"Unable to contact update server" with Web Updates

[Warstrider]

I am trying to get my first "Web Updates" project working but always get an "Unable to contact update server for Test3" when I launch the check manually. Here is what I've done...

1.) Built a simple install project (1.0.0)
2.) Modified my install project to become 2.0.0, and added a new pack and version
3.) Built the new project
4.) Copied the new installer into my updates folder (\\localhost\Updates\v2.0.0)
5.) Copied the updates.ini from the folder in #4, into my root updates folder (\\localhost\Updates\updates.ini)
6.) Installed v1.0.0 of my application
7.) Launched the manual update check

I have confirmed I can access the INI file (\\localhost\Updates\updates.ini) from windows, and the installer itself (\\localhost\Updates\v2.0.0\Test3.exe), both worked. I've also tried getting several demo projects on this forum to work without any luck. I am running InstallAware XE2 trial license.

Screen shot #1 shows the settings from v1.0.0 of the build.
Screen shot #2-4 shows the project settings of the second build.
Screen shot #5 shows the updates.ini.
Screen shot #6 shows the error I'm getting.
(I had to compress all the files into a single zip as the forum was limiting me to 3 files)

Any assistance would be greatly appreciated. I've also attached a simple project in case that helps.

[FrancescoT]

Dear Warstrider,

when the update is served over a LAN, you should use the form; "\\SERVERNAME\SharedFolder\packageName" with the URL in the Update.ini .

Obviously you must have access rights to that shared folder and you also have to set as READ ONLY the updates.ini (required when using UNC path).

Then verify that the shared folder is effectively accessible from your client.
(If the system requires to authenticate the user, check the "Remember me" flag in the User Credentials dialog).

Hope this helps you.

Regards

[Warstrider]

Thanks for the reply! I've been going over it but I'm still having problems. I think my issue is a URL issue, but I've got different URLs all over the place. Let me try to lay it out more clearly. I've also switched to basic windows file paths to try to simplify the scenario.

URL in Project Properties
file://c:/InstallAware Web Updates Test/Updates/updates.ini

URL in Update Pack
file://C:/InstallAware Web Updates Test/Updates/v4.0.0/Test3.exe

File contents of "C:\InstallAware Web Updates Test\Updates\updates.ini" file (is read only)
[Update Packs for Versions]
3.0.0=Upgrade from v3.0.0 to v4.0.0
[Upgrade from v3.0.0 to v4.0.0]
URL=file://C:/InstallAware Web Updates Test/Updates/v4.0.0/Test3.exe
Description=Test 4
Reboot=No
Silent=Yes
Parameters=

Directory contents of "C:\InstallAware Web Updates Test\Updates\v4.0.0"
Test3.exe


I double checked that the folders and files are all accessible from both IE and windows explorer via the URLs specified.

[FrancescoT]

Dear Warstrider,

... for what I see you are still not using the correct form.
When the update is served over a LAN, you should use the form; "\\SERVERNAME\SharedFolder\packageName" with the URL.

Regards

[Warstrider]

Oh, sorry! I thought you meant the address parts, not the actual form of the address. I changed it to use that format and it started working like a dream! Thanks for the help.

[FrancescoT]