The general rule of thumb in the software and PC industry is, the more of anything you put in your system, the faster it should run. That is, if you have 1 GB of RAM, rather than 512 MB, Windows should run faster and so should WinTOTAL.  Similarly, the faster the processor you have, the faster WinTOTAL should run.

The bare minimum system requirements listed below are simply to run WinTOTAL’s basic form filling, without digital photos, maps or even connecting to a network.  The recommended configuration contains items that you may want in addition to those in the minimum setup to get the most out of WinTOTAL. 

Bare Minimum Requirements

• Processor: 1 GHz Pentium III class CPU or better
• Memory: 512 MB of RAM or more (128 MB must be available before installing)
• Hard Drive: 600 MB of free hard drive space for the program.  You'll need more than that for appraisals and digital images.
• O/S: Windows 2000 SP4, XP SP1, Vista (either the 32-bit or 64-bit versions) and Windows 7 (either the 32-bit or 64-bit versions)
  
  

  		Note: You can also install WinTOTAL on server grade OS's like Windows Server 2003 or Advanced Server 2000.  These OS's work ideally for networked environments.  However, we do not recommend them for workstation use. If you plan to use a server grade OS on your workstation, be sure to take care when configuring your Windows permissions so that Windows does not interfere with any end-user applications like WinTOTAL.

• Internet Explorer 6 or higher
• Printer: Must support graphics and legal paper.
• Video: SVGA (800x600) video card with 32 MB RAM.  14” monitor or better.
• Permissions: Administrator rights on your PC. If you have a limited user account of any type Windows will prevent certain WinTOTAL functions from running.
• Other: Mouse; 56K modem or broadband Internet connection;

Recommended

• Processor: 1.5 GHz or better
• Memory: 1 GB or more (This enables WinTOTAL to run efficiently even when other items such as antivirus utilities, e-mail and web browsers are in the background.)
• Hard Drive: As large and fast as possible (7200 RPM+)
• O/S: Windows XP SP2 or Vista (either the 32-bit or 64-bit versions)
• Internet Explorer 6.0 or higher
• Printer: Extra RAM recommended for laser printer.  (See more printer recommendations later in this document.)
• Video: XGA (1024 X 768) with 64MB of video memory. 17” or larger monitor. Aurora also has support for dual monitors. Check with your computer manufacturer or local technician to see if this feature is supported by your system.
• Permissions: Admin rights on your PC. If you have a limited user account of any type Windows will prevent certain WinTOTAL functions from running.
• Other: Mouse; Sound card and speakers; Broadband Internet connection
• GPS (if you use GPS coordinate import tool):
  • From Garmin - Anything in the eTrex line that is USB enabled
  • From Magellan - The models below
    • eXplorist 210
    • eXplorist 400
    • eXplorist 500LE
    • eXplorist 600
    • eXplorist XL

Given these requirements, any significant Windows program will not run very fast on a system meeting the minimum configuration described above.  Most new PCs for sale today – even low end ones under $600– will be more than adequate to run WinTOTAL. Consult a local PC retail outlet, or one of a la mode’s Resellers for details on any of these items.  

Networked Environments & WinTOTAL

WinTOTAL has been designed with networks in mind as it allows multiple profiles and incorporates automatic workstation upgrades after downloading updates online.

• If 3 or more appraisers are going to be running WinTOTAL, we recommend a dedicated server.
• Virtual Private Network (VPN) connections and offsite workstations are neither recommended, nor supported due to inherently slow communications between the server and workstation.  Our staff reserves the right to limit troubleshooting to true client-server configurations running on a local area network (LAN).  Remote employees may qualify for a discounted site license so they can install on their local hard drive.

See our WinTOTAL Networking Guide for installation details and more information.

Running WinTOTAL on the Mac OS

This requires a Windows emulator.  Although we don't necessarily support this functionality, we've heard of it being done.  The emulators cost in the hundreds of dollars and are naturally slow.  Less than 8% of all PC's sold are Macs, so we hope it's easy to see why we don't devote development resources to the Macintosh.   In most cases, you'd probably be better off buying an inexpensive PC specifically for WinTOTAL.

Running WinTOTAL on a Tablet PC

While WinTOTAL was not designed for use on a Tablet PC, it should still run on a Tablet PC just as it would on a regular desktop PC. Of course, since we did not design it for use with a Tablet PC, you may not be able to use the stylus to interact with your copy of WinTOTAL. In addition, since WinTOTAL is essentially a desktop program, we will not be able to support any stylus related functions you try to use with WinTOTAL. If you intend to run WinTOTAL on a Tablet PC, be sure to have a keyboard and mouse connected to it so you can interact with it.

