This message means the program files cannot access to the shared partition  (the USB has two parts, the “program” and the “shared”, the latter being where the user data is stored).

 

An error in initialisation means that the program is unable to run its launch icon, because it is unable to read/locate one or more files on the USB stick. This can happen for a variety of reasons:

 

• You are attempting to run on an incompatible operating system, for example Windows 10 in S mode, or Chromebook.  Our USBs require a Windows 7,8 or 10 (NOT 10 S), or Mac OS X 10.7 or later.
  
• The USB has two partitions, WORDSHARK and WS-SHARED (NUMBERSHARK and NS-SHARED for Numbershark). Check that these are both correctly named. It is possible to rename the WS-SHARED if this has been altered, and this can often fix the issue.
  
• Access has been blocked by anti-virus or group policies, or the anti-virus program on the machine has incorrectly identified it as a threat and blocked it; look under blocked/quarantined and restore it. There is often an option to remove from future scanning. NOTE that many schools, and “employment provided” business computers now prohibit use of USB sticks.
  
• Files on the wordshark-shared folder have been encrypted by an encryption tool on this, or another, computer, and the program can no longer read them: In this case, the USB has to be replaced UNLESS it proves possible to delete the whole folder, recreate it as an empty folder, and set up program users as if it is a new USB.
  
• If attempting to run from a desktop icon, the computer may be looking in the wrong place:  Browse to the USB and load from the icon on the USB. Mac users may copy the Wordshark icon only from the USB into the dock for easier access. It needs to be located into the dock as the program will not run via a desktop icon.
  
• For version 5 (NOT version 4) corruptions to the files can sometimes be resolved by a manual update to the latest release. This can be downloaded, and instructions seen, from: www.wordshark.co.uk/Updates/WCUB for Wordshark 5 and www.wordshark.co.uk/Updates/NCUB  for Numbershark 5.  The updates update the most commonly used files which are the most likely to become corrupted so usually resolves any issues but it cannot be guaranteed
  
• The USB has become damaged: either physically or corruptions to the files:  Sales can quote for a replacement USB (UK only) or replacement with a “Download (UK & overseas).
  

 

Note:  The USB version does not install onto the machine, and user data is stored on the USB, NOT on the machine.  It is worth (via Admin/Backup) backing up the -shared user data periodically.

 

Note for Mac users:  Java (a computer programming language) is often not installed on the computer. This can mean that if you resolve the initialisation error you may then receive an  “Unable to load Java Runtime Environment” message. Java is no longer provided with Mac so this will need downloading from www.java.com  See our article at https://v5support.wordshark.co.uk/portal/kb