Nissan E-FAST Software on Vista

[=Enigma=]

Has anyone gotten the Nissan EFAST or E-Fast software working on Vista. I got it installed/configured and can open the E-FAST program, but I can't seem to do any lookups. When I click the Model List button at the bottom, I see an SQL Manager icon flashing on and off in the systray, but the lookup fails and E-Fast displays the folllowing error: "CD Player Error". See attached for image of this error.

Note that I ran the installer successsfully and installed to C:\NISSAN, created the Fast and E-Fast subdirectories under there, copied the nfastkey to c:\windows, and ran nfset.exe to point the program to the two database dirs (c:\nissan\fast & c:\nissan\e-fast).

I have this working fine on WinXP so I know how to install it, but something's just not right on Vista. A search of the web gave me nothing to work with. Any suggestions?

[Walter Moore]

I don't know anything about E-Fast, however I have had some interesting experiences trying to get older Windows programs to run on Vista.

The first thing that you might try is to disable "User Account Control" in Vista. Microsoft added this security feature to Visa so that under most circumstances all users run with only "standard user" rights and then have to switch to "administrator" rights when they do dangerous things, like install or remove software or modify the firewall settings.

Essentially they just borrowed the "root user" concept that has been a part of all Unix systems since the 1970's.

The problem is that User Account Control blocks programs from accessing the registry unless the installer has properly configured the access rights of the registry keys involved. Even more troubling is that the API that is used on Windows machines to access .ini files is the same API that is used to access the registry. Since the .ini files are not in the registry, apparently the security permissions don't default to the standard user level. As a result the API call will return a security failure, which the older program will not know how to interpret.

Most legacy software, and much new software continues to use .ini files rather than have to deal with the registry because it makes the software installation process much easier. (Easier for the poor smuck who has to write the installer, not necessarily the end user.)

I have found that in may cases, the only way to make software that was written for NT, or XP to operate on Vista is to disable User Account Control.

[sblake01]

You might have to actually put the two databases on a CD and point the program to them rather than to files on your hard drive. I'm still not sold on Vista and won't change the XP Pro Corporate I use now except maybe when Windows Seven comes out.

[MikeW]

I'll give it a shot tomorrow at the office where I run Vista 64. I have to admit that when I recently installed the Nissan Fast program at home under XP I immediately thought it was an absolutely awful program and I briefly considered creating a modern application using their data files. Further investigation showed that the data files are a random mix of text files and binary files with numbered extensions in numbered sub-folders that presumably were used to get around an ancient windows limitation on the number of files per directory. There are files with bmp extensions that aren't actual windows bitmap files. It's really a mess and is quite shocking if this application was actually used by Nissan.

[hls30.com]

I've been running both Fast and Efast for over six years, well over a year on Vista Home Premium with no issues-but the most common issue in Vista is handled by running software as admin...

I copy the Nfast.sys file to the windows/system subdirectory, and use the win2000 install file.

The club CD is so much easier to use, and so much more readable than efast...but Fast is the only way to go for the z32.

MikeW

I found the same thing with my first copy of efast, I cut the Sports and Z files and put it on one disk with the program.

Efast and fast are copywrited and not included in mikes exemption-so they won't make it onto the the new club cd/dvd. Then again, well scanned, searchable, and well indexed PDF is so much less cumbersome, and easier to use.

Most dealers will give the older version of fast away when the new one comes out. Most of the parts counter guys really don't understand Efast, and that is where the S30 info is.

Will

[=Enigma=]

I got both Fast and E-Fast to run by right clicking on the shortcut and running it as an Administrator. Funny, I thought I was logged in as an admin.

[mayc]

I recently installed the Nissan Fast program at home under XP I immediately thought it was an absolutely awful program and I briefly considered creating a modern application using their data files. Further investigation showed that the data files are a random mix of text files and binary files with numbered extensions in numbered sub-folders that presumably were used to get around an ancient windows limitation on the number of files per directory. There are files with bmp extensions that aren't actual windows bitmap files. It's really a mess and is quite shocking if this application was actually used by Nissan.

Please, can anyone tell me where can I get Nissan Fast for home use?

[sblake01]

Please, can anyone tell me where can I get Nissan Fast for home use?

Go to http://www.xenons30.com/reference.html and scroll down to 'Nissan E-FAST and FAST software'.

[SSS-S30]

The club CD is so much easier to use, and so much more readable than efast...but Fast is the only way to go for the z32.

hls30.com,

Where can I get the club CD that you refer to? Does it contain parts info on all the pre-79 vehicles?

Edited April 14, 2009 by SSS-S30
typo

[hls30.com]

Here you go! Zs only, it is a scan of the microfische.

https://www.classiczcars.com/store/

If you get a certificate error, just push through it, it is safe and just an oversight.

Will

Edited April 14, 2009 by hls30.com