Can I edit my user.aco file in Notepad?

[Admin]

I wouldn't.

I've fielded desperate help emails from 2 MTs so far who have made changes to their expander files and messed them up. Doing a System Restore didn't solve their problems because it doesn't back up data files; it only controls the myriad of complex settings involved in running Windows. The first MT was able to restore her user.aco file with the help of the friendly people at 1-888-DICTATE. I don't know the fate of the second MT as she didn't write back with the outcome, but I told her to call that number.

I can't emphasize this enough -- do not mess with the user.aco file unless you really, really know what you're doing. I personally don't feel I know enough about it to make any changes to it. Nothing you read on this forum advocates that you change this file. If you read something that seems to be suggesting that, please tell me. I've read all the posts pretty thoroughly to make sure there is no confusion, but I may have missed something.

With that in mind, if you feel you know what you're doing, protect yourself by always backing the file up to a floppy disk or CD-ROM before doing anything to it.

It's a good idea to back up your user.aco file every few days anyway -- if your system crashed you would want to be able to install it on your restored or new system; while they may have a copy of your file on the online server, why take chances? Keep your own back-up copy current and know that you are doing everything sensible to protect your most valuable transcription tool.

[GrannyT]

Joi,
In a semi-geek fashion would you please explain how to do the backup.

Thanks,
Granny

[Admin]

Sure. It's so easy, I don't even have to get geeky:

Put a floppy disk in the appropriate drive. Navigate to your user.aco file:

C:\WINDOWS\WebCorrect\Cache\USER PROFILES\#####

You get there by clicking the start menu and then My Computer. You'll see a list of drives -- click the hard drive C. Then scroll down to find WINDOWS and click it, scroll down to find WebCorrect and click it, and scroll up to Cache and click it. The ##### is the company number that you enter when logging in to work.

You may find another numbered file inside the company number file. Click on that too until you find a directory with several files, including user.aco and user.dic.

Right-click on user.aco, choose Send To, then choose floppy.

Ta-Da! Your expander file is safely backed up on a floppy.

To reverse the process, click Start Menu, then My Computer, then Floppy Drive. Right click on the desired file and choose Copy. Navigate back into the folder above [the one terminating in Cache and #####]. Once there, simply right-click your mouse and choose Paste. You'll see a graphic where the file flies out of the file folder, and it will appear in the directory, right where you want it.



Any questions, comments?

[beachlovingmom]

This is to advise everyone the need to back-up the user.aco file. Last evening, adding 1 quick entry to word expander then shutting down quickly before a storm, my machine froze. To make a LONGGGG story short, this morning, I called 1-888-DICTATE to let them know my expander now stopped after words beginning with H. Another long story w/ 2 techs, finally after restoring, then importing then saving, all is well.

I mentioned to tech #2 I had it backed up on CD, but...

Now if I had Joi's help, she could have fixed it in a heartbeat! Save yourself time, BACK IT UP!