SIMS Client install fail - not in Programs and Features

[jmak]

Gone done made boo boo....

 

I think it's 'cos I didn't read the instructions carefully enough , but I tried to install SIMS Client to one of our DCs and it's failed. The reason for installing the client on the server is to pull data from our County hosted SIMS to the local DC to enable a Single Sign On facility.

 

The error message is "The SIMS.ini file cannot be located or is incomplete which means this system cannot be automatically updated". At a first look, it seems I should have changed the install directory from "Program Files (x86)" to "Program Files".

 

I'd like to uninstall and try again, but there's no sign of it in Programs and Features. It is listed in "All Apps", but when I click the uninstall button, I'm taken to Programs and Features. I can't see anything in the SIMS.net folder that looks like an uninstall program to run.

 

Please help :embarrassed:

[jmak]

OK - maybe not as bad as I thought. I've read a bit more (mostly from threads on here) and it looks like the SIMS.ini file is incomplete! Maybe I should always assume that error messages are created to cause confusion... I'm guessing that as the ini file tells the application where to look, I'll need the destination server location and security details from County. Still puzzled as to why it doesn't appear in Control Panel/Programs and Features, but is listed in All Apps...

 

Does anyone know if it's mandatory to install in the "Program Files" rather than the "Program Files (x86)" directory on an x64 system?

[Decimas6]

SIMS workstation doesn't have an uninstaller, we just delete the SIMS folder in programs and any other trace of it. Afraid I can't help with your main problem, I'm fairly new to SIMS and it is all in house here.

[jmak]

Thanks for the reply. It's now working - although still getting the error message....

 

It'll be a program that requires access, which hopefully won't care about the error message.

[MrMat]

For future reference, this will most likely be caused by either a missing SIMS.ini (C:\Windows) OR the SIMS .ini is missing the 'SIMSSetupsDirectory=' OR you dont have access to the SIMSSetupsDirectory route specified within the SIMS .ini.

 

SIMS is basically trying to find the Setups folder to see if theres an update that needs applying before it runs.

 

Another alternative (providing you plan to update this computer manually or via S3) is to remove SIMS load from the shortcut. To do this:

- Right click the SIMS shortcut on the desktop

- Select Properties

- Shortcut tab

- The target will read something like this: "C:\Program Files (x86)\SIMS\SIMS .net\SIMSLoad.exe" "C:\Program Files (x86)\SIMS\SIMS .net\Pulsar.exe"

- Delete the first section so that it simply says "C:\Program Files (x86)\SIMS\SIMS .net\Pulsar.exe"

- Click okay

This will get rid of the error completely

Edited February 11, 2016 by MrMat

[datar_]

...pull data from our County hosted SIMS to the local DC to enable a Single Sign On facility.

 

The error message is "The SIMS.ini file cannot be located or is incomplete which means this system cannot be automatically updated". At a first look, it seems I should have changed the install directory from "Program Files (x86)" to "Program Files".

 

This sounds like to me that it is missing the connect.ini file where SIMS is installed.

 

Do you have any info from your LEA such as SQL database or a File share you can redirect too?

 

I.e. The connect.ini file on one of my schools servers is like this ( Obfuscated my own names of course )

 

[sIMSConnection]
ServerName=\
DatabaseName=
CommandTimeout=100000

 

Although I may be very wrong >_<

Edited February 12, 2016 by datar_

[jmak]

The file is there, but it's looking pretty empty! The helpful team at the County have tinkered and it now works - though still complaining about the missing ini file. I'll try to remember to sort before the next update....

[JoeFulford]

Do you not use Solus for your deployment? Also do you host your SIMS.ini or connect.ini in a network location? You'll have to make sure a drive is mapped to that location if so.

[datar_]

Do you not use Solus for your deployment? Also do you host your SIMS.ini or connect.ini in a network location? You'll have to make sure a drive is mapped to that location if so.

 

You'll only need to have a drive mapped if the sims.ini/connect.ini in C:\Program files\... contains "Redirect=H:\..."