----------------------------------------- Reading Blaster Ages 6-7 version 1.2c for Windows(R) 95/98/Me/2000 ----------------------------------------- Congratulations on your purchase of Reading Blaster Ages 6-7! To supply you with up-to-the-minute information, we have included this ReadMe file. (Please open this window to its maximum size for better readability.) ------------------------------------------------------------------- INDEX ----- Section ------- I. System Requirements II. Installation III. Running the Program IV. Troubleshooting and Performance Tips V. Technical Support ------------------------------------------------------------------- I. System Requirements ------------------- -Windows 95/98/ME/2000 -Pentium 166 MHz (or higher) -15MB free disk space -32MB RAM -High Color (16 bit) -12x CD-ROM -Windows compatible sound card -Mouse, speakers and keyboard -Printer (recommended) -56K modem or better -Internet browser -Internet Service Provider (ISP) II. Installation ------------ 1. Insert the Reading Blaster Ages 6-7 CD in the CD-ROM drive. 2. If your system supports the AutoPlay feature, then the Setup will start automatically. Just follow the prompts. 3. However, if your system does not support AutoPlay, then select the Start button. 4. Choose Run from the Start Menu. 5. At the Open box, type "D:\install.exe", If your CD-ROM drive is a different letter than D, type that letter in place of D. 6. Click on OK and follow the prompts. To uninstall Reading Blaster Ages 6-7 ------------------------------------- 1. Insert the Reading Blaster Ages 6-7 CD in the CD-ROM drive. (Hold down the key to bypass AutoPlay.) 2. From the Start button, select Programs, and choose the Blaster group, then Reading Blaster Ages 6-7. 3. Select 'Uninstall Reading Blaster Ages 6-7' and follow the prompts. III. Running the Program ------------------- 1. Insert the Reading Blaster Ages 6-7 CD in the CD-ROM drive. 2. If your system supports the AutoPlay feature, the teaser splash screen will appear. Click the Play button to run the program. 3. If your system does not support AutoPlay, from the Start button select the Programs menu, then Blaster, then Reading Blaster Ages 6-7. 4. You can also double-click the shortcut icon (if created) on the desktop. Using Kiddesk95 --------------- If you wish to use Kiddesk95 to control your child's access to your computer, you will need to attach the file "Rb6-7.exe" located inside the following folder on your hard drive: Program Files\Blaster\Reading Blaster 6-7 (or the custom path which you created during the installation of Reading Blaster Ages 6-7). Note: If your system is running a custom desktop, refer to the manufacturer's documentation for instructions on special circumstances. ******************************************************************* IV. Troubleshooting and Performance Tips ------------------------------------ SmartPoints ----------- 1. When using America Online(R) for your Internet Service Provider, you must connect to AOL Prior to running Reading Blaster Ages 6-7 in order to Register or Update SmartPoints. 2. If you're having problems connecting to the Internet from within Reading Blaster Ages 6-7 try connecting to your ISP prior to launching the program. For more information about SmartPoints, go to http://www.blasternaut.com. Windows 95/98 TaskBar --------------------- The Windows 95 Taskbar may interfere with the user's ability to view Reading Blaster Ages 6-7 graphics, animations and program information in certain activities. If you encounter difficulties when the Windows 95 Taskbar appears on-screen, enable the Taskbar's Autohide feature: * Click the Start button, then select Settings, then Taskbar. * At the dialog box that appears, uncheck 'Always on top' and check 'Auto hide'. * Click the 'Apply' button, then the 'OK' button. You also have the option of relocating the Taskbar to different sides of the display screen: * Click and hold down the mouse pointer on a blank area of the Taskbar. * Drag and release the Taskbar on the side of the screen where it causes the least interference. Note: If you need to access the Taskbar or the Start menu at any time while the program is running, press CTRL+ESC. To return to the program, click on the program's display area, or press ALT+TAB until the program's icon is selected. If the program is very slow: ---------------------------- 1. Close any unnecessary applications that may be running. 2. Make sure your display setting is at 800x600 resolution. Refer to your system or Windows documentation. If display problems occur: -------------------------- If you experience graphics problems while running Reading Blaster Ages 6-7, contact your video card or systems vendor to obtain the latest version of their video driver. Make sure the system is running in High Color (16-bit) mode in 800x600 resolution. To change the display settings: 1. Click the Start button, then select Settings, then Control Panel. 2. Double-click the Display icon. 3. Choose the Settings tab. 4. Select High Color (16-bit) for the color palette and 800x600 for desktop area. 5. Click the Apply and OK buttons. (The system may need to restart.) Screen savers: -------------- If you are running a screen saver in the background and experience video and sound problems during the program, disable the screen saver and the problem should be solved. Refer to your screen saver documentation on how to disable the screen saver. If sound problems occur: ------------------------ If you experience sound problems while running Reading Blaster Ages 6-7, contact your sound card or system vendor to obtain the latest version of their sound driver. If there is any unusual audio behavior on your system while running the program: * Press the Ctrl+Esc keys, then click back on the program screen, or press Alt+Tab and then click back to the program screen. If the problem still occurs, contact Technical Support (see below). Reinstalling Reading Blaster Ages 6-7: --------------------------------------- If you have deleted or uninstalled any parts of the program and are having problems reinstalling, follow these steps to manually reinstall Reading Blaster Ages 6-7: 1. Insert the Reading Blaster Ages 6-7 CD into the CD-ROM drive. 