We are currently developing our next generation of WinTOTAL software, Armstrong, which will be fully supported by the Tablet PC environment. To learn more about Armstrong visit our a la mode labs website located at http://www.alamode.com/labs/.

Making the Most of the Equipment you Have:

Here are some speed tips for your PC:

• Tone-down your antivirus software.  Antivirus is the #1 thing slowing down your computer.   Left with the installation defaults, most A/V software scans every file you try to access on your system.  If you think your system should be faster, temporarily disable your A/V software - usually, you can find the option for this by right-clicking its icon in your systray next to your PC clock - and then open a file in WinTOTAL.
  
  If you are running antivirus protection, you may want to disable it when you are not connected to the Internet or opening documents received across the Internet.   Please refer to Tech Doc 4016 for more details on the effects of antivirus and/or firewall software on WinTOTAL.
• Increase your RAM to exceed the minimums recommended in this document. More is better. 
• Replace your hard drive with one of the newer, large and faster Enhanced IDE drives or SATA drives. They’re moderately inexpensive and will show a significant improvement over any older, smaller hard drive. If you replace your hard drive, you may want to backup WinTOTAL and your data prior to doing so.  For such situations, we recommend using the Vault and Exact to preserve your files and WinTOTAL work environment.  Consult a local technician for hard drive recommendations that will fit your current system.
• Defragment often.  Fragmentation scatters your file content across your hard drive causing it to take longer to find and load files, fragmentation, like antivirus software, can have a significant effect on the speed of your computer if it's not addressed.
• Close unneeded programs that may be running in the background. Many programs start automatically every time your computer is turned on. Only run programs that you are actually using at the time.
• Free hard drive space. Back up and delete unnecessary files and programs on your hard drive.
• Increase RAM on your network server. On networks, make sure the server starts with a bare minimum of at least 1 GB of RAM though more is recommended.
• Buy an Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS). Power outages happen. One of the best ways to ensure that you don't lose any of the work you do in a report when a power outage occurs is to plug your computer into a UPS. They're relatively inexpensive and you can purchase them at any electronics store.

		Note: Purchasing a new processor may not really speed things up. Other components in your system, such as the hard drive, may have been designed for a slower processor or are no longer on the cutting edge of technology.

Printer Recommendations

WinTOTAL has the most efficient printing capability available in a Windows-based appraisal Form Filling product today.

• For printing regular black and white forms, we recommend any Hewlett-Packard or other name brand laser printer. You may or may not need to purchase additional RAM for the printer, depending on the model. In general, when purchasing a printer for use with WinTOTAL, you're better off spending a little more now by buying a good mid-to-high range printer. Low-end printers are not recommended.

• If the printer will be a network printer, where multiple users print concurrently from it, you should buy a printer with as much RAM as possible so the printer does not become overtaxed and cause print delays.
• RAM should not be an issue with inkjet printers since they spool the print jobs gradually.
• Whenever possible, buy a printer that connects via USB, rather than connecting to a parallel port.

If you plan to work with digital images and are not using a USB connection for your printer, we encourage you to get a second physical printer port installed.  With the second port installed, you can have WinTOTAL print the regular forms to your laser printer and your photo pages to the inkjet printer – at the same time! Unlike other systems, which make you stop and change your printer setup between the forms and photos, WinTOTAL does it for you!

Printer ports are relatively inexpensive. To install a second printer port, consult your local computer hardware vendor or technician. Again, you can also contact one of the a la mode Reseller Network members.

Legacy Windows (Windows 98, Windows ME, & Previous Windows Versions)

If you've been using Windows 98, ME or previous Windows version for some time now, you may wonder why WinTOTAL no longer supports such Operating Systems.  While the general answer involves such Windows versions falling behind the technology curve, using such Windows versions is likely to cost you more money in lost time over the course of each year than it would to simply upgrade your computer to a newer version of Windows or even buy a new computer altogether.

64-Bit Windows Versions

The 64-bit versions of Windows do require more advanced hardware just to run Windows. Because of this, virtually all PC's capable of running Windows 64-bit versions are also capable of running WinTOTAL. If you'd like to verify that with the PC you've purchased, just reference the requirements section above.