README.TXT File for SereneScreen(TM) Aquarium 10/09/01 PLEASE CHECK WWW.SereneScreen.COM FOR THE LATEST README.TXT FILE. Contents: 1. Installation Instructions 1.1 Autorun 1.2 If the InstallShield does not Autorun 2. Setting SereneScreen(TM) up as your Screen Saver 2.1 Prompt 2.2 Changing it later 2.3 Changing the time before the Screen Saver appears. 2.4 Energy Saving screen blankers 3. Instructions for using SereneScreen(TM) Aquarium 3.1 Bringing up the Aquarium Menu 3.2 Keyboard Shortcuts 4. Running SereneScreen(TM) Aquarium 4.1 Can I run SereneScreen(TM) Aquarium as a program instead of a screen saver? 5. Frequently Asked Questions 5.1 Will the Aquarium work with Windows NT? What are the system requirements? 5.2 I have a powerful video card, but I'm getting fewer than two frames per second, instead of 20-30. 5.3 Will the Aquarium run on my notebook computer? 5.4 Why doesn't the Aquarium work with my VooDoo2 (or other loop-thru) card? 5.5 Will the Aquarium run on Dual Monitors? 5.6 The Aquarium freezes and the fish stop moving. 6. Special Thanks 7. Customer Support =========================================================================== 1. Installation Instructions =========================================================================== 1.1 Autorun Insert the CD-ROM into your CD-ROM drive and close the tray. Windows should Autorun the program from the CD. Simply follow the instructions in the InstallShield program to install the Screen Saver. 1.2 If the InstallShield does not Autorun If after inserting the CD into the computer, the InstallShield installer does not run automatically, you can get the InstallShield to run by following these steps: 1. Make sure the CD is in the CD-ROM Drive. 2. Click on Start 3. Click on Run on the Start Menu 4. Type X:\autorun.exe and hit Enter (NOTE: X: is the letter of your CD-ROM drive. For most systems this is D:, so you would type D:\autorun.exe) =========================================================================== 2. Setting SereneScreen(TM) up as your Screen Saver =========================================================================== 2.1 Prompt During the installation you will be prompted if you would like to make SereneScreen(TM) your default screen saver. Selecting Yes at this point is the easiest way to set up the program, as the selection will happen automatically. 2.2 Changing it later If you selected No at the prompt or another program has made itself your screen saver and you want SereneScreen(TM) Aquarium as your screen saver, simply follow these steps: 1. Right click anywhere on your Desktop Wallpaper (not on an icon or inside an open window). 2. Select Properties from the menu that appears. 3. The Display Properties window will appear. 4. Click the Screen Saver tab on the top. 5. Click anywhere in the box where the screen saver names appear. 6. Scroll to "Aquarium". Make this your selection 7. Click OK to make the change. 8. SereneScreen(TM) Aquarium is now your screen saver! 2.3 Changing the time before the Screen Saver appears. If the Aquarium takes too long to appear, or appears too quickly, you need to change the amount of time before the screen saver kicks in. Simply follow these steps: 1. Right click anywhere on your Desktop Wallpaper (not on an icon or inside an open window). 2. Select Properties from the menu that appears. 3. The Display Properties window will appear. 4. Click the Screen Saver tab on the top. 5. Adjust the number in the Wait box to the desired number of minutes. 6. Click OK to make the change. 2.4 Energy Saving screen blankers Some systems are set up with the capability to turn the monitor off after a period of inactivity. If this time is shorter than the time you have set for the screen saver to kick in, you might never see the Aquarium. To adjust the amount of time before your monitor shuts off, follow these steps: 1. Right click anywhere on your Desktop Wallpaper (not on an icon or inside an open window). 2. Select Properties from the menu that appears. 3. The Display Properties window will appear. 4. Click the Screen Saver tab on the top. 5. Click on Settings under "Energy saving features of monitor" 6. Adjust the "Turn off monitor" time to a time that is greater than the amount of time before the screen saver kicks in, or select "Never". 