CD help
ContentsIntroduction
We know you’re not stupid. Chances are if you were, this CD would be in your floppy drive, which would be merrily chomping away, and you’d probably be wearing the magazine as a hat. However, it’s nice to know there’s somewhere to go if you do run into some trouble. So read on, troubled one.
The Atomic CD interface
The CD interface is fairly straightforward. Once you go past the intro, you’ll notice a menu to the far left. This is the category menu; it contains a list of group titles so we can stick applications in a sensible place. While this will change from month to month, categories such as Boot sector will remain constant. To access one of these groups, simply click on it.
This will display a list in the middle of the interface containing the applications in that category. Here you can browse each program; just click on a name that interests you and to the far right of the interface an information section will come to life. This section will have important information about the program, including its name, file version, website and a brief description with any extra details that you should know.
To get the application from the CD, simply click on the download link provided. A dialog box will appear (standard grey window with buttons) asking whether you wish to ‘Open’ or ‘Save’ the file. Most files can simply be opened straight from the CD, however, some require presence on a hard drive (and access to disk space) in order to install.
So, try ‘Open’ first. If the install fails, or if you wish to keep a copy of the application on your system, click ‘Save’ instead. Make a note of where you save the file, so you can run it later.
Archives (ZIP; RAR; ACE; 7Z)
Sometimes a file won’t be self-installing (these are usually in the form of an EXE file). A lot of smaller developers and individuals will ‘compact’ their applications into a tiny file, called an ‘archive’. Not only does this reduce the size of the program (making it download faster), it also keeps all the application’s files in one place. They’re impossible to open without the correct archive tool, or ‘decompressor’.
Don’t worry, your salvation is here.
We’ve provided all the achivers you’ll need to access the files on the CD. While the choice is up to you as to which one you use, we recommend WinRAR or 7-Zip, as these two programs provide the broadest compatibility. This means they open the most number of formats, saving you from having to install multiple archivers.
Except for 7-Zip, all the archivers on the CD are trial or shareware. See the disclaimer for information on these.
When programs fail
One of the hardest things to deal with is a program not running on your system. Is it your computer, or the program? Does it have to do with the weather, or is God just angry at you for some reason? Whatever the cause, there is likely a solution.
An important point to remember is that if the problem doesn’t relate directly to the quality of the CD (as in it’s cracked, scratched or corrupted) or its interface, Atomic and AJB Publishing can’t help you. Sorry, we can’t and will not provide technical support, or any support for that matter, for the programs on the CD.
Don’t freak out though, as we’ve covered the unfortunate scenario of ‘Application Blues’. In the CD interface, you’ll notice a web link for each program you select. This link will take you to the website of someone who should be able help -- usually the developer or a community site, depending on the program. We’ll also note in the description any specific concerns we know of or have come across.
It also helps to look at the ‘readme’ file included with each program. This file can come under different guises, but most applications will either show it to you when they install, provide a link to it in the Start Menu, or place it in the main application folder.
Required files
You might find a program doesn’t run because it’s missing a ‘required’ file. Required files come in the form of custom (made by the developer) or operating system DLLs (dynamic link libraries) and OCXs (ActiveX controls). We’ll do our best to include these files on the CD if a program needs them, but due to licensing and distribution reasons, we might not be able to. Instead we’ll do the next best thing, and provide a web link to save you from hunting down the files yourself.
Contact us
If you have any problems that relate directly to the physical CD or its interface, contact cd@atomicmpc.com.au. Feel free to fire off comments and suggestions to this address as well.