Windows Platform Guide

Everything you need to know about Rando on Windows.

System Requirements

Minimum Requirements

• Windows Version: Windows 10 (all versions) or Windows 11
• Architecture: x64 or ARM64
• Memory: 4GB RAM minimum (8GB recommended)
• .NET Runtime: .NET 8.0 (included with installer)
• Storage: 100MB for app + space for thumbnail cache
• Display: Any Windows-compatible display

Recommended Specifications

• Windows Version: Windows 11 with latest updates
• Memory: 8GB+ RAM for large photo libraries
• Storage: SSD for optimal performance
• Display: 1920×1080 or higher resolution

Installation

Standard Installation

Direct download and install:

1. Download installer from randopicker.com/download
   • File: RandoSetup.exe or RandoSetup-{version}.exe
2. Run installer (requires admin privileges)
3. Accept Terms of Use (mandatory for installation)
4. Choose installation directory (default: C:\Program Files\Rando\)
5. Select options:
   • Create desktop shortcut
   • Create Quick Launch icon
   • Associate file types (optional)
6. Install and wait for completion
7. Launch Rando from Start Menu or desktop

Installer features:

• Automatic .NET 8 Runtime installation if missing
• Uninstaller included for clean removal
• No registry pollution
• Portable configuration files in AppData

Rando 3.0 Preview for Windows

Current release status:

• Version: 3.0 Preview (as of January 2025)
• Cost: FREE until September 30, 2025
• Status: Fully functional with all features
• Expiration Warning: 30-day grace period before expiration
• Migration: Seamless upgrade to final release when available

Preview limitations:

• Expiration date enforced in app
• "(3.0 Preview)" shown in title bar
• Banner notification (dismissible)
• Settings preserved during migration

Microsoft Store (Future)

Planned for Q2 2025:

• One-click installation from Microsoft Store
• Automatic updates
• Microsoft Store subscription integration
• Cross-device sync (future)

Windows-Specific Features

User Interface

Ribbon-Style Toolbar

Organized command groups:

System Tray Integration

Minimize to system tray:

• Hide on Close: Enabled in Preferences → General
• Close button minimizes to tray instead of quitting
• Right-click tray icon for quick actions:
  • Open/Show Rando
  • Preferences
  • Exit Application
• Single instance: Only one Rando instance runs at a time

Window Management

Standard Windows behaviors:

• Minimize: Win+↓ or minimize button
• Maximize: Win+↑ or maximize button
• Snap: Win+← or Win+→ for split-screen
• Close: Alt+F4 or X button (hides to tray if enabled)

Keyboard Shortcuts

Windows-specific shortcuts use Control (Ctrl) key:

Essential:

• Ctrl+O - Open folder
• Ctrl+, - Preferences
• Alt+F4 - Quit app
• Ctrl+W - Close window
• Delete - Clear selection

Navigation:

• Ctrl+R - Random selection
• Alt+← - Back (all users)
• Alt+→ - Forward (all users)

File Operations:

• Ctrl+C - Copy image
• Ctrl+Shift+C - Copy path
• Ctrl+S - Save to Desktop
• Ctrl+Shift+R - Reveal in Explorer

Tagging (Pro):

• Ctrl+T - Tag menu
• Ctrl+F - Filter by tag
• 1-9 - Quick tag

See Keyboard Shortcuts for complete reference.

File System Integration

Windows Explorer Integration

Reveal in File Explorer:

1. Right-click any photo in Rando
2. Select "Reveal in File Explorer"
3. Explorer window opens with file selected
4. Works from slideshow or thumbnail view

File Operations:

• Copy images to clipboard (Ctrl+C)
• Export to Desktop with conflict resolution
• Open with default photo viewer
• Original files never modified

Supported Locations

Local storage:

• Internal SSD/HDD (C:, D:, etc.)
• External USB drives (all versions)
• Network mapped drives (Z:, etc.)
• UNC network paths (\server\share)
• Removable storage (SD cards, flash drives)

Network storage:

• SMB network shares (Windows file sharing)
• Mapped network drives
• NAS devices (Synology, QNAP, etc.)
• OneDrive (local sync folder)

File Format Support

Supported image formats:

• PNG (.png)
• JPEG (.jpg, .jpeg)
• GIF (.gif) - Animated GIF playback in slideshow
• BMP (.bmp)

Format detection:

