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Installation (loading) instructions - version 5
 
 
1.0 Introduction

 

Country: If you are using a computer outside of the U.S.A or U.K., it will probably need to be set to U.K. regional settings - please see step 8 of Section 1.4 below.

Version: These instructions refer to the obsolete version 5.02. It is important that you install the latest released version, as only the latest version is given technical support. If you need to check whether you have the latest version, then please look at the Modifications list. Versions below 5.xx (such as version 4.20) can be installed, but you will no longer be allowed to register them - so the program will not run. If you do try to register an obsolete version automatically during installation, you will get an error such as Server authorisation code failed. This may be due to incorrect details or communications error. If you have an obsolete version, then you may be entitled to a free upgrade - please Contact Us or contact your agent.

Problems: If you have already installed the software, but it seems to be behaving strangely, then please consult the advice on the Support and training page and then if necessary Contact us.

 

1.1 Hardware requirement

 

If Pore-Cor Research Suite is to be used for research purposes, it is essential to check that the user's computer meets the following minimum specifications. If Pore-Comp or Pore-Ped has been purchased alone, then a lower specification computer can be used. Also, lower specification computers can be used to run Pore-Cor Research Suite for demonstration and teaching purposes, but in this case please see Using a below-specification computer, section 1.8 below.
  • Minimum memory Hard disk 100 MBytes ; RAM 128 MBytes
  • Operating system Microsoft Windows 98, NT, 2000, Me or XP
  • Minimum processor 1 GHz, but for wetting algorithm and VRML graphics, recommend 3 GHz
  • Screen resolution 1024 x 768 or higher
  • Graphics card Good quality hardware graphics card (not software-based pseudo graphics card )
  • Environment Working computer or another computer must have access to the internet for compulsory registration of the software. Access to the internet from the working computer also allows access to additional information and support from the Pore-Cor website.
  • Other devices. For loading, requires floppy drive and CD-ROM drive.

 

1.2 Software requirement

These rest of these instructions are given for a UK or US version of Windows XP, with Pore-Cor RS loaded into the default directory. If you are running your computer in a different language, or choose a different directory into which to load the software, then please change the instructions accordingly.

This section gives background information about the software. You may wish to return to it later, and proceed directly with the explanation of the Copy protection in section 1.3 below and then load the software by following the instructions in section 1.4.

If you are having problems loading the software, you may wish to skip to section 1.9 .


1.2.1 Graph plotting software
Graphs are output from Pore-Cor in sketch mode, rather than in publishable format.
Publishable output from the accessible csv (comma-separated variables) datafiles requires a graph and/or spreadsheet program such as Microsoft Excel.

1.2.2 Three-dimensional surface
The results from the 'Grid optimisation' facility in the program can be output as a three-dimensional surface. This surface is plotted using DirectX. DirectX is usually already loaded onto computers less than 2 years old. If it is not already installed, please download the latest version of the software (v. 9.0 or higher) directly from the appropriate Microsoft website http://www.microsoft.com/downloads .

1.2.3 Virtual Reality viewer
The virtual reality system requires a VRML viewer. The viewer GLView is a free, unsupported viewer. It is supplied with the software for demonstration purposes only, and remains the property of their developers. An up to date copy should be downloaded free from its website.

 

1.3 Copy protection


The software uses a software token supplied on a 3½ inch floppy Master disk. This is the software equivalent of a key which can unlock the program for use. The key is easy to lose, and therefore on every floppy Master Disk, two tokens are supplied. If you wish to change computers, it is essential to uninstall the software using the program's own uninstaller, accessed by clicking Start | All programs | Pore-Cor Research Suite 5 | Uninstall . This will prompt you to transfer the token back onto its Master floppy disk ( using the ccmove program ). You can then use the Master floppy disk to carry the token to the new computer. The token can only be carried around using its Master floppy disk. Any attempt to copy or view the token using software other than that supplied with Pore-Cor RS will destroy the token.

We hope that this does not sound too complicated. There have been several unsuccessful attempts to pirate Pore-Cor and Pore-Cor Research Suite, so it should be borne in mind that without this software token, we would not have the software to sell and hence develop.

 

1.4 Step-by-step instructions for first-time installation


For moving from one computer to another, see section 1.6 below. For upgrading see section 1.7 below.

Step 1. Look at the specifications in section 1.1 and ensure that the computer you choose is suitable. If the computer is below the required specification, then see section 1.8 below. Ensure that you have installation rights on the computer, and that none of the drives on which you will load Pore-Cor RS (A: and hard drives such as C: or D: ) are shared in any way, or locked by a virus checker.

Step 2. Insert the Pore-Cor Master Disk into the floppy drive.

Step 3. Put the Pore-Cor RS CD into the CD drive.

Step 4. Wait for instructions to appear on the screen, and follow them.

(If no instructions appear, find the CD drive containing the Pore-Cor CD using My Computer or Explorer . Then open the CD directory, and double-click on setup or setup.exe ).

Step 5. Store the Master Disk and CD in a safe place - you will need both of them if you later want to install Pore-Cor on another computer.

