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- ------------------------------------------------------------
- README for the Microsoft Network Premier Membership CD
- October l996
- ------------------------------------------------------------
-
- (c) Copyright Microsoft Corporation, 1996
-
-
- This document provides complementary or late-breaking information to
- supplement the Microsoft Network Premier Membership CD.
-
-
- ------------------------
- HOW TO USE THIS DOCUMENT
- ------------------------
-
- To view Readme.txt on screen in Notepad, maximize the Notepad window.
-
- To print Readme.txt, open it in Notepad or another word processor,
- and then use the Print command on the File menu.
-
- Thank you Choosing the Microsoft Network (MSN). This document contains
- information that will help you solve common problems and get the most
- out of Microsoft Network Premier Membership CD (MSN CD).
-
- Table of Contents
- =================
- 1. MSN CD Contents
- 2. System Requirements
- 3. Video Cards and Display Problems
- 4. Hard Disk Location of MSN Program Files
- 5. Microsoft Internet Explorer Installation
- 6. Installation Problems
- 7. Connection Problems
- 8. Improving Performance
- 9. CD-ROM Issues
- 10. Removing MSN Files and Shortcuts
-
- 1. MSN CD Contents
- ===================
- The MSN CD supports the Windows 95 AutoPlay feature and will start
- automatically when you put the MSN CD in your CD-ROM drive.
-
- There are two programs on the CD:
-
- MSN Preview : a multimedia preview of the new MSN. It explains some
- of MSN's features and what you can expect as a member.
-
- MSN Setup : a program which installs and configures the software
- necessary to access the new MSN.
-
- The MSN CD supports the Windows 95 AutoPlay feature, and will start
- the MSN CD automatically when you put the MSN CD in your CD-ROM drive.
-
- One way to cure problems you encounter is to quit the program, remove
- the CD from your CD-ROM drive, and then re-insert it. As the MSN CD
- starts up again, it should be able to fix most problems you might have
- encountered. If it doesn't, see the other items in this Read Me or
- the Tips and Troubleshooting section of Help.
-
- NOTE: If your CD-ROM driver is not Windows 95 compliant, install the
- MSN CD using the following instructions:
-
- 1. Insert the MSN CD in your CD-ROM drive.
- 2. Click the Start button on the Windows 95 Taskbar, and then click
- Run.
- 3. In the Open dialog box, type the following (presuming that your
- CD-ROM drive is drive D): D:\msnstart (and click OK)
-
- The first time you insert the CD the MSN Preview will run. Subsequent
- insertions of the MSN Starter CD will display a menu of choices to
- run:
-
- 1. The MSN Preview
- 2. MSN Setup
- 3. Connection Troubleshooter
-
- Before installation, MSN Setup attempts to locate the software it
- requires on your hard disk; if the software is not found, MSN Setup
- will install it. However, MSN Setup will always install:
-
- * The three components of the show Rifff
- * The Media files
-
- 2. System Requirements
- =======================
- * Windows95
- * Personal computer with a 486/66 or higher processor
- * 14.4 Kbps modem or higher
- * 8MB of memory required, 16MB recommended
- * 50MB available hard disk space
- * CD-ROM drive (2x or higher)
- * VGA or higher resolution graphics card.
- * Sound card recommended
- * Microsoft Mouse or compatible pointing device
-
- MSN is only compatible with Windows 95. It does not run on Windows
- NT or on Windows 3.1. In the future it is possible that MSN will
- support these operating systems but as of the date of this writing,
- October 1996, no support is available.
-
- In order to fully experience MSN you will need a sound card and
- speakers. MSN will function properly without them but audio is
- integral to the full experience. Also, the MSN Preview program
- included on this disk makes extensive use of audio and will not be
- useful if you do not have sound capabilities.
-
- 3. Video Cards and Display Problems
- ====================================
- LESS THAN 256 COLORS
- The MSN CD will not run if your display is set to 16-color mode - it
- is designed to run at 640x480 resolution, or higher, with a minimum
- of 256 colors. If your display is set to show 16 colors, change your
- display setting to show 256 colors or more. If you experience problems
- with display colors, check your color configuration:
-
- 1. Go to the Start Menu and select the Control Panel option from the
- Settings menu choice.
- 2. Open the Display icon.
- 3. Select the Settings tab.
- 4. From the "Color Palette" box, select 256 colors or anything higher
- than 16 colors.
-
- MORE THAN 256 COLORS
- Some video cards may encounter problems when using accelerated video
- drivers, video drivers with more than 256 colors, or high resolution
- video drivers.
-
- If you run into display problems:
- 1. Try switching to a driver supplied with Windows 95.
- 2. Change to a different display mode. An alternative to using a
- different driver is to change your video mode to a standard video
- mode such as 640x480 resolution with 256 colors.
-
- For details on how to change drivers or switch to a different display
- mode, see your Windows documentation.
-
- NEC computers using the Alliance Promotion video card do not work well
- with the MSN CD. Please contact your computer dealer for assistance.
