Copyright: Help generated by SOS Help! Info-Author
Citation: Help generated by SOS Help! Info-Author


INTRODUCTION
CD HELP/INFO

Welcome to the December issue of What PC?

This CD Help/Info file is a supplement to both the cover disk notes that are written each month in the magazine and the help notes that are located within the main What PC? CD-ROM interface. The aim of the file is threefold:

(1) To provide you with a full contents index list for this months CD-ROM cover disk.

(2) To give you the locations of the demos, PDF files, HTML files, videos etc in case you would prefer to access these things outside of our main interface.

(3) To produce some help concerning the cover disk, and the main applications that are used.


CONTENTS INDEX
Index

The main What PC? CD  interface is divided into nine sections:

Games

Multimedia

Arts

Getting Started

Focus On

Hands On

Resources

Reference


FILE LOCATIONS
Locations

A fair proportion of the content of the CD can be accessed outside of the main interface:

Games

Multimedia

HTML Files

Acrobat Files

Video


COVER DISK HELP
Help

Hardware requirements

How to use the CD-Rom

Navigating and using the main CD Interface

Using Acrobat

Using Netscape

Downloading and installing files from the Resources sections

Installing PKUnzip

Technical Helpline

Buyers guide for Psion 3a


Index: Games

This months games included on the CD cover disk are:

Bug

Hyperblade

Azrael's Tear

RAC Rally


Index: Multimedia

This months multimedia included on the CD cover disk are:

Green Eggs and Ham

The Art of Course Fishing

The Logical Journey of the Zoombinis

Cubase Demonstration


Index: Arts

The Arts section this month is divided into three subsections:

Music

This month we have a selection of tracks from Co Star.

Images

32 top quality Images from The Image Bank

Note: these images can also be downloaded from MEDIA in the RESOURCES section.

Literature

3 Novels:

Treasure Island

Prince Otto

Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde


Index: Getting Started

This section contains our easy-to-use interactive guide to PCs, printers and software. This month we cover the basics of the desktop PC and the three main types of printer; dot - matrix, inkjet and laser. Just point and click for explanations of all the different parts, complete with buying tips.


Index: Focus On

This part is where you will find news, views and videos to take you into the VNU Labs and find out what our reviewers really think about products tested in the magazine. This month we have a video guide for upgrading your PC's processor and memory.

Note: Although we have made every attempt to ensure that the quality of the video is as high as possible for monitors that only have 256 colours, all video will look remarkably better when played with 16bit monitors.


Index: Hands On

This section contains a selection from the magazine Personal Computer Worlds own regular Hands On feature. It enables you to fully search hundreds of pages of priceless hints, tips and solutions to technical problems.

Note: the application that is used to enable you to search the files is Acrobat Search for CD. This must be installed to your hard disk and you should be asked to do this if the What PC? loader detects that it is not present.

For more information about using Acrobat, see the Help page.


Index: Resources

Hands On

Programs, utilities, etc relating to this month's Hands On section in the magazine.

Essential Utilities

Utilities you just can't be without.

Utilities

Utilities you shouldn't be without.

Internet

Programs to make your surfing more productive.

Kids

Software for children, including games and educational programs.

Graphics

Here you'll find image-editing and drawing utilities

General

This category is for software that doesn't fit into any of the other categories.

Psion

The Series 3a emulator, plus Mobile Software's Mobile Pages, the What PC? buyer's guide for Psion, and more.

Media

This is where you will find any graphic images, MIDI files, etc included on the CD, ready for downloading.

note: The resources section of the CD is viewed through Netscape. If you are unfamiliar with this browser, or not used to uncompressing (unzipping) files, see the

Help page.

Alternateively, if you would prefer to use your own browser, see the Locations page to find out where the resources home HTML file is situated on the disk.


Index: Reference

A glossary of computer terms.

12-month features index.

The complete Last issue of What PC? in Adobe Acrobat format.

The adverts index.

