Eliminating the "welcome" screen

[Mike45]

Hello All!

I’ve recently purchased a lifetime license for Adguard and I’m very happy with this choice!

During my trial period usage, I noted the “welcome” screen for Adguard and a subsequent transfer to the Adguard site just after booting up my PC. And fair enough, trial users should be reminded of purchase options for this product.

But now that I have a license for Adguard, I find the start up “welcome” screen annoying and unnecessary. I can’t find anything in settings to turn this off. I’d be grateful for advice!

 

[Nameless]

Hmm ive never seen that.
My pc is currently using the trial as ive not entered my code on it yet so i'll see if it appears in a few days.

 

[Mike45]

I've contacted Adguard support and they asked for a screenshot of this window that appears just after start up. I got that off to them, so we'll what they say and I'll report back. BTW, very pleased and impressed with Adguard's prompt reply to this issue!

 

[Boo Berry]

Yeah, that welcome screen popping up constantly shouldn't happen - it should only pop up on the first run. That said, there may be something running on your PC causing this issue. What version of Windows and what security software (anti-virus, anti-malware, etc.) are you running, if any?

 

[Mike45]

I'm running Win 8.1, 64 bit together with Webroot SecureAnywhere plus Malwarebytes Premium. I'm finding that this window doesn't pop up each time I start up my PC: For example, this morning first thing after start up I get it; later this morning after downloading a Windows update file and restarting, nothing shows up.

Boo, when you said in your message above, "it should only pop up on the first run," what exactly are you seeing?

Many thanks for your advice!

 

[Boo Berry]

The dialog where you choose the language, filter lists, whether or not to filter HTTPS, whether or not to show useful ads, etc.

 

[Mike45]

OK, I think the dialog box that you've described above is what I've been calling the "welcome" screen. After that box appears, the next thing that happens (once I tap on "skip configuration") is I'm taken to the Adguard site which says thanks for using the product and so on.

If indeed this is one in the same thing, how can I stop this dialog box from appearing each time I boot up the PC? I really don't need to configure--language, filter lists, etc.--Adguard each and every day! Same goes for being taken to the Adguard site.

Thanks again for looking at this issue for me!

 

[Boo Berry]

My best guess is, there's an incompatibility somewhere causing Adguard not be able to write its settings. I think it's best to wait and see what avatar thinks about this issue. Until then, I'm going to move this topic to the technical support section.

 

[Mike45]

I hope that this (minor) problem is resolved: I was convinced that I had configured Adguard previously, and on seeing the dialog box appear on previous start ups, clicked on "skip configuration."

Yesterday following instructions from support, I booted up and followed the configuration process to the end; this morning after start up, no dialog box appeared! If this stays "fixed," I was obviously mistaken in thinking that I had previously completed configuring.

This wasn't a huge issue, but none the less I'm very grateful for your advice and comments! Same goes for Adguard support. Couldn't ask for better treatment!

 

[avatar]

Also this looks like a bug. We should not show init window second time if you click skip configuration.

 

[Mike45]

I agree that this might be a bug. The Adguard dialog box is appearing again! 2 days ago, I configured completely. Yesterday after start up no sign of the dialog box, and I thought the problem was fixed. This morning after start up, it's back. I've reported this to Adguard support as well. So fingers crossed we'll get this issue resolved one way or another!

 

[Boo Berry]

Chances are the fix for the possible bug discovered will probably land in Adguard 5.10 once it's released.

 

[avatar]

I agree that this might be a bug. The Adguard dialog box is appearing again! 2 days ago, I configured completely. Yesterday after start up no sign of the dialog box, and I thought the problem was fixed. This morning after start up, it's back. I've reported this to Adguard support as well. So fingers crossed we'll get this issue resolved one way or another!

And now it's weird. This dialog box is controlled by the presence of file "%programdata%\Adguard\init.dat".
Next time you'll see it please check if this file exists or not.

 

[Mike45]

"%programdata%\Adguard\init.dat".
Next time you'll see it please check if this file exists or not.

I have no idea where to look for this file that you mention in your message above!

Another (and more straightforward) idea, is to completely uninstall Adguard from my PC, download and install a "fresh" program from Adguard's site, enter my license key and see what happens then. Is this worth a try?

 

[Boo Berry]

It's in the hidden ProgramData folder in the root drive (e.g. C:\ProgramData\Adguard\init.dat). If you can open the Run dialog, you can type in %programdata%\Adguard and it'll take you there.

 

[Mike45]

OK, I think I've found it. I don't know how to post a screen shot of this, but what I see in the Adguard program data folder is, "init.dat DAT File 0KB" plus the date modified.

 

[Boo Berry]

That's indeed it and mine's 0KB too so I assume that's correct. Very odd indeed that it keeps appearing even though that file's present.

 

[Mike45]

What about "wiping the slate clean?": Uninstall/Reinstall Adguard and see if that makes a difference. BTW, Adguard support hasn't got back to me yet, so maybe just sit tight?! As I've said previously, this is an irritating problem but not a huge one!

 

[Boo Berry]

You could try closing Adguard, deleting that file and rebooting. Sure, the dialog will pop up again, but perhaps it'll go away again, if not for a short time.

 

[avatar]

OK, I think I've found it. I don't know how to post a screen shot of this, but what I see in the Adguard program data folder is, "init.dat DAT File 0KB" plus the date modified.

But what about the time when you see this init dialog?

I suspect that for some reason this file is removed on reboot.