-
- 4. Hard Disk Location of MSN Program Files
- ===========================================
- The majority of the files MSN requires need to be stored on your
- System Disk (the drive from which your computer boots; generally the
- C: drive).
-
- If you do not have enough space on your System drive, Setup will
- notify you and provides an "Expert" option. If you select Expert
- installation you will be prompted several times during installation
- for an alternative storage area (i.e. other than your System drive).
-
- 5. Microsoft Internet Explorer Installation
- ============================================
- MSN requires Internet Explorer (IE) version 3.01 or higher. If you
- have an older version of IE, MSN Setup will install a new version.
- During IE installation, you will be prompted to accept the IE End User
- License Agreement. If you do not accept the IE License Agreement,
- MSN Setup will fail and you will not be properly configured to access
- MSN. You must accept the IE license in order to use MSN.
-
- 6. Installation Problems
- =========================
- You may sometimes get the error:
- "MSNAUDIO.ACM is in use. Retry / Cancel"
- when installing the Interactive Music Architecture. You should click
- on "Cancel".
-
- 7. Connection Problems
- =======================
- If you click on MSN Program Viewer, and you don't get the sign in
- screen but instead get a message saying:
- "http://onstage.msn.com could not be found"
- refer to the MSN troubleshooter (located in the Help directory on your
- MSN CD). If you are still unable to connect to MSN, check the
- following:
-
- Internet Proxy Access
- If your computer is connected to a corporate computer network, you may
- be using an Internet Proxy Server. You should disable Proxy network
- access. Follow:
-
- 1. Click Start --> Settings --> Control Panel
- 2. Double click the Internet icon
- 3. Select the Connection tab
- 4. Disable the "Connect Through a Proxy Server" checkbox (in the
- "Proxy Server" box)
- 5. In the "Dialing" box, check the "Connect to the Internet as
- needed" checkbox. Also, ensure that your Internet Service Provider
- is your default (currently selected) Dial up networking connection
- (i.e. make sure it is the listed option in the drop down selection
- box).
-
- 8. Improving Performance
- =========================
- Make sure that Windows 95 is optimized for your CD-ROM drive. Windows
- 95 provides settings for CD caching and for accessing various CD-ROM
- drive speeds.
-
- To review these settings:
- 1. Select the "My Computer" icon on your desktop and click it with
- the secondary mouse button (usually the right mouse button).
- 2. Choose Properties.
- 3. Choose the Performance tab.
- 4. Choose the File System button.
- 5. Choose the CD-ROM tab.
-
- In this box, make sure that the Supplemental Cache size is set to
- "Large." Also, verify that the Optimize access pattern is correctly
- set for the type of CD-ROM drive that is installed on your system (the
- MSN CD requires a double speed, or faster, CD-ROM drive).
-
- 9. CD-ROM Issues
- =================
- EJECTING THE CD WHILE THE APPLICATION IS RUNNING
- Do not remove the CD-ROM disc while you are running the MSN CD.
- If you eject the MSN CD disc from the CD-ROM drive while running the
- MSN CD, and insert a disc for another program, you'll get a System
- Error message. Reinsert the MSN CD disc, then choose Enter.
-
- CONFLICTS WITH THE CD-ROM DRIVE
- In Windows 95, follow these procedures to check for conflicts with
- your CD-ROM drive:
-
- 1. Double click on the "My Computer" icon with the right mouse button.
- 2. Select Properties, to open the System Properties window.
- 3. Select the Device Manager tab and look for the CD-ROM drive in the
- list. If it appears with an exclamation point to the left of it,
- there is a conflict with your hardware setup. Check the manuals
- that came with your CD-ROM drive for information on how to set up
- your CD-ROM drive or contact the manufacturer.
-
- CD-ROM DRIVE CONFLICTS WITH WINDOWS 95 AUTOPLAY FEATURE
- AutoPlay is a Windows 95 feature that automatically starts an
- application when you put its CD in your CD-ROM drive. If the MSN CD
- does not start automatically, your CD-ROM driver does not support
- AutoPlay or the AutoPlay feature is disabled. To start the MSN CD
- manually:
-
- 1. Insert the MSN CD-ROM.
- 2. Click the Start button in the lower left hand corner of the Windows
- 95 Taskbar, and select Run.
- 3. Enter "D:\msnstart.exe" (without quotation marks) in the Open
- dialog.
- 4. Click OK, and the MSN CD will start.
-
- The MSN CD will also create an icon in your Start menu - to start MSN
- in the future, simply select MSN on your Start menu.
-
- DISABLING WINDOWS 95 AUTOPLAY
- To prevent Windows 95 from playing the MSN CD automatically, press
- down and hold the SHIFT key as you insert the CD into the CD-ROM
- drive.
-
- 10. Removing MSN Files and Shortcuts
- ====================================
- If you want to remove the MSN Program Viewer, you can delete them with
- the Add/Remove Programs feature on the Windows 95 Control Panel
- control panel.
-
- For details on using the Add/Remove Programs feature, see your Windows
- documentation.
-