Note: the application that is used to enable you to view last months What PC? magazine is Acrobat Search for CD. This must be installed to your hard disk and you should be asked to do this if the What PC? loader detects that it is not present.

For more information about using Acrobat, see the Help page.


Locations: Games

Installing and/or playing the demos from outside of the Games section:

Bug:

(Windows 95 only)

From Windows explorer  double click on BUGINST.EXE  in the directory

 <CDDRIVE>:\GAMES\BUG\

Hyperblade:

(Windows 95 only)

From Windows explorer  double click on SETUP.EXE  in the directory

 <CDDRIVE>:\GAMES\HYPER\

Azrael's Tear:

Windows 95 users -

From Windows explorer  double click on INSTALL.BAT  in the directory

 <CDDRIVE>:\

Windows 3.11 users -

From the DOS prompt type

<CDDRIVE>:INSTALL.BAT

RAC Rally:

Windows 95 users -

From Windows explorer  double click on RALLINST.BAT  in the directory

 <CDDRIVE>:\GAMES\RALLY\

Windows 3.11 users -

From the DOS prompt type

<CDDRIVE>:\GAMES\RALLY\RALLINST.BAT


Locations: MULTIMEDIA

Installing and/or playing the demos from outside of the Multimedia section

from Windows file manager or Explorer:

Green Eggs and Ham:

 Double click on EGGSINST.EXE  in the directory

<CDDRIVE>:\MULTI\EGGS\

The Art of Course Fishing:

 Double click on FISHINST.EXE  in the directory

<CDDRIVE>:\MULTI\FISHING\

The Logical Journey of the Zoombinis:

 Double click on ZOOMINST.EXE  in the directory

<CDDRIVE>:\MULTI\ZOOMBINI\

Cubase Demonstration:

 Double click on INSTALL.EXE  in the directory

<CDDRIVE>:\MULT\ICUBASE\CUBASE


Locations: HTML Files

If you would prefer to use your own browser, rather than the Netscape browser that is used on the disk, to access the sections that use HTML the home pages are:

Resources :

RESOURCE.HTM that is located in the directory  <CD drive>:\HTML\RES\

The Room:

 INDEX.HTM that is located in the directory  <CD drive>:\HTML\ROOM\

Features Index:

MIFF4.HTM that is located in the directory  <CD drive>:\HTML\REFS\


Locations: Acrobat Files

The Acrobat Home Page that is used to introduce the Hands On section of the CD is:

PCWHELP.PDF that is located in the directory <CD  drive>:\ACROFILE\PCWPDF\

The Last Issue Home Page in the Reference section of the CD is:

NOV002.PDF that is located in the directory <CD  drive>:\ACROFILE\LASTWPC\

Note: if you would like to install Acrobat  (which contains the search Plug-in required to be able to word search across files), and you do not wish to install it from the What PC? Loader (Which will detect whether it is present),  then from Windows file manager or Explorer:

double click on SETUP.EXE which is located in the directory

<CD  drive>:\ACROREAD\ENGLISH\DISK1\

For more information about using Acrobat, see the Help page.


Locations: Music

This months music in the Arts section of the main What PC? interface is located in the directory

 <CD  drive>:\MIDI


Locations:Video

This months videos from the main What PC? interface are located in the directory

 <CD  drive>:\VIDEO

Note: Although we have made every attempt to ensure that the quality of the video is as high as possible for monitors that only have 256 colours, all video will look remarkably better when played with 16bit monitors.


Help: Hardware Requirements

To run the CD-Rom you will need a PC with Windows 3.1 or later, and a colour VGA display. We recommend a multimedia 486 PC or Pentium, with a minimum of 8Mb of Ram. The optimum configuration is a Pentium PC with 16Mb of Ram


HELP: HOW TO USE THE CD-ROM
Help: How to use the CD Rom

If you've got Windows 95

Just put the CD-Rom into the drive. A few moments later the What PC? loader should appear.

