Starting the CD-ROM/DVD-ROM menu

About the browser
By now you will have noticed that the PCW browser (previously programmed using Macromedia Director) has moved to a web-browser style interface. This presents many advantages - not least that it cuts the time needed for development each month, and that content designed for the web can be easily ported to the disc (and vice versa). However, to get the full functionality from it, you will need to use Microsoft Internet Explorer (version 4 or later).

If you use Netscape
Netscape doesn't properly support the ActiveX plugin that enables us to install software seamlessly from within the browser. We are looking at ways to solve this (there exists already a rather messy workaround that we won't go into here).

Over the next couple of months we will build up a database of any problems or questions relating to specific software from PCW back issues. For now, here are answers to a couple of questions we still get frequent enquiries about.

MAY 1999 - Intuit Quicken 6SE
Since we issued Quicken 6SE on the May 99 cover CD, Intuit has changed the number for registering your copy. If you have changed computers or reformatted your hard disk you will need to call Intuit and register your software before you can continue using it. The new number is:
Telephone: 0800 58 50 58

JULY 1999 - Adobe PhotoDeluxe
Yes, believe it or not we're still getting frequent enquiries as to the serial number needed to get PhotoDeluxe up and running. It was printed in the magazine, but some of you have actually thrown away your copy of that issue (yes, it's true), and have just got around to installing the software. So, here it is:
HTW200N7000002-383
ALSO, there is a problem with running the Calendar templates from the July issue CD. For details of how to get round this, >>> CLICK HERE.

SEPTEMBER 1999 - Caligari TrueSpace
If you are only just getting round to installing TrueSpace from last September's Personal Computer World, you might be interested to know that the serial number you require is as follows:
3200040030005.

MARCH 2000 - Borland Interbase
Included with the full version of JBuilder 2 on March's CD was a trial version of Borland's Interbase. Many of you tried to install this trial but were unsure what to type into the serial number and registration boxes during installation. For this trial version you will, in fact, need to type the word eval into each of the two boxes. Our apologies for omitting to tell you this at the time! By the way the serial number and key for JBuilder were as follows... Serial number: 2000014093, Authorisation key: 96-7-0-0

MAY 2000 - OUP Oxford Compendium
Some systems have been found to have problems during or after installation. Firstly, if a dialog appears, reporting a conflict with an existing file or application, try the following: press Ctrl-Alt-Delete and shut down all but the essential Windows tasks. Then return to your desktop and try installing again. This should solve the problem. If that doesn't work, though, restart your PC and press F8 during boot - then select Windows Safe Mode. Install the software, then restart in Normal Windows Mode. Another problem some readers have experienced is their PC locking up after installing. If this happens to you, you should restart your PC (with a soft or hard reset if necessary). The Compendium should function normally once installed and you should not experience any subsequent problems.

JUNE 2000 - Ordnance Survey Atlas of Great Britain, Third Edition
Firstly: During installation, OS3 may detect that you have an NT system even though you are running Windows 98. Regardless of this, you should select the Install for Windows 95 option.
Secondly: If you have experienced general protection faults when trying to install or run OS3, it may be due to a conflict with your virus checker. Norton Antivirus has been found to interfere with normal installation if the level of virus protection is too high. If you use Norton, try disabling auto-protect, and you should be able to install without further problems.
If you're getting a 'file not found' message, try running the program install.exe (on the root of the CD), using Windows Explorer to run the file instead of the PCW menu.

JULY 2000
• 4TH DIMENSION
Some readers have called our helpline with problems entering the serial number given. In almost all cases the problem has been solved by copying the number directly from the browser window (Control-C) and pasting into the serial number dialog box (Control-V). We're still baffled by the few readers for whom this still hasn't worked, and haven't been able to duplicate this in our tests. Suggestions welcome.
• OUP Oxford Compendium
If you've had problems installing this program, you should try closing down all unnecessary tasks running on your system (Control-Alt-Delete) then install Reference Shelf. If this doesn't work, boot Windows into safe mode (hold F8 while booting), install the software, then reboot in normal mode. Quite a few readers have found that Norton interferes with a smooth installation.

AUGUST 2000
• INFO POWER (DVD): some PC systems have been known to conflict with the Cryptkey DLLs that control Info Power's licensing control. If after installing UK Info Power you see the message 'No list file found' when trying to open the application, you will need to re-licence the software for the 30 days trial. This can be done by phoning i-CD Publishing 0207 909 2200 and requesting a 30 day licence for Info Power DVD.
• DRAW PLUS 2: The Draw Plus installation file has been found to sometimes do strange things when run indirectly. If you have problems launching the Draw Plus installer from the PCW browser, you should install using Windows Explorer. The file path is as follows: CD-ROM:\Software\Serif\DRAWP20\D1\INSTALL.EXE

OCTOBER 2000
• STAROFFICE SCHEDULE SERVER installation file for W95/98/NT (DVD only)
NOTE: during our tests we encountered some script problems with Schedule Server installation supplied to us from Sun Microsystems, that we were unable to resolve. We will include an update to the situation on the next possible disc.

