v4 - My disc will not install - DVD not recognized

Solution: The new version 4.0 disc is actually a DVD, not a CD-ROM like our earlier versions. So you will need a DVD drive in your computer to load this disc. If your computer is over 4 years old, there is a chance that you do not have a DVD drive installed.

To check to see what type of drive you have, do this:

Windows Computers: The physical drive itself will often say DVD on it. This may be embossed on the black plastic tray that slides out and it is often hard to read. Or you can click the Start button in the lower left corner of your desktop and then click Control Panel. Click System > Device manager or just click Device manager if you see that. Now click the plus sign in front of "DVD/CD-ROM Drives" and look at the description of each. If you see part of the description that says something like DVD or DVD+-RW then you do have a DVD drive installed. If you see only CD-ROM in the description, then you do not have a DVD drive. You my want to get a new DVD drive installed on your computer since most software now comes on DVD discs.

It is also possible that the software drivers you have for your DVD drive need to be updated. Some newer DVD discs cram more data onto them than older DVD discs. Your DVD drive may need to be updated with a new driver in order to read our DVD. You can usually get this by going to the web site of the manufacturer of your DVD drive.

Mac Computers: To see if you have a DVD drive, click the Apple icon. Then click About this Mac. Then click the More Info... button. On the left, click Disc burning. Now see if there is anything in the line that says DVD-Write. Or check the very top row where it shows the manufacturer of the CD/DVD drive and see if the letters DVD or DVDRW appear. If they do, then you have a DVD drive.

It is also possible that the software drivers you have for your DVD drive need to be updated. Some newer DVD discs cram more data onto them than older DVD discs. Your DVD drive may need to be updated with a new driver in order to read our DVD. You can usually get this by going to the web site of the manufacturer of your DVD drive.

Installing on Computers without DVD drives
All is not lost, even if you do not have a DVD drive. You can go buy an external DVD drive and hook it up in a few minutes. These cost less than $50.

Or, you can still load the program by using a separate computer with a DVD drive and a memory stick. On one of your other computers or on a friend's computer, insert the memory stick into a USB port and insert the Thayer Birding disc in the DVD drive. Then create a folder on your memory stick (name it ThayerBirds) and then copy the entire Windows folder or Mac folder from the DVD into this folder on the memory stick.

A memory stick costs about $20 and is a small device about 3" x 1" x 1/4" -- you can get them at any office Supply store. You will need a 4GB memory stick to do this -- 2MB is too small.

Then insert the memory stick into the USB port on the side of your computer. Copy the ThayerBirds folder to the desktop. Double-click the file inside the folder called setup.exe. Then just follow the instructions on the screen.