Q: How do I load the on-board InfoGrid portal built into ActivatorDesk?
A: Simply click the Control Button (The one with the Arrow.) on the browser navigation bar. You can do this any time you wish to 'renavigate' to another web site on the Internet. For more information click more

Q: What is Interbase Database Server?
A: InterBase is an open source relational database that runs on Linux, Windows, and a variety of Unix platforms. It is the same commercial database that Motorola, Nokia, Boeing, and the Boston Stock Exchange have used for many years. Now for the first time you may run your Windows desktop faster using it with ActivatorDesk!

Q: What are the computer system requirements for ActivatorDesk?
A: A minimum recommended computer configuration for ActivatorDesk is a Pentium 233MHz grade PC with at least 64 MB of ram memory and minimum starting hard disk space of 25 MB. Microsoft Internet Explorer ('IE') browser version 5 or above must be installed and is a free download from Microsoft. ActivatorDesk uses the IE browser engine because it is the most popular, most compliant engine available. ActivatorDesk uses free Interbase 6 Open to operate its on-board desktop portal, so this must be installed as well. A minimal install of Interbase is included with the ActivatorDesk install program free.

Q: The ActivatorDesk takes a few seconds to load up. How can I speed this up?
A: ActivatorDesk loads immediately but the IE browser engine takes some time to load as well as the connection to Interbase. The ActivatorDesk program is intended to remain loaded all the times, like any desktop program, so these delays are avoided. Web page, portal, and program requests may then be accelerated substantially, taking almost no time at all. If ActivatorDesk is made the default web browser on your system, web page requests are intercepted and displayed almost instantly when the program is already running. Even if you load linked pages from your email program or the local disk new browser tabs are made automatically so you do not loose your currently viewed web site.

Q: If I leave ActivatorDesk loaded, does it occupy a lot memory and slow down my PC?
A: All programs use memory, but ActivatorDesk performs substantial improvements to the way memory is used on your computer. For example, if multiple websites are loaded into ActivatorDesk browser tabs for multi-site browsing it uses much less memory than many instances of Internet Explorer or Netscape.

Q: How does the IE engine use memory and can ActivatorDesk improve this?
A: Yes! The IE browser engine usually uses a lot of memory, particularly if multiple websites are simultaneously viewed with multiple instances of IE. IE also 'caches' websites in your computer which speeds browsing, but again takes more memory. If the Windows Start button is then used to launch another program, IE still occupies the use of this memory. However, if you launch applications using the ActivatorDesk Programs Launch Bar, the bulk of RAM memory is restored from IE for faster running of the requested application! For more information click more

Q: What is a 'White List' vs. a 'Black List' and why is this important to safe internet browsing?
A: Most popular internet filtering software blocks bad web sites using a 'black list'. A 'black list' is a list of identified bad web sites that are known to display pornography or violent material. Is has been estimated that each day over 10,000 pornography web sites are added to the internet. It is simply impossible for all these to be added to a black list quickly and effectively. One may restrict browsing to only a 'white list' or a list of websites known to be 100% safe from pornography or violence. ActivatorDesk utilizes an onboard database server system with more than 15,000 of the most popular, safe and productive web sites on the internet. It is a 'white list' built-in portal you may install and run right on your own desktop computer for safe internet. For more information click more

Q: Can the portal links and pages be updated in my ActivatorDesk?
A: Yes. You may load the ActivatorDesk Administrator at any time you are connected to the Internet and update your desktop portal links and web pages! Just use the 'Synchronize' feature and watch as your portal is updated with all the latest links. Dead links are deleted as well, so you always have the latest index to all the most popular and safe Internet sites!

Q: Can I add web site links to InfoGrid and KidGrid in my desktop portal?
A: Yes. You must request that these be added. If a site is blocked by ActivatorDesk, the user may request that the site be added, automatically. We review all the websites requested and consider them. They must meet our 'safe site' criteria. If and when they are added they will be available via the Syncronization feature in the Administrator program to all using ActivatorDesk desktop portals world-wide. You may also request that a site be added at any time, by clicking: Submit Web Site Of course you can use the Favorites feature to add your own websites right into your desktop portal for private use. For more information click: more

Q: Are InfoGrid searches filtered for safe links?
A: Yes, InfoGrid and KidGrid focuses on tens of thousands of sites screened as the most popular, productive, and useable safe content websites. InfoGrid searches are real-time filtered to eliminate the most common pornography and explicit sexual content. This even includes filtering of the more than 2 million links of the Open Directory. While no filter is 100% accurate, InfoGrid refines its filtering daily or optimal results. If you wish to report a site you feel should be filtered click: Filter a Web Site

Q: How are those InfoGrid and KidGrid web pages made?
A: InfoGrid is not made by human edited pages. The index pages displayed are actually automatically produced by the ActivatorDesk program itself and in real-time. It is similar to having your very own powerful automated personal web server right on your own desktop. The program will even convert your bookmarks or favorites into these indexed pages, right within InfoGrid! For more information click: more

Q: Activator Agent program is blocking my use of IE and other programs. How do I stop this?
A: This is not permitted by the Administrator of the PC. When security is turned ON, the Agent program must remain loaded at all times or the PC may be rebooted to reinitialize security features. The use of IE and Netscape and other common browser programs, without security, are blocked for security purposes. The ActivatorDesk desktop browser must be used for browsing. For more information click: more

Q: Activator Agent program keeps reloading with its black boot screen. How do I stop this?
A: The Activator Agent program monitors the Windows desktop itself. Should the Windows desktop crash or be disabled Agent will attempt restoration of Windows with its crash recovery feature. If this is occurring often, please contact your Administrator for help on this issue. For more information click: more

Q: ActivatorDesk is not loading. What do I do to fix this?
A: If ActivatorDesk is slow loading or does not load it may have trouble connecting to Interbase because Windows network settings might not be optimized. Make sure you are using the latest version of ActivatorDesk. Also, make certain 'Enable LMHosts Lookup' is 'enabled' in your Windows Control Panel , Network, TCP/IP Protocol Settings... Network settings in Windows also must have 'Client for Microsoft Networks' installed for database communications to function. If you are running a personal firewall, you may need to enable TCP/IP ports 3050 and 3060 which Interbase requires for normal communications.