If the countdown reaches 0 then it is possible that POPFile is detecting a serious problem as soon as it is run. The easiest way to check if this is happening is to use the following Start Menu shortcut:

Start -- All Programs -- POPFile -- Support -- Message Capture utility

This will display some messages in a scrollable window and then try to start POPFile for you. You can right-click inside that window, copy the messages to the clipboard and paste them into a reply.

These messages will vary depending upon where POPFile has been installed and upon which optional components were selected when POPFile was installed.

Here is a sample report from my system:

------------------------------------------------------------
POPFile Message Capture Utility v0.1.18
------------------------------------------------------------
POPFILE_ROOT   = C:\PROGRA~2\POPFile
POPFILE_USER   = C:\Users\Brian\AppData\Roaming\POPFile
Using 'popfilef.exe' to run POPFile
------------------------------------------------------------
(report started 13-Aug-2010 @ 19:05:37)
------------------------------------------------------------

POPFile Engine loading

    Loading... 
         {core: windows}
         {core: config history logger mq} 
         {classifier: bayes wordmangle} 
         {interface: html} 
         {proxy: pop3} 
         {services:} 

POPFile Engine v1.1.1 starting

    Initializing... 
         {core: config history logger mq windows} 
         {classifier: bayes wordmangle} 
         {interface: html} 
         {proxy: pop3} 
         {services:} 

    Starting...     
         {core: config history logger mq windows} 
         {classifier: bayes wordmangle} 
         {interface: html} 
         {proxy: pop3} 
         {services:} 

POPFile Engine v1.1.1 running

If POPFile detects a fatal error then an error report will appear in the Message Capture utility's window.

Brian

If the Message Capture utility report does not show any errors or if the report says something like

A copy of POPFile appears to be running.
 Attempting to signal the previous copy.
 Waiting 10 seconds for a reply.

 A copy of POPFile is running.
 It has signaled that it is alive with process ID: 4520
Failed to start while starting the config module at C:\PROGRA~2\POPFile/POPFile/Loader.pm line 713.

then the problem may be that the 'hosts' file does not define an entry for 'localhost'.

This means neither the installer nor the 'POPFile User Interface' Start Menu shortcut will be able to display the UI.

The Connection Problems with POPFile UI page in the wiki explains how to fix this problem.

Brian