose 'Quick Start Guide' after the tutorial starts and you can watch demonstrations of various PC Coach features.
QUESTION:

What is the difference between PC Coach Light and PC Coach Elite?
ANSWER:

PC Coach Elite is the most powerful training software you can buy. It has more features, more flexibility, and more power than PC Coach Light.

With PC Coach Elite you have the ability to:
    • Choose from a larger library of workouts or create your own custom workouts for any sport or activity with Workout Editor tool
    • Use the PC Coach Training Plan Plug-Ins to create a training schedule for Cycling, Triathlon, or Running (training plans are only compatible with PC Coach Elite
    • Display several calendar views (daily, weekly, monthly, planner view, workout view)
    • Print reports, SonicLink graphs, or calendar data
    • Email workouts to/from a coach or training partner with the remote coaching feature
    • Log data, or train up to 10 users (Light only allows one)
    • Get more from your SonicLink compatible heart rate monitor — PC Coach Elite has enhanced features for setting up and using your monitor during exercise.

Comparison Chart: PC Coach Elite vs. PC Coach Light

More on PC Coach Elite

QUESTION:

I am unable to install PC Coach because the installer program does not run when I put the CD into the CD-Rom drive.

ANSWER:

When you place the PC Coach CD into your CD-Rom drive the PC Coach browser should automatically launch and lead you through the install process.

If the PC Coach browser does not appear, you can install the software as follows:

  1. Click the Windows Start button and choose Run...
  2. In the command line type the letter of your CD drive followed by :\setup.exe

For example if your CD-Rom is the E drive, type

E:\setup.exe

This will launch the PC Coach installer. Follow the onscreen instructions.
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