• Case-insensitive extension matching
• Automatic format identification
• Corrupted file handling
• Invalid format skipping

Hidden Files

Automatic filtering:

• Files with Hidden attribute excluded
• Dot-prefix files excluded (.DS_Store, .git, etc.)
• System folders skipped during scan
• Recycle Bin ignored

Pro Features and Lifetime Access

No Subscriptions on Windows (Preview Period)

During preview (until Sep 30, 2025):

• All Pro features FREE
• No in-app purchases
• No subscription system
• Full access to tagging, multi-folder, unlimited slideshow

Lifetime Pro Access System

Admin-granted lifetime access:

Some users may receive lifetime Pro access:

• Lifetime Access File: lifetime_access.txt in app directory
• Granted by Developer: Special cases and beta testers
• Permanent Unlock: Never expires
• No Subscription Required: All Pro features forever

Checking your status:

• Free Version: No special indicator
• Lifetime Access: Shown in Preferences or About
• Preview Period: All features free until expiration

Future Subscription Model (Q2 2025)

Planned for final release:

• Microsoft Store Integration: Native subscription handling
• Monthly Plan: $2.99/month
• Annual Plan: $29.99/year (save ~17%)
• 7-Day Free Trial: For both plans
• Lifetime Access Preserved: Existing lifetime users unaffected

Performance Optimization

Storage Performance

Optimize for your Windows PC:

Adjust in Preferences → General → Scan Performance

Memory Management

Rando optimizes memory usage:

• Virtualized thumbnail grid (only renders visible items)
• Automatic thumbnail cache cleanup
• Lazy image loading
• Efficient WPF rendering

Monitor memory usage:

1. Open Task Manager (Ctrl+Shift+Esc)
2. Find "Rando.exe" in Processes
3. Check Memory column
4. Typical usage: 50-200MB depending on library size

WPF Optimizations

Native technologies used:

• WPF: Windows Presentation Foundation for modern UI
• MVVM Pattern: Efficient state management
• Virtualization: Custom VirtualizingWrapPanel for large collections
• Hardware Acceleration: GPU rendering when available
• Async/Await: Responsive UI during operations

Analytics and Privacy

Anonymous Usage Statistics

Opt-in analytics via Mixpanel:

• Disabled by default: Must explicitly opt in
• Welcome Screen: Initial opt-in prompt
• Preferences Control: Toggle on/off anytime
• Anonymous ID: Random GUID, no personal info
• Local Logging: View what's tracked (DEBUG builds)

What's collected when opted in:

• Feature usage patterns
• Performance metrics (scan times, etc.)
• Session duration
• Error tracking (crash reports)
• Device type (Windows 10/11)

Never collected:

• Photo filenames or paths
• Personal information
• IP addresses (anonymized)
• File contents

Manage in:

• Preferences → General → Privacy & Analytics
• Checkbox with instant toggle
• Tooltip explains data collection

Configuration and Settings

Settings Storage

Windows-specific locations:

• Application Settings:
  • %APPDATA%\Rando\settings.json
• Tag Database:
  • %APPDATA%\Rando\tags.json
• Thumbnail Cache:
  • %LOCALAPPDATA%\Rando\ThumbnailCache\
• Logs (if enabled):
  • %LOCALAPPDATA%\Rando\Logs\

Backup important data:

• Export tags before reinstalling
• Settings auto-restore from AppData
• Thumbnail cache regenerates automatically

Portable Mode (Not Supported)

Rando requires installation and uses AppData for configuration. True portable mode is not currently supported, but settings are isolated per Windows user account.

Troubleshooting Windows Issues

Installer Problems

"Installer requires administrator privileges":

Solution:

1. Right-click RandoSetup.exe
2. Select "Run as administrator"
3. Accept UAC prompt
4. Installation proceeds

".NET 8 Runtime not found":

Solution:

• Modern installer includes .NET 8 runtime
• If missing: Download from dotnet.microsoft.com
• Install x64 Desktop Runtime for .NET 8

Permission Problems

"Access Denied" when scanning folder:

Solution 1: Check folder permissions

1. Right-click folder → Properties → Security
2. Ensure your user account has Read permissions
3. Click Edit if needed to add permissions

Solution 2: Run as administrator (not recommended)

• Only for troubleshooting
• Regular use should not require admin rights

Preview Expiration

"Preview period ending" warning:

What it means:

• Preview expires September 30, 2025
• 30-day grace period before expiration
• App shows banner notification