To run the main CD interface which gives you access to all the nine sections, just click the 'Main menu' button. The loader will detect if your PC has Quicktime, Video for Windows, and Acrobat Search installed. If not, it will offer you the chance to install them before proceeding. Just follow the instructions.

(If your CD doesn't auto-load, start Windows Explorer and double-click WHATPC.EXE.)

Windows 3.1 users

From the menu in Windows' Program Manager, choose File|Run. Then type in

 <CD Drive>:\WHATPC.EXE and press Enter. The What PC? loader will appear (as above). If you don't have Video for Windows or Quicktime, the What PC? loader will give you the option to install them before proceeding (follow the on-screen instructions).


HELP: NAVIGATION
Help: Navigating and using the main CD Interface

Unlike most CD-Roms, our CD is not based on the format of a book or magazine; consequently, there's no 'contents' or 'home page'. Instead, you can get from any one of the nine sections to any other by means of a single click of the mouse. Buttons representing the sections are displayed on the screen at all times. If you are not sure which section is where, roll over the buttons, and the name of that section will be displayed, along with a textbox that shows the content of that section. Exit the disk by clicking on the 'Q' in the bottom left of the screen.


Help: Using Acrobat

In order to view the pages, in both the Hands On section and the Last Issue (Reference) section, it is necessary that you install the Acrobat Reader software, which includes the search plug in, from the What PC? loader (if the loader detects that it is not already installed). This installation should be to the default location shown on the installer.

After launching Acrobat reader from the Hands on section, if you cannot see all of the search indexes when clicking on indexes, then click ADD, and add all additional indexes which have the prefix PDX and are located in <CD Drive>\ACROFILE\PCWPDF\

IMPORTANT: To go back to the main What PC? menu program, quit Acrobat using the File/Exit menu or by clicking the Quit button at the top of the screen.


Help: Using Netscape

Netscape Navigator is used in several of the sections of the What PC? CD-Rom. It is a convenient way to deliver text, images, and downloadable files, and runs on top of the main What PC? menu program in the Resources section, the Arts section (Literature subsection), the Reference section (Features subsection) and the Room section.

Readers with access to the World Wide Web will be familiar with the way Netscape works. Just click on a hypertext or image link to jump from page to page. You can go backwards or forwards through the pages you have already visited by clicking the Back or Forward buttons on the toolbar.

Netscape has a special feature called 'frames', which divides the screen into separate areas. When frames are used, the Back and Forward buttons may not work. Instead, click the right mouse button, then select 'Back in Frame' or 'Forward in Frame',  from the pop-up menu.

IMPORTANT: To go back to the main What PC? menu program, quit Netscape Navigator using the File/Exit menu or by clicking the Quit

Note: Once Netscape has lauched in the Resources section, there is a link to a help page explaining more about Netscape and downloading and expanding files.


HELP: DOWNLOADING/INSTALLING RESOURCES
Help: Downloading and installing files from the Resources section

Most files in the Resources section are compressed Zip files or self-extracting archives. If you are using the Netscape browser on the CD, you will be able to download and decompress these files in one action. Alternatively, other types of files, for example midi files, or images can be downloaded in the same way as you would get them from the Worldwide Web (except that these are downloaded from the CD to your hard disk).

Downloading ZIP files and self extracting EXE files using Netscape on the CD:

Click on the hypertext link (underlined next the program's description). A box will appear notifying you of the name of the file being copied and requesting a destination directory. Accept the default destination or replace it with a new one of your own. It is recommended that you use a separate directory for each file as there is the possibility that files from different archives will overwrite each other.

Click on OK and another box will appear. This will give you the option to

i)Copy the file only, from the CD to a destination of your choice, with no further action ii)Decompress the files contained in the archive into the destination of your choice

By selecting both of the above you can copy the file and decompress it into your chosen location.

Once the files have been copied,  you will receive further confirmation of the actions performed. Click on OK and you will be taken back to Netscape.

