Computer System Requirements for
French in Action

Windows-based systems

  1. Operating System: Windows 95, Windows 98, or Windows NT

     

     

  2. Processor speed: 133 MHz Pentium or faster.

     

    • To verify your processor speed, go to the Start Menu and select Shut Down.
    • Click the circle next to Restart, then click Yes.
    • As your computer restarts, hold down the Tab key. One of the first things your computer should display its speed.

     

     

  3. RAM: At least 16MB.

     

    • To check the amount of RAM on your PC go to Start, then Settings, then Control Panel.
    • Locate the System icon and double click on it.
    • Select the Performance tab. Next to Memory, your RAM will be listed.

     

     

  4. Sound: Sound Blaster or compatible sound card and speakers.

     

    • To verify that you have a working sound card, open the Sounds Control Panel and select an item that has a sound associated with it; if you can play it (i.e., it's not grayed out), great; you can hear it if you have speakers or earphones set up properly, too.

     

     

  5. Web browser: Netscape 4.x or higher; or Internet Explorer 4.x or higher.

     

    • This information can be found in one of two places. Most often, when you launch your internet browser, the start up window should display its version.
    • If it does not, however, go to your browser's Help menu, and choose About.

     

     

  6. QuickTime: 4.0 or later. To see if QuickTime is installed, or to check your version:

     

    • From the Start menu, select Windows Explorer.
    • From the folders listed on the left-hand side, click once on Program Files.
    • From the list that appears on the right, open the Quick Time folder and open the Read Me document.
    • Your version of Quick Time should be listed here. If it is not version 4.0 or later, you may download it from Apple's QuickTime site.

     

  7. DirectX: A small percentage of PCs may require DirectX version 3.0 or later to use QuickTime. If you are unable to view the Sample Movie that is installed with QuickTime, try installing DirectX. You can download it from Microsoft's DirectX download page.

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Mac OS-based systems

 

  1. Operating System: OS 8.1 or later.
    •  
    • To verify your Mac's Operating System version, go the Finder.
    • From the Apple menu, choose About This Computer and look in the upper right for OS version info.

     

     

  2. Processor speed: 120 MHz PowerPC or faster. Macs which meet this requirement include the 7200/120, any 7300, any 8500 or 8600, or any G3 Mac.

     

     

  3. RAM: 64 MB of built-in memory is preferred. If built-in memory is less than 64 MB, then Virtual Memory should be turned on and set to at least 48 MB. To verify how much memory your Mac has:
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    • Go to the Finder.
    • From the Apple menu in the upper left, choose "About This Computer".
    • A window should pop up with the necessary information listed.
    • If your Mac has less than 64 MB of built-in memory:

       

      • Choose Control Panels from the Apple menu, and select Memory.
      • Be sure Virtual Memory is On.
      • In the white box in the middle right, type in 48M.
      • Restart your Mac.

     

     

  4. Web browser: Internet Explorer 4.x or higher is the preferred browser, with 9855 K of memory allocated to Internet Explorer. You may also use Netscape 4.x or higher, with 20 MB of memory allocated to Netscape. To verify the version:

     

    • Be sure you're not currently running your browser.
    • Go to the Finder and find the Netscape (or Internet Explorer) folder on your hard disk.
    • Double click to open your Netscape (or Internet Explorer) Folder.
    • Click once on the Netscape (or Internet Explorer) application icon.
    • Go the File menu, choose Get Info, and look for the Version information.
    • To change the amount of memory allocated to your browser:

       

      • Look in the lower right for Memory Requirements, and change the Preferred Size to 9 MB if you're using Internet Explorer (or to 20 MB if you're using Netscape.)

     

     

  5. QuickTime: 4.0 or later. To verify the version of QuickTime installed on your Mac:

     

    • Go the Apple menu, and choose Control Panels.
    • Open Quick Time Settings.
    • In the pop-up menu at the top of the QuickTime Settings dialog box, choose About Quick Time. If it is not version 4.0 or later, you may download it from Apple's QuickTime site.

 

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