Frequently Asked Questions

No, CheckUp does not have to be connected to the Internet. The product activation is typically done over the Internet; however, it can be quickly and easily done via phone by calling 913.438.3201, Monday - Friday from 9am to 5pm Central Time.

Without an Internet connection, you can use all CheckUp features except health.edu and Check For Updates. Since both of these features access resources through the Internet, they will not function without an Internet connection.

Why isn't CheckUp an Internet-based product?

[top]

CheckUp Software believes your health information is private information and should be stored in your control at all times. By storing your health information in CheckUp on your personal computer, you control who has access to this confidential information.

How much does CheckUp cost?

[top]

CheckUp is $29.95 after the free, no obligation, 30 day trial. $29.95 includes unlimited technical support and software updates for CheckUp 1.0.

Is there an annual fee for updates?

[top]

No, when you purchase CheckUp, you receive unlimited support and updates for the version you purchased. For example, your purchase of CheckUp 1.0 will provide you with unlimited support and updates until we discontinue support for that version. At that time, you will be offered a discounted price to upgrade to the newest version.

What happens to my health information if I don't purchase CheckUp after my 30 day trial has ended?

[top]

After your 30 day trial expires, you will no longer have access to any information you entered in CheckUp. To keep a record of this information, create a PDF or use the Print feature to print a report before your trial expires.

Who has access to my family's health information?

[top]

Only you and the people you permit to use your computer have access to your information. Since CheckUp is installed on your personal computer, you have complete control of your information.

Your health information is not stored on the Internet or on a computer server that anyone may be able to access. None of the information you enter is transmitted to CheckUp Software. There is absolutely no link between your information and anyone else.

How many health records can I store in CheckUp?

[top]

There is no limit to the number of Health Records you can store in CheckUp.

What is the difference between the Journal and the Profile?

[top]

The Profile represents a typical set of information asked on new patient forms at a doctor's office. It contains information doctors need to know in order to treat you effectively. The Profile includes family health history, current height and weight, cholesterol measurements, allergies, current medications, fitness habits and your detailed medical history

The Journal is a continuous log of your health care. You can quickly enter several types of medical information without changing pages. The Journal also allows you to track the cost of your medical care. Journal entries are displayed chronologically, helping you quickly find important information.

Both the Journal and the Profile are part of your Health Record.

What is the difference between the OK, Add and Apply buttons?

[top]

The OK and Add buttons save your information and exit the current Profile section or Journal entry form.

The Apply button saves your information but remains on the same Profile section or Journal entry form. Use it to save you time when creating many Journal entries. As of CheckUp 1.5, the Journal entry form remembers the date of the last entry added when saved using the Apply button.

Where do the health.edu articles come from?

[top]

Health.edu articles provide you with industry-leading health information. All health.edu articles are from credible sources of health information, including nationally recognized hospitals (ex. Mayo Clinic), charitable organizations (ex. American Heart Association) and government organizations (ex. The National Women’s Health Information Center).

CheckUp says my risk for Heart Disease and/or Diabetes is high. How does it determine this and what can I do to lower my risk?

[top]

CheckUp determines your risk level for Heart Disease and Diabetes based on the health information you enter in your Profile.

CheckUp uses an American Diabetes Association formula to determine risk level for diabetes. Risk factors include:

Family History
Increased Age
Obesity
Physical Inactivity
Race
Prior History of Gestational Diabetes

The assessment for Heart Disease risk was developed by the McConnell Heart Health Center, part of OhioHealth. Risk factors include:

Increased age
Gender
Family History
Race
Smoking
High Blood Cholesterol
High Blood Pressure
Obesity
Diabetes
Stress
Extreme alcohol consumption

To lower your risk level for heart disease and diabetes, address the controllable risk factors affecting your assessment. Controllable risk factors include diet, cholesterol, blood pressure, physical activity, smoking and extreme alcohol consumption. For a list of the factors affecting your assessment, click the Information Icon next to the Heart Disease or Diabetes risk level indicator in the Assessments section of CheckUp.

Can I be removed from your mailing list?

[top]

Yes. Click here.

I live outside of the U.S. Can I get CheckUp?

