diff --git a/EDMCOverlay/EDMCOverlay/WindowUtils.cs b/EDMCOverlay/EDMCOverlay/WindowUtils.cs
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..72581d8
--- /dev/null
+++ b/EDMCOverlay/EDMCOverlay/WindowUtils.cs
@@ -0,0 +1,49 @@
+using System;
+using System.Text;
+using System.Runtime.InteropServices;
+
+
+namespace EDMCOverlay
+{
+    [StructLayout(LayoutKind.Sequential)]
+    public struct RECT
+    {
+        public int Left;
+        public int Top;
+        public int Right;
+        public int Bottom;
+    }
+
+
+    public class WindowUtils
+    {
+        public const Int32 WS_EX_LAYERED = 0x00080000;
+        public const Int32 WS_EX_TRANSPARENT = 0x00000020;
+        public const Int32 WS_EX_NOACTIVATE = 0x08000000;
+
+        public const int GWL_EXSTYLE = -20;
+
+        public const int DWMWA_TRANSITIONS_FORCEDISABLED = 3;
+
+        [DllImport("dwmapi.dll")]
+        public static extern UInt32 DwmSetWindowAttribute(IntPtr hWnd, UInt32 attr, ref int value, UInt32 attrLen);
+
+        [DllImport("user32.dll")]
+        public static extern Int32 SetWindowLong(IntPtr hWnd, int nIndex, Int32 dwNewLong);
+
+        [DllImport("user32.dll", SetLastError = true)]
+        public static extern Int32 GetWindowLong(IntPtr hWnd, int nIndex);
+
+        [DllImport("user32.dll", SetLastError = true)]
+        [return: MarshalAs(UnmanagedType.Bool)]
+        public static extern bool GetWindowRect(IntPtr hWnd, ref RECT lpRect);
+
+
+        [DllImport("user32.dll")]
+        public static extern IntPtr GetForegroundWindow();
+
+        [DllImport("user32.dll")]
+        public static extern int GetWindowText(IntPtr hWnd, StringBuilder text, int count);
+    }
+
+}
diff --git a/edmcoverlay.py b/edmcoverlay.py
index f309f98..6ad9e7a 100644
--- a/edmcoverlay.py
+++ b/edmcoverlay.py
@@ -136,6 +136,9 @@ def send_raw(self, msg):
         :param msg:
         :return:
         """
+        if not self.connnection:
+            return None
+
         assert isinstance(msg, dict)
 
         try:
diff --git a/load.py b/load.py
index 3af8c40..c16742f 100644
--- a/load.py
+++ b/load.py
@@ -1,36 +1,18 @@
 """
 Plugin for EDMCOverlay
 """
-import time
 import os
 from edmcoverlay import ensure_service, Overlay, trace
 
-
 HERE = os.path.dirname(os.path.abspath(__file__))
 PLUGDIR = os.path.dirname(HERE)
 client = Overlay()
 
 
-def notify_old_hits():
-    """
-    If an old copy of HITS is installed, notify the user
-    :return:
-    """
-    if notify_old_hits.done:
-        return
-    notify_old_hits.done = True
-    hits_overlay_dist = os.path.join(PLUGDIR, "HITS", "EDMCOverlay", "EDMCOverlay.exe")
-    if os.path.exists(hits_overlay_dist):
-        client.send_message("warning",
-                            trace("An older version of the HITS plugin is installed, please update it"),
-                            "#ffcc00", 30, 30, ttl=10
-                            )
-notify_old_hits.done = False
-
-
 def plugin_start3(plugin_dir):
     return plugin_start()
 
+
 def plugin_start():
     """
     Start our plugin, add this dir to the search path so others can use our module
@@ -39,9 +21,8 @@ def plugin_start():
     ensure_service()
     try:
         client.send_message("edmcintro", trace("EDMC Ready"), "yellow", 30, 165, ttl=6)
-        notify_old_hits()
-    except Exception:
-        pass
+    except Exception as err:
+        print("Error sending message in plugin_start() : {}".format(err))
     return "EDMCOverlay"