CrystalFire Wormhole Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Here is a bunch of information about Wormhole, in question-and-answer format:

Running Windows XP Service Pack 2 or later? Be sure that you DO NOT have the "no exceptions" turned on in firewall section of the new Security Options control panel, or no network programs will work reliably. Also, when XP asks about a connection for CrystalFire Wormhole, you must click "unblock." You can still manually open port 14689, (14688 for Wormhole 1.2.x) as described below, to prevent this message if it bothers you.

The #1 reason people can't get Wormhole to work is that they've turned on a firewall on their local network. That's fine (possibly even a good idea), but the firewall is "just doing it's job" when it keeps Wormhole from connecting! You'll need to open a port; see below for information! #2 is turning on the "minimize" preferences and then forgetting about it.

Is Wormhole compatible with Windows Vista?

Yes, all versions later than 2.0.2 are compatible with Windows Vista. Wormhole 1.2.x will also run on Vista, if you prefer the older model.

I'm using an older system (before Mac OS X 10.3.9 or Windows 2000/XP/Vista). Can I use Wormhole?

Yes, but not the 2.x versions. I've left the 1.2.5 version (now unsupported) on the web site for these older systems.

Note that 2.x and 1.2.5 can't intercommunicate, so you'll need to use 1.2.5 everywhere if you have a mixed network, or else run both versions on the newer systems (they can co-exist on the same computer, even running at the same time).

Wormhole used to work for me, but now it crashes when I launch it (or "flashes" up and then goes away).

First thing to check: is it just doing what you asked it to? If you've set the preferences to "open minimized" and "minmize to tray," Wormhole will do just that -- you might see a window flash up briefly, but then it will vanish down to the task tray in the lower right hand corner (or the Dock, on the Macintosh). Look there to see if there's a Wormhole icon. If so, clicking it will "unminimize," and you can turn off the preferences if you want.

If that's not the problem, then your preferences are probably corrupted. Newer versions of Wormhole are better about preventing this, but it's still occasionally reported. On the Mac, delete the "CrystalFire Wormhole" folder from your preferences directory. On Windows, download and run this: registry file for Wormhole 1.2.x or this: registry file for Wormhole 1.2.x to delete the preferences. Note: The registry file is inside the .zip file to prevent download problems. In either event, you'll need to re-enter your serial number afterwards.

Is Wormhole on the Macintosh a Universal Binary (i.e. does it run natively on Intel-based Macintosh computers?)

Yes, the 2.x versions of Wormhole are Universal Binaries. The older 1.x version aren't, but they'll run on Intel Macs anyway, if you prefer them for some reason.

Wormhole isn't working on my home LAN: it doesn't connect automatically, and when I try to connect manually using the "Connect To:" option on the File menu, it tells me that there "Does not appear to be a Wormhole at this address."

This is far and away the most common question we get about Wormhole.

There are a number of things that can cause this, but the leading one is that you've got a firewall turned on for your local machines. Consider whether you need the firewall at all: if you're using a router, it may be better to have a firewall at the router than than to turn it on for each individual machine. If you do need the firewall on for local machines, you'll need to open ports 14689 (14688 for the older 1.2.5 version) for both input and output, on both TCP and UDP, on each machines that you want to be able to use Wormhole.

Both Windows XP and Mac OS X have built in firewalls, instructions for setting them up are below. If you use a third-party firewall on your system, check your documentation.

On Mac OS X: Open System Preferences, Sharing, Firewall Tab. If the firewall is on, click "New..." then select "Other" from the pulldown menu. Enter the name "CrystalFire Wormhole" and the port number "14700" and click "OK." Repeat for port 14701.

On Windows XP: On the start menu, select "Settings...", "Network Connections", "Local Area Connection". (If you have more than one Local Area Connection, do this for all of them). Click "Properties". If there is an "Advanced" tab at the top of the window, click it, otherwise this connection can't be firewalled. If there is a check in the "Internet Connection Firewall" box, firewall is on. If it's not on, and your system is working, DO NOT TURN IT ON; the firewall isn't your problem (at least on this connection). If it is on, click "Settings", then the "Add..." button. For "Description of service", enter "CrystalFire Wormhole", for "Name or IP address" enter "any", enter "14689" for both internal and external port numbers, and click "TCP", then "OK". Repeat this process to add another one with the same settings except UDP and a description name of "Crystalfire Wormhole (UDP)".

I'm not getting notified of new versions of Wormhole!

Our notification mailing list is "opt-in" - that means that we don't add you to the list unless you ask to be. See our privacy policy, listed at the bottom of each page, for more information. If you want to be on the list, send an e-mail to support at crystalfiresw.com, with the subject line "Wormhole Announcements List" and ask to be put on it.

Why, when I use a bookmark, is Wormhole now telling me it can't connect because both computers have the same serial number? This bookmark used to work!

You've got DHCP (Dynamic Addresses) on your local network, and your computers have swapped addresses. Usually these addresses are given out on a first-come-first-served basis when computers are powered up. So your bookmark is out of date and you're now connecting to yourself!

The easiest way to fix this is not to use bookmarks for local networks; just set the preference to let them auto-detect each other. Alternatively, you can set up your local network to use static addresses (this varies based on your router, ask a network guru for help). Or, I suppose you could always turn your computers on in the same order, but that's pretty tedious.

