To read many of the larger files on our CD-ROMS......

you're going to need a program that can read files in PDF format.  Between the Lakes Group is pleased to provide a program that does that -- free -- on each CD-ROM we ship in case you do not already have one.  Please note that increasingly other programs have the capability of reading PDF files, so you may already have a program installed on your PC with this capability.  If you already have the capability, we do not advise adding this program.

If you know you already have the capability of reading PDF files, but you're having difficulties with PDF files on our CD-ROMs, to skip ahead to other issues you may encounter.

To install the Adobe® Acrobat® Reader version 5.0.5 on your PC, go back to the CD-ROM, and look at the page called "Administrative matters" or something similar. 

On that page you'll find a link to the free Acrobat Reader program.  Follow the link and install the program.  In all likelihood your problem will be solved.

We do advise you to check with Adobe Corporation via the internet periodically to see if updates to the free Acrobat Reader are available.  We distribute this particular version because it seems to be compatible with most Windows operating systems.  If you are running Windows XP you will find that Adobe has a later version of the Reader program available for free download that will provide you with many additional capabilities. (Adobe is up to version 8.1.1 at this writing.)   It's a large download, however, so you may want to think twice about it unless you have DSL or cable or some other high-speed internet connection.

Adobe is also your source for any assistance or questions regarding the free Acrobat Reader program.  Adobe's web address is:  http://www.adobe.com.  We do appreciate Adobe Corporation making the free Reader program available, and we particularly recommend their program products to you if you are serious about using computers in the graphic arts.

Here are a few notes about what you might see while installing Acrobat Reader:

--You may get a warning message about running "scripts". In this case, you DO want to run one because what has been detected as a "script" is in fact the Adobe Acrobat Reader program. "Open" is the alternative you should select.

--You may get a message suggesting that you "Exit any Windows programs that may be running".  While this is good practice when installing programs, some users report that they have successfully installed the Acrobat Reader program without doing so. If you do exit the program, and close the browser you are viewing the CD-ROM from, you will need to install the Acrobat Reader program from the CD-ROM directly. See below for instructions on how to do that (you will probably want to print this page so you can refer to it if you choose this course of action.)

--When installation of Acrobat Reader is completed, you will be asked to restart your computer. If you do NOT do this, Acrobat Reader will not work until the next time you restart. We recommend that you restart.

--After restarting, you will need to re-start the CD-ROM. The easiest way to do this is simply to eject the CD-ROM, wait a few seconds, and reload it.  If you had to start the CD-ROM via Internet Explorer or Windows Explorer, you'll repeat that procedure this time too, of course.

--The first time you use Acrobat Reader, you will be asked to agree with their Adobe's "End User License Agreement" (EULA). You'll need to do this. If you don't, it won't run.

If you choose to install the Acrobat Reader program directly from the CD-ROM, here are some brief instructions on how to get started:

--Exit from the  CD-ROM. You can do this by clicking the "x" in the upper right corner of your screen. Leave the CD-ROM in the CD drive, however.

--Click the "Start" button in the lower left corner of your screen, and select the "Run" option.

--Locate the Acrobat Reader program to install on the CD-ROM. You will find it in the folder on the CD-ROM called "acrobat". The name of the program you will be installing is: AcroReader51_ENU_full.exe

Installation will proceed as above.

WHAT IF THE INSTALLATION JUST STOPS? 

We had a customer encounter this problem recently.  He tried the download from the Adobe website, and it would not install.  Then, he tried the copy of Acrobat Reader from the CD-ROM.  It stopped part-way through also!

Here's what we finally figured out.  This customer was being cautious about computer threats and had set up a logon on his PC without "Administrator" rights.  You guessed it!He was trying to install a program on his PC in a logon status that was not permitted to install programs. 

To solve this problem, all he did was sign in as an Administrator, and the installation went perfectly.  Just something to think about if this happens to you!

Other PDF-related issues:

• If you came to this page because you're trying to read a PDF file on the CD but all you get is a white box, to see some solutions to that problem.

• Some "pop-up blockers" -- software features to prevent websites from sticking unwanted ads in your face -- occasionally will decide that PDF files are pop-ups and block them.

If this happens, generally you can override the block.  One well-known and widely used internet search toolbar will occasionally do this, but it will always tell you how to override the block to see the page in question.  For that particular toolbar, simply hold the "Ctrl" key down while clicking on the link to the PDF file, and the browser will then open the PDF file in a new tab -- click the tab to go to the PDF file.  But each pop-up blocker works differently, so check the instructions for the one you are using if you encounter this problem.

Did this information help?  Let us know!