Frequently Asked Questions

About Creative Element Power Tools:

Purchasing Questions

Registration Code Issues:

Troubleshooting:

Return to the Creative Element Power Tools Support Page





Answers to Frequently Asked Questions


How do I get started with Creative Element Power Tools?

There's nothing to it! Here's how to get started:

  1. First, download Creative Element Power Tools for free. When download is complete, install the software on your PC by double-clicking the installer icon.

  2. Follow the on-screen instructions as best you can. Note: The last question asks where you'd like to place icons to open Creative Element Power Tools: make sure you check at least one of these boxes, or you may not be able to start the software easily.

  3. When the installation is complete, double-click the Creative Element Power Tools icon in your Start Menu, on your Desktop, or in your Windows Control Panel. This opens the Creative Element Power Tools Control Panel.

  4. Just place a checkmark next to each tool you'd like to use, and then click Accept when you're finished.

  5. Different tools are used in different ways. For instance, to use one of the context-menu tools (like Power Rename), just highlight one or more files in Windows Explorer (or on your desktop) and select Power Rename. Press F1 at any time for help and tips.
That's it!





Is Creative Element Power Tools available for my version of Windows?

Creative Element Power Tools is designed for the following operating systems:

  • Windows 7 (all editions)
  • Windows Server 2008 (all editions)
  • Windows Vista (all editions)
  • Windows XP (Home, Professional, Tablet PC, Media Center editions)
  • Windows Server 2003 (all editions)
  • Windows 2000 (all editions)

*If you have 64-bit editions of Windows 7, Vista, or XP, please read these notes.

Creative Element Power Tools will not work on other platforms.

Note for non-English users: Creative Element Power Tools is currently only available in English, and has been designed to work on English-language editions of Windows. Although we have observed no problems with our software on non-English language editions of Windows, there may be unforseen issues arrising from non-English character sets and localization, particularly due to the low-level nature of some of the tools. For this reason, we do not guarantee nor officially support our software on any non-English Windows platform.

Note for Windows Me users: Earlier versions of Creative Element Power Tools did indeed support Windows Me. Unfortunately, due to discontinued support from Microsoft, we are no longer able to produce DLLs that will function on Windows Me. Versions prior to 3.0 still work on Windows Me, however; contact us for availability.

Note for Windows 98 users: If you have Windows 98, you may be interested in O'Reilly Utilities, which only runs on Windows 98. Although it's no longer available for purchase, you can get it for free if you purchase Windows 98 Annoyances, the book.

Note for older versions of Windows: There are no currently plans to add support for Windows 95, Windows 98, Windows NT, or Windows 3.x.





Does Creative Element Power Tools work on 64-bit Windows?

Creative Element Power Tools (version 2.9.964 and later) includes native support for 64-bit (x64) Windows. Please read these notes for details and limitations.





Will future versions of the software come with more tools?

Absolutely - there are already new tools in the works for upcoming versions. And, naturally, registered users can always upgrade to the latest version for free!

Note also that if you have the latest version of Creative Element Power Tools, you can install any of the available plugins to add new tools. See the Release Notes for the newly-added tools in the current version of the software.

If you have a suggestion for a new tool or an improvement of an existing tool, feel free to let us know.





My copy of Creative Element Power Tools has expired. What do I do?

You need to register the software to continue using it after the 45-day evaluation period. Just open the Creative Element Power Tools Control Panel, click About, click Get Code, and then follow the instructions on screen.

If you're already a registered user, please see this note.

If you're not a registered user, and your copy of Creative Element Power Tools appears to have expired prematurely, please see this note.





What types of payment do you accept?

We accept credit cards and PayPal:

  • Credit Card - using our safe, secure server, you can pay with your Visa, Mastercard, or American Express. If you don't have a credit card, you can use PayPal (see below).

  • PayPal - use this free service to safely pay with an electronic bank account transfer, eCheck, Visa, Mastercard, American Express, Discover, or existing PayPal balance. Don't have a PayPal account? No problem - you can sign up for free during checkout!

