National Center for Educaton Statistics Hardware Requirement

Hardware Requirements for NCES 97-543

The data retrieval speed is partially dependent on the hardware. In general, the faster the CD-ROM drive and the more memory and hard disk capacity available, the better the performance. The following hardware is the minimum configuration necessary to access the IPEDS94 CD-ROM DISC.

* IBM PC 386, 486 or equivalent PC (100% IBM compatible);
* A hard disk with at least 5.0 MB free (includes space for the CD-ROM Table Generator files.)
Additional hard disk space will be required for storage of exported data.
* CD-ROM reader with appropriate controller and interface cable for the PC.

Note: If the CD-ROM reader is attached to a network, see the note under the topic "Installation" for special instructions regarding installation in this situation.

* MS-WINDOWS version 3.1 or higher.
* MS-DOS CD-ROM Extensions, version 2.01 or higher; version 2.1 if using MS-DOS, version 4.0 or higher.

Note: This is required only to install the software. Once installed, the system does not require Extensions.

* Color or monochrome monitor. A color monitor with EGA or VGA display adapter is preferable.
* A printer is not essential but is preferable.

WINDOWS 3.1 TIP: We recommend placing the "mscdex" command line before the "smartdrv" command line in the AUTOEXEC.BAT file. This may enhance the speed of data retrieval from the CD-ROM.

Requirements for the Table Generator

* An IBM compatible PC, running MS-DOS, with at least 520k of conventional memory free.
* 2.5 MB hard disk space for the program files.
* Only usable with data extracted from the NCES IPEDS DISC.
* Maximum number of variables in an extract file is fifty (50).
* Hardware system configuration should have buffers set to a minimum of 15.
* Hardware system configuration should have files set to a minimum of 30.