2. Select the Start button. 3. Choose Run from the Start menu. 4. At the Open box, type "D:\install.exe", If your CD-ROM drive is a different letter than D, type that letter in place of D. 5. Click on OK and follow the prompts to complete installation. If you experience a printing problem: ------------------------------------- Before running Reading Blaster Ages 6-7, please make sure your system is correctly setup to use your printer and that your printer is selected. If your printer software is not installed, refer to your printer manual for install steps. If your printer is installed but is not set as the default printer: 1. Click the Start button, then Settings, then Printers. 2. Right click on your printer. 3. Choose 'Set as default'. If you experience a problem when printing to a Canon BJC-620 printer: A) Make sure the system is running in High Color (16-bit) mode in 640x480 resolution. To change the display settings: 1. Click the Start button, then Settings, then Control Panel. 2. Double-click the Display icon. 3. Choose the Settings tab. 4. Select High Color (16-bit) for the color palette and 640x480 for desktop area. 5. Click the Apply and OK buttons. (The system may need to restart.) B) Install the print driver for the Canon BJC-600 series printer (refer to your printer's documentation), and set it as your default printer. Once the BJC-600 series printer driver is installed, set it as your default printer: 1. Click the Start button, then Settings, then Printers. 2. Right click on the BJC-600 printer icon. 3. Choose 'Set as default'. Improving system performance ---------------------------- These tips are designed to improve your system's performance: 1. Right-click the My Computer icon on the desktop, then click Properties. 2. From the dialog box, select the Performance tab. 3. Click the File System button. 4. Select the CD-ROM tab. Set the Supplemental cache size to Large. 5. Match the Optimize access pattern setting to that of your CD-ROM. (It should be set to Quad speed or higher.) 6. Click Apply, then from the system properties click OK. 7. Restart the computer for the changes to take effect. ******************************************************************* V. Technical Support ----------------- Video drivers and system settings --------------------------------- Information about your system's video drivers can often assist our Technical Support staff in diagnosing problems that are encountered when running the program. To get information about your system's video drivers: 1. Right-click the My Computer icon and select Properties. 2. Click on the Device Manager tab. 3. Double-click on Display adapters. 4. Below your display adapters, click on the name of your video card. Device Manager also displays settings for hardware devices that are not fully supported by Windows 95 or are using device drivers that need to be updated. Contact the system vendor or manufacturer if any subkeys, such as those under 'Display adapters' or 'Sound, video and game controllers' are displayed with a red X or yellow exclamation mark. (Click the plus [+] sign to see the subkey.) Calling Technical Support ------------------------- Please have the following information ready if and when you call: 1. The product name and version number located at the top of this ReadMe file. 2. The processor and clock speed of your computer (e.g., Pentium 90). 3. The brand name of the sound device installed in the computer. 4. The amount of free memory (memory available to run the program) that the computer has. Double-click the My Computer icon, then click the Help menu, and choose About Windows 95. From the dialog box that appears, write down the Physical Memory and Available System Resources values. 5. The complete and exact error message reported by the program, if any. If you have a problem with this product that you cannot resolve, please contact our technical support department. Technical Support is available from the following sources: Telephone: Call (800) 556-6141 toll-free, or in California, (818) 246-4400 M-F, 8 A.M. to 5 P.M. Pacific Time. Automated support available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Fax: (818) 246-5604, 24 hours daily World Wide Web address: http://www.education.com/support ******************************************************************* Thank you for purchasing Reading Blaster Ages 6-7! Portions copyright 1991-1997 Compuware Corporation Uses Miles Sound System. Copyright(C) 1991-1997 by RAD Game Tools, Inc. Uses Smacker Video Technology. Copyright(C) 1994-2000 by RAD Game Tools, Inc. Knowledge Adventure is a registered trademark and the Knowledge Adventure logo is a trademark of Knowledge Adventure, Inc. Windows(R) is a registered trademark of Microsoft Corporation. All other product names mentioned in this ReadMe file may be trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective companies and are hereby acknowledged. © 2000 Davidson & Associates. All rights reserved including the right of reproduction in whole or in part in any form.