    Note: if you pay with a PayPal "eCheck," we will have to wait up to 5 business days for the eCheck to clear before we can issue your registration code (due to PayPal policy). For instant service, make sure to fund your payment with an instant transfer or credit card.

You'll be able to choose your preferred payment method during checkout.

Tip: concerned about sending sensitive payment information over the Internet? No problem! Just sign up for PayPal (see above), and then use your PayPal account to register this software (or make payments elsewhere) without sharing your information!





What do I get with a paid registration?

When you register Creative Element Power Tools, you are purchasing a license to use the software on one PC. The license is valid for the current version of Creative Element Power Tools, as well as all subsequent releases.

Here are the details:

  • The registration code we send you will work on one PC only. If you reinstall Windows or if you upgrade/replace your PC, you can get a new code here for free.

  • If you want to use Creative Element Power Tools on more than one PC at once, you can purchase a discounted registration for each additional PC.

  • If you have multiple operating systems installed on the same (multiboot) PC, or multiple virtual installations on the same PC, a single license is sufficient to install Creative Element Power Tools on all partitions.





How do I purchase additional licenses if I have more than one PC?

Already a customer? Purchase an additional license for only $5.00:

  1. Install Creative Element Power Tools on the new PC.

  2. Open the Creative Element Power Tools Control Panel on the new computer, click About, choose the Register tab, and click Get Code.

  3. On the page that appears, choose Use Creative Element Power Tools on another computer.

  4. On the next page, choose I'd like to use Creative Element Power Tools on two or more different computers.

Note: If you don't have a Get Code button, you're using an older version of Creative Element Power Tools; download and install the new version and try again.

Note: To distinguish the registration codes for each license you purchase, type a different username on each PC. To change your username, just reinstall Creative Element Power Tools and enter the new name during setup.





What is your return policy?

Creative Element Power Tools is try-before-you-buy software, which affords you the unique opportunity to use the software for a full 45 days (that's a month and a half) before you buy it. If you're not satisfied with the software after that point, you may remove it without spending a dime. If, however, you proceed to register your copy of the software, it is assumed that you have already evaluated it, and are pleased with the product. This effectively makes returns unnecessary.

Now, we realize that some of you may've been hasty in registering the software, or that your needs may change immediately after purchase. Therefore, we will honor a 3-day extension of the evaluation period; if you purchase the software, and request a refund within 3 days of your purchase, we will refund every penny of the purchase price. This gives you nearly seven weeks to evaluate Creative Element Power Tools risk-free!

Unfortunately, we are unable to issue refunds after 3 days past the purchase date.

Note: please understand that we cannot grant refunds on the basis of lost registration codes or registration problems due to customer error.





I clicked the Get Code button, but it didn't work. How do I register?

When you click the Get Code button, Creative Element Power Tools opens a web browser to complete the checkout process. If you don't see a web browser window, or if there's some sort of problem with the window that appears, just go to our registration page directly and follow the instructions.

If you're behind a firewall or proxy that prevents you from accessing our secure order page, try opening our registration page from a different PC. Note that you will need information from the PC on which Creative Element Power Tools is installed, so be sure to read these instructions for details.





Why was my credit card was declined?

Our registration form may decline your credit card for any number of reasons. Here are the most common causes:

  • You mis-typed your credit card number. Please double-check the number and try again. Spaces and dashes are fine, but otherwise please only enter the 15 or 16 numbers from the front of your credit card into the box provided.

  • The postal address you type must exactly match the billing address on file with your credit card company. Most cases of declined credit cards are caused by incorrect or incomplete billing addresses.

    Note: If you have more than one address and you're not sure which billing address to use, please contact your credit card company. In some countries, you may need to type your credit card company's mailing address to proceed.

  • The security code (CVV code) on the back of your credit card is not optional, and the number you type must exactly match the number on your card. (On Visa & Mastercard, it's on the back near the address block; on American Express, it's on the front, just to the right of the credit card number.) If you have more than one card on the account, use the code from the most recent card.

  • The expiration date you choose must match the date on your card. Again, if you have more than one card on the account, use the date from the most recent card.