If you have to abort the copy, and subsequent attempts to download the same file give an unexpected filename, go to c:\vnu\netscape and delete the copy of the file contained therein. Next time you click on the hypertext link the transfer should work OK.

Downloading Other type of files:

Click on the hypertext link (underlined next to the program's description). A file dialog box will appear.

Choose where you want to copy the file (make sure you don't try to copy the file to the CD itself, or you will get an error message). It's a good idea to create a directory or folder for it first (using Windows File Manager or Explorer). AVOID copying into your Windows directory or into the root of your C: drive.

Installing a downloaded file:

Later, using File Manager or Explorer, locate the file on your hard disk. If you need to uncompress a zip file, then read Installing PKUnzip.

If the file is already uncompressed then run the program or its installer just by double-clicking the filename. The most likely filenames are SETUP.EXE or INSTALL.EXE. If you cannot find which file to double click inorder to run the program, click on the associated readme file (if one exists).

Note: Once Netscape has launched in the Resources section, there is a link to a help page explaining more about Netscape and downloading and expanding files.


Help: Installing PKUnzip

PKUnzip is a valuable utility that is used to uncompress 'zip' files, a file-compression format widely-used on the Web and elsewhere. Before you can 'unzip'  a file, you will need to install PKUnzip, as follows:

Go to the Resources  section and click the button marked 'Essential Utilities'

Click the link marked 'PKZip/PKUnzip' (a new page will appear).

Click the link marked 'copy PKZip'.

A dialog box will appear, so that you can choose where to copy the file to. (The file to be copied is called PKZ204G.EXE, and it's a self-extracting archive file.) A good place for PKUnzip to reside is inside your C:\DOS\ directory (where it's easy for your system to find it when it needs to).

Navigate through the directories window until you are inside the Dos directory, then click 'Save'.

At this stage, you might like to quit from Navigator, and from the PCW menu (unless your PC has plenty of memory).

Next, using Windows File Manager (or Explorer if you have Windows 95), find your C:\DOS\ directory, then double-click on the file PKZ204G.EXE. It will expand into sixteen separate files.

Associating the file

The first time you double-click on a compressed file with the .ZIP extension, Windows won't know what it's supposed to do with that file, and will pop up a dialog box asking which program you want to use to run it. Browse until you find PKUNZIP.EXE (in Windows 95 you may have to press the 'Other' button to find it).

Once you've done this once, Windows will remember that all Zip files need to be extracted using PKUnzip.

Note: Once Netscape has lauched in the Resources section, there is a link to a help page explaining more about Netscape and downloading and expanding files.


Help: Technical Helpline

If you have problems with the CD-Rom, you can phone for help on the VNU 24-hour Helpline on : 0891 715929. Calls cost 39p/min off-peak and 49p at all other times.


Help: Buyers guide for Psion 3a

Mobile Software specialises in reference information that you can carry around in your palmtop computer. Guides currently available include Transmedia Pages: a worldwide restaurant directory, which includes savings of up to 25 percent in over 6,000 participating restaurants; and Expotel Pages: a hotel database and reservations service, with details on nearly 3,000 hotels worldwide.

Mobile Software, in collaboration with What PC?, now brings you the What PC? Pages - the PC tables that appear at the back of the What PC? magazine in a compact form that can be taken with you inside your Psion 3a palmtop computer.

We've included the Psion Series 3a emulator on this month's CD. Which means that, even if you don't own a Psion, you'll be able to try out the world's best-selling palmtop computer using your PC.

From the Resources section, download and run the installer file PSION.EXE. Please note that you will not be able to run the emulator using Windows. Instead, restart your computer, and run the emulator from Dos.

Make sure you read the documentation that's displayed when you install the emulator. This tells you how to install and run the software. You will also find a Word document giving detailed instructions on using the What PC? Pages for the Psion 3a.

You can contact Mobile Software on 0181 906 0002.