Platform note: As of Aug. 10, 2006, the Linux version is better than the Windows version which has a navigation problem and a few visual bugs. The plan is for these bugs to be fixed by early 2007.
[Linux & Windows]
i. Download and install the full Java Development Kit (JDK) from http://www.java.com
For the virtual storm activity to work well on either platform, you must install the full JDK (Java Development Kit), not just the runtime components. Many new computers only have a partial (runtime) version of Java installed.
ii. Video card must have at least 32MB of RAM.
The activity requires a minimum of 32 MB of RAM on the video card.
[Windows]
i. Windows color must be set to 32-bit.
For the Windows version, be sure the color is set to 32 bit. Problems are known to occur if set to 16-bit.
ii. Use an accelerated video driver
For the windows version, an accelerated video driver is needed. Please download the latest driver for your video card (visit your computer and/or card manufacturer’s web site). Frequently the video card does not come with a driver that allows for acceleration. If problems persist, you may need to try a different version of the openGL libraries.
When the activity works, you should see two different windows, and navigation should be smooth and quick in the graphics window. The clouds should look realistic and you should not see holes in the thunderstorm or unusual gray and white stripes in portions of the clouds (known problems when some of the above tasks are not performed).