[top]

CheckUp was developed using weights and measures standard to the United States. To avoid potentially inaccurate record keeping, it is our policy to provide CheckUp only for residents of the United States.

Does CheckUp work with Windows XP Service Pack 2?

[top]

Yes it does. Click here to learn more about CheckUp and Windows XP Service Pack 2

How do I...?

...Download CheckUp?

[top]

CheckUp can only be downloaded by people that register for the 30-day trial and choose Software Download as the delivery method. After registering, users will receive an email containing instructions for downloading CheckUp. If you are having problems, see our Download Guide.

...Install and activate CheckUp?

[top]

Take the CD and put it into your computer. The CD should start playing automatically. If it does not, go to the Start menu and click Run. At the prompt, type "D:/install.exe" where D: is your CD-ROM drive. Once the CD has started, follow the prompts to install CheckUp on your computer.

For more detailed instructions for installing CheckUp, please see our Installation Guide.

After you install CheckUp, you need to activate it before you can use all of the features. Once CheckUp has started, click the large, green button that says Activate Now!. To complete the activation process, you will need the Product ID Code located on the back flap of the CD envelope. Enter this code and the other required information on the page. Click Continue to move on to Step 2. If you have an active Internet connection, click Continue to complete the activation. If you do not have Internet access, click here.

...Activate without an Internet connection?

[top]

To activate CheckUp without an Internet connection, please call CheckUp Customer Support at 913.438.3201, Monday - Friday between 9am and 5pm Central Time. You will need access to CheckUp and the Product ID Code located on the back of the sleeve your CheckUp CD arrived in.

...Buy CheckUp when my free trial expires?

[top]

You can purchase CheckUp at any time using the green Purchase Now button (see image below) in the copy of CheckUp installed on your computer. This link will take you to a VeriSign Secured Web page to purchase CheckUp. CheckUp is $29.95.

Alternatively, you can purchase CheckUp directly from our Web site by clicking Purchase on the menu to the right. Select "I have the 30-day trial installed and would now like to purchase CheckUp for $29.95." as the Type of Purchase. You will need your Product ID code. Click here if you are not sure where to find your Product ID Code.

...Download and install product updates?

[top]

To start the update process, click Check for Updates on the initial CheckUp screen (see image below). Follow the instructions on the screen to download and apply updates. You will need to restart CheckUp after the updates have been applied.

...Download and Install product updates without an Internet connection?

[top]

Contact CheckUp Customer Support to receive CheckUp updates on CD.

...Know what version of CheckUp I have?

[top]

You can find the version number on the About CheckUp page. The About CheckUp page is accessible through a link at the bottom of every CheckUp screen. Users that have purchased CheckUp can find the version number on the big green circle of the Welcome page.

The CheckUp version number is the first information listed on the About CheckUp page.

...Create a Journal Entry?

[top]

Click the Add Journal Entry button located in the middle of the Health Record at the bottom of the screen.
Choose the type of Journal entry you'd like to add by clicking the down arrow on the dropdown box next to "I'd like to create a new journal entry for " found in the middle of the screen. Available entry types are Blood Pressure, Cholesterol, Diary, Diet, Exercise, Glucose, Height, Ill/Disease/Injury (for Illness, Disease, and Injury), Immunization, Medication, Procedure, Pulse, Test, Visit and Weight. Diary is shown by default.
The entry form will change based on the type of entry you select. Fill in the requested information. All required fields are marked with an *.
Click Add to save the entry information and close the entry form. Click Apply to save the current entry information and remain on the entry form to add additional entries.
Once saved, the new entry will appear in the Journal as long as it corresponds with the search parameters set at the top of the Journal.

...See the detail for a Journal Entry?

[top]

As your mouse rolls over an entry in the Journal, the entry's color will change to yellow. While an entry is yellow, you can click on the entry to open it.
Once an entry has been selected, the entry form area will open with the information for the selected entry displayed.
To close the entry, click Cancel.

...Copy a Journal Entry?

[top]

As your mouse rolls over an entry in the Journal, the entry's color will change to yellow. While an entry is yellow, you can click on the entry to open it.
Once an entry has been selected, the entry form area will open with the information for the selected entry displayed.
To copy the entry, click Copy.
Make the changes you would like included in the new entry and click OK to save your changes.

