How do I configure my Windows® settings for Ascend?

Windows® settings must be configured separately on each computer running Ascend. To get started, open up your computer’s Control Panel: just click on the Start menu and start typing to search.

Windows® Updates

Complete all required Windows® updates before installing Ascend. The Ascend Installer may not complete if Windows® is not up-to-date.

Windows® updates may not be cumulative. Additional updates may be required after another is installed.

1. Click the Start menu, click Settings (gear icon), click Update & Security, then click Change active hours.
   
   
2. Select the hours when employees will be in the store and working in Ascend (maximum 18 hours) and click Save.
   
   
3. From the Windows Update screen, click Check for updates.
   
   
4. Click Install Updates and restart as prompted.
   
5. Repeat the process until no more updates are available.
   

Power & Display

1. Click Hardware and Sound, then click Power Options.
   
2. In the Plans section, select High Performance.
   
3. Click Change plan settings.
   
4. From the Put the computer to sleep drop-down(s), select Never.
   
5. Click Change advanced power settings.
   
6. Expand Hard Disk, then expand Turn Off Hard Disk After.
   
7. Set all options to zero minutes and click Apply.
   
8. Expand Sleep, then expand Sleep After.
   
9. Set all options to zero minutes and click Apply.
   
10. Expand USB settings, then expand USB selective suspend setting.
    
11. From the Setting drop-down, select Disabled and click OK.
    
12. Click Save Changes.
    

Windows® Firewall

1. Click System and Security, click Windows Firewall, then click Turn Windows Firewall on or off.
   
2. Under all Network Location Settings sections:
   a. Select Turn on Windows Firewall.
   b. Disable Block all incoming connections.
   c. Enable Notify me when Windows Firewall blocks a new program.
   d. Click OK.
   
3. Click Allow an app or feature through Windows Firewall.
   
4. In the Allowed Apps and Features list, verify File and Printer Sharing is enabled in the Home/Network (Private) column and click OK.
   

Network

1. Verify your network connection.
   a. Right-click Start and select System.
   b. Under the Computer name, domain, and workgroup settings section, verify the value in the Workgroup field matches exactly on all computers. If not:

   i. Click Change Settings.

   ii. (optional) In the Computer Description field, enter a meaningful name for the computer (e.g. Front Register) and click Change.

   iii. In the Workgroup field, enter the required name.

   iv. Click OK on all prompts, then Close. Restart as prompted.

   c. Click the Start menu, type cmd, and open the Command Prompt program.
   d. Type ping <server computer name> (e.g. ping SERVER01) and press Enter.Sherpa Tip: To find the name of the computer, right-click the Start menu and choose System.

   i. If the computer is communicating with the network, a reply displays (e.g. Reply from 192.168.2.30).

   ii. If the machine is not communicating with the network, an error message displays (e.g. Ping request could not find host SERVER01).

   iii. If all cables are connected properly and the computer is still not able to connect to the network, contact a network or IT specialist in your area.

2. Configure sharing settings.
   a. From the Control Panel, click Network and Internet, click Network and Sharing Center, then click Change advanced sharing settings.
   b. Expand Private and select the following:

   i. Turn on network discovery

   ii. Turn on file and printer sharing

   iii. Allow Windows to manage homegroup connections (recommended)
   
   

   c. Expand All Networks and select Turn off password protected sharing.
   
   d. Click Save changes.
   e. (Windows® 10) Click the Start menu, click Settings (gear icon), then click Network & Internet.
   f. (Windows® 10) In the left pane, click Ethernet.
   g. (Windows® 10) In the right pane, click Ethernet again.
   h. (Windows® 10) Enable Make this PC discoverable.
   
   

Prevent System Time Changes

1. Click the Start menu, click Settings (gear icon), then click Time & language.
   
2. From the Time zone drop-down, select your time zone.
   
3. Enable Set time automatically.
   
   

Internet

1. Open your web browser program and navigate to its Options
   a. Windows® Internet Explorer

   i. Select the Tools menu (gear icon) > Internet Options.
   
   

   b. Mozilla® Firefox

   i. Select the Tools menu (lines icon) > Options.
   
   

   c. Google Chrome™

   i. Select the Customize and control Google Chrome (dots icon) menu > Settings.
   
   

   ii. Click Advanced.
   
   

2. Allow cookies from the Ascend website
   a. Windows® Internet Explorer

   i. Select the Privacy tab, then click Sites.
   
   ii. In the Address of website field, enter ascendrms.com.
   iii. Click Allow, then click OK.
   
   

   b. Google Chrome™

   i. In the Privacy and security section, click Content Settings.
   
   ii. Click Cookies.
   iii. In the Allow section, click Add.
   
   iv. In the Site field, enter [*.]ascendrms.com, then click Add.
   
   

3. Allow pop-ups from the Ascend website
   a. Windows® Internet Explorer

   i. From the Privacy tab, click Settings.
   
   ii. In the Address of website to allow field, enter *.ascendrms.com.
   iii. Click Add, click Close, then click OK.
   
   

   b. Mozilla® Firefox

   i. Select the Content tab.
   ii. Next to the Block pop-up windows option, click Exceptions.
   
   iii. In the Address of website field, enter ascendrms.com.
   iv. Click Allow, then click Save Changes.
   
   

   c. Google Chrome™

   i. In the Content Settings section, click Popups.
   ii. In the Allow section, click Add.
   
   iii. In the Site field, enter [*.]ascendrms.com, then click Add.
   
   

Devices & Printers

Windows 10

1. Click the Start menu, click Settings (gear icon), click Devices, then click Printers & Scanners.
   
   
2. Uncheck Let Windows manage my default printer.