Celestia Forums

I just installed Celestia and Celestia-ED on my XP. Because there were some problems, I wanted to uninstal both and then re-instal Celestia-ED.

Uninstalling Celestia through the Control Panel still leaves a Celestia folder in Program Files. Can I just delete it?

Also, I still have the Celestia-ED folder, even though it does not appear in the Add/Remove programs list of the Control Panel.

So how can I uninstal both completely?

Also, the reason I wanted to re-instal Celestia-ED is that clicking on the links in the Activities 1&2 documents did not get me into the Celestia program - just to a non-existent web page. Any suggestions?

totus wrote:Uninstalling Celestia through the Control Panel still leaves a Celestia folder in Program Files. Can I just delete it?

Yes.

Also, I still have the Celestia-ED folder, even though it does not appear in the Add/Remove programs list of the Control Panel.

So how can I uninstal both completely?

Since you're going to be reinstalling one or both, just deleting all of their files and directories will be adequate.

Also, the reason I wanted to re-instal Celestia-ED is that clicking on the links in the Activities 1&2 documents did not get me into the Celestia program - just to a non-existent web page. Any suggestions?

Make sure you check the boxes for associating URLs and scripts with Celestia-ED when you install it. If you install the standard Celestia afterward, be sure *not* to check its association boxes: both programs use identical URLs and scripts.

Many thanks, Selden.... and Merry Christmas!

I've deleted the folders and re-installed. It's working, more or less. The problem is when I click on the opening picture (in any activity) I get a fatal error message with "Cannot read star database". This doesn't stop at least some of the links below apparenttly working.

By the way, my graphics chip is an Intel 82865G Graphics Controller. I presume that is not a 3D Open GL accelerator. Am I correct?

Finally, I want to get my 12-year old son 'turned on' to this. Celestia-ED may still be a bit too much. Any suggestions?

totus wrote:Many thanks, Selden.... and Merry Christmas!

You're very welcome. I hope you had a great day!

I've deleted the folders and re-installed. It's working, more or less. The problem is when I click on the opening picture (in any activity) I get a fatal error message with "Cannot read star database". This doesn't stop at least some of the links below apparenttly working.

Sorry: I don't know what might be causing that. The author of the activities, Frank Gregorio, frequently reads posts here. Maybe he can help.

[qoute]By the way, my graphics chip is an Intel 82865G Graphics Controller. I presume that is not a 3D Open GL accelerator. Am I correct?[/quote]No, you're incorrect Intel's chipsets aren't the best in the world, but they do provide performance enhancements. Be sure to install their most recent drivers.
Check the Web site of the manufacturer of your computer. Otherwise, Intel's own drivers should work for you:
http://downloadfinder.intel.com/scripts ... 4&lang=eng

Finally, I want to get my 12-year old son 'turned on' to this. Celestia-ED may still be a bit too much. Any suggestions?

Sorry: I have no direct experience in that aspect. Frank reports that having people follow a structured approach (like his lesson plans) results in a much more positive experience for many than just browsing on their own without a goal.

Totus:

Hi. Sorry you are having some trouble with Celestia-ED. I'll try to answer your questions:

clicking on the links in the Activities 1&2 documents did not get me into the Celestia program - just to a non-existent web page. Any suggestions

Beside being a guide through the world of Celestia, the Activity documents control two things in Celestia-ED. First, there is an image/picture that is usually on page 4 of the document. The caption tells you to click the image to launch your journey. This picture contains a link to a Windows file that launches Celestia-ED, and also tells Celestia-ED to load all of the files that are applicable to that particular Activity. For example, the picture/image on page 4 of Activity 1&2 launches the program and a specific set of files used by Activity 1&2. If you do not click that image, you may launch Celestia later on in the Activity, but the special set of files it needs will not load, and you will not get to see many of the objects discussed in the Activity. You must click that picture/image ... every time you open that Activity (so that the files load).

The 2nd thing an Activity controls, is where you go on your journey. By clicking on the "click here" links inside the document (they are called cel:urls), you will be taken to specific places, via the Celestia-ED program.

If you click on a "click here" link and a web page opens instead, the problem is simple. For some reason, Windows was not told to "associate" a cel:url with Celestia-ED. To fix that problem, download the Celestia-141-ED.exe file from the motherlode, launch it and it will begin to install. As it does, a menu will appear with boxes checked, advising you that the installation will associate cel:urls with Celestia-ED. Leave that box checked and say "yes" to any message on the install program.

Once Celestia-ED is installed, clicking on a "Click here" link in an Activity document should control Celestia-ED, not try to open a web page.

Please remember, however, that both Celestia, and Celestia-ED, both use the same files and associations. If you install Celestia after Celestia-ED, things may not work well. Celestia-ED is an enhanced version of the basic program, and does everything it does, plus a lot more. It contains ALL of the files in the base program, plus more. You do not need to install both of them. Celestia-ED should be all that you need.

when I click on the opening picture (in any activity) I get a fatal error message with "Cannot read star database".

The data file the program is looking for is a very big star file that is present in the "General_Educational_download.zip" file which can be found on the motherlode's education page. It is a large file (over 450 MB), that contains a lot of files used in the educational journeys. As the Educational page instructions state, it must be downloaded, unzipped and installed into the Celestia-ED folder, before you can begin any journey. Once it is there, you should be able to launch the Activities without problems.

Specifically:

Download and install the Celestia-141-ED.exe file on your computer. It will install Celestia-ED.
Next, download, unzip and install the General_Educational_Download.zip file and unzip it into the Celestia-ED folder.
Third, download and unzip into Celestia-ED, any activity zip files you wish.
Launch Celestia-ED only by using the image/picture on page 3 or 4 of an Activity. Use that image whenever you return to the Activity.

I want to get my 12-year old son 'turned on' to this. Celestia-ED may still be a bit too much. Any suggestions?

The educational activities are written for audiences that can include a 12 year old. The language is not above your son's level and he should be able to experience all the journeys have to offer, provided he has a beginning interest in space.

To "hook" your son on Astronomy, tell him he can take one journey as a "trial" case. Read the descriptions of each journey and see if any catch his fancy. Activity 1&2 is a good beginning.

As Selden already mentioned, an Intel chipset should be able to run Celestia-ED OK, although some places will run slowly. You may have to be patient when that happens and keep reading through the Activity to go to the next destination. Some destinations are more graphic card intensive than others. Also, you can press the [R] key on the keyboard to lower screen "resolution" to "medium res textures". That may speed things up a bit.

Hope this all helps. Let me know.

By the way, you can obtain a self-installing CD of the complete Activity set which will remove the chore of downloading and getting all the files in the right folders. Email me for details.

Regards

Frank