Click on the Start button, choose Settings, and then Control Panel. Double-click on the Display icon, and the Display Properties dialogue box will be shown. Choose the Settings tab, which is the rightmost one. In the Font Size list, choose Large Fonts instead of Small Fonts, then click on the OK button. You will be asked if you want to restart Windows. Choose Yes. Once Windows has restarted, text in Digger and other applications will be displayed in a larger font.

You can choose other display fonts by choosing the Appearance tab in the Display Properties dialogue, but Digger may truncate some text on the screen if you choose a very large font.

Double-click on Windows Setup in the Main group of Program Manager. Choose the Options menu, then Change System Settings… from within the Options menu.

A list of all installed video drivers will be displayed. Your current video driver will be highlighted. Choose the same driver as you are currently using, but with “(Large fonts)” displayed after the name. For example, if the currently highlighted driver is “ET4000 800×600 256 col. (Small fonts)”, choose “ET4000 800×600 256 col. (Large fonts)” instead.

Click on the OK button.

You may be asked if you want to use the currently installed driver. Choose the Current button if you are asked this question.

You may be asked for the video driver disks that came with your computer or the Windows master disks. Insert disks as the computer requests them.

Once the installation is completed, you will be asked if you want to restart Windows. Click on the Yes button.

The various editions of Windows 7 come in 32-bit and 64-bit variants. DiggerTM itself should work without any problems with 32-bit Windows 7, however it will not work with 64-bit. If you are unsure which type of Windows 7 you have, click on Start-Control Panel-System and Security-System, and look for the System Type.

There is one known issue when running DiggerTM under 32-bit Windows 7. The help system may not work. On Microsoft’s web site at http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=917607 you will find an update that should fix this. After you have downloaded the update, use the “Fix it” button on the page to prevent a “Macros are disabled” error message.

If you want to use DiggerTM with Windows 7 64-bit, we suggest you download and install Windows XP Mode. Windows XP Mode makes use of Microsoft Virtual PC, and it integrates with Windows 7, so you can launch DiggerTM from the Windows 7 Start menu. Windows XP Mode and Microsoft Virtual PC are both free products from Microsoft. Windows XP Mode is only available for Windows 7 Enterprise, Windows 7 Professional, and Windows 7 Ultimate. You can download Windows XP Mode and Microsoft Virtual PC from http://www.microsoft.com/windows/virtual-pc/download.aspx.

If you have bought a new computer with Vista, there are ways to make DiggerTM work.

There are two types of Vista, 32-bit and 64-bit. DiggerTM itself should work without any problems with 32-bit Vista, however it will not work with 64-bit Vista. If you are unsure which type of Vista you have, click on Start-Control Panel-System and Maintenance-System, and look for the System Type.

There is one known issue when running DiggerTM under 32-bit Vista. The help system may not work. On Microsoft’s web site at http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=917607 you will find an update that should fix this. After you have downloaded the update, use the “Fix it” button on the page to prevent a “Macros are disabled” error message.

Using DiggerTM with 64-bit Vista
If you want to use DiggerTM with 64-bit Vista, you will need to install another version of Windows on your computer in addition to Vista. There are two ways you can do this without removing Vista:

Dual boot
Virtual computer

Dual Boot

You can install a second version of Windows, and choose which one to start when you turn on your computer. You will need a legal, licenced copy of an earlier version of Windows.

APC Magazine has useful articles on setting up a dual boot system. If you are starting with Vista, see http://apcmag.com/how_to_dual_boot_vista_and_xp_with_vista_installed_first__the_stepbystep_guide.htm

If you are starting with XP and you want to install Vista without losing XP, see http://apcmag.com/how_to_dualboot_vista_with_xp__stepbystep_guide_with_screenshots.htm

Virtual computer

If you use a virtual computer, the virtual computer and your main “Host” operating system are working at the same time. There are several virtual computer products on the market you can choose from. These products create a virtual computer in software, and the virtual computer runs in a window within the host. Virtual computers require a modern computer with plenty of memory.

