GetAhead CD-Roms - Before You Contact Us !!!
GetAhead multimedia CD-Rom courses run on all versions of Microsoft Windows and there are no known compatibility issues. Over 99% of our customers experience no technical issues. If you do experience any problems, please ensure that:

1) Your PC meets the minimum specification.
2) Your PC video settings are properly configured.
3) Your PC has an up-to-date screen driver.
4) The CD is in the primary drive.
5) You enter the course license number correctly.

If you can see an animated head but there is no accompanying voice then there is a problem with your sound card.

If you see the error message "XXcont01.exe is a read only file in DOS. Changes cannot be saved" and you are using Windows XP then you will need to set the Compatibility Mode." If this does not resolve the problem you will need to visit http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;Q326549 where a workaround for this Microsoft XP bug is detailed.

If you see the error message "XXcont01.exe is a read only file in DOS. Changes cannot be saved" and you are using Windows NT then you must set update permission for the directory in which the course is installed.

If you are using Windows NT and you get error message 'Cannot run the 16-bit program. The application is not supported by Windows NT'. You must take the following steps.

If you are using Windows 2000 and the application stops responding then you will need to fix a known bug in the Windows 2000 memory allocation routines by downloading a patch from Microsoft.

If you are using Windows 2000 and you receive the error message "Initialization failed. Not enough memory or the file is damaged" then you will need to configure the user permissions to allow the course to launch properly.

If your CD is faulty or damaged, return it within 30 days of purchase and we will send you a replacement.
If you experience any technical issue that is not covered on this page then please contact us immediately.

Minimum Specification
If you have difficulties with the installation procedure, make sure that your system meets these minimum requirements:

Any multimedia PC or laptop with Microsoft Windows 95, 98, 2000, Me, NT, XP, or above
A CD-ROM drive
A 16-bit sound card, or above

All GetAhead courses are MPC Level II multimedia compatible.

With multimedia machines at the lower end of this specification or those with a problem sound card, you may need to disable the animation files for the application to run properly. To do this double click the ‘course administrator’ icon and then click the button that switches the animations on/off.

Windows '95, '98, NT, 2000, ME
1) DoubleClick the "My Computer" icon on your desktop
2) DoubleClick the "Control Panel" icon
3) DoubleClick the "Multimedia" icon
4) Click the "Video" tab
5) Set the "Show Video in" option to "Window"
6) Choose "Original Size" in the adjacent comboBox
7) Click "OK

Windows XP
If you are using Windows XP, your video settings should be correct by default. If you experience any problems, then take the following steps:
1) RightClick on your desktop
2) Click "Propertiesl"
3) Click the "Settings" tab
4) Click "Troubleshoot"
5) Select "Videos or animations do not work correctly"
6) Click "Next" and follow the instructions

If some of the text appears ‘strange’ (i.e. text wraps oddly and looks unclear) this is because you are using a high resolution screen driver which does not support “small fonts”. GetAhead courses can be used at high screen resolutions, for example, 1024 x 768 and 1280 x 1024. However, at these resolutions you must select a screen driver that supports “small fonts”. Your Windows Help facility provides instructions on this.

If some of the screens appear ‘strange’ (i.e. garish colours) or the system ‘hangs’ then there is a screen driver compatibility problem. GetAhead courses have been developed to run with all standard and up-to-date screen drivers and you should switch to a standard screen driver. Your Windows Help facility provides instructions on how to do this.

1) Locate the file "XXcont01.exe" using Windows Explorer.
2) RightClick on the file name.
3) Select "Properties" from the pop-up menu.
4) Click the "General" tab and ensure that "Read-only" attribute is NOT selected.
5) Click the "Compatibility" tab.
6) Click "Run this program in compatibility mode for:"
7) Select "Windows 95" from the drop down menu.
8) Click "OK"

Expand the following files from the original Windows NT compact disk or get valid copies from another Windows NT machine and copy them to the <systemRoot>\system32 directory:

     Compobj.dll
     Ddeml.dll
     Ole2.dll
     Ole2disp.dll
     Storage.dll
     Ctl3dv2.dll
     Ole2nls.dll
     stdole.tlb
     Typelib.dll
     Ver.dll

NOTE: The Ver.dll file is located in the <systemRoot>\system folder and the <systemRoot>\system32 folder, and both versions have the same file size and date. (<systemRoot> is the Windows folder on your machine e.g. "C:\WINNT").
The cause of this problem is usually an incomplete or improper installation of an NT application - the setup leaves certain files damaged or outdated.

This problem is the result of a bug in the Windows 2000 memory allocations routines. Microsoft now provides a fix for a memory allocation error in Windows 2000 and we recommend that you install a new patch file available from: http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/release.asp?ReleaseID=29465. To learn more about this issue, click this link: http://support.microsoft.com/support/kb/articles/Q288/1/65.asp. NOTE: Service Pack 1 for Windows 2000 must be installed prior to using this hot fix. This fix is not part of Service Pack 2. Microsoft has indicated to us that it will be included as part of Service Pack 3.

1.  Log in as an administrator.
2.  Open "Computer Management" from Windows "Start: button :Programs\
    administrative Tools.  If this item is not in the menu, right click on the taskbar and select properties.  
    Click on the advanced tab, and check "Display Administrative Tools".
3.  Expand the Shared Folders and click on the "Shares" folder.
4.  From the Action menu select "New File Share".
5.  In the "Create Shared Folder" dialog window, click the "Browse..." button.
6.  Find the folder Windows is installed to.  By default this should be "WINNT".  It is possible that windows is installed in "WINDOWS" 
    (this may be the case when upgrading from Windows98).  Then select the temp folder and click OK.
7.  Enter a Share name, e.g. "Temp" and Share description, e.g. "Shared Window's Temp Folder", then click next.
8.  Select "All users have full control" then click "Finish".  When asked to create another shared folder, click "No".
9.  You should now see "Temp" (or the share name given previously), in the list of shared folders.  Right click on the "Temp" share, 
     and select "Properties" from the right-click menu.
10. Click the "security" Tab, then click the "Advanced..." button.
11. Select "Users" in the edit field under "Permission Entries"
12. Click the "View/Edit..." Button.
13. Click the checkboxes under the "Allow" column for all permissions except: "Delete", "Change Permissions", and "Take Ownership"
14. Click OK to close the "Permission Entry" property sheet.
15. Click OK to close the "Access Control Settings" property sheet.
16. Click OK to close the "Temp Properties" property sheet.