...Edit a Journal Entry?

[top]

As your mouse rolls over an entry in the Journal, the entry's color will change to yellow. While an entry is yellow, you can click on the entry to open it.
Once an entry has been selected, the entry form area will open with the information for the selected entry displayed.
To edit the entry, click Edit.
Change the information as necessary and click OK to save your changes.

...Delete a Journal Entry?

[top]

As your mouse rolls over an entry in the Journal, the entry's color will change to yellow. While an entry is yellow, you can click on the entry to open it.
Once an entry has been selected, the entry form area will open with the information for the selected entry displayed.
To delete the entry, click Delete.

...Sort my Journal?

[top]

You can sort the Journal by time period and/or entry type using the dropdown boxes at the top of the Journal.

...Print my Journal?

[top]

Click on the Print Icon at the top of the Journal to open the Journal Report Generator.
Select a time frame by entering specific dates or using the Time options used by the Journal.
Select the categories you'd like to print. By default the category or categories that were being displayed in the Journal when was clicked are chosen for you.
To further refine your report, enter a search word or phrase (Step 3) and/or select a provider from the list (Step 4). If both are entered, an entry must have both the search word and the selected provider in order to be displayed for printing. For example, if you would like to print a report containing only your LDL test results, enter LDL in the textbox provided in Step 3.
Click OK to generate the report. Expenses for each selected category are totaled at the bottom of the report. If the Diet category was selected, the nutritional information (calories, protein, etc) is also totaled. If the Exercise category was selected, the total number of minutes exercised and calories burned are shown.
The Window's Print Dialog box will open automatically.
Select the appropriate printer and click Print in the dialog box.
To close the Journal Report Generator window, click on Close in the upper right-hand corner of the window.

...Print Journal entries from only one category? for a specific time period?

[top]

Sort the Journal to show only the entries you want to print. The sorting options are used by the Journal Report Generator to determine which entries to print. However, you will have the opportunity to change these options before you print.
Click on the Print Icon at the top of the Journal to open the Journal Report Generator window.
Select a time frame by entering specific dates or using the Time options used by the Journal.
Select the categories you'd like to print. By default the category or categories that were displayed in the Journal when was clicked are chosen for you.
Click OK to generate the report. Expenses for each selected category are totaled at the bottom of the report. If the Diet category was selected, the nutritional information (calories, protein, etc) is also totaled. If the Exercise category was selected, the total number of minutes exercised and calories burned are shown.
The Window's Print Dialog box will open automatically.
Select the appropriate printer and click Print in the dialog box.
To close the Print Preview window, click on Close in the upper right corner of the window.

...Create a custom time category for the Journal and Expenses YTD sections?

[top]

While you can not create a new Time category for the Journal, you can change the starting month and day of This Year and Last Year to correspond with your insurance provider's fiscal year.

Click the Settings link in the upper right corner of CheckUp.
In the Calender Settings box, select the starting month and day for the First Day of Fiscal Year setting. The year will automatically be determined based on the current date.
Once you select a date, dates for the This Year and Last Year categories will be displayed. The default setting for This Year is January 1 to December 31.
Click OK to save your changes.

...Add a Medication (Immunization, Food, etc) that's not in the Search Tool?

[top]

CheckUp includes an extensive repository of medications, procedures, tests, illnesses, exercises and foods. However, we know that we can't possibly include everything. Click here to read about adding your own medications, procedures, etc. This is a handy feature when using CheckUp to track your pet's health information!

...Change the way my Profile is sorted?

[top]

You can change the way certain Profile sections are sorted by changing the Primary and Secondary Sorting Methods under the Profile Settings section of the Settings page. These two settings affect the Illnesses, Diseases and Injuries, Immunizations, Medications and Procedures Profiles.

Open the Settings page by clicking on the Settings link always found at the top right.
Locate the Profile Settings section.
Change the Primary Sorting Method to indicate how you would like the Profile sorted.
Change the Secondary Sorting Method to indicate how you would like any entries sorted that have the same value for the field used by the Primary Sorting Method. For example, if the Primary Sorting Method is Alphabethical (A to Z) and there are two entries in your Medications Profile for Aspirin, the Secondary Sorting Method will be used to determine the order to display those entries.
Click OK to save your changes.

