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The World's Largest Online
Military, Veteran and Military Family Personnel
Database of Names and Information
Help Desk: (1-310) 532-0634. available between 10am to 3pm (Pacific Time) Monday thru Saturday

G.I. Photograph Museum and Personnel Registry
Installation Instructions
(You got to this page from this website: http://members.aol.com/veterans/warlib46.htm)

This is a one-time process that takes about 4-5 minutes.

The Personnel Registry operates on one of the most secure and impenetrable platforms using special software to ensure against hackers, infomation theft, corruption, alteration or destruction of personnel and personal data. What you will need to install this easy loading software is:

  • Any version of Microsoft Windows
  • A 386 or higher personal computer
  • Any internet service or access provider if you will be connecting via internet
  • A modem, ONLY if you will be connecting via modem
    • If you are a MODEM DIAL-UP AOL, CompuServe or Prodigy member you might want to read this later. If you access AOL, Compuserve or Prodigy through an internet provider you do not need to read this.
    • Click here if you are a Mac/Apple owner
    • (Click here if you are a WebTV or TVWeb-type console owner


*** SOFTWARE DOWNLOADING MADE EASY ***


1. We first need to Download the file: LIBRARY.EXE to your hard drive. We will download this file in step number 3, below...

2. We recommend that you download LIBRARY.EXE to your root (C:\) folder/subdirectory by typing C:\ in front of the letter L in LIBRARY (or library.exe) that appears in the white box when the Download window appears.

3. To obtain the fastest download time you should close any software programs you are not using.

SOFTWARE DOWNLOAD (save to disk [hard drive])
Several software download sites are available. Choose from ANY ONE of the download sites below:
(Remember to type C:\ in front of the L in Library when the download window appears)

4. After LIBRARY.EXE is downloaded to your C:\ folder...

5. If your system is Windows 3.1 or 3.11: Click FILE, click RUN... Otherwise, Click START, click RUN

A small screen with a white box will open...

6. In the white box, type C:\LIBRARY.EXE in upper or lower case.

7. A box/screen titled Winzip Self-Extractor will appear. Please select the top button, UNZIP.

    (You will note that a default folder/subdirectory called MHC has been selected for program installation. Please DO NOT change this default selection to another folder/subdirectory of your choice.)

8. After a quick unzipping process a small box will appear confirming that X number of files has successfully unzipped. Please click OK to close this box.

9. The final step dispays the Amer War Library Install window showing the C:\MHC folder/subdirectory. Please click OK to complete the installation process.

10. The last box/screen will display the installation was successful. Please click OK to close this screen and wait a moment for two icons to appear.

11. The software installation process is completed!

12. You should still be connected to the internet... Double-click the Amer War Lib'y program icon (as described above in Step 10.)

13. If you have an internet (WINSOCK) driver on your computer you will be asked if you want to load this driver. Click YES. Continue to Step 14.

    Note: If you do not have a winsock driver (winsock.dll) you can download a copy by clicking here.

    Be sure to download or place winsock.dll in your C:\WINDOWS folder/subdirectory.

14. Upon initially accessing The American War Library software a CLIENT CONFIGURATION window will appear. If you do not plan to access The Registry using your modem click "CANCEL" to close this box and continue to Step 15.

15. When the grey screen appears you will see the words FILE and HELP in the upper left corner. Under these words you will see three icons. The first icon appears as an electrical plug inserted into a wall socket. The 2nd icon appears as a 'plug-out'. The 3rd icon appears as a screwdriver.

17. Click the PLUG-IN icon... the DIALING DIRECTORY menu will appear. In this menu you will see four icons. Under these icons you should see three listings:

  • Internet Personnel/Photo Registry 198.173.172.9
  • Modem Personnel Registry 1-310-715-2912
  • Modem Personnel/Photo Registry 1-310-715-1492

If you see these 3 listings, continue on to Step 18.

    If you do not see these three listings you installed the software incorrectly. Go back to Step 5 and start again. This time, you MUST accept "C:\MHC" as the default installation folder/subdirectory.

18. Double-click the top listing, INTERNET PERSONNEL / PHOTO REGISTRY, which appears on a black line.

19. Depending on Internet traffic at the moment, your connection to The Registry should be relatively immediate. (You may briefly see a window 'counting down' to connection.)

20. Wait a moment for any new 'first-time' files to transfer to your hard disk.

21. Respond to any screen questions that appear.

22. That's it! You're 'good to go!'

23. Make a comment or suggestion on these instructions.


Unless you were referred to a section below, you do not need to read any further.


MODEM ACCESS

This software can also be used to access THE PERSONNEL REGISTRY or THE REGISTRY via modem... or any modem database.

Click the screwdriver icon to select your modem's COM port. All you need to do at this time is select your COM port for modem dialing. To do so, use your mouse to select COM port 1, 2, 3, etc. (If you do not know which COM port your computer is using for modem dialing, do nothing at this time. If you wish to attempt modem access with the current settings, do so. If you cannot connect, use the SCREWDRIVER icon to change the COM port to a different setting, such as 1, 3, 4, etc.) Close the CLIENT CONFIGURATION window when done.


If you have any suggestions or recommendations on improving this installation process, please email them to: veterans@pacbell.net. We will incorporate your ideas to better assist others. Thanks!


Dialing Directory Patch

When downloading this patch, which requires no configuring, you must copy it to your C:\MHC folder/subdirectory simply by placing C:\MHC\ in front of DIALDIR.DAT when your download screen appears. Click here to download C:\MHC\DIALDIR.DAT. (Remember to type C:\MHC\ in front of DIALDIR.) This file should be saved or moved to your C:\WINDOWS subdirectory. (This copy of winsock.dll is dated 05-21-1998. If your copy is older you might want to replace it with this copy as some older copies of winsock do not work well with newer versions of Windows.)


Special note to AOL, CompuServe and Prodigy members: If you are an AOL or Prodigy member who accesses either service via your modem you can now access The Photo Museum via internet. To access The Registry via internet simply:

  • 1. Dial up and Log on to AOL/Prodigy/Compuserve
  • 2. After establishing a connection, minimize your AOL/Prodigy/Compuserve screen
  • 3. Load/Run the secure Photo Museum software
  • 4. Log on using the "Internet..." connection in the Dialing Directory (The first listing: 198.173.172.9)

This section applies ONLY to NT, XP or 2000 users operating a PC that is connected to, or configured for, a network. If your NT, XP or 2000 PC is NOT configured for network operation you should IGNORE this section:

Some network PC's may not fully install the software by displaying the two icons described in Step 10, above. This happens because your network version of Windows does not permit the two icon link (.LNK) files to be placed in the Start Menu. If this happens do this:


Suggestion For Getting This Software To Work On WebTV or TVWeb:

The GI Personnel Registry is not accessible by you through WebTV/TVWeb because you need a disk drive for software installation. You have two options:

  • 1. You can ask WebTV/TVWeb to install the LIBRARY.EXE software on their main server so that you and other WebTV/TVWeb users can run LIBRARY.EXE through your webbrowser just as easily as typing a website address.

    If WebTV/TVWeb agrees to install LIBRARY.EXE on their main server you will be able to run the sotfware simply by entering the website address into your webbrowser (just like entering an "http"-type website) where the software is located on the WebTV/TVWeb server, for example:.
    c:\software\csterm.exe
  • 2. Or, you can ask WebTV/TVWeb to provide a portable hard drive that can easily attach to your WebTV/TVWeb console/keyboard. (This hard drive will also enable you to save visited websites, data or photos for permanent storage and offline re-viewing.)

*** END OF INSTRUCTIONS ***