Installation of Hydrus 2D and 3D on Windows Vista

HYDRUS 2D/3D is compatible with the Windows Vista operating system. However, when testing HYDRUS on this operating system, we have encountered several minor problems described below together with their solutions. At present we are working on the HYDRUS update, so that after the next HYDRUS upgrade, users would not encounter these problems any more.

Problem with Authorization

Description: When starting HYDRUS under Windows Vista, an error message appears  

"Unable to access authorization information!"

"Error No. 103-9"

At the same time one can not open a dialog for HYDRUS authorization.

Cause:  HYDRUS does not have sufficient rights to access system tools for verification of authorization.

Solution: It is necessary to run HYDRUS at least once with administrative rights. Go to the folder where HYDRUS is installed (usually "C:\Program Files\PC-Progress\HYDRUS"), click with the right mouse button on Hydrus3D.exe and in the displayed popup menu select "Run As Administrator". This single HYDRUS run with administrative rights will establish all necessary access rights. This should solve the problem, i.e., the next HYDRUS run can be without administrative rights.

Problem with Access Rights to Project Data Files

Description: When saving a project, a warning appears informing that data can not be saved (no access to save).

Cause: A user does not have rights to store data in the folder with HYDRUS projects.

Solution: There exist two solutions:

A/ Change attributes of the folder with HYDRUS projects. Click with the right mouse button on the folder, in which Hydrus projects are stored, and select “Properties -> Security”. In the “Users” group, set “Full Control”.

B/ Move HYDRUS projects to another folder, to which you have a full access. Set up access to this new folder using the Project Manager (Menu File -> Project Manager).

Graphics is Slow

Description: Drawing of the Scene (in the View Window) is very slow.

Cause: Drivers for the OpenGL hardware acceleration (for the video card) are not installed. Drivers of the graphical card, installed when the Windows Vista operating system was installed, were developed by Microsoft (not by the producer of the graphical card) and do not support the hardware acceleration. HYDRUS will display a warning that OpenGL hardware acceleration is not available and that graphics will likely be slow. Unavailability of hardware acceleration can be confirmed in the following way: Select the dialog window “Program Options” (HYDRUS Menu -> Options ->  Program Options) and on the Tab “Graphics” the OpenGL Hardware Acceleration is set at “OFF”, while the radio buttons are disabled.

Solution: It is necessary to install the original graphical drivers for Windows Vista. These can be obtained (downloaded) from the producer of the graphical card.

Graphics Contains Various Errors

Description: The Scene (in the View Window) is not displayed correctly. Errors may be different.

Cause: These problems usually occur after installation of drivers for the OpenGL hardware acceleration (see 3). This is usually due to errors in newly developed drivers (software is provided by producers of graphical cards), that are not yet unfortunately bugs free.

Solution: Turn off the hardware acceleration. Run the dialog window “Program Options” (HYDRUS Menu -> Options ->  Program Options) and on the tab “Graphics” set the OpenGL Hardware Acceleration “OFF”. Then restart HYDRUS. This should solve the problems, but the graphics will be unfortunately slow. We recommend updating drivers of the graphical card as soon as newer versions become available.