That is all you need do if you are using a computer which:

  • is running under Windows XP or 2000
  • is less than about two years old and therefore has DirectX pre-loaded
  • is set to UK or US regional settings, and
  • is set to high resolution with small fonts, and on advanced setting is set to 96 DPI (i.e. normal size rather than large size fonts).

If any of these things are not true about your computer, then please read on…

Step 6. Pore-Cor RS requires DirectX to draw the 3-D surface resulting from the Grid Method sensitivity analysis. Most computers less than 2 years old have DirectX already loaded. If you are not sure whether your computer has DirectX, then click the Start button at the bottom left of your screen, and select Run . In the Open box, type dxdiag and click OK. If you have Direct X installed, various details will appear. In this case, you need do nothing more - just click Exit in the DX Diagnostic window. However, if no details appear, then you need to load a copy of DirectX as explained in section 1.2.2 above.

Step 7. Click the Start button at the bottom left of your computer screen.
Go to Control Panel | Appearance and Themes | Change the screen resolution and select the Settings tab.
Check that the screen area is at least 1024 x 768 pixels.
Also, if there is an Advanced Settings button for the display settings, check that the DPI is set to Normal Size.

Step 8. Pore-Cor uses very many different data files from different sources. It expects these to be in UK format (e.g. one thousand is written 1,000.00 ). If you are using a computer outside the UK or USA, then you will have to change the regional settings while using Pore-Cor Research Suite. We are sorry that this can be a nuisance because it may change the behaviour of other programs on your computer, but the settings can be changed back when you finish your session with the program.

To change the regional settings:

Click the Start button at the bottom left of your screen.
Select: Control Panel | ... Language and regional Options | Change the format of numbers, dates and times. Note the current setting (so that you can change back to it if necessary after you finish using Pore-Cor Research Suite 5). Then select English (United Kingdom) or English (United States) .

 

1.5 Running the software

Click the Start button at the bottom left of your computer screen.


Go to All Programs | Pore-Cor Research Suite 5 | Pore-Cor Research Suite 5 , and the software should open for you. (The titles may be different if you did not use the default install directory and group.) You may have to register it if you have not already done so.

 

1.6 Uninstalling and/or reinstalling the software

If you wish to uninstall the program, and may wish to use it later on the same or a different computer, it is essential to use the program's own uninstaller. Go to Start | All Programs | Pore-Cor Research Suite 5 | Uninstall.

To reinstall, go back to step 1 in section 1.4 above.

 

1.7 Upgrading


When upgrading from version 5.02 to a version 5 which is higher than 5.02 (available March 2005 onwards), then you can simply load the software from the CD and Skip the transfer of the master token.

For any other upgrade from a version lower than 5.02, upgrading to version 5.02 or higher, please follow the procedure below. Once again these instructions are given for a UK or US version of Windows XP, with Pore-Cor RS loaded into the default directory. If you are running your computer in a different language, or chose a different directory into which to load the previous version of the software, then please change the instructions accordingly.

Step 1. Save any essential data and archives (*.slg) into a directory other than the program directory.

Step 2. Uninstall the previous version using Start | Control Panel | Add or Remove programs .

Step 3. Using an explorer (e.g. by clicking Start | My Computer ), go to your directory called Program Files . Check that all Pore-Cor program directories and their contents are fully deleted.

Step 4. Open a search application , e.g. by clicking Start | Search . Search All files and folders , using the More advanced option of searching system folders and hidden files and folders, for any files with have All or part of the file name as ccmove . Delete any such files that are found. (They will have names such as ccmove32.dll, ccmove.exe etc.)

Step 5. Install the new version as shown in section 1.4 above.

 

1.8 Using a below-specification computer


Pore-Comp and Pore-Ped are not demanding of computers, so there is no problem using a below-specification computer for these programs.


Pore-Cor, however, is calculation intensive. On a 400 MHz computer (rather than the minimum recommended 1 GHz computer), one could expect a Simplex convergence to take of the order of 10 minutes, and 0.1 seconds of wetting to take around 25 hours. However, both the Simplex calculation and wetting calculations can be restricted to shorter times by being less accurate or by involving less wetting.


Pore-Eye's Virtual Reality system requires at least 128 MBytes of RAM. Although it will run on less, you will have to shut down all other applications, and only look at one structure at a time. Navigation around the structures will be slow on anything less than a 1 GHz machine, so it is recommended you use the slider controls to reduce the number of features drawn, and their resolution.

 

1.9 Problems

If the program voices a Security Concern when you change the language, as requested on section 1.4 step 8, then try changing back to your native language, and just changing the way that numbers are written rather than the entire language (see section 1.4 step 8).

If you are having a problem running the program under Windows XP service pack 2 ( SP2 ), click here.

If you are having a problem transferring the Copy Control token from the floppy disk tothe program directory on your computer, click here.


Support: see also Registration, Loading, Documentation (Application Notes, Help System, Publications), Support and Training, and Frequently Asked Questions.