Our Frequently Asked Questions section is always being updated. If you have any questions that are not answered below, please contact us through our support contact page by clicking here.

• I cannot get the download version of ChatAlert! to run.
• My CD did not automatically run the ChatAlert installer. How do I install it?
• I received an error message during installation.

• How do I turn the speech on or off for Zak the Dog?
• How do I turn Zak the Dog on?
• How do I turn Zak the Dog off?
• Can I customise my response popup?
• Can I customise my Child's alert popup?
• Can I send back a different response from my mobile phone or email when I receive an alert from that I have already pre-defined?
• How do I change the timeout length if I do not respond?
• How do I change the default action if I do not respond?

• I am not receiving Email alerts
• How do I disable email alerts?
• I am not receiving SMS Text Alerts
• How do I disable SMS text messaging?
• I do not mind my child swearing, how do I change the alerts so I am not notified of this?
• How do I change my alert settings?
• How much will I pay to receive a premium rate SMS text message where I live?

• I've forgotten my password!
• How do I change my password or reminder?

• How do I turn off monitoring?
• I do not want ChatAlert to start when I boot my PC?
• How do I shutdown ChatAlert?

Installation and Set Up

I cannot get the download version of ChatAlert! to run. (top)

 

See if you are able to download the software again, if you are, delete the original installer program, then re-download the file. If they do not offer this, then please contact the vendor where you purchased the software.

 

My CD did not automatically run the ChatAlert installer. How do I install it? (top)

 

To install ChatAlert without the CD auto-running, do the following:
 
1) Double click "My Computer", this will be either on your Desktop or on the Windows Start menu
2) Double click your CD drive (this is usually drive D: or drive E: and will likely be called ChatAlert!, or may say CD-ROM, CD-RW, DVD-ROM, DVD-RW or DVD-RAM).
3) Run the Setup program on here.
 
If you find that you are unable to read the CD, try it in another PC and see if that will read it. If it does there may be something wrong with your original CD or DVD drive. If you find that the CD will not work on either PC, contact the store where you purchased the software.

 

I received an error message during installation. (top)

 

It is possible that your operating system is out of date or your machine doesn't meet the minimum requirements for the software to run. For example, if you are using Windows XP you mut have at least Service Pack 3 installed. Please try running Windows Update and ensure your system is up to date and then try the installation again.

 

Customising Alerts

How do I turn the speech on or off for Zak the Dog? (top)

 

1) Double Click the ChatAlert! Smiley Face on the Taskbar
2) Enter the password which you set the first time you ran ChatAlert!. Click here for instructions what to do if you have forgotten your password
3) In the ChatAlert! Control Centre, click "Settings" on the left menu bar
4) Click the "Messages" tab on the top menu bar
5) In the 3D Character section, uncheck or check "Speech" as appropriate

 

How do I turn Zak the Dog on? (top)

 

1) Double Click the ChatAlert! Smiley Face on the Task bar
2) Enter the password which you set the first time you ran ChatAlert!. Click here for instructions what to do if you have forgotten your password
3) In the ChatAlert! Control Centre, click "Settings" on the left menu bar
4) Click the "Messages" tab on the top menu bar
5) In the 3D Character section, check "Enabled"

 

How do I turn Zak the Dog off? (top)

 

1) Double Click the ChatAlert! Smiley Face on the Task bar
2) Enter the password which you set the first time you ran ChatAlert!. Click here for instructions what to do if you have forgotten your password
3) In the ChatAlert! Control Centre, click "Settings" on the left menu bar
4) Click the "Messages" tab on the top menu bar
5) In the 3D Character section, uncheck "Enabled"

 

Can I customise my response popup? (top)

 

1) Double Click the ChatAlert! Smiley Face on the Task bar
2) Enter the password which you set the first time you ran ChatAlert!. Click here for instructions what to do if you have forgotten your password
3) In the ChatAlert! Control Centre, click "Settings" on the left menu bar
4) Click the "Messages" tab on the top menu bar
5) Change the Parent Reply Popup message as required

 

Can I customise my Child's alert popup? (top)

 

1) Double Click the ChatAlert! Smiley Face on the Task bar
2) Enter the password which you set the first time you ran ChatAlert!. Click here for instructions what to do if you have forgotten your password
3) In the ChatAlert! Control Centre, click "Settings" on the left menu bar
4) Click the "Messages" tab on the top menu bar
5) Change the Child Alert Popup message as required

 

Can I send back a different response from my mobile phone or email when I receive an alert from that I have already pre-defined? (top)

 

ChatAlert! is designed to be as simple as possible to use, so at this stage we limit responses to "A", "B" or "C".

 

How do I change the timeout length if I do not respond? (top)

 

1) Double Click the ChatAlert! Smiley Face on the Task bar
2) Enter the password which you set the first time you ran ChatAlert!. Click here for instructions what to do if you have forgotten your password
3) In the ChatAlert! Control Centre, click "Settings" on the left menu bar
4) Click the "Actions" tab on the top menu bar
5) In the Default Action section, change the number of minutes after the alert happens you want the default response to happen.