Hey! The "Pending Files" thing is deleting my files!.

It's supposed to do that; send copies. In pre-1.1.4 versions, it was a little overzealous about it, sometimes deleting a file it had not yet successfully sent. 1.1.4 fixes that issue.

How do you edit (or delete) bookmarks?

In Wormhole 2.0+, use the "Edit" option in the Bookmarks menu.

There's no way to edit or delete bookmarks in versions of Wormhole before 2.0. You can delete the preference files (see the second question) to get rid of them all. If you're intrepid, you can probably figure out the preference format in which Wormhole stores them (the preference file is a Text file on the Mac, and it's stored in a registry key in HKEY_CURRENT_USER/Software/CrystalFire Software/Wormhole on Windows.)

Wormhole locks up in the middle of transfers of large numbers of files (or folders containing them).

This is fixed in version 1.1.1. (If you still see the problem in a later version, try to determine what file is causing the lockup and contact me.)

Various things could cause this, they've been fixed over the last several versions of Wormhole. The most common one was files/folders that had a space at the beginning or ending of the name - these are fairly common on Macintosh, but illegal on Windows. Version 1.1.1 trims the spaces on Windows when necessary. Previous versions had trouble with files open for writing, locked files on the receiving end, zero byte files, and files with > 2GB of data in them. All of these have been fixed as of version 1.1.1.

Wormhole used to work for me, now I crash immediately on startup.

In version 1.2.5, this can be caused by unusual network configurations (like having a local router and Dial-up access at the same time). There's no solution in the older version except to shut off one or the other of the network paths.

In Version 2.0, this has been largely mitigated, but you'll still sometimes see a message to the effect that Wormhole could not locate nearby Wormholes because "bind() failed." This is the same error, but it's harmless on Wormhole 2.0, except that you need to connect manually.

I can't get it to run in OS 9 (or earlier).

Officially, Wormhole doesn't support OS 9. Unofficially version 1.2.5 is fairly stable. Most people have been able to get it to work in OS 9.2 with the following changes: Increase the default memory partition from 4MB to about 10MB (if this constrains you, try lower values), and upgrading to CarbonLib 1.6. Version 1.1.1 is a LOT more stable on OS 9; it gets rid of a number of crash conditions and makes preferences more reliable. The Bookmarks feature and the "Automatically detect nearby wormholes" features don't work (and probably won't ever) in OS 9; they're implemented using OS X only functions. Note that Wormhole uses some functionality that wasn't introduced until OS 9, so it won't run under earlier OS versions under any circumstances. The 2.0 version of Wormhole won't even launch under 9, so you'll need to use the older version 1.2.5.

Where's my Wormhole? I paid Kagi ages ago, and haven't received anything!

All Kagi sells you is the registration code. You download the actual software from us. The links are on this page. The registration code is in the e-mail you should have received from Kagi within a few minutes of your order.

Can I change the TCP/UDP port that Wormhole communicates on? (For example, I've got an ISP who doesn't know what the "S" stands for, and they block all ports except a few).

Yes, this feature was added in version 1.0.8, you can specify any port you like in the preferences pane. Be aware that your OS may or may not let you specify positive port numbers less than 2000; these are supposedly reserved for the system. If Wormhole keeps whining about the port being in use, change it back.

I'm trying to send a very, very, very large file using Wormhole, and it always seems to lock up and stop transmitting after a while.

This was fixed in version 1.1, which now allows you to send gene sequences and digital video, should you have need to do so. (Seriously, it used to limit you to files of 2GB, now you can fill your whole drive if you like!)

I paid for several licenses for Wormhole, some on Mac and some on PC. How do I know which serial numbers are which?

It doesn't matter, so long as each computer has its own serial number.

How much does CrystalFire Wormhole cost?

$15 per computer, at our on-line supplier.. There are other options available, too, like a family site license for $50.

Are those zeros or the letter "O" in my serial number?

It doesn't matter; the registration system treats them interchangeably. Similarly with the letter "I" and the number one. (Hint: Don't type them at all, just cut-and-paste from your confirmation e-mail into the registration dialog!)

If your problem is connecting to computers outside your local network, be sure to read the manual that came with Wormhole for several tips on how you might (or might not) be able to get it to work. If you can't connect on a local network, or Wormhole is crashing on a supposedly supported system, please let us know at crystalfire at kagi dot com, and we'll try to get you going (or fix the bug if you've found one). Also, see the next question.

Does Wormhole work with the Firewall built into Mac OS X (or Windows XP)?

Not easily. It will if you open port 14689 to TCP and UDP as described above, but it's easier to turn the firewall off and use the hardware firewall capabilities built into most Cable/DSL routers. See the instructions in the "Why can't I connect" question, above.

I've transferred a folder, but the number of files in the received folder is smaller than the number of files in the one I sent! What gives? Did Wormhole eat my files?

Nope. The "number of files" reported by the OS includes "hidden" (invisible) files, which Wormhole doesn't copy. Usually this is correct behaviour; you can copy those files if you need to by using the operating system's usual way of making them visible.

Didn't answer your question? Try the generic CrystalFire Software FAQ here instead.