Do you have a question not covered here? Contact support by sending an e-mail to support@ovusoft.com

What are the system requirements for TCOYF?

TCOYF runs on Windows 95/98, Windows Millennium Edition, Windows NT, Windows 2000, Windows XP, Windows Vista and Windows 7.  Your system must have at least 64 MB of memory (128 if using Windows 2000 or XP), 30 MB of free disk space, and should support high-color graphics (16 million colors or more), although it will work with 65,000 colors.  Running TCOYF with a monitor set to 256 colors will work, but it is not recommended, given the graphic nature of the application.

To use the WebCharts features you will need an Internet account and a browser which supports Java (see the FAQ section on Chart/WebChart Issues for more details on getting Java enabled on your browser).  To use the Internet mail features you must have access to an SMTP mail server. "SMTP" is an acronym for "Simple Mail Transport Protocol," the standard for sending text-based mail on the Internet.  Almost all ISPs (with the noted exception of AOL) provide their users with access to such a server, as this is the normal way for sending e-mail.  If you have an e-mail account through your ISP (not "yahoo" or "hotmail"), then chances are you do have access to an SMTP server.  To find our your own server name, ask your ISP.

Please note that most AOL users do not have access to an SMTP server and will not be able to use some of the Internet mail features in TCOYF.  AOL users should still be able to send mail using the Internet Assistance feature, however.

When running TCOYF my system freezes or I get "low system resources" messages and am forced to close the application.  How can I prevent this?

The earliest release of TCOYF had a bug which caused it to consume quite a bit of the system memory available for graphics processing.  This was fixed in version 1.2001.0817 and all releases after this one.  To learn how to find out which version you are on and how to update to the latest release, click here.

If you are using Windows 95 or 98 on a PC with a video card that is using NVIDIA drivers (many PCs use these video cards), then you may need to update to the latest NVIDIA driver set, as in earlier versions of the driver there were bugs in the way it handled certain graphic elements.  To determine which video card and driver you are using, click here.


I didn't receive a serial number when I purchased the software, how can I unlock the program?  How do I record my serial number in TCOYF?

You should have been taken to a web page containing your serial number immediately after ordering.  You should have also received two pieces of information via e-mail when you ordered: your purchase receipt and an e-mail from us thanking you for your order and explaining how to register your software.  Both pieces of e-mail contain your serial number.

First look for an e-mail with the following subject line:  Ovusoft Registration Information.  It contains your serial number and complete details on how to record it in the software.

If you cannot find your serial number email, then please send a request for your serial number to support@ovusoft.com and we will be happy to resend it.


I was charged more than once when I purchased the software, how can I get credit for the extra charges?

Forward your second receipt immediately to support@ovusoft.com and ask that the second charge be removed.  If you get back to us quickly enough, we can usually void the second transaction prior to it even being processed, so that it never hits your statement.


The TCOYF help file doesn't open when I click on the menu options or press F1 in the software, what can I do to fix this?

If you are on Windows 95/98/NT or Windows Millennium Edition, you probably need to download an update to the Microsoft Compiled Help tools.  Click the following link to download an update, select "Run" (or "Open") when your browser asks you what to do with the file:

Microsoft Compiled Help Update

If you are using Windows 2000 or Windows XP, then you do not need to update your help tools.  If you have this problem on Windows 2000 or XP, please send an e-mail to support@ovusoft.com with a description of the problem.


The system check utility says I need "MDAC", what is this and why do I need it?

Your cycle data in TCOYF is stored in a database so that it can be organized and processed efficiently.  MDAC is an acronym for "Microsoft Data Access Components."  As the name implies, MDAC is Microsoft's primary technology for providing methods for programs to read, write and manage information stored in databases.  Without it, TCOYF will not run.


Does TCOYF run on the Mac?

Not natively, but it does run under Microsoft Virtual PC for Mac OS.  If you already have Virtual PC, you can download the trial version of TCOYF from our download page and try it out.  If you don't have Virtual PC, then you might want to visit the Virtual PC webpage to learn more about it.

You can use our online charting application; it's located at the "My Fertility" tab at the top right of your screen.


I am breastfeeding my infant and have not a had a period yet, can I use TCOYF?

Not currently as TCOYF requires that your period return before it can begin accurately interpreting your cycles.


I just had a miscarriage, how do I record this in TCOYF?

As bad as this may sound, you should mark the day of miscarriage as Menses in TCOYF's Fertility Signs window, as this is how your body will respond to it. If you had previously indicated in the Fertility Planner that you were pregnant during this cycle, TCOYF will automatically exclude this cycle from statistical calculations. If you did not indicate that you were pregnant, you should select Edit in the TCOYF menu, then select Override Calculations...  Select the cycle where you were pregnant and had the miscarriage, unlock the cycle by clicking the lock icon (you will see it "unlock"), then select the option at the bottom labeled Exclude cycle, regardless of what TCOYF determines. Then click Close.  Depending upon how long it takes your body to get back to normal, you may wish to do this for the cycle after your miscarriage, as well. Frequently, however, your body resumes its normal fertility patterns immediately after a miscarriage.


I messed up my data. How do I start over with a new database? How do I delete everything?

Simple.  Click File in the TCOYF menu, then select New Database...  Then follow the instructions presented in the New Cycle Database Wizard.

I just downloaded and installed the program and when I open it for the first time, I get an error message.

Please send an e-mail to support@ovusoft.com with a complete description of the message and when it occurred.   We will get back to you within 24 hours, if not please send a follow-up email as your original e-mail may have been lost in transit.


The trial period for the downloaded software is limited to 15 days, this isn't enough time for me to complete a cycle!  Why don't you increase the trial period to 30 days?

While we understand your concern, we also understand that when the trial period is 30 days long, many of our users get pregnant during their first cycle of use and then do not buy the software -- they send us e-mails telling us "thanks, but I'm pregnant and don't need to purchase now."  We have yet to get an e-mail from a user that says "I used your trial software and got pregnant, thanks for the help, here's $39.95 for your efforts."  (Nor would we expect to receive such an e-mail, either.)

Therefore the trial is limited to 15 days. 15 days is plenty of time to determine whether or not you like the software.  You can try out all the features and "play" with the data and get it to calculate for ovulation using either historical or fictitious information.  Since you can create multiple databases and save existing databases to new filenames, this poses no problems with respect to corrupting your real data. You can also perform Mass Delete functions to get rid of any "play" data quickly and easily (available within the Edit menu)

Almost all commercial software is available on a pay-first basis exclusively (Word, Excel, etc.).  All commercial fertility products are only available on a pay-first basis.  If you buy ovulation predictor kits and pregnancy tests, you have to pay first.  If you buy electronic fertility monitors you have to pay (about $200!) first.  None of these products offer a free "trial" of any sort, and most are much more expensive over the life of the product than TCOYF is. We have a one-time charge of $39.95 AND we give you 15 days to try it out with no obligation.


Is there a iPhone, Blackberry or PDA version of TCOYF?

Not currently, though you may wish to use our online charting application via your smartphone's browser.