Tizzy's Tools

[Katy]

Apparently this worked last week, but today we are getting this error when running tizzy.exe:

 

---------------------------

Microsoft Visual C++ Runtime Library

---------------------------

Buffer overrun detected!

 

Program: ...ogram Files (x86)\Tizzys First Tools\tizzy.exe

 

A buffer overrun has been detected which has corrupted the program's

internal state. The program cannot safely continue execution and must

now be terminated.

 

---------------------------

OK

---------------------------

 

The only thing I can think that might have changed is a windows update (we automatically install critical and security updates) but there's nothing useful on Google and it appears the company (Sherston) went into administration in 2011 then was bought out and no longer has anything to do with the software.

 

Is anyone else still using this? Is it working for you? I have a feeling the answer I'll have to give the junior school is "it's 14 year old software and not supported, you'll have to find something new to use instead".

 

I've just built a PC from scratch so I can test it from my room and it's the same there, Win 10 Enterprise 1703.

[sted]

is this the really old version or the "newer" one either way both are flash based so i suspect thats what may be causing the issues

[Katy]

is this the really old version or the "newer" one either way both are flash based so i suspect thats what may be causing the issues

 

The EXE claims it is version 1.0.2.0 and dated October 2003.

 

I don't feel it is unreasonable for the junior school to have to find a modern replacement 14 years after buying the software... bet they have a different opinion on it though.

[sted]

The EXE claims it is version 1.0.2.0 and dated October 2003.

 

I don't feel it is unreasonable for the junior school to have to find a modern replacement 14 years after buying the software... bet they have a different opinion on it though.

 

the se version i have here is dated 28 ‎September ‎2005, ‏‎15:28:52 and says its version 10.0.0.188 if it helps and i just ran it on win 10 1709 last lot of updates were installed 22nd november if that helps

Edited December 1, 2017 by sted

[ovek]

Isn't Flash embedded in to Sherston apps, like really old versions of Flash? I still run some of it but it's coming of a Windows Server to remote desktop clients, I know I'm amazed they work as well.

 

To be honest the software is ancient you could spend hours trying to get it to work and failing your option of getting the school to try and update is the best one.

[Katy]

I've taken off all the updates that went on recently and it still doesn't work, gonna have to give up on it. Not sure how they expect me to fix 14 year old software where the company that made it no longer exists (well it still exists in name but it's after several buy-outs and they don't have anything to do with ancient software).

[ovek]

I remember when I first started they gave me a box of 5.25" floppy disks, I politely handed them back.

[DJ-1701]

Just tried out Tizzy's First Tools 1.0.2.1 (or version 1.0.3.0 if you believe the exe) on a Windows 10 1709 box which is apparently up to date at the Primary, appears to be working fine here. Edited December 1, 2017 by DJ-1701
Typo

[Katy]

I never understand how they always say how much the syllabus changes frequently yet everyone seems to want to keep using ancient software, surely if the syllabus changes so should the software...

[sted]

as a thought have you tried it as admin or from a location where auth users have write permissions (ive got it running from a network share rather than local)

[Katy]

Just tried out Tizzy's First Tools 1.0.2.1 (or version 10.0.3.0 if you believe the exe) on a Windows 10 1709 box which is apparently up to date at the Primary, appears to be working fine here.

Must be a much newer version then, our tizzy.exe definitely states 1.0.2.0 (not 10.0).

 

It's not even going to be a corrupt EXE as it's the same issue on all the PCs/laptops we tested as well as a PC that I just built, and it's installed locally on the C drive rather than a single EXE on a server share.

 

- - - Updated - - -

 

as a thought have you tried it as admin or from a location where auth users have write permissions (ive got it running from a network share rather than local)

I've tried it as admin and tried giving full control permissions on the program files folder to everyone, also tried compatability modes. It used to work fine so the only thing that could have changed is a windows update (and I've tried removing all of the recent ones)

[sted]

Must be a much newer version then, our tizzy.exe definitely states 1.0.2.0 (not 10.0).

 

It's not even going to be a corrupt EXE as it's the same issue on all the PCs/laptops we tested as well as a PC that I just built, and it's installed locally on the C drive rather than a single EXE on a server share.

 

- - - Updated - - -

 

 

I've tried it as admin and tried giving full control permissions on the program files folder to everyone, also tried compatability modes. It used to work fine so the only thing that could have changed is a windows update (and I've tried removing all of the recent ones)

 

id try it somewhere other than program files as its not uac compliant so that might be the problem

[DJ-1701]

Must be a much newer version then, our tizzy.exe definitely states 1.0.2.0 (not 10.0).

