If you are using Windows Vista, you must contact the State Board to resolve your errors. These instructions will not work on Windows Vista. However, if you are not using Vista, but are receiving either of the two errors displayed immediately below this sentence, you can use the following instructions to recover from the errors.
These errors were caused by a bug in the upgrade process while you were installing Electrack version 5.0.
Print out this webpage and follow these instructions from the printed hardcopy. These instructions contain images of the computer screen you may see, however, your screen images may not be exactly the same as ours. If you need further assistance, please call the Board of Elections at 410-269-2840. However, please make an attempt to follow the instructions first.
To use these instructions, you will need a copy of Electrack 5.0 on CD, or you will need to download the file from our website. The Electrack 5.0 CD was mailed to all treasurers in June 2007. If you do not have the disk, see the instructions in Appendix A at the end of this document for downloading the software from our website. You may download the software and save it as a file prior to following the instructions, but do not execute the file until directed to do so by these instructions.
You will be removing the program from your computer and then reinstalling it. Do not attempt to remove the program without folowing these instructions. The re-installation will not work!
1) close Electrack or any other open programs, saving any data you may need in the other programs. Your taskbar should show no open programs.
2) Double Click the Maryland Electronic Filing icon on your desktop.
3) Click on the X in the top right hand corner of the window to Exit Electrack.
4) Click ‘Yes’ to backup your database.
5) Click the drop down arrow to select ‘My Documents’
click ‘My documents’ in the drop down menu.
6) Type in the filename ‘ ET_MD_EFS_OLD_BACKUP.MDB’ and then click ‘Save’.
7) You should receive the message ‘Database has been backed up successfully’. Click ‘OK’ to continue.
8) The program will now exit. You should see nothing but your startup screen. (the desktop).
9) Now you will remove the Electronic Filing Software from your computer.
Click the Start Button.
10) Click on ‘Control Panel’ OR Click on ‘Settings’ then ‘Control Panel’
11) Double-Click ‘Add/Remove Programs’
12) Wait for list to populate, then scroll down and see a listing for ‘EFS’. You may have two listings for ‘EFS’ or you may have a listing for ‘EFS’ and another for ‘EFS47’. You will be removing both of them in these instructions, one at a time. Click on the first ‘EFS’ OR ‘EFS47’ to highlight it.
13) With ‘EFS’ highlighted, click ‘Remove’
14) When prompted to confirm you want to remove ‘EFS’ OR ‘EFS47’ click ‘Yes’.
15) The computer will display a status window while removing ‘EFS’ or ‘EFS47’. It may take up to 5 minutes to remove EFS. You might see the window below while removing the program. Please click ‘OK’ if you see this window. Then wait until ‘EFS’ or ‘EFS47’ is removed from the Add/Remove Programs window.
If you have waited for more than 5 minutes without seeing any progress, click on the rightmost button of your taskbar to see if the above message is displayed. If ‘EFS’ or ‘EFS47’ has disappeared from the add/remove programs list, you may disregard this step.
16) Now click on the remaining ‘EFS’ or ‘EFS47’ in the add/remove programs window, and then click the ‘Remove’ button.
17) Confirm that you are removing ‘EFS’ or ‘EFS47’.
18) The computer will display a status window while removing ‘EFS’ or ‘EFS47’. It may take up to 5 minutes to remove EFS. You might see the windows below while removing the program. Please click ‘OK’ if you see any of these windows. Then wait until ‘EFS’ or ‘EFS47’ is removed from the Add/Remove Programs window.
If you have waited for more than 5 minutes without seeing any progress, click on the rightmost button of your taskbar to see if either of the above messages is displayed. If neither‘EFS’ nor ‘EFS47’ appears in the add/remove programs list, you may disregard this step.
19) When ‘EFS’ and ‘EFS47’ no longer appear in the add/remove programs window, you may close add/remove programs and control panel.
20) You must now remove the folder ‘ET_MD_EFS_OLD’ from your computer by following these next steps.
a) Right-click on the Start Button
b) Click on ‘Explore’
c) double-click ‘Local Disk (C:)’ OR double click on your Hard Disk (C:)
d) Scroll down and doubleclick ‘Program Files’
21) Scroll Down and Double Click ‘EFS’
22) Delete the folder ‘ET_MD_EFS_OLD’
23) Confirm you are deleting the folder ‘ET_MD_EFS_OLD’.
(ONLY delete ET_MD_EFS_OLD)
24) Close all open windows
25) Now you will install Electrack 5.0 from the CD. Insert the CD into your computer and wait for the installation screen to appear.
a) If you do not have the CD see appendix A for download instructions. If using the downloaded file instead of a CD, follow the download instructions, then double-click the downloaded file ‘etrack5.exe’ (which should be on the desktop), and then click ‘Setup’. Then continue with the instructions from this point.
26) Install Electrack 5.0
27) Start the Electronic Filing Software (double click the icon)
28) Click ‘Yes’ to continue
29) Click on the Tools Menu
30) click Import reports from Old EFS
31) Open your backup file as shown below
32) You should receive message “Data tables import was successful”. Click ‘Ok’
33) You are ready to use the program as you normally would. When you exit the program, make backup files frequently. Do not use the same name repeatedly! (Use a sequential number or name them by date). Be sure to frequently copy your backup files to another disk or device.
If you have problems or are still experiencing errors, call the State Board of Elections at (410) 269-2840.
If you do not have the CD for Electrack version 5.0, you must download it from the internet. If you have the CD, disregard the following instructions.
i) Connect to the internet
ii) Start your web browser (example: Internet Explorer, Safari, FireFox, or Opera, etc...)
iii) In the address bar of your web browser, go to the following web address:
http://elections.state.md.us/ELECTrack/etrack5.exe
iv) click Save
v) Select ‘Desktop’ from dropdown menu, then click ‘Save’
vi) Wait for download to complete. With highspeed internet, this may take about 3 minutes. With dialup, it may require over an hour. Your file is saved on the desktop.
If you must download the software from another computer, be sure to copy the etrack5.exe file to the desktop of the computer where you want the Electronic Filing Software (Electrack) installed.
Continue with the instructions at step 25 (a).
