Aurora End of Support FAQ

When is the end of life date for Aurora?

We ended technical support in May of 2021. We are now helping our customers transition in batches, starting in January of 2022, before mapping and other web‑related functions stop working. The final end of life date will occur in March of 2022. If you use WinTOTAL Aurora, you will get an email one week before the cutoff date, and a reminder email two days before your specific end date — which could happen any time between January and March.

Why are you deprecating WinTOTAL Aurora?

When we ended technical support in May of 2021, we were transparent that Aurora customers are in an environment where they cannot or will not be able to get Windows security updates from Microsoft, that eventually Aurora would stop working, and that we wouldn't be able to fix it. WinTOTAL Aurora was built 16 years ago for Windows XP, and it can't keep up with modern environments without being completely rebuilt from the ground up — which is what we did with TOTAL: The formfiller we built based on customer suggestions.

We now know that certain features will stop working in 2022. There are security requirements, infrastructural improvements, and contract renewals that are required in order to keep maps functioning in WinTOTAL Aurora ‑ some of which aren't possible on Windows 7. If it were a matter of simply allowing it to keep trucking along, we would do that. However, that's not the case, and we want to help you transition before it breaks.

When will I get my end of life email?

We are staggering this process in batches to make sure our customers get the support they need for this process. That means every week, a portion of our customers will be alerted of their end date, which will be sent one week prior to the cutoff date. We will send another reminder email 48 hours before the cutoff as well. This way, we can make sure the 3% of our customers using Aurora get premium support as they make this transition, rather than everyone calling at once on the very last day. That is a stressful situation we don't want for you or your business.

Can I continue to use WinTOTAL after March 2022?

You won't be able to geocode properties, which means you won't be able to get location maps, flood maps, or flood data. Other web‑related functions in Aurora will also stop working. It would be difficult to be able to complete a full appraisal in Aurora, so we recommend switching to TOTAL — which has those same features and more.

Does TOTAL cost extra?

No. Anyone who owns a copy of WinTOTAL Aurora also owns a copy of TOTAL. So, as long as you purchased WinTOTAL and you have an active support contract, TOTAL is available to download from your account. Click here for instructions on downloading and installing TOTAL on a standalone computer.

How do I move my reports and settings to TOTAL?

That's easy! We made a tool that does the work for you. All you need is a portable storage device such as an external hard drive. Click here to learn how.

I don't know how to use TOTAL. What do I do?

Not only do we have our QuickStart guide, TOTAL FAQ, and FAQ about TOTAL after upgrading from WinTOTAL Aurora, but we also have free webinars that go over the basics of TOTAL — "Coaches Corner: TOTAL Startup and Settings" and "Coaches Corner: Getting started with reports". If you're an Elite customer, you can schedule with a product coach to get additional training.

Can I run TOTAL on my Windows 7 or Windows 8.1 machine?

Yes, for now, but we strongly discourage it. For Windows 7, we don't recommend using an operating system that no longer receives Windows security updates. We know your data and your business is important, and we highly recommend you choose an operating system that is capable of getting the updates that keep your computer and appraisals safe. Additionally, circumstances could arise at any time that may affect your software, and certain changes could force us to end a service or release an update that would cause TOTAL to stop working on Windows 7. And Windows 8.1 will be in the same boat in 2023 — which isn't the best situation for a business that never stops.

If you are already considering upgrading your computer, click here to download our free PC Buying Guide for appraisers.

I'm transferring my data to TOTAL and the loading bar looks stuck. Is something wrong?

No. If the loading bar seems stuck, it's usually because it has reached a part of the process that contains a large amount of data that takes a while to complete — such as photos or reports.

The loading bar progresses in a series of steps and moves different pieces of data (settings, QuickLists, signatures, photos, etc.) one at a time. Depending on the amount of data you're transferring, the process can take anywhere from a few minutes to a few hours. As long as you're not receiving an error message, let the transfer continue.

I finished transferring my data to TOTAL, but my QuickLists aren't showing up. Where do I find my QuickLists?

During the transition processes there is a step that asks which users you want to bring to TOTAL. Once you've selected the users, the Transition Assistant then transfers those users and their QuickLists.

If you use a set of QuickLists that are associated with another user that was transferred to TOTAL, click here for instructions on selecting a different QuickList text database. Or, click here for instructions on manually exporting and moving all QuickLists from WinTOTAL Aurora to TOTAL.