  • When you're done filling out the form, click the Next button once and only once, and then wait until you see the confirmation page. This may take up to a minute or two; don't interrupt the process by clicking the Stop or Back buttons on your browser.

Usually, the registration form will display the reason your credit card was declined, often accompanied by an error code, after you click the Next button. Unfortunately, the bank doesn't always provide an explanation or an error code, so if you don't see either, please try the following suggestions:

  1. Close your browser window and start over. If that doesn't help, there might be a problem with your credit card or the bank's processing server that might clear itself up soon, so wait a few hours and try again. Contact your credit card company if you suspect a problem with your card.

  2. Use a different credit card.

  3. During checkout, try choosing the PayPal option, even if you don't have a PayPal account. On the PayPal login page, click the Sign up for a PayPal account and continue checkout link and fill in your payment information in the spaces provided.

Unfortunately, we have no way of determining why your particular card was declined, but if you need help filling out the form or setting up a PayPal account, please don't hesitate to contact us.





I don't have email; how do I register or get a new code?

If you don't have an email account or if you temporarily don't have access to your account, you'll need to get a new email account before you can purchase Creative Element Power Tools or obtain a new registration code (for existing customers). Fortunately, this is easy and free, and takes only a few minutes.

To get a free email account, sign up with one of the following services:

When you have your new account, you'll be given an email address you can subsequently use to purchase our software or get a new registration code.

Note: We don't recommend Microsoft's Hotmail service due to reliability concerns.





How do I register the software without an Internet connection?

If your PC has a direct connection to the Internet, follow these instructions to use our automated registration system.

If your PC does not have an Internet connection, or if you can't get to our secure registration page from your PC for some reason, go to our order page on another PC and follow the instructions. Please let us know if you have any ordering problems.





How do I get a receipt/invoice for my purchase?

When you first purchase a license for Creative Element Power Tools, the confirmation page has a link to a printer-friendly purchase receipt. If you've already made your purchase, there's also a link to your receipt in your confirmation email.

Note: If your confirmation email doesn't have a link to your receipt, or you can't find your confirmation email, follow these directions to get a new confirmation email sent to you. Click the link in the email you receive to view your receipt.

Note: If you don't get a confirmation email, read this.





I never got my registration code email!

When you register, you get a registration code immediately - you don't have to wait for any email. But your code (and accompanying registration instructions) will also be emailed to you automatically, so if you close the browser window before copying down your code, you'll still have a permanent record.

Didn't get the email? You (or your service provider) may be employing an aggressive spam filter, and your registration emails might be sitting in your trash mailbox (or they might've been bounced back to us). To prevent this from happening, configure your spam filter or email program to allow all email from creativelement.com.

IMPORTANT: If you don't have a spam filter, or if fixing your spam filter doesn't help, there may be something else preventing our email from reaching you. (For instance, your mailbox is full or your ISP is rejecting our email for some reason.) If you're not getting email from us, please try a different email address from a different provider. (If you don't have a second address, try one of these free email services.)

Note: If you pay with PayPal, your registration is sent to your PayPal email address.

Once you've solved the problem, follow these instructions to request that your code be re-sent to you. Codes are sent immediately, so you'll know right away if the code got through.

IMPORTANT: If you don't get your code immediately, or you don't get a reply to emails sent to us within 24 hours, then your ISP is definitely blocking our email. As a result, we will have no way of contacting you until you provide us with an alternate address (example) at a different provider.





What if my email address has changed?

If you ever need a new registration code, you can request a new code any time, and it'll be sent to your email address immediately. But what if your current email address is different than the one you used when you originally purchased Creative Element Power Tools?

No problem - just follow these steps:

  1. Open the Creative Element Power Tools Control Panel, and click About.
  2. Choose the Register tab, and click the Get Code button.
  3. On the first registration page that appears, select My registration code doesn't work; I need a new registration code, and then click Next.
  4. Type your current (new) email address into the box, and then click Next.
  5. Read the instructions, and then select the third option here, My current address is correct, but I may've originally registered with a different address.
  6. Type your old email address - the one you used to purchase the software - into the box here, and then click Next.
  7. Choose where you'd like your registration code sent.
  8. Click Next to complete the process.
Note that if your copy of Creative Element Power Tools is already registered, the Register tab will no longer be available. In this case, you won't need to update your email address until the next time you need a registration code.





