Q:    Which Operating System is Supported?
A:    OPTIc: You can work with Windows 98SE/ME/NT/2000/XP/XP64/2003/Vista/Windows 7. No support for x64 Editions and Windows 98/ME/NT.
       OPTIc2: You can work with Windows 2000/XP/XP64/2003/Vista/Windows 7 32 and 64 Bit Editions. For Vista/Win 7 you will need at least minimum Camera Flash software V2.7 installed.

Q:    I would like to work with a Notebook. Can I do that?
A:    Of course. Many new Notebooks have the IEEE 1394-Interface included. But you can work also with an PCMCIA (Card bus) or Express Card for IEEE 1394. The IEEE 1394 Interface must be at least 1394-1995 OHCI 1.0-compatible.

Q:    Which IEEE1394 interfaces are supported?
A:    OPTIc/OPTIc2 run with the IEEE1394 and IEEE1394b Standards. Note that the IEEE1394b Interfaces run from XP SP2. This interfaces do not work properly with older Operating systems. Using XP SP2 note that KB885222 is installed. 800 Mbit Card make troubles because they are not well supported by Microsoft. We suggest to use standard 400 Mbit Interfaces.

Q:    Where do I find the driver of OPTIc/OPTIc2?
A:    You have to download it from our homepage: OPTIc, OPTIc2 This is a self-extracting file. After downloading extract the files into a specified directory by executing the downloaded File.

Q:    I have Windows XP professional. Do I have to install the chipset driver also?
A:    Yes. And Service Pack 3

Q:    I have Windows Vista or Windows 7. Does Alge Photo finish work with Vista or Windows 7?
A:    OPTIc2: Yes, 32 and 64 Bit Systems ares supported, but you will need at least minimum Camera Flash software V2.7 installed. OPTIc: Yes, but no 64Bit Operating system possible.

Q:    I have Windows XP Service Pack 2. I have trouble with the Fire Wire what can this be?
A:    Please install Service Pack 3

Q:    I have Windows XP with hyper threading. Does OPTIc support this?
A:    Yes. The OPTIc Software is a multi threading software. Hyper threading will increase the system performance considerable. see also: Hyper threading

Q:    Is it void in which PCI Slot my Fire Wire Card fits?
A:    Yes. But for best performance you're Fire Wire Card should have an own IRQ. Lower is better. Unluckily this is not possible on all computer systems. Thats why some Computers with Windows XP have troubles with the performance. See also FAQ of http://www.ieee1394-produkte.de/ (only in German)

Q:    Which is the right lens for my system?
A:    There is a camera angle calculator on the Web.

Q:    Can I connect to an OPTIc a new WS2?
A:    Yes, You will need an WS2+Timy+Cable 224-02

Software Install:

Q:    How do I have to install the OPTIc driver
A:    Normally like every windows driver. If you do not have an Alge CD, have a look to our driver page.

Q:    After installing the OPTIc Software I cannot start it. I always get an error.
A:    Maybe you do not have Administrator or power user rights. In this case you are not allowed to install the OCX needed by OPTIc. Log in with Administrator rights.
Install the Software once again. Then it will work.

Q:    I want to work with Standard user rights under Vista / Windows 7. How do I install the software?
A:    First change the user rights to administrator, then install the OPTIc2 software. After that, you change the user rights for this user again to standard user. There is no other solution for that at this time.

Troubleshooting:

Q:    Windows Vista: Test picture seems to be updated very slow . Does it not work correct?
A:    Yes. Windows Vista is very fast in repainting pictures. It is so fast that you often can't see updating of the Test picture.

Q:    Sometimes my PC crashes when using OPTIc/OPTIc2 with Windows XP SP2. What can I do?
A:    This Bug is solved in Service Pack 3. Please install Service Pack 3

Q:    OPTIc: Everything is connected, but the Error-LED shines. What is wrong?
A:    In this case you don't have a connection from the OCD1 to the PC. Please check the cable and/or try to connect the 1394-cable to an other port.

Q:    After a few seconds of recording time I get the message "Virtual memory full" and I get strange vertical lines on the picture.
A:    There are more possibilities:
        1. You have to less System-memory (min. 512MB)
        2. Your harddisc is too slow/full
        3. Some new computers need a chipset-driver for the main board. Otherwise they work really slow. Specially VIA-Chips make a lot of troubles because they are not very well supported by Microsoft. The VIA 4 in 1 driver is also on the ALGE-CD.
        4. The photocell is not well adjusted, this means it gives a constant impulse and therefore records constant.
        5. The photocell lens is covered with water or has steam on it. This means the photocell blocks and gives a permanent impulse, which does continuous recording.
        6. The DMA for the harddisc is not enabled. Use the DMA-Check-Tool from Microsoft to enable it. This is also on the ALGE-CD
        7. Direct X is not installed: For faster Graphics use Direct X. This is also on the ALGE-CD
        8. BIOS Setting: PCI delayed transaction is Enabled: This is wrong set this to DISABLED. Unluckily on some Computers (Laptops) you can't  change this setting in BIOS.... Here you can download the latency checker.
        9. Do not use a Computer with shared memory for Graphics. This Graphic cards are really slow.
      10. Be sure that the latest driver for your Graphic card is installed. Standard Windows driver is maximum compatible, but not very fast.
      11. Be sure to disable power saving feature: choose on energy management: Power scheme "always on"
      12. Maybe cable is defect.
      13. Do not use PCMCIA Cards under Windows Vista and Windows 7. Cardbus controller like the RICOH 5C476
          
           and TI PCI-1510 do not work even under Windows XP. Use PCI Express Cards instead.
      14. Some Windows 7 systems work better with the old legacy version of the OHCI driver. Please restart after this change
           

Q:    I have a OHCI-IEEE 1394-Card with VIA Chips. After a view restarts of the OPTIc-Program I can't work with the OPTIc anymore and I have to restart the computer.
A:    This is a bug in the OHCI-driver. A view bus-resets cause that the driver hangs. In this case you have to install Windows 2000 min. Service pack 4 or XP Service Pack 3. We suggest IEEE 1394-cards with TI-chips. They have the biggest FIFO.  This is necessary for long recordings.

Q:    My computer works very slow, especially when I use the zoom window.
A:    You have to install the chipset of your computer. Which one you can see in the manual of your computer. Some chipset-drivers have to be installed FIRST, immediately after installing Windows 2000!

Q:    Can I use PCMCIA (Card bus) or Express Cards?
A:    Yes. We recommend those with TI chipset because they have the biggest FIFO memory.

Q:    I have troubles working with Windows XP. It makes pictures on his own. What can I do?
A:    On some Laptop/slow computers this problem happens. Sorry, but this is a internal windows problem. In this case try to install WIN2K.

Q:    I have a computer with SIS chipset. OPTIc does not work properly on this computer. What can I do?
A:    OPTIc is a real time program. Computers with SIS chipset are not suitable for real time recording. We suggest Computers with INTEL chipset.

Q:    How do I know which chipset does my computer have?
A:    Search for  third-party software called "SiSoft-Sandra Freeware Benchmark". With this program you can check your computer.

Q:    Sometimes my Laptop makes pictures on his own. What can I do?
A:    Some IEEE1394 connectors are very bad. If you touch the cable/connector the connection makes a short break and this causes this strange pictures. Be sure that you have connected the IEEE1394 properly.