You can install an older version of Windows into the virtual computer. The older version could be any of Windows 95, Windows 98, Windows Me, Windows NT 4, Windows 2000, Windows XP or Windows Server 2003. Note that you must have your own legal, licenced copy of Windows. We cannot supply a copy of Windows.

With any virtual computer product, you would first install the virtual computer, then install your copy of Windows, then install DiggerTM. DiggerTM will be able to read from your CD drive and print. With most virtual computer products, you will be able to transfer files from the virtual computer to the real “host” computer by dragging and dropping.

As well as running DiggerTM, you may find other benefits from virtual computer software. You can use a virtual computer to try out a different operating system like Linux or FreeBSD. You can use a virtual computer for Internet access, so if you inadvertantly downloaded any viruses or malicious software, they would not damage the remainder of your system, and you could remove the virus simply by deleting the virtual computer.

Virtual computer products

VMWare

VMWare have a range of virtual computer products. At the present time they are the market leader, and their products are highly regarded. The simplest way to create a virtual computer with VMWare is to purchase VMWare Workstation. At the time of writing, VMWare Workstation was USD189.

There are other VMWare products that are free. If you don’t think you’ll need to transfer files with drag-and-drop from the virtual computer to your main computer, then the free VMWare Server may be all you need.

VMWare Player is also free, and does provide drag-and-drop and shared folders. But it can’t be used to create a virtual computer in the first place. So, if you are willing to download both Server and Player, you can create a virtual computer using Server and then use Player to run DiggerTM.

Microsoft Virtual PC

Microsoft Virtual PC 2007 is a free virtual computer product from Microsoft.

VirtualBox

VirtualBox is an open source virtual computer product supported by Oracle. VirtualBox is free for home use.

Obtaining a refund

If you have purchased a DiggerTM CD and found it will not work for you because you have 64-bit Vista, you may be able to return it for a full refund. Make sure you have the receipt, and that you request your refund within 30 days of purchase.

This problem was fixed in Version 4.1.4 of DiggerTM. Download the latest version of DiggerTM to solve this problem.

DiggerTM itself runs well under Linux if you use a recent version of WINE. However, the on-line help does not function properly, and at this stage MACBETHs is unable to provide support for DiggerTM running on Linux.

Make sure you read the WINE documentation to ensure WINE knows how to find your CD-ROM drive.

Version 2.20 (or greater) of DiggerTM should solve this and any similar problems you may be experiencing.

Keep your CD-ROM in its plastic jewel case when you are not using it. Never touch the shiny silver side of your CD-ROM. Handle it by the edges only.

With proper care, your disk will probably never require cleaning. However, if dirt, dust or finger marks should appear on your disk, gently clean it with a clean, dry lint-free cloth by wiping from the central hole out towards the edge in a straight line. Never wipe with a circular motion, because if you did create a small scratch it would be far more likely to make the disk unreadable.

Never use water, detergents or abrasives on your disks. If necessary, you can use an alcohol-based cleaning fluid to clean them. There are CD cleaning kits available from most record shops to help you clean your disks.

There can be a problem if you are using DiggerTM with Windows 95, 98, 2000 or NT and have a Microsoft ® Intellimouse or another device whose drivers conflict with Windows Help. This is a problem in Microsoft® Windows and not in DiggerTM (see article Q148117 in the Microsoft Product Support Knowledge Base for more details). The problem only affects the Getting Started help; all other help pages will work perfectly well. If you are striking this problem, you can choose to uninstall the Intellimouse software, or simply avoid using Getting Started help. The Getting Started material is also available on this Web site. Detailed instructions on uninstalling Intellimouse software are available from Macbeth Genealogical Services or the Microsoft Product Support Knowledge Base.

In both Windows 3.1 and Windows 95/NT, if the screen resolution is greater than 640 by 480, you are given the option of Large Fonts. Large Fonts are much easier to see, especially if your eyesight is not as good as it used to be.

Choose either Windows 3.1 or Windows 95/NT for instructions on setting Large Fonts on your computer.