...Print my Profile?

[top]

Open the Profile section you'd like to print by clicking on the name of the section in the lower left corner of your Health Record.
Click on the Print Icon at the top of the page to open the Print Preview window.
The Window's Print Dialog box will open automatically.
Select the appropriate printer and click Print in the dialog box.
To close the Print Preview window, click on Close in the upper right corner of the window.

As of CheckUp 1.4, the Medication Profile Print Preview has two views. The Detailed view shows all the fields available on each medication. The Summary view only shows the name, dosage, who it was prescribed by and the dates it was taken for each medication.

At this time, there is not a Print Entire Profile feature. However, you can consolidate the majority of your Profile into one report using the Health Record Report Generator.

...Send my health record to my doctor?

[top]

Click on the PDF icon next to your name in the top left corner of your Health Record to open the Health Record Report Generator.
Select the sections of your Profile that you'd like to include in the report.
You can email your Health Record directly to your doctor by completing the 4 textboxes at the bottom of the screen - Email PDF To, From, Subject and Message - and then clicking the Go button in the lower right corner of the screen.

...Backup my CheckUp data and what do I do with the backup file?

[top]

Please update CheckUp to version 1.3.2 or later and then click here to read our document on backing up your CheckUp data.

...See a breakdown of my expenses beyond what is in the Expenses YTD area?

[top]

Introduced in CheckUp 1.3, the Expense Report Generator allows you to create custom reports of your health expenses. Click here to learn more.

...Create a Diet & Fitness Goal?

[top]

Fill in your date of birth, height and weight in the General Profile section by clicking the General link in the Profile section of your Health Record. Save and exit the General Profile by clicking the OK button.
Open the Diet & Fitness Profile by clicking Diet & Fitness.
Complete the 3 questions in the top half of the screen. Click Apply.
Select the type of goal you'd like to create using the first dropdown box. The wording of the sentence will change based on your selection.
Enter the goal amount.
- For weight loss or weight gain goals, enter the number of pounds you'd like to loose/gain.
- For a calorie consumption or calorie expended goals, the goal field will automatically be populated with your Basal Metabolic Rate (BMR).
- For exercise minutes, enter the number of minutes you'd like to exercise per day, week, etc.
- For carbohydrates consumed, fat consumed and protein consumed, enter the number of grams you'd like to consume per day, week, etc.
Select the time period for your goal. For long term goals, enter a specific end date. For recurring goals, select a time period from the dropdown box.
Click the Create link. The goal will immediately be shown in the Goals box at the bottom of the page. It is important to note that a goal is not saved until you hit the OK or Apply button at the bottom of the screen.
Repeat steps 4 - 7 to create as many goals as you'd like.
The Assessment section of your Health Record can show your progress towards 3 goals. Use the Display? checkbox to select which goals will be displayed.
Click OK or Apply to save your goals.
Use your mouse to hover over the Goal Status bars under Assessment to see your progress.

...Graph my pulse, blood pressure, etc

[top]

Click the Graph Icon at the top of the Journal to open the Graphing Tool. It will open in a new window.
Select the information to graph by choosing either a graph type from the Common Graphs dropdown box or a test from the Test Graphs Search Tool.
Enter a Start Date and an End Date for the graph.
Select a Time Scale for the Graph.
- For a 'Per Day' graph, selecting Daily will total all values for each day to calculate a single graph point for each day in the selected date range. A Weekly graph will average the values for each day in a week to calculate a single graph point for each week within the date range. A Monthly graph will average the values for each day in a month to calculate a single graph point for each month within the date range.
- On all other graphs, a Daily graph will total all values for each day to calculate a single graph point for each day in the selected date range. A Weekly graph will total the values for each week to calculate a single graph point for each week within the date range. A Monthly graph will total the values for each month to calculate a single graph point for each month within the data range.
Click the Graph button to generate your graph. The results will be shown at the bottom of the Graphing Tool window as shown in the image below.