 

How do I change the default action if I do not respond? (top)

 

1) Double Click the ChatAlert! Smiley Face on the Task bar
2) Enter the password which you set the first time you ran ChatAlert!. Click here for instructions what to do if you have forgotten your password
3) In the ChatAlert! Control Centre, click "Settings" on the left menu bar
4) Click the "Actions" tab on the top menu bar
5) In the Default Action section, in the pull down menu, select "A", "B" or "C"

Changing ChatAlert! Settings

I am not receiving Email alerts (top)

 

1) Double Click the ChatAlert! Smiley Face on the Task bar
2) Enter the password which you set the first time you ran ChatAlert!. Click here for instructions what to do if you have forgotten your password
3) Click "Notifications" on the left menu bar
4) Click the "Email" tab on the top menu bar
5) Ensure you have "Enable Email Alerts" checked
6) Ensure you have the correct email address entered

If you are still not receiving alerts, check to ensure your firewall is not blocking ChatAlert's Internet communications.

 

How do I disable email alerts? (top)

 

1) Double Click the ChatAlert! Smiley Face on the Task bar
2) Enter the password which you set the first time you ran ChatAlert!. Click here for instructions what to do if you have forgotten your password
3) Click "Notifications" on the left menu bar
4) Click the "Email" tab on the top menu bar
5) Uncheck "Enable Email Alerts"

 

I am not receiving SMS Text Alerts (top)

 

1) Double Click the ChatAlert! Smiley Face on the Task bar
2) Enter the password which you set the first time you ran ChatAlert!. Click here for instructions what to do if you have forgotten your password
3) Click "Notifications" on the left menu bar
4) Click the "SMS" tab on the top menu bar
5) Ensure you have "Enable SMS Alerts" checked
6) Ensure you have the correct country set
7) Ensure you have the correct mobile telephone number entered
 
If you are still not receiving alerts, firstly check that with your mobile provider that you can receive premium rate SMS text messages. Secondarily check to ensure your firewall is not blocking ChatAlert's Internet communications - consult your firewall vendor if you are unsure.

 

How do I disable SMS text messaging? (top)

 

1) Double Click the ChatAlert! Smiley Face on the Task bar
2) Enter the password which you set the first time you ran ChatAlert!. Click here for instructions what to do if you have forgotten your password
3) Click "Notifications" on the left menu bar
4) Click the "SMS" tab on the top menu bar
5) Uncheck "Enable SMS Alerts"

 

I do not mind my child swearing, how do I change the alerts so I am not notified of this? (top)

 

1) Double Click the ChatAlert! Smiley Face on the Task bar
2) Enter the password which you set the first time you ran ChatAlert!. Click here for instructions what to do if you have forgotten your password
3) In the ChatAlert! Control Centre, click "Settings" on the left menu bar
4) Click the "Settings" tab on the top menu bar
5) Under "Chat Settings, check or uncheck the categories you require monitoring
 
Note that certain words fall under multiple categories, e.g. a word in the swearing category may also fall under the sex category.

 

How do I change my alert settings? (top)

 

1) Double Click the ChatAlert! Smiley Face on the Task bar
2) Enter the password which you set the first time you ran ChatAlert!. Click here for instructions what to do if you have forgotten your password
3) In the ChatAlert! Control Centre, click "Settings" on the left Menu Bar
4) Click the "Settings" tab on the top Menu Bar
5) Adjust the slider to your preferences

 

How much will I pay to receive a premium rate SMS text message where I live? (top)

 

Please see http://www.chatalert.com/smsrate to see the current rates. Be aware, if you are roaming on a network other than your home network, you will likely incur additional costs for these messages. Check with your provider before using the service when roaming.

Passwords

I've forgotten my password! (top)

 

1) Double Click the ChatAlert! Smiley Face on the Task bar
2) Click "Click Here" next to Forgotten Password

 

How do I change my password or reminder? (top)

 

1) Double Click the ChatAlert! Smiley Face on the Task bar
2) Enter your existing password
3) In the ChatAlert! Control Centre, click "Settings" on the left menu bar
4) Click the "Password" tab on the top menu bar
5) Enter your existing password in the box marked "Old Password" and click "Enter"
6) Enter your new password
7) Re-enter your new password
8) If you wish to also change your password reminder at this point you may do so by completing the "Question" and "Answer" fields

Deactivating ChatAlert!

How do I turn off monitoring? (top)

 

1) Double Click the ChatAlert! Smiley Face on the Task bar
2) Enter the password which you set the first time you ran ChatAlert!. Click here for instructions what to do if you have forgotten your password
3) Click the big On / Off button on the right hand side and the Smiley Face in the Task bar will indicate whether or noth ChatAlert! is monitoring

Important note: When in off mode, NO MONITORING will happen, even after a reboot of your PC. So remember to turn monitoring back on when you are finished.

 

I do not want ChatAlert to start when I boot my PC? (top)

 

There are 2 ways to stop ChatAlert! running at boot time:
 
1) Uninstall the product if you no longer wish it to run permanently (remove through the Add or Remove Programs applet in the Windows Control Panel)
 
2) Change the ChatAlert! execution preferences:

a) Double Click the ChatAlert! Smiley Face on the Task bar
b) Enter the password which you set the first time you ran ChatAlert!. Click here for instructions what to do if you have forgotten your password
c) Click "Settings" on the left menu bar
d) Click the "Advanced" tab on the top menu bar
e) Uncheck the "Automatically begin monitoring when I log in to Windows." checkbox

 

How do I shutdown ChatAlert? (top)

 

To close down ChatAlert!, do the following:
 
1) Double click the ChatAlert! Smiley Face on the Windows Task bar
2) Enter the password which you set the first time you ran ChatAlert!. Click here for instructions what to do if you have forgotten your password
3) Click the "Shut Down" button in the bottom middle of the ChatAlert! Control Centre.

You will then be prompted with a warning, to complete the shutdown, click "OK".