 

It's not even going to be a corrupt EXE as it's the same issue on all the PCs/laptops we tested as well as a PC that I just built, and it's installed locally on the C drive rather than a single EXE on a server share.

 

Sorry... typo... I was thinking Windows 10 at the time, should have read 1.0.3.0, it's a 2004 installer apparently.

[Katy]

I've got it to work as XP SP2 compatability mode... but that requires it to run as admin, and I'm not giving 4 year olds administrator level accounts so they can click "Yes" on the prompt without my password.

[DJ-1701]

I've got it to work as XP SP2 compatability mode... but that requires it to run as admin, and I'm not giving 4 year olds administrator level accounts so they can click "Yes" on the prompt without my password.

 

Why not? They are only kids... what's the worst they can do?

 

Seriously though, yeah... that would be crazy. The later version does work in UAC mode without needed Administrative access. Must have been a few changes they made between a 0.0.0.1 or 0.0.1 update then.

 

You could always try and see if they would be so kind to give you an update, some companies such as 2Simple have always been very helpful in the past with compatibility issues and provided newer installers, never know, this company may be too.

[Katy]

Why not? They are only kids... what's the worst they can do?

 

Seriously though, yeah... that would be crazy. The later version does work in UAC mode without needed Administrative access. Must have been a few changes they made between a 0.0.0.1 or 0.0.1 update then.

 

You could always try and see if they would be so kind to give you an update, some companies such as 2Simple have always been very helpful in the past with compatibility issues and provided newer installers, never know, this company may be too.

 

It used to work fine without running in admin mode, no idea why it suddenly stopped working.

 

Doubt I'll get anything out of them as they went bust in 2011 and a new company started up using the same name but none of the old software, might still drop them an email just in case though.

[JATSO]

Sherston produced a bundle of their software 16Gbs that runs from a its own share and menu, still use it here on version 1709. Some titles throw up errors now and again but they just do without when I tell them its was made over 17 years ago so shouldn't be to hopeful that it is going to work.

 

Some software that we have in my schools is really old and I sometimes local install into the public folder in a folder called software and it just seems to work with no errors. You could try that.

[DJ-1701]

Sherston produced a bundle of their software 16Gbs that runs from a its own share and menu, still use it here on version 1709. Some titles throw up errors now and again but they just do without when I tell them its was made over 17 years ago so shouldn't be to hopeful that it is going to work.

 

Some software that we have in my schools is really old and I sometimes local install into the public folder in a folder called software and it just seems to work with no errors. You could try that.

 

16GB... ...

Strangely I found things the other way around for most software, won't run from a shared folder, but would locally.

 

I hate to think how many Tizzy applications they had... we had two at the Primary, which they always called Tizzy... never knew if it's Tizzy's Toolbox or Tizzy's First Tools... took me sometime to work out they were different products.

[JATSO]

16GB... ...

Strangely I found things the other way around for most software, won't run from a shared folder, but would locally.

 

I hate to think how many Tizzy applications they had... we had two at the Primary, which they always called Tizzy... never knew if it's Tizzy's Toolbox or Tizzy's First Tools... took me sometime to work out they were different products.

 

Your right and sometime sits very slow. You can local install though as it gives you the option from the menu.

[Katy]

I managed to get hold of the slightly newer version and dropped the newer EXE into the existing install folder, and it worked again. My tech had already broken the news to the teacher so the follow up email saying "I think I have got it working again" should make me look amazing (although I did stress she needs to find something new as there isn't a slightly newer version for when this one breaks). Thanks everyone for helping

[BentleyMiller86]

Hi all

 

Just come across this thread, I'm quite interested to know, if Sherston went it to administration and no longer has anything to do with the old software, who owns the rights now? Or has it moved to open use?

 

Thanks

 

Rob

[JATSO]

Hi all

 

Just come across this thread, I'm quite interested to know, if Sherston went it to administration and no longer has anything to do with the old software, who owns the rights now? Or has it moved to open use?

 

Thanks

 

Rob

 

 

Looks like they moved to being online.

 

Sherston - Home

[BentleyMiller86]

Yeh Planet Sherston is but I have the full offline package that I'm not deploying in schools that don't have the licence if they are now licence free I have a few foundation units who would make use of it.

 

Besides, the online version is a proper pain, you have to set up all classes and students before they can play it, and it's progressive aswell so they have to complete certain tasks to unlock other games.

 

Thanks

 

Rob

[JATSO]

You could always ask them? even better as your a subscriber they might let you have a copy for free of their Mega Bundle.

2Simple did the same with their old software as they were moving online, it came on 2 DVDs all my schools I look after bought both bundles.