There has been some confusion about the blog entry I posted yesterday regarding the fix for RoboForm Companion.
RoboForm and RoboForm Companion are two different programs. RoboForm is an auto-fill program allowing a user to easily and quickly enter online forms. RoboForm Companion works in conjunction with RoboForm allowing a user to auto-enter online forms.
So, a user would install RoboForm on their computer, create Passcards for each sweepstakes they wish to enter and then launch RoboForm Companion to fill and submit all those forms saving the entrant a lot of time.
The fix I sent out yesterday was for RoboForm Companion. It did not work for some. Karl kindly shared this fix for RoboForm Companion:
I think I found a simple way to make RoboForm Companion work!!
You must add an entry in the hosts file.
c:\windows\system32\drivers\etc\hosts
Right click and open the file using Notepad.
Add the following line at the top:
127.0.0.1 www.cydrix.com
Save and exit.
It should look like this when you are done:
# This is a sample HOSTS file used by Microsoft TCP/IP for Windows.
# This file contains the mappings of IP addresses to host names. Each
# entry should be kept on an individual line. The IP address should
# be placed in the first column followed by the corresponding host name.
# The IP address and the host name should be separated by at least one
# space.
# Additionally, comments (such as these) may be inserted on individual
# lines or following the machine name denoted by a ‘#’ symbol.
# For example:
# 102.54.94.97 rhino.acme.com # source server
# 38.25.63.10 x.acme.com # x client host
127.0.0.1 localhost
::1 localhost
127.0.0.1 www.cydrix.com
NOTE: Several spyware and anti-virus programs put this file read-only, so you will have to right-click the file (before you open it in Notepad), choose properties and then uncheck the Attribute Read-Only. Recheck it when you are done.
As I also stated yesterday, I am working with programmers to launch a supported and maintained replacement program for RoboForm Companion. I will keep you regularly informed of our progress. Like RoboForm Companion, will need to have, and be comfortable using RoboForm before using the auto-entry software.
Click here to download RoboForm.
Click here to take the free online RoboForm tutorials.
March 7th, 2009 at 12:16 am
pray tell…how do I add an entry in the hosts file? where do I go to do that? I am thrilled that there is a fix out there for RFC…if I can only figure out the instructions! LOL
Thanx!
March 7th, 2009 at 1:22 pm
Thank you very, very much for this information!
March 12th, 2009 at 7:26 pm
I live in the USA and don’t enter as many contests because of taxes – that is, I’m VERY particular about the contests I enter! I don’t want to win something I wouldn’t even want and then have to pay taxes on it! I was entering a contest the other day and one of the requirements was to join FastSweeper. I did (it gave the example of entering you in twenty contests in a few seconds) and then found out you had to pay to “upgrade” for this to happen! I also didn’t like it that I’d be entered in so many contests I might not want to win! So does Roboform work differently? I’ve always used Google Autofill (doesn’t work on each entry, but does work on many, I’d say about 95 per cent) which doesn’t give me that problem. Is there another reason I don’t know about that I should use Roboform?
March 13th, 2009 at 9:31 am
RoboForm is an auto-fill software program. RoboForm Companion is an auto-submit program and will not work without RoboForm already installed and populated on your computer.
Auto-fill means that the program will populate form fields found on a webpage. Auto-submit means it will take a saved auto-fill form and submit it for you.
The reason I like RoboForm vs Google Autofill is that RoboForm can fill not get normal fields such as Name Address Phone but also radio buttons, questionnaires, etc…
Fast Sweeper is neither type of program. Fast Sweeper is a company you pay to enter contests and sweepstakes for you. They are not worth it. I tested them for 3 months so I could report back to the community. I signed up a non-sweeping girlfriend. In the 12 weeks she won nothing and I won 39 prizes.
July 24th, 2009 at 6:50 pm
with each Firefox upgrade I fear for my roboformCompanion. Back this spring you wrote on yr blog “As I also stated yesterday, I am working with programmers to launch a supported and maintained replacement program for RoboForm Companion” Just curious as this last update FF3.5 seems to be the final draw for the Cydrix solution.
September 24th, 2009 at 11:17 am
I too would love to know if you’ve developed an alternative to Roboform Companion and/or if you are ever going to. Thanks. I love your blog. It’s a fantastic source for sweepers.
September 24th, 2009 at 11:26 am
I am currently consulting with a company that is creating a replacement for RoboForm Companion. No details or release date at this time. Programming is a very long time consuming process.
September 24th, 2009 at 12:30 pm
OK, thanks Carolyn, I’ll keep an eye on your site for details. I just LOVE this software and although it’s still working on my laptop I can’t for the life of me get it working on my desktop.
January 1st, 2010 at 9:27 am
Any news on the future replacment for Roboform companion??
March 5th, 2010 at 1:01 pm
Wow – that worked for me after tons of tries removing and re-installing roboform companion. Thanks a million. (it is a lot simpler than it looks too!) Wow again.
March 9th, 2010 at 11:36 am
I successfully changed the local host document, but I’m still getting the following error:
Cannot initialize application. The execution will terminate.
Form load
ErrNo: -2147467259
ErrSource: RoboFormCompanion
ErrDesc: Automation error
Unspecified error
ErrDll: 0
Anybody have any ideas? I have four computers and the RC stopped working on all of them the same exact day.
Thanks!
Ryan
March 12th, 2010 at 12:56 am
Would anyone care to share the version # of ROBOFORM that they are able to use/have been using with Roboform Companion? thx