PPM Background Tools – Mandatory Installation & Troubleshooting Guide

Required setup instructions and solutions for common SharePoint connection errors

Overview

The PPM Background Tools are required for all users working with PPM Software. The tool must be installed and running to ensure proper PPM functionality, background processing, and reporting.

This article explains how to download, unblock, extract, and launch the tool, and how to troubleshoot common 404 Not Found and 403 Forbidden SharePoint connection errors.

Download

Download the latest version of the PPM Background Tools from the official PPM Tools page:

PPM Tools Download

The download page also confirms that the downloaded file should be unblocked, extracted, and then launched by opening the folder and double-clicking the .exe file.

Installation Steps

Step 1: Download the Tool

Open the PPM Tools Download page in your web browser.
Click Download Tools.
Save the ZIP file to your computer, preferably in the Downloads folder.

Tip: Always download the latest available version rather than using an older copy saved on your computer.

Step 2: Unblock the Downloaded File

Important: Do not skip this step.

Right-click the downloaded ZIP file.
Select Properties.
In the General tab, look for the Security section at the bottom.
Select Unblock if the option is available.
Click Apply, then OK.

If the Unblock option is not displayed, continue with the extraction step.

Step 3: Extract the ZIP File

Right-click the downloaded ZIP file.
Select Extract All.
Select the destination folder.
Click Extract.

Step 4: Run the Application

Open the extracted folder.
Locate the .exe application file.
Double-click the .exe file to start the PPM Background Tools.
If Windows displays a security prompt, verify the application and allow it to run.

If the application does not start normally, try Run as administrator.

Step 5: Verify the Installation

After launching the tool:

Confirm that the application starts without errors.
Ensure the PPM Background Tools remain running as required.
Open PPM Software and verify that the expected functionality is available.
Confirm that PPM reports are working correctly.

Troubleshooting

SharePoint 403 Forbidden or 404 Not Found Error

The PPM Background Tools may display a Microsoft .NET Framework error when they cannot access the required SharePoint resource. The error may contain messages such as:

Cannot contact web site or the web site does not support SharePoint Online credentials. The response status code is 'Forbidden'.

The attached example is a 403 Forbidden error. A 404 Not Found error may also occur when the required SharePoint resource cannot be found or reached.

What the error means

403 Forbidden: The SharePoint server was reached, but access was denied. This can be related to authentication, permissions, account/session information, or network/security restrictions.
404 Not Found: The requested SharePoint resource could not be found at the requested location. This can happen if the configured URL or resource is no longer available or cannot be reached as expected.

Recommended steps

Click Quit in the error window and close the PPM Background Tools.
Confirm that your computer has an active internet connection.
Open the configured SharePoint site in your browser.
Confirm that you can sign in using your company Microsoft/SharePoint account.
If prompted, complete the Microsoft sign-in process and then close the browser.
Start the PPM Background Tools again.
If the problem continues, right-click the application and select Run as administrator.
If your company uses a VPN, connect to the required VPN and try again.
Check whether your corporate firewall, proxy, antivirus, or endpoint security software is blocking the application or SharePoint connection.
If the issue persists, contact PPM support and provide a screenshot of the complete error message.

Important: Do not repeatedly click Continue if the application continues to show the same error. Close the application and follow the troubleshooting steps above.

Information to provide to Support

When reporting a 403/404 issue, include:

A screenshot of the complete error window.
The HTTP status code shown in the error, such as 403 or 404.
Your Windows username or employee identifier, if requested by your support team.
Whether you are connected to the company VPN.
Whether you can access the relevant SharePoint site through a browser.
The approximate date and time when the problem occurred.

Important Notes

The Unblock step is mandatory whenever the option is available.
Ensure that your antivirus or firewall is not preventing the application from running.
If required, run the application using Run as administrator.
Do not delete or move required files from the extracted application folder.
Always use the latest version available from the official PPM Tools download page.

The application does not start

Confirm that the ZIP file was unblocked before extraction.
Re-extract the downloaded ZIP file.
Try running the .exe file as administrator.
Check whether antivirus or Windows security software has blocked the application.

PPM reports are not working

Confirm that the PPM Background Tools application is running.
Restart the tool.
Restart PPM Software and test the report again.
If the issue persists, contact the support team.

Support

If you experience any problems during installation or while using the PPM Background Tools, contact the PPM support team:

Email: itprog@paradigm.in

When contacting support, include a screenshot and the exact error message whenever possible. The official PPM Tools download page also lists itprog@paradigm.in as the support contact.

Quick Checklist

Download the latest PPM Background Tools.
Unblock the downloaded ZIP file.
Extract the ZIP file.
Launch the .exe application.
Run as administrator if required.
Confirm the tool starts without errors.
Verify PPM functionality and reporting.
If a 403/404 error appears, follow the SharePoint troubleshooting steps.
Contact support if the issue persists.

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