How to Run Your Reveal Scan
Six steps, in order
Here’s everything you need, in order. The scan itself takes 3 to 8 minutes.
Before you start
- A Windows 10 or 11 computer. Reveal Scan runs on Windows.
- Your Reveal Scan code. It’s in your welcome email and on your Reveal Scan page.
- Google Chrome, if you have it. The download goes straight through there. Microsoft Edge adds one extra stop (Step 1 covers it).
Download Reveal Scan
Click the Download button in your welcome email or on your Reveal Scan page.
Use Google Chrome if you have it — the download goes straight through there. Microsoft Edge adds an extra stop, and the steps for it are below.
Using Microsoft Edge? Edge holds the file back and says “Reveal Scan.exe isn’t commonly downloaded.” It is not finished downloading until you keep it:
- In Edge’s Downloads panel, point at that message and click the … button beside it (or right-click the message), then choose Keep.
- Edge shows the Publisher. Check that Watchful Solutions, Inc. is in it — Edge prints our whole certificate entry, so the line also carries our town (Merrimack, New Hampshire) and repeats the name. If that name is not there, stop and choose Delete.
- Click the small arrow next to Delete, then choose Keep anyway. Then click Open file.
Open the file and check who made it
Windows shows one of two messages. Either way, find the Publisher line first.
- “Do you want to run this file?” The Publisher line is already on screen. Read it, then click Run.
- “Windows protected your PC” Click More info. That reveals the Publisher line. Read it, then click Run anyway.
The Publisher line should contain: Watchful Solutions, Inc.
You may also see our town, Merrimack, New Hampshire. That’s normal.If it says anything else, or “Unknown publisher,” stop. Don’t run it. Delete the file and tell us at help@forwardtosafety.com.
Why Windows warns at all: forwardtosafety.com/why-windows-warns
Answer the administrator question
Windows asks: “Do you want to allow this app to make changes to your device?”
That’s the wording Windows uses for any program that asks for administrator access. Reveal Scan only reads. Nothing is changed, and nothing stays installed.
Check the publisher here too: Watchful Solutions, Inc.
- Click Yes for the full check-up.
- Click No if you’d rather not. The check-up still runs, and your report lists the checks it had to skip.
What administrator access lets us check: forwardtosafety.com/why-admin-access
Enter your Reveal Scan code
Reveal Scan asks for your Reveal Scan code. Click Paste code (or type it in), then click Start my scan.
Let it run
The scan starts on its own. There’s nothing to click. Leave the computer on and connected to the internet until it tells you it’s finished.
Open your report
Your report opens from the confirmation link in your welcome email. If you haven’t clicked that link yet, click it now. Can’t find the email? Check your spam or junk folder. If the link has expired, email us. It shows what is already right and what needs attention, as counts.
If something goes wrong
- It says it can't reach the server
- Check that you’re online and try again. If it keeps happening, email us the date, roughly what time you tried, and your time zone.
- Your antivirus blocked or removed the file
- Please don’t turn off your antivirus. Email us.
- Your code isn't accepted, or you can't find it
- Copy and paste it rather than typing it. If it still won’t take, email us.
- The program is no longer on the computer
- Download it again from your Reveal Scan page and start again at Step 1.
Questions at any step? Email help@forwardtosafety.com.
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