Don't see the type of graph you wanted to create? Email us to let us know.

...Transfer CheckUp to a different computer?

[top]

Instructions for transfering CheckUp to a different computer can vary between users. Please contact CheckUp Customer Care for assistance.

Technical Support

My Internet security software (such as Windows Firewall, Norton Internet Security or AntiVirus, McAfee Internet Security Suite, Windows Live OneCare, etc) is warning me that CheckUp is requesting access to the Internet. What do I do?

[top]

Always select Unblock, Permit, Grant Access, or similar depending on your Internet security software or CheckUp might not start properly. CheckUp Software guarantees that we do not transmit any personal information over the Internet without your permission. CheckUp does not require Internet access to function properly. CheckUp only requires Internet access to Check for Updates and to view health.edu articles.

Some examples of messages you might receive from your Internet security software are:

Windows Firewall Click Unblock.
Norton Internet Security and Norton AntiVirus Click Always allow connections to this program on all ports.
McAfee Internet Security Suite Click Grant Access for both checkup.exe and mshta.exe.
ZoneAlarm Firewall Check the box for Apply this setting to all dangerous behaviors exhibited by this application or Remember this setting, depending on which ZoneAlarm Security Alert is being displayed. Then click Allow.

Windows Live OneCare Click Allow in future. Windows OneCare may prevent CheckUp from starting the first time. Try starting CheckUp again after clicking Allow in future.

Norton AntiVirus 2005 or above reports that Norton Internet Worm Protection has detected and blocked an intrusion attempt while I'm using CheckUp. Do I have a virus?

[top]

No, you do not. Norton is reporting a false positive. To read more about this issue and learn how to stop the alerts, visit our CheckUp and Norton Internet Worm Protection page.

CheckUp will not start. What do I do?

[top]

There are many possible reasons why CheckUp will not start. One reason could be that your Internet security software (such as Windows Firewall, Norton Internet Security, McAfee Personal Firewall Plus, etc) is blocking CheckUp from starting. The first time CheckUp starts, you might get a warning that CheckUp is requesting Internet access. If you chose to deny or block CheckUp, it may not start the next time. Always select Unblock, Permit, Grant Access, or similar depending on your Internet security software. CheckUp Software guarantees that we do not transmit any information over the Internet without your permission. CheckUp does not require Internet access to function properly.

To correct this problem, edit the application rules for your Internet security software to unblock or grant access for CheckUp. If you do not know how to do this, try one of the following links. They link to the Web sites of the most popular Internet security software manufacturers. The Web sites will open in new browser windows.

Windows Firewall Norton Internet Security McAfee Firewall Plus
ZoneAlarm Firewall Windows Live OneCare

If this is not the issue, please contact CheckUp Customer Support

I get a warning that says "An unidentified program wants access to your computer" every time I start CheckUp. What do I do?

[top]

Please see our CheckUp and Windows Vista page for information about this message.

I get an error message during Activation. What do I do?

[top]

Please read the error message that CheckUp displayed then choose the error from this list that most closely matches:

This distribution ID has expired.

The Product ID Code that was provided to you with your CheckUp CD or download is only valid for a limited time. If you received this error, contact CheckUp Customer Support to receive a new Product ID Code.

This distribution ID has been used for activation too many times.

There is a limited number of times that a Product ID Code maybe used to activate CheckUp. If you received this error, contact CheckUp Customer Support to receive a new Product ID Code.

The activation key that you entered is invalid. Please check the key and either Try Again or Cancel to return to the Home Page.

This error most commonly occurs when a user is trying to activate CheckUp using the Manual Activation using Previously-Issued Activation Key option. This error was likely caused by a typo in either the personal information entered in Step 1 or the Activation or License Keys entered in Step 2. Both sets of information must be entered exactly as it was for the first activation. Click the Try Again button and verify the information you entered is correct.

My CheckUp runs very slowly. Is this normal?

[top]

Some slowness is ok. It should normally take 30 seconds to 1 minute for CheckUp to start on newer computers and up to 5 minutes on older computers. It is normal to notice a pause when switching screens. If CheckUp takes more than 5 minutes to start, it could be a sign that you have a more serious issue and you should contact CheckUp Customer Support.

