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Geoplot Hardware Requirements
Operating system should be one of the following : Windows 3.1, 3.11, 95, 98, NT4, ME, 2000, XP, 32 bit Vista and 32 bit Windows 7. Geoplot will not run directly on 64 bit systems. If you have a 64 bit version of Windows 8, 7 or Vista then there are two approaches that can be taken - dual booting or using a virtual environment and install a 32 bit operating system on it (see Running Geoplot 3 on 64 bit Platforms for further details).
Firstly you can consider creating a dual boot system with a 32 bit version of Windows such as XP, though this approach is quite technical so only confident Windows users should try this. Dual booting with Windows 7 32 bit is easier but still requires some technical expertise.
Secondly, you can use the latest version of the free VMWare Player 5.0 (tests done on Build 812388) to create a virtual environment in which you can install a 32 bit operating system such as XP (earlier versions of VMWare Player did not appear to work when trying to connect USB devices). We are led to believe that the XP Mode offered as part of 64 bit versions of Professional, Ultimate and Enterprise Windows 7 can also be installed in VMWare Player. We understand the paid for VMWare Workstation can also be used to load an operating system and run Geoplot on. Note that the Virtual PC2007 and XP Mode offered as part of 64 bit versions of Professional, Ultimate and Enterprise Windows 7 do not allow Geoplot to run due to problems with its handing of USB devices. A new version, Geoplot 4, that will run on 64 bit systems is under development.
Minimum recommended hardware is a Pentium II class processor, cpu speed 266 Mhz or faster, with SVGA display or better for desktop work. Geoplot 3.0 will also work on PC's as slow as a 486 DX2 40Mhz processor so an older laptop computer with VGA display running Windows 3.1, for example, could be used for downloading data in the field. An RS232 communication port is required if data is to be downloaded from instruments into Geoplot 3.0 - if there is only a USB port available then a USB to serial port adapter may be used. A 3.5 inch floppy disk drive (built-in or external USB) may also be required - see below.
Geoplot 3.0 consists of three items: (a) CD with installation code, (b) comprehensive instruction manual with tutorial and (c) software protection--this is provided as either a USB or LPT hardware dongle, or a software authorisation. USB dongles will be supplied unless an alternative is requested. The software authorisation is transferred to your hard-disk from a floppy disk or can be transferred to another PC via the floppy disk - but please note it cannot be used on Vista. 7 or 8.
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