7. Click OK to make the change to the Power ManagementProperties 8. Click OK to make the change to the Display Properties. =========================================================================== 3. Instructions for using SereneScreen(TM) Aquarium =========================================================================== 3.1 Bringing up the Aquarium Menu To bring up the Settings Screen, simply press SPACEBAR, while the Aquarium is running. You can also right click on the Aquarium.Scr icon and select "Settings" from the right-click menu. 3.2 Keyboard Shortcuts There are keyboard shortcuts to the menu options in the Settings Screen: ESC Key: Exit A key: Bring up the About box. B key: Turn Bubble sound on or off. F key: Toggle between Full Screen and Windowed mode. M key: Toggle Exit on Mouse Move S key: Show frame rate and screen resolution W key: Toggle Wireframe mode on or off. Spacebar: Bring up the Settings Screen Up Arrow: Bring main lights up. Down Arrow: Take main lights down. Right Arrow: Bring background lights up. Left Arrow: Take background lights down. L key: Toggle automatic light changes on or off. R key: Restore. Turns Sound, Lights and Bubbles all on if any were off. =========================================================================== 4. Running SereneScreen(TM) Aquarium =========================================================================== 4.1 Can I run SereneScreen(TM) Aquarium as a program instead of a screen saver? Yes. During installation, you will be prompted if you would like a shortcut to SereneScreen(TM) Aquarium on your desktop. If you chose yes, then simply double click the shortcut to run the Aquarium. =========================================================================== 5. Frequently Asked Questions =========================================================================== 5.1 Will the Aquarium work with Windows NT? What are the system requirements? The Aquarium is a DirectX application, so it will not work under Windows NT 4. It does work under Windows 95, 98, ME, 2000 (which is Windows NT 5), and XP (RC1 and RC2). Also required: A Pentium class processor, DirectX 6, 7, or 8, and a fairly strong video card with 3D capabilities. We have no current plans for an OpenGL version, but a Mac version is a possibility in the future. 5.2 I have a powerful video card, but I'm getting fewer than two frames per second, instead of 20-30. The most common cause is forgetting to switch the Desktop to High-Color (16-bit). If you are running the Desktop in True-Color(24 or 32 bit modes), and the card does not switch automatically (many do), then the Aquarium will use RGB Emulation instead of Direct3D HAL. This means that all 3D calculations would be done in software, which is very slow compared to hardware. 5.3 Will the Aquarium run on my notebook computer? Only the very latest notebooks with a GeForce2Go, Rage Mobility or S3 Savage chip will run the Aquarium. The NeoMagic chip will not work. 5.4 Why doesn't the Aquarium work with my VooDoo2 (or other loop-thru) card? Right now, the program uses your system's Primary Display driver, and the loop-thru card would be a different driver. We will be conferring with Microsoft about this (and many other points) soon. If your primary display card is powerful enough, you can try plugging the monitor directly into it, instead of looping through the VooDoo card. The upcoming DirectX 8 version should work with this type of card. 5.5 Will the Aquarium run on Dual Monitors? There is not yet any built-in support for dual-monitor setups, though we have heard of people getting good results with such systems. Only the primary display driver is currently accessed. 5.6 The Aquarium freezes and the fish stop moving. First make sure you have your Desktop color set to 16 bit (high color). If you can start the program, hit the spacebar and go to the settings screen. In the settings screen de-select the "Desktop resolution" option and choose another resolution like 800X600. Also de-select the "Exit on mouse move" if it is enabled. Sometimes a program (such as virus protection, automatic utility program or TSR) will access the system periodically and kick out the program. Try disabling these types of programs to see if it makes a difference. Also, it is important to make sure you have the best driver for your video card from the manufacturer. =========================================================================== 6. Special Thanks =========================================================================== We would like to thank ViewSonic for the use of their monitor for the box image. We would also like to thank TechTV and VoodooExtreme for the use of the quotes on the box. =========================================================================== 7. Customer Support =========================================================================== If you encounter any problems installing or running your SereneScreen(TM) Aquarium, please contact us: Email: Service@SereneScreen.com Phone: 818-562-8415 (this is a toll call) or visit our website at: www.SereneScreen.com