There are several things you can do to improve CheckUp's performance.

Make sure your computer meets the recommended system requirements.
Close any programs you aren't using.
Temporarily disable anti-virus programs while using CheckUp. Anti-Virus programs continuously scan files as they change on your hard drive which may hinder CheckUp's performance.

My Journal Entries disappeared. Where did they go?

[top]

By default, the Journal is always sorted to only show entries for the current year. Journal entries with a date before January 1st of the current year won't be shown. Use the sorting feature at the top of the Journal to see all of your Journal entries.

Can I use CheckUp with a monitor resolution lower than 1024 x 768?

[top]

Yes, CheckUp will run at a lower resolution but it is not recommended. The installer will not allow you to install CheckUp if you do not have a monitor resolution of at least 1024x768. Running CheckUp at a lower resolution may result in some parts of the CheckUp window being pushed off the screen making it difficult to navigate in the program.

To use CheckUp at a lower resolution, you must first temporarily change your resolution to 1024 x 768. Once the resolution has been changed, you can install CheckUp. When installation is complete, you can change your resolution back to your previous setting. If you have trouble viewing parts of the CheckUp window, right click on the CheckUp tab on the Taskbar at the bottom of the screen and click Maximize. This will distort the CheckUp window to fit on your screen.

What is the difference between Performed At and Provider?

[top]

The Performed At field was designed to hold the name of the hospital or clinic where the procedure was performed, while the name of the physician can be entered into the Provider field. Since the Provider Profile allows you to enter both individual physicians and organizations, the Provider field can be used for the hospital or clinic instead of Performed At. Neither field is required so you can enter data in neither, one or the other, or both.

I'm entering Medications in my Profile, but they aren't there after I save them. What happened?

[top]

As of CheckUp 1.4, the Medication Profile has a Change View feature that allows you to choose if you want to see only your current medications or all of your medications. There is also a Change Type feature that allows you to further limit your medications by choosing Prescriptions, Over The Counter, Supplements or All. Select the View and Type you want to see and then click the View button.

The Medication Profile was originally designed to be a list of current medications so a quick list could be printed before going to a doctor appointment. Because of this, if you enter a Stopped Date for a medication, it will automatically be removed from the list. We recommend always using the Journal to record your medications. Medications entered in the Journal will automatically be entered into your Medication Profile for you. Then, when you stop taking a medicine, you can open the Medication Profile and enter the stop date. The medication will be removed from the Medication Profile but not the Journal.

CheckUp reported that a fatal error occurred and it had to close. What do I do?

[top]

When a fatal error occurs, an error report is automatically sent to CheckUp Customer Support. (This feature can be disabled by changing the Send Error Reports setting on the Settings screen.) We can determine what caused the error and provide you with a fix if necessary. Usually, restarting CheckUp will clear the problem and allow you to continue using CheckUp.

My Journal is missing or not working properly. How do I fix it?

[top]

A working Journal should look like the image below. If yours does not, make sure your Internet Explorer has the latest updates and bug fixes from Microsoft. If after updating Internet Explorer, the Journal still does not work properly, please contact CheckUp Customer Support. McAfee users, see the paragraph below for additional instructions.

If you use McAfee Internet Security with Privacy Service 8, your Journal may look like this:

If this is the case, you will need to disable the Ad Blocker feature of the Privacy Service. To do this, follow these instructions:

Close CheckUp.
Log out of the current Privacy Service user. You can do this by right-clicking on the McAfee M icon in the system tray (usually in the lower right corner of your screen). Select Privacy Service. Under the Privacy Service menu, select Sign Out.
Open McAfee Privacy Service. There should be an icon on your Desktop or perhaps under Start -> All Programs.
Log in to the McAfee Privacy Service as Administrator.
From the left side of the McAfee Privacy Service window, select Options.
From the Options screen, select the Block Ads tab.
Uncheck the box for "Block Ads on this computer".
Click Apply.
You can now close McAfee Privacy Service. At this point, you can log out as Administrator and log back in as your desired Privacy Service user.
Start CheckUp.

Don't see the answer you are looking for? Contact CheckUp Customer Support.