NOVEMBER 2000
• MS INTERNET EXPLORER 5.5 If you have had problems with IE5.5 giving an invalid page fault error message, you may be interested in the solution found by reader Vivian Dunn. He discovered that the problem could be resolved in his case by running OptOut. This excellent free program from Steve Gibson eradicates 'aureate' files - files placed in your system by advertising-driven software to monitor your usage of the net. Removing them using OptOut enabled IE5.5 to function correctly (in this reader's case, at least). If you are experiencing problems of this kind, it's certainly worth giving OptOut a try. You can download it from the GRC website at grc.com The GRC website is worth visiting anyway for its fascinating insight into parasites and spyware.
• GROLIER 2000 If during installation of Grolier 2000 you encounter the following message:
Error copying MSVCRT20.DLL This is because an existing program running on your system is accessing that file. Likely candidates are virus checkers or synchronisation software (such as Psion's PsiWin). You should temporarily disable your virus checker during installation, and close down PsiWin or similar programs (generally these are displayed in the Windows Tray at the bottom right of your screen - right click the icon for a pop-up menu that will allow you to disable or close them). You should find that installation then proceeds as normal.
If this doesn't do the trick... A more radical approach would be to try the following (which should work
whatever's accessing the file):
1) Restart your computer in MD-DOS mode (Start>Shut Down>Restart in MS-DOS mode)
2) At the command prompt, type: CD\windows\system
3) Press return
4) Type REN msvcrt20.dll msvcrt20.bak
5) Restart your computer (Ctrl-Alt-Delete)
When Windows starts, an error message will appear - from the program that's trying to access msvcrt20.dll.
Press Cancel to get rid of the error dialog.
Install Grolier... Restart your computer...

JANUARY 2001
• RUNNING THE DVD... This was a double-sided DVD, although some readers didn't notice, and couldn't find all the great Windows software in the January issue. Turbo Linux is on one side and the Windows software on the other, so just flip the disc over for the side you want to run.
• ENCYCLOPEDIA OF GREAT LITERATURE (DVD only)... IMPORTANT: the first time you run the Encyclopedia, you will be asked for the drive letter of your DVD-ROM drive. If you input the wrong letter, you will have to delete the file LOTF.SET (in your Windows folder) then run the program again. Reader Storm Dunlop identified the following problem (and solution) in connection with the Encyclopedia. After installation, if you click on 'Help' you will get a message saying that it cannot locate the Help file, and may be having problems finding the correct drive. You are told to delete a file called 'LOTF.SET', and rerun. Trouble is, that file does not exist, either on your hard disk or the DVD. The fix is simple because installation puts an icon on the Start menu. Through 'Settings, Taskbar & Start Menu, Start Menu Programs, Advanced', click on the Encyclopedia of Great Literature icon, open 'Properties', and under 'Start in' enter the full path to the folder in which you installed the program. That will fix it.

FEBUARY 2001
• BODYWORKS 6... It is important to run the QuickTime installer duriung installation of Bodyworks, even if you already have a version of QuickTime installed on your system. If you ignore this part of the installation you may find that Bodyworks doesn't run properly - you should then uninstall the software and start again.

Much as we'd love to answer all questions and help with all problems individually, our time and resources are limited. We can't offer individual technical support on software contained on the CD-ROM. But, here are some general pointers that may help you (and we'll add to these over time).

The pages in the CD/DVD browser don't look right or work correctly
The menu code used Javascript and ActiveX. If anything looks strange or doesn't function as it should, you should make sure that these features are enabled in your browser preference (Tools > Internet Options).

The screen images don't look right
Make sure your PC is running in at least 256 colours (these days there's little excuse for running at less than 16-bit (thousands of colours) or greater. To change the colour settings, right click on your Windows desktop (ie, not on any window or icon) then choose Properties from the pop-up menu, and click the Settings tab.

I can't see all the menu options
Try resizing your browser window, or disabling some of the view options (toolbars, etc). It's possible your screen resolution is set too low. The menu is designed to be viewed at all screen resolutions from 640x480 upward. However, it's best viewed at resolutions of 800x600 or greater. To change your screen resolution, go to the same Windows dialog as described above.

How do I uninstall software?
Most of the major programs included on the discs will each come with its own uninstaller. You can generally access this through the Windows Start menu, in the same folder as the program itself. If not, you can try the Add/Remove Programs icon in Windows Control Panel to see if the program is listed there. If so, just highlight it in the list and click the "Add/Remove..." button.