First let's understand User AppData vs. Program Files
Bola installs to the User App profile instead of directly to Program files like a lot of programs and apps do
This is important to understand because what that means is that it is installing on the Active User Profile ONLY that clicked the install
If the computer uses multiple profiles it must be installed on every user profile in order to be seen by every profile
Furthermore, any updates or changes to the app must also be done in every user profile
It is important to understand that any action taken on a Bola App will only reflect in the active user profile. For example, if Jane runs her Bola App in admin permissions or updates her Bola App, that won't reflect in Sarah's Bola App that is in her user profile.
3 Locations to Check for a Correct installation
Copy and paste the following file locations into your file explorer to see...
Did the app install successfully:
%LOCALAPPDATA%\bolavoiceassistant\
Always check here first if the installation failed
Data storage location - Did the License Key set:
%APPDATA%\Bola Voice Assistant\
Check here if you are having to enter your license key in over and over
Did the Shortcut get installed - Will it show in Window's Start Menu: %APPDATA%\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\Bola Technologies, Inc
Check here if you aren't seeing the app pull up in your start menu
Understanding Each Bola File Location
App Install Location:
%Localappdata%
The percentage signs are an indicator for the computer to look at that active user’s profile
This will allow you to see if the Bola app was installed on that user’s profile:
You will notice in this screenshot we are looking in the active profile (User > Kelly) and we are seeing the Bola App installed there
Data Storage Location (will the LK hold):
%Appdata%
The percentage sign, again, is going to take the computer to the active profile’s AppData location
This is where Bola stores important data for the app to function properly such as the License Key:
We are seeing a number of data storage files for the user "Kelly" installed in this location
The start menu Shortcut:
This location will bring us to the active user’s start menu, this is where we will go to see if the shortcut installed properly
When you search for Bola in the Window’s search bar, Window's is not searching the entire computer so it is going to be most likely pulling up our shortcut first
It is important to make this accessible on the customer’s computer so they can easily pull up Bola
If it doesn’t come up (for example if you are only seeing the installer .exe file) check the actual shortcut location to see if the shortcut was properly installed
Paste the following into the File Manager: %APPDATA%\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\Bola Technologies, Inc
**Notice the little blue arrow icon indicating that it is a shortcut
If the Bola Shortcut didn’t install: follow the Command Prompt instructions to create the Bola Shortcut
Command Prompt Instructions to Create the Bola Shortcut
Type “Command Prompt” into the Window's search box on your computer toolbar
You will see: C:\Users\userprofilename>
Directly after that you will paste the following: "%LOCALAPPDATA%\bolavoiceassistant\Update.exe" --createShortcut "%LOCALAPPDATA%\bolavoiceassistant\Bola Voice Assistant.exe"
Press Enter
Recheck the shortcut location:%APPDATA%\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\Bola Technologies, Inc
You should now be able to see the shortcut and pull it up in the search menu to run as admin
What could be causing the install error:
An anti-virus system is blocking one of these installation points (check all 3)
We have specifically seen Norton block our "Updates" in the App Data folder, we want to be able to see the Updates and the “Squirrel” storage libraries
IT teams will need to revert their Anti-virus software to the default settings to get around any blocks they might be causing
Bola isn’t installed on all Windows User Profiles
You need to look in the 3 file locations for EACH user profile
Any updates (eg. running as admin, Bola app updates) need be done in EACH user profile