Solved (kind of): I have 2021 on one computer and now can't update 2018 on another computer

[ecbritz]

I use Softmaker 2021 on my main computer but still have Softmaker 2018 on another computer. There is a "New Service Pack" available for 2018 but when I try to download it I get the message "Error Calling SoftmakerUpdaterTool.exe". Am I blocked from updating 2018 once I've starting using 2021?

[SuperTech]

No, that's not a problem. You can have SoftMaker Office 2018 and SoftMaker Office 2021 installed without a problem. Please check if your antivirus/security software blocking it. Please check and let us know which revision of SoftMaker Office 2018 is already installed.

[ecbritz]

Textmaker 2018 (rev 970.0826) 64bit. I have only Windows 10 Security (Windows Defender) running on this machine, not Malwarebytes Pro used on my main computer. No idea whether Defender could be preventing the update.

[SuperTech]

Windows defender normally doesn't block genuine files. Please reinstall SoftMaker Office 2018 on this computer to resolve this problem.

[ecbritz]

I could not reinstall Softmaker 2018, although I kept the original installation code etc. I tried a "repair" installation as well. No luck. But I could install Softmaker 2021 so there is no reason to spend more time on this matter.
Thanks for always attending to questions. It creates and maintains great product loyalty. I've seen such dedication to user forums by possibly retired people devoted to a certain program. But never this level of "staff" support. It's a great benefit of the product as such.

[SuperTech]

Thanks for your appreciation. Instead of repair installation, please uninstalled SoftMaker Office 2018 and then after system restart, if you want SoftMaker Office 2021, download SoftMaker Office 2021 from our website and install it. There will be no problem in this but you have to do customization if you did anything in SoftMaker Office.

[ecbritz]

I bought Softmaker 2021. After uninstallng Softmaker 2018 from my secondary computer, I could install Softmaker 2021 just fine. I have the original Softmaker 2018 installation file, the relevant activation code, etc. But there is no point in struggling with 2018 rather than simply install the purchased Softmaker 2021.

Something else. I have great respect for the Microsoft company and for Windows. We all owe a great debt of gratitude. But I want to mention something in passing that caught my attention.
Microsoft Office is now freely available for use. It comes with and is part of the latest Windows 10 updates.
If you use it, your MS Office files are automatically stored in your OneDrive cloud storage folder or "account". OneDrive plus MS Office have become integral parts of Windows 10.
You can, using MS Office, choose to copy your work to your computer. This means that the file you are working on will be downloaded in your Downloads folder.
If you try to open that file, either within your Downloads folder or within another folder you have copied the file to, you will discover that you need either MS Office, Softmaker Office or one of the free Office programs such as OpenOffice INSTALLED on your computer to be able to open the file and edit it.
If you don't have any of these Office programs installed on your computer, you are directed to the MIcrosoft Shop where you can shop for a program that will do the job. Many free and not quite free Office programs are on offer. But Softmaker, possibly the best MS Office replacement program on the planet, is not on offer.
I understand this as a fantastic compliment paid to Softmaker. Or did I understand something wrong? There might be a technical aspect I did not fully grasp.

[SuperTech]

Thanks for your suggestion, I have forwarded the details to our product management.