A few words about Macs. It is true that the CD-ROMs don't start up as soon as you put them into your drive. You probably can't simply click on one of the files on the CD-ROM and have it open for you. You probably can't drag a file onto the icon of a program and have it open either. These are issues with how the Mac identifies files. But you can open the files from within a program, such as Netscape or Microsoft Internet Explorer, or even the old MacWeb. I have not tried iCab, but that should work too. If you can't access the files from WITHIN your web browser, or you don't know how to, please read on, especially here.

TROUBLESHOOTING MACS

Steps to try BEFORE asking for our help. Your answers will help us determine where the problem is. Or you may solve your problem by yourself!

1) Are you able to go to the website, http://www.mrichter.com/ and play the mp3 files that are on the opera pages there? If not, do you get an error message? what does it say?

2) When you put one of Mike's discs into your CD-ROM drive or DVD drive, does the disc show up on your Desktop? If not, does the drive recognize other CD-ROMs that you own, for instance a CD-ROM containing a program.

3) If the disc does NOT show up, is there an error message? What does it say?

4) If the disc appears on your desktop can you double click on it to see what is on the disc?

5) If the disc shows up on your desktop, start your web browser and cancel any attempt to connect to the Internet. If you have a problem, see the Detailed Description of Steps

a) While in your web browser Click on the File Menu

b) Select Open Page in Navigator (Netscape) or Open File (Microsoft Internet Explorer)

c) Navigate to the CD-ROM in the dialogue box that appears.

d) Select WELCOME.HTM

e) Click OPEN

Does the HTML welcome file open in your browser window? If you receive any error message in doing the above, what does it say? If the file opens, are you now able to point & click your way through the files on the CD-ROM. If there is a problem, what does the error message say?

If you receive error messages, and can't solve them please contact Mike with a description of what you were doing and the message. In addition let us know what model Mac you are using, the version of the operating system, the version of the web browser.

DETAILED INSTRUCTIONS FOR STEP 5 - This is written for Netscape users, instructions for Microsoft Internet Explorer are in parentheses and marked MSIE

I) Start Netscape (Microsoft Internet Explorer - MSIE)

II) When it complains about not having a network connection, OR if it attempts to make a connection click IGNORE or CANCEL.

III) Make sure you are in Netscape (MSIE), look at upper right corner of screen for Netscape (MSIE) symbol - not Finder or other program

IV) Click on FILE (top left of screen)

V) Choose OPEN, then OPEN PAGE IN NAVIGATOR (Choose OPEN FILE (MSIE))

VI) Does the name of the CD-ROM appear in the little rectangle above a list of files?

a) Yes

  1. Scroll through list of file names
  2. Highlight/ select WELCOME.HTM, i.e. single click on this file
  3. Click OPEN
  4. Now you should be able to point and click your way through the CD-ROM,

NOTE You may have to scroll down a given page to find links to click on

b) No
  1. Click on the rectangle
  2. Choose DESKTOP
  3. Scroll through the list of discs/files to find the CD-ROM
  4. Highlight/select the CD-ROM, i.e. single click on its name
  5. Click OPEN
  6. Go to STEP (1) under YES

VII) Note there is a file called macread.txt on each CD-ROM - This provides more information for using a Mac with the CD-ROM. You can read it as described above, just select macread.txt instead of welcome.htm in step VI)a)2) above. After reading it, you will have to go through the steps from V) above to get to the WELCOME.HTM file. Or use SimpleText (in the above instructions replace NETSCAPE by SIMPLETEXT)

Contact Mike Richter at operas@mrichter.com