What to do:

1. Export your tags (if using tagging system)
2. Note your preferred settings
3. Wait for final release announcement
4. Download and install final version
5. Tags and settings should migrate automatically

Application Not Starting

Rando won't launch:

Possible causes:

• Corrupted settings file
• Missing .NET runtime
• Display scaling issues
• Conflicting software

Solutions:

1. Reset settings:

   • Delete %APPDATA%\Rando\ folder
   • Restart Rando

2. Reinstall .NET 8:

   • Download from Microsoft
   • Install Desktop Runtime x64

3. Check Event Viewer:

   • Windows Logs → Application
   • Look for Rando.exe errors
   • Note error details for support

4. Reinstall Rando:

   • Uninstall via Control Panel
   • Delete %APPDATA%\Rando\ and %LOCALAPPDATA%\Rando\
   • Download fresh installer
   • Install and test

Thumbnails Not Loading

Slow or missing thumbnails:

Possible causes:

• Large image files (>50MB each)
• Slow external drive (USB 2.0)
• Network latency (NAS/UNC paths)
• Memory pressure

Solutions:

• Wait for thumbnail generation (background task)
• Adjust scan performance: Preferences → General
• Close memory-intensive applications
• Consider moving photos to local SSD

Slideshow Issues

Slideshow won't start:

Solution:

1. Ensure images are loaded (folder selected)
2. Check if images are selected in grid
3. Try keyboard shortcut (Ctrl+Shift+S)
4. Restart app if issue persists

GIF animations not playing:

Solution:

• Ensure GIFs are valid animated GIFs
• Check if static GIF (single frame)
• Restart slideshow
• Try different GIF file

Uninstalling Rando

Standard Uninstallation

Via Control Panel:

1. Control Panel → Programs → Programs and Features
2. Find Rando in list
3. Click Uninstall
4. Follow uninstaller prompts
5. Complete

Via Settings (Windows 11):

1. Settings → Apps → Installed Apps
2. Find Rando
3. Click ⋯ menu → Uninstall
4. Confirm and complete

Complete Removal

To remove all Rando data:

1. Uninstall app (above steps)

2. Delete settings and tags:

   • Open File Explorer
   • Navigate to: %APPDATA%\Rando\
   • Delete folder

3. Delete cache (optional):

   • Navigate to: %LOCALAPPDATA%\Rando\
   • Delete folder

Data preserved:

• Your original photos are never modified
• Tags stored in AppData (export before deleting)

Reinstalling

To reinstall Rando:

1. Download installer from website
2. Run installation
3. Settings restored from AppData (if not deleted)
4. Recent folders start fresh
5. Tags restored (if AppData preserved)

Getting Help on Windows

In-App Support

• Help Menu → Rando Help
• Help Menu → Report Issue
• Help Menu → About Rando

External Resources

• Website: randopicker.com
• Support Email: support@randopicker.com
• User Guide: User Guide

System Information for Support

When reporting issues, include:

1. Windows Version:
   • Settings → System → About → Windows specifications
2. Rando Version:
   • Help → About Rando
3. PC Specifications:
   • RAM, CPU, storage type (SSD/HDD)
4. Error Message:
   • Screenshot or exact text
5. Steps to Reproduce:
   • What you were doing when issue occurred

Windows-Specific Tips

Best Practices

For optimal performance:

• Use local SSD for photo libraries when possible
• Map network drives (Z:) instead of UNC paths for faster access
• Exclude from antivirus real-time scanning of Rando folders
• Keep Windows updated for latest .NET performance improvements
• Use wired connection for NAS access instead of WiFi

Keyboard Navigation

Windows keyboard power users:

• Alt+Spacebar → Window menu (Minimize, Maximize, Close)
• Alt+Tab → Switch between Rando and other apps
• Win+↑/↓/←/→ → Snap window to screen edges
• F11 → Toggle fullscreen in slideshow

Multi-Monitor Support

Slideshow on secondary monitor:

1. Move Rando window to desired monitor
2. Start slideshow
3. Press F11 for fullscreen
4. Slideshow goes fullscreen on that monitor

Tip: Maximize Rando on secondary monitor before starting slideshow for automatic full-screen on that display.

Next Steps

• Learn Keyboard Shortcuts for Windows
• Explore Slideshow Features
• Set up Tagging System (Pro/Preview)
• Review Performance Tips