Hi all,
I'm "inheriting" the old family computer and setting it up in my trainroom, mainly so I can start using DecoderPro [and possibly other JMRI software] on it. Trouble is, I don't have an internet connection out there. Most software packages I've seen, they require me to be online during installation so I can register the product and download any patches, etc. Can I install DecoderPro on an isolated stand-alone machine?
T I A
-ken
-Ken in Maryland (B&O modeler, former CSX modeler)
Assuming that you do have an internet connection where the new computer is, you can download DecoderPro to the new computer, copy it to a disc, and then take the disc out to the old computer and copy it there. I think that you need to have JAVA on the old computer. The old computer will also need to have a disc drive. That drive does not need to be a read and write drive. It can be read only. If the old computer only has a 3-1/2 inch drive (they used to call this the "A" drive), then you might be sol unless you can find a way to get the file onto a 3-1/2 inch floppy.
Load it before you move it.
Dave
Lackawanna Route of the Phoebe Snow
Ken,
The answer is "Yes".
The JMRI installer is a stand-alone package that can be downloaded to a CD, DVD, pen drive, etc. It will install just fine from there with no Internet connection required. There is no registration, and updates are obtained by installing the new version directly over the old version.
JMRI also requires Java (it actually has to be installed before you install JMRI), and for Windows at least there is an option on the Java Web site to download a stand-alone version which also does not require an Internet connection to install.
And not to knock this forum, but a much better place to ask questions about JMRI is the JMRI User's Group on Yahoo!. Lots of knowledgeable people, including the folks who actually write the JMRI code, hang out there and are willing to help.
HTH, Steve
StevertThe JMRI installer is a stand-alone package that can be downloaded to a CD, DVD, pen drive, etc.
While this is all true, the capability of the old computer to accept one of these devices might be the issue. In my case, the old Windows 98 computer I ended up using had a 3-1/2 inch "A" drive, and you're not going to find a new computer that has that standard these days. There were also USB ports, but I couldn't get a flash drive to work because the old computer needed some sort of program I couldn't figure out to recognize the flash device. There was a read-only disc drive. However, when I originally copied the program I used a re-writeable disc (CD-RW). The old computer didn't like this for some reason. I finally used a CD-R and was able to get the program transferred.
As Phoebe Vet said, the best thing you can do is try to download the program to the old computer before moving it. But then you have to be smart enough to think about doing this prior to the big move. In any case, when there are updates to the ComputerPro program you'll need to find a way to get that downloaded to the new computer and moved to the old. So it might be worthwhile figuring that out ahead of time.
Thanks for the replies, gents - looks like it's a 'go'!
maxmanWhile this is all true, the capability of the old computer to accept one of these devices might be the issue.
Max, that actually isn't an issue for me since the old 'putor is only 5yrs old. It has a DVD/CD-ROM drive and a USB controller with 6 ports on it. CDs and thumb drives will work fine, but the controller is the earlier version USB 1 - IOW, slower than a glacier!
Steve, I agree 100% about the Yahoo JMRI group. I just figured this was a gut-level question that most anybody would know, and I find this forum much more convenient than the Yahoo forums. But once I'm really getting my teeth into DecodrPro, I'm sure I'll be over there quite a bit.
JMRI can install completely disconnected. But you also need the Java runtimes. This can also be installed completely offline if you download the offline install version from the Java site. The Java runtime is actually much larger than the JMRI program.
Also, the computer is only 5 years old and it only has USB 1.1? That doesn't seem right - are there maybe drivers missing? My current machine is only a year and a half old, but the previous one is coming up on 7 years old and it has USB 2.0 However, it does not function as USB 2.0 until I load all the motherboard drivers.
--Randy
Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's
Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.
rrinker, the computer is only 5 years old and it only has USB 1.1? That doesn't seem right - are there maybe drivers missing?
I dunno Randy - it's been giving me warning popups saying that "[so-and-so] device is designed to run on a faster USB 2 connection, please connect to another port" [but there weren't any other ports!]
Doesn't matter now, I may end up not using USB anyway since it also has 2 serial ports.
I got the new computer installed so I'll be taking the old one in a few days after my kids have had a chance to transfer all their stuff from it. I downloaded and installed JMRI on it this afternoon - apparently DecoderPro is bundled within it - but I couldn't play with it yet since it isn't hooked to my command station.
CSX_road_slug I downloaded and installed JMRI on it this afternoon - apparently DecoderPro is bundled within it - but I couldn't play with it yet since it isn't hooked to my command station.
Right, JMRI is the whole package. There are several ways to access the program that emphasize what you're trying to do - DecoderPro for programming decoders, PanelPro for layout control, etc. But they all access the same base code so any of them can pretty much do everything that any of the others can.
And if you want to play with it before it's connected to your layout, chose the LocoNet Simulator connection option. (It might have been renamed, depending on which release you've installed). That will let you play with it to your heart's content, no layout needed. Have fun!