My registration code doesn't work!

Make sure you're using the latest version of Creative Element Power Tools, and then follow these instructions to get a new code.

Important: When requesting a new code, you must do so from the PC on which you'll be using Creative Element Power Tools. If you do it from a different PC, the code we send you won't work.

Tip: If the PC on which Creative Element Power Tools is installed does not have Internet access, or if that PC has Internet restrictions that prevent our registration system from working, please read these instructions.)





What if I want to use Creative Element Power Tools on a new computer?

If you're a registered user, just follow these steps to use the software on a different PC:

  1. Download and install Creative Element Power Tools on the NEW computer.

  2. Then, open the Creative Element Power Tools Control Panel on the new computer, click About, choose the Register tab, and click Get Code.

  3. On the page that appears, choose the Use Creative Element Power Tools on another computer option.

Important: You must request the code from the new PC. If you make your request from a different PC, the code we send you won't work. If your new PC does not have Internet access, see this note.

Note: If you don't have a Get Code button, you're using a very old version of Creative Element Power Tools. Please download and install the latest version and try again.





What happens if my system crashes and I have to reinstall?

All you need to do is reinstall Creative Element Power Tools (download here) and then type in the registration number we sent you to complete the process. (Not a registered user?)

In some cases, a system crash may invalidate your original registration code. If this happens, please follow these instructions to get a new code.

If you want to use Creative Element Power Tools on a second computer, we ask that you purchase an additional license. Additional licenses are available for only a few dollars (details), and help support further development of the software.





My copy of the software appears to have expired prematurely

Creative Element Power Tools is designed to operate for 45 days after you install the software. If it has been more than 45 days since you installed the software, see this note.

If you're a registered user, simply type your registration code to lift the expiration and continue to use the software. If your registration code doesn't work, see this note.

There are, however, times when Creative Element Power Tools will expire before the full 45 days have passed. The following are possible causes of this problem:

  • You've uninstalled and reinstalled Creative Element Power Tools, and typed a different user name the second (or third) time. When reinstalling, make sure you type exactly the same username you used the very first time you installed the software (it should have been pre-entered for you); even a capital letter or change in punctuation can make a difference, and will cause the software to expire early.

  • Your system clock has changed since you installed the software. If you changed the date in your Windows Control Panel after installing Creative Element Power Tools (or if Windows XP's Internet Time feature has done this for you), then it's possible to cause an early expiration of the software. To find out what date your computer was set to when you installed the software, open Windows Explorer, navigate to c:\Program Files, right-click the Creative Element Power Tools folder, and select Properties. If your current system date indicates that at least 45 days have passed since the date shown here, then that's your problem. If you want to continue evaluating Creative Element Power Tools, you'll have to adjust your system date accordingly.

  • Your evaluation period begins when you first install the software on your system. If you installed an older version of Creative Element Power Tools a long time ago, and then removed it, reinstalling a new version today won't give you another 45 days (until the next major release of the software, that is). If you have access to a second computer, try installing the software there to evaluate it.

  • You may be using an old version of the software. Make sure you've installed the latest release of Creative Element Power Tools.

Unfortunately, we're unable to grant extensions to the evaluation period. If you wish to continue using Creative Element Power Tools after it has expired, you'll either have to register or try the software on a different PC.





How do I know if I have the latest version?

The latest version of Creative Element Power Tools is always available here. You can find out what version you have by opening the Creative Element Power Tools Control Panel, and clicking About. You can then check to see if there's a newer release by clicking Check for newer version of this software in the About window.

If you're a registered user, you'll enjoy free upgrades for the life of the product.

And since all your settings are preserved when you install new versions, upgrades are painless!

