• CD will not start when inserted in the CD drive.
• CD runs; first window with dark blue sunset picture appears; main program window does not.
• CD runs; main program window appears, but buttons, menus etc. do not appear, or do not work properly.
• Report other problems

CD will not automatically start when inserted in the CD drive.
Make sure that the 'AutoPlay' facility is enabled in Windows. If it is not, open 'My Computer'; the drive with the CD in it should have the title 'AMAZONFISH'. Right-click on that drive, and select 'AutoPlay'. The CD should now start.

CD runs; first window with dark blue sunset picture appears; main program window does not.
This problem usually arises from some security setting, either built in to Internet Explorer (particularly in Windows XP SP2), or in third-party security software such as Norton Internet Security, Zone Alarm, or McAfee. Microsoft and many other companies have taken steps to improve security, particularly for new and inexperienced users. Many of these measures are switched on by default, and can cause problems such as these, by blocking the execution of the complex code which makes up the Amazon CD.

In the first instance, changing security settings in Internet Explorer, or third-party software, may help. If you are not certain about what you are doing here, we strongly recommend a). enlisting the help of a friend or colleague who does, and b). making notes and writing down every change you make to the settings, and the order you make them in. Only make one change at a time, before checking whether it has made a difference to the performance of the CD. If a change you have made does not produce the desired effect, go back and reverse the change.

1. The most likely cause is Pop-up blocker software, either incorporated into Internet Explorer, or part of third-party security software, such as Norton Internet Security, Zone Alarm, or McAfee. In Internet Explorer, go to the Tools menu, select Pop-up Blocker: Turn Off Pop-up Blocker (if it is enabled). If a program such as Norton is blocking pop-ups, please refer to the instructions in that program to disable blocking. Close Internet Explorer or the third-party program, insert the Amazon CD in the drive, and let it start.

2. If the CD still does not function properly, it is possible that a third-party security program, such as Norton Anti-Virus or Internet Security, is blocking scripts. Normally, this will give you a warning, such as a pop-up box, alerting you to the fact that it has blocked a script operation, and giving you the option of unblocking it. Use this option, or open the main program and refer to the Help system to find how to disable script blocking. Having made the required changes, close the program, insert the Amazon CD in the drive, and let it start.

3. If you still have no luck, your computer may not have the Java Runtime Environment software required for the CD to work properly; see CD runs; main program window appears, but buttons, menus etc. do not appear, or do not work properly, below.

4. If you have the Java Runtime Environment software, and still cannot get the CD to run, try altering the other security settings in Internet Explorer: Tools menu: Internet Options: Security. In particular, areas to examine are allowing the use of Java applets, Javascript and ActiveX. Only make one change at a time, before checking whether it has made a difference to the performance of the CD. If a change you have made does not produce the desired effect, go back and reverse the change. Click 'Apply' or 'OK' to accept the changes, close Internet Explorer, insert the Amazon CD in the drive, and let it start.

We strongly recommend making notes and writing down every change you make to the settings, and the order you make them in. Only make one change at a time, before checking whether it has made a difference to the performance of the CD. If a change you have made does not produce the desired effect, go back and reverse the change. You should be aware that changes made to security settings may make your computer more susceptible to viruses and other problems, so only alter them if you are confident that this is the reason the CD does not work correctly.

If the CD still does not work, please contact us.

CD runs; main program window appears, but buttons, menus etc. do not appear, or do not work properly.
This normally occurs because the user's computer does not have the Java Runtime Environment - software which allows the computer to run applications written using the Java programming language. Many parts of the Amazonian Fishes CD use Java applications.

Java Runtime Environment used to be supplied as part of the standard Windows operating system. Following a long and complex legal case between Microsoft and Sun Microsystems, the originators of Java, the J.R.E. is no longer always distributed as part of the Windows installation. Some new PCs will automatically go on-line to download and install Sun's own version of the software when they are first switched on; others will not.

To tell whether your computer has the Java Runtime Environment installed:
From your Start menu, choose Control Panel, then 'Add or Remove Programs'. Wait for the list to be filled, then scroll down the list of programs installed on your computer, to see if "Java 2 Runtime Environment" or similar is installed. When you have checked, close the 'Add or Remove Programs' window without making any changes.

• If the Java R.E. is installed correctly, it is possible that your browser's use of it has been disabled. For full instructions on how to enable it, for a number of different browsers, see the instructions on the Sun website.
• If the Java R.E. is not installed, you will need to download and install it in order to use the Amazonian Fishes CD. The software is free, and the installation process is not complex, but the download is quite large, so a broadband connection is useful. If you do not have a broadband connection yourself, you can get a friend or colleague to download it for you, and burn it on a CD. Go to www.java.com. On the front page, look for "Java Software Free Download", and click the Download Now button. Follow the on-screen instructions to download and install the software. When you have installed it, you will need to configure it so that your web browser will use it to run Java applications. You can do this either through your web browser, or via Start: Control panel. When you have done this, restart your computer, then try the Amazonian Fishes CD again.

If the CD still does not work, please contact us.