Installation
Insert the PEP DVD and installation will begin automatically. It will install PEP, Java and over 3GB of NASA data on your hard drive. Simply follow the instructions and you shouldn't have any problems. But if you do, here are some solutions.
Possible problem installing Java
The PEP installer looks to see if you have Java on your computer. If it doesn't find it, it offers to install Java. Then, if the Java installer finds Java already on your computer it assumes you want to uninstall Java. If you're asked if you want to uninstall Java, say no.
If you've already said yes, you have uninstalled Java. To re-install Java, you can either reinstall all of PEP (which will install Java) or go to the PEP installation directory, then to the Java subdirectory and run the Java self-installing executable.
Possible 3D Graphics Problem
Description: The 3D window is black and the DOS window says "Fail to lock Vertex Buffer - D3DERR_DRIVERINTERNALERROR".
Solution: Update the driver for your graphics card.
PEP doesn't run
Description: When you double click on the shortcut, GeoVirgil it doesn't run. Perhaps a DOS looking window pops up and immediately disappears.
Solution: There is most likely some problem with your installation of Java. From your PEP directory, go to the Java subdirectory. There you will find two self-installing executables, one for Java and one for Java 3D. Double click on the Java installer. If it offers to uninstall Java, click yes. When the uninstall is complete, double click on the Java installer again to install a clean version. Then, double click on the Java 3D installer to install this required package. When that is complete, you should be able to return to your GeoVirgil directory and double click on the GeoVirgil short cut and the program will start normally.
Installer doesn't launch PEP
Description: The last thing the GeoVirgil installer offers to do is run PEP but PEP didn't pop up.
Solution: I've seen this only on Windows 98. You can run GeoVirgil by double clicking on the short cut. Since this only affects the very old Windows 98, I hope to not look into this problem. If you see it on another version of Windows, let me know.