Note for registered users: In some cases, you may need a new registration code after installing a new version. Just follow these instructions to get a new code for free.





One of the tools stopped working. What do I do?

From time to time, other software on your PC might make changes to your system that "breaks" one of the tools in Creative Element Power Tools. To fix the problem, follow these steps:

  1. Open the Creative Element Power Tools Control Panel.
  2. Clear the checkbox next to the tool that has stopped working.
  3. Click Accept.
  4. Place a checkbox next to the tool to turn it back on.
  5. Click Accept, and then try using the tool again.

If this procedure doesn't work, try reinstalling Creative Element Power Tools. (It's not necessary to uninstall Creative Element Power Tools first.)





What do I do if I encounter a problem with Creative Element Power Tools?

Refer to the included documentation (Help file), as the tool may be working as intended. While you're there, look through the Troubleshooting section. Also, make sure you have the latest version of the software, and check the Release Notes to see if your problem has already been addressed.

If one of the tools appears to have stopped working, please read this note.

If you're having trouble with the context (right-click) menu tools on 64-bit Windows, please read these notes.

If you can't find a solution to the problem in the documentation or this web site, please contact us and explain the problem. Hint: please be specific, and describe any steps you took and any error messages you saw. Please do not send us screenshots or attachments of any kind.





Why is my antivirus/firewall blocking Creative Element Power Tools?

Some components of Creative Element Power Tools, such as Bulk Downloader and the FTP files on the fly tool, make use of your Internet connection. Also, the Creative Element Power Tools Control Panel uses the Internet when it checks for updates and when you register the software to get a registration code. If your antivirus software (such as Kaspersky) or firewall is blocking network access and preventing these tools from working, you will need to create "exceptions" in your antivirus configuration to allow these tools to do their jobs. If you're not sure how to do this, please consult the documentation included with your antivirus/firewall software.





I'm experiencing a problem - is it because I haven't registered?

In a word, no. We don't "booby trap" our software.

The evaluation version of Creative Element Power Tools is not crippled in any way, except that it will expire after 45 days. If you encounter a problem with the software, please read this.





How do I install the software without an Internet connection?

Creative Element Power Tools uses a web-based installer that only downloads the components you need during installation. (This also makes updates particularly fast and painless.) But it requires an active connection to the Internet to complete the install.

To install Creative Element Power Tools on a PC without an Internet connection, please use our offline installer which contains all the required files.

Tip: The offline installer is also appropriate for burning to a CD, copying to a USB memory stick, or placing on a LAN server for multiple-PC deployment.





I tried installing, and it says the installation is corrupt

A corrupt installation file will certainly prevent the software from installing properly. If you find that the file you've downloaded is corrupt, you'll have to delete it and download again. If it still doesn't work, try the following:

  1. One problem is that most web browsers cache recent downloads, which means they keep copies to make subsequent downloads faster. But, if your download was corrupt, your cached copy will be corrupt as well, and you'll never get a clean download until you clear your browser cache. Here's how to clear your browser cache:

    Firefox:

    1. From the Tools menu, select Options.
    2. Choose the Privacy category, then choose the Cache tab.
    3. Click the Clear Cache Now button.
    4. Click OK, and try your download again.

    Mozilla Suite / Seamonkey:

    1. From the Edit menu, select Preferences.
    2. Expand the Advanced branch, then select the Cache category.
    3. Click the Clear Cache button.
    4. Click OK, and try your download again.

    Internet Explorer:

    1. From the Tools menu, select Internet Options.
    2. Choose the General tab.
    3. In the Temporary Internet files section, click the Delete Files button, and then click OK.
    4. Click OK, then try your download again.

  2. If you're using a software-based firewall (such as Norton Personal Firewall), this can interfere with downloads, especially with Internet Explorer 5.0/6.0. Disable your firewall temporarily and try again.

  3. Another cause of download corruption is improperly-configured antivirus software. Disable your antivirus software temporarily and try again.

  4. This problem can also be caused by an unreliable Internet connection. Remember, the connection between your computer and our server is not simply handled by your DSL, cable, or dial-up service - that's only one link in a very long chain.

