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Technical Support CompuTrainer Software Compatibility Issues |
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CompuTrainer 3D Version 3.0
Version 3.0 Demo Version You can try Version 3.0 before you buy it. This will help determine whether the software can run on your PC. Before doing so - first check the minimum system requirements page to verify whether your computer meets the requirements for the 3D software. Only after doing so should you download and try the Demo Version. Please note: You can determine your PC specifications by running the DirectX Diagnostics program, which is supplied with all Windows™ based computers. For instructions on how to run this diagnostic program, click here. You should also check out our Q&A section for answers to common questions by clicking here. The Demo Version does not have the serial communication portion activated and as such can NOT be used with a CompuTrainer! Therefore it can only verify whether the software runs "graphically" on your computer and can not be used to check the communications portion of the software. Because Windows™ will always "give priority" to graphic portion of an application, you may find that your purchased CompuTrainer 3D will run graphically, but is using so much processor resources as to make it impossible for Windows™ to communicate to the trainer as well. This has been found to occur on some computers that just meet our 16 MB video memory requirement, but is very common on all that don't meet this requirement. This is one thing the Demo Version can't check for. Click
here to download the Demo Version of CompuTrainer 3D Version 3.0 Already own Version 3.0? Click here for 3D version 3.0 software update patches. Running the Demo Version
If everything appears runs fine, then your PC should be OK to run the software. There may yet be other areas of potential concern -- like whether you have an available serial port for example -- but these are often easily dealt with.
Click here
for ask questions or offer comments.
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CompuTrainer 3D Version 3.0
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When the decision was made to update the original 3D software to run on Windows 2000 and XP, it became apparent the need to wipe the slate clean and start from scratch. This was the only way to eliminate the ties to the 3DFX video card requirements. It also allowed for 3D to run on any current video card, which was a welcomed approach. It was quickly becoming evident the cost to do this was far exceeding the work typically done for an update patch. In fact, it exceeded the original cost of development for the first version of the 3D software. To help warrant the cost of the upgrade to existing customers, it was decided at that time to add some long awaited features to the software. The Result CompuTrainer 3D v3.0 is now designed to run
exclusively on
Microsoft DirectX (version 7.0 or higher)*. Unlike
previous versions of CompuTrainer 3D software (version 1 and 2, builds 116 or
earlier), this design has enabled compatibility with
all Windows operating systems that support DirectX (i.e.
95/98/ME/2000/XP). The only possible exception will be where a video card
manufacturer has not provided
video driver updates to support DirectX 7.0 on their older cards.
What this may cause is the software to behave badly. In these cases, there is little RacerMate can do to solve the problem
apart from recommending an upgrade for the computer. Why not make a USB version of CompuTrainer? It is an increasing trend for new computers to abandon the inclusion of a serial port, which is the communication method currently in use by RacerMate. We have investigated both the use of USB-to-Serial adapters and redesigning the CompuTrainer hardware to support USB. Though it is true many products now only support USB, it is not a simple adaptation to our existing hardware to make this possible. It would in fact require adding what is currently inside a USB-to-Serial adapter to make this work. As such, it seemed far easier to use a USB-to-Serial adapter instead of incurring the great cost in retooling the CompuTrainer. RacerMate has spec'ed, and sells a USB to Serial Adapter "at cost" to the end user. RacerMate will continue to watch this issue and readdress the possibility of porting over to USB should the current solution is found unsuitable. Unfortunately, there is a wide variety of USB to Serial adapters on the market designed for simple camera or PDA use and do no behave as a serial port. An example of this is found in the Potential Issues section above. If you would like to purchase a USB-to-Serial adapter directly from RacerMate, click here.
Click here
for ask questions or offer comments.
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CompuTrainer Challenge PC1,
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| The latest versions of Challenge PC1 and Coaching
Software are Windows 2000 & XP compatible as well as supporting
Windows
95/98/ME. In addition, they support the use of USB-to-Serial
adapters by the addition of Com 5 through Com 8. If
you need to update earlier versions of Challenge PC1 or Coaching
Software for Win 2000/XP, click the following links to do so.
Click here for a PC1 update. Click
here for a Coaching Software update.
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Windows NT |
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| CompuTrainer Software does not
function under Windows NT due to it's lack of Microsoft DirectX
support.
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Apple/Mac Computers |
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| Currently CompuTrainer hardware is not compatible with
Apple/Mac
Computers, although, in some cases, CompuTrainer software may run
using the Mac based "Virtual PC™" program. The issue's
still existing revolve around the
serial communication protocol, which is quite different between IBM compatible
PC's and Mac computers. The use of a USB to Serial adapter
installed while the Virtual PC™ program is running has allowed PC1 to
operate, but issues still exist with CompuTrainer 3D. This is likely
due to some incompatibility between the emulation program and the USB to
Serial adapter and higher demand on the system 3D requires. It has
been extremely difficult to diagnose. Eventually Mac may resolve these issues
with the increasing development and standardizing USB (Universal Serial Bus)
protocols and further improvements to the Virtual PC™ program, but to date this has not been
accomplished.
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April 16, 2008
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