  5. If none of the above work, try downloading our software with a different browser. For example, if you're using Internet Explorer, try downloading our software with a more-reliable browser, such as Netscape, Mozilla, or Firefox.

The steps above should fix the problem in most cases. If you believe the installer is intact, but you're still getting error messages, try the following:

  1. Close any currently-running applications before installing Creative Element Power Tools. This includes programs that run "in the background" and those that appear in your system tray (Taskbar Notification Area).

  2. Restart your computer and try installing again.

  3. If the Creative Element Power Tools installer encounters a problem while attempting to install a specific file, try renaming the file on your hard disk and then installing again.

If you've tried all of these steps, and it still doesn't work, please contact us with a thorough description of the problem.





How do I completely uninstall Creative Element Power Tools?

We're sorry to hear that you feel that Creative Element Power Tools is not for you. If you've experienced any problems with our software, please let us know and give us a chance to fix or address them before you proceed. Tip: please keep your comments constructive.

Important: if you are not planning on reinstalling Creative Element Power Tools on your PC, make sure to turn off any unwanted features and revert any settings made while using our software before you uninstall. (Example) Otherwise, you may not be able to do so once the software has expired. If you want to continue using Creative Element Power Tools after its evaluation period has ended, you'll need to register.

If you still wish to remove the software from your computer, just follow these steps:

  1. Open the Windows Control Panel.
  2. Open Programs and Features (or open Add or Remove Programs in Windows XP and earlier).
  3. Highlight Creative Element Power Tools in the list, and click Change/Remove. If you get an error at this point, see below.
  4. If you won't be reinstalling, place a checkmark next to the Turn off all tools option.
  5. If needed, place a checkmark next to the Remove all file type locks option (details).
  6. Click the Remove button to complete the uninstall process.
  7. When uninstall is complete, restart Windows to allow any remaining software components to be removed.

If you encounter a problem removing the software, the latest version of the software may have an improved uninstaller over the one you're using now, so if you have an older version, download and install the current release now. Make sure to restart Windows when installation is complete before retrying the uninstall.

If you don't see the Turn off all tools option during the uninstall process, then you're using a very old version of Creative Element Power Tools. Your best bet is to download and install the latest version, and then uninstall.

Note: If your copy of Creative Element Power Tools appears to have expired prematurely, this process will not give you more evaluation time. See this note for more information.

Important: If you receive the error, "Could not open INSTALL.LOG file" when you try to uninstall, please follow these steps to work around the problem:

  1. Open Windows Explorer.
  2. Navigate to your Creative Element Power Tools folder (usually c:\Program Files\Creative Element Power Tools).
  3. Find the file INSTALL.LOG, and copy it to your desktop. (If the file is not present, please reinstall Creative Element Power Tools and then try again.)
  4. Double-click the file unwise.exe, also located in your Creative Element Power Tools folder.
  5. When prompted for an installation log, navigate to your desktop and open the INSTALL.LOG file you just copied there.
  6. Follow the prompts described above to complete the uninstall.





After uninstalling, why are file types I've locked with File Type Doctor still locked?

Any file types you've locked with File Type Doctor will remain locked until you unlock them, even if you uninstall Creative Element Power Tools or the software expires. File type locks are very difficult to remove without File Type Doctor (which is rather the point), so make sure you unlock any locked file types on your PC before you remove the software.

For your convenience, the uninstall tool that comes with Creative Element Power Tools (versions 2.9.900 and later) includes an option to remove all file type locks. If you've already uninstalled the software, but failed to place a checkmark next to the Remove file type locks option (or you evaluated an earlier version of the software), you'll have to reinstall the latest version of Creative Element Power Tools on your PC, and then uninstall to remove all the locks.

Alternatively, you can register your copy of Creative Element Power Tools and then unlock individual file types as needed. When you're done making changes, you'll then be able to relock them to continue protecting your preferences.


























This document and all components of Creative Element Power Tools are copyright (c)1998-2010 Creative Elementtm. All rights reserved.