Information on the network version of the CD-ROM is available from the Network Access page.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the BCSC CD-ROM?
The CD-ROM contains all 14 Sections of the 2004–2005 edition of the Basic and Clinical Science Course (BCSC). It encompasses almost 5,000 pages and more than 3,000 images.
Why won't the CD-ROM launch?
Operating systems: the CD is designed to run on the Windows XP or 2000 operating systems. While it may run on operating systems such as Windows 98 or ME, it is not officially supported.
Virus protection software: the CD has been tested to launch if you are running the most common virus protection programs. However, if you are using some types of virus protection software on your computer, the CD may not launch. You can add the the BCSC CD to the software's exclusion list or you may need to temporarily disable the virus protection until the CD is running and then re-enable it.
If you are running Nod32, please do the following to add BCSC CD-ROM to NOD32’s exclusion list.
- Launch NOD32 control center from the system tray, desktop or programs menu.
- Launch AMON – Antivirus monitor
- Click AMON Setup link
- Go to the Exclusion tab and add to “permanently” checked list. In the excluded object fieldset, check “file”.
- Add the following line: "X:\BCSC2004.exe" where X is the label of the drive that will run the BCSC CD. For example, if the CD is in the D: drive, add “D:\BCSC2004.exe” to the exclusion list.
- Hit OK then hit OK again to accept and confirm your changes; you should now be able to run the BCSC CD-ROM.
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Can the text and images be downloaded for other uses?
No, the CD is for reference, and the contents cannot be installed on your computer, downloaded for use in presentations, or duplicated for any purpose. The text portions of a page and individual images are printable, but they cannot be copied or reproduced.
How do I report a problem?
Users may call 1.800.825.2956 between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. PST Monday through Friday for support with BCSC products. Be prepared to describe the problem the user is experiencing and provide the following information concerning the user’s computer configuration:
A) Operating system (OS) of the computer (including Major and Minor version)
B) Service Pack (if any) run by the computer
C) Type of anti-virus software (if any) run by the computer
D) Multi-language pack (if any) installed on the computer
E) Make and model of the CD-ROM drive
F) Type of processor installed on the computer (i.e. Intel/AMD, etc.)
G) Amount of memory (RAM) installed in the computer
This information will help technical support staff to replicate the problem and solve it.
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How do I navigate the BCSC CD-ROM?
Once the program is up and running, users should select the particular section they wish to view in the menu on the left-hand side of the screen. Users will note that the screen is divided in half. Text, figures, and tables are displayed on the right-hand side along with two navigation buttons labeled “Previous” and “Next”.
To proceed through the BCSC CD-ROM linearly, users may simply click on the “Previous” or “Next” buttons on the navigation bar at the bottom right-hand corner of the screen. Others may prefer to use the “Up” and “Down” arrows to scroll linearly through the section .
The left side of the screen contains four panels labeled “Contents”, “Search”, “Bookmark”, and “Notes”. Users may hide these by moving their pointer to the double line in the middle of the screen until it changes to a double-headed arrow. While holding down the left mouse button, users can drag the line to the left and expand the text on the right-hand side for easier reading. Doing the reverse will have the opposite effect.
To jump from one topic of interest to another, users may click on various headings in the Contents panel on the left-hand side of the screen.
If the left-hand panels have been covered, users may quickly access them again by clicking the triangle that appears in the toolbar to the right of the tabs. This will snap the left- and right-hand panels back to their original size.
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How can I view the images that appear in the text?
Figures and tables that are referenced in the text will appear as thumbnail icons with file names that correspond to the paragraph in which they first appear. In order to view them, users should click on the icon of the image they wish to access on the bar at the bottom of the screen. This opens the image/table in a new window.
How does the highlighting feature work?
Users must enable the Highlight feature before selecting text to highlight. They should first click on the highlighter/pen icon in the toolbar. After identifying a particular passage, they should move the mouse left to right to select a passage of text while holding down the left mouse button.
Why won't the text highlight?
Highlighting from right to left or from bottom to top is not supported and may or may not work based upon user settings. Users may also experience “dead spots” when trying to highlight text which contains an image near the bottom of the page. Scrolling down until the image thumbnail is no longer visible should resolve the problem.
How does the search function work?
Users should enter the term they wish to find and click “Search” to view a list of pages containing that term. The pages that appear at or near the top of the search results are judged to be more relevant, because they are based upon the number of times the search term occurs on the page or in the heading. The Help function contains more guidance on syntax and search options.
How do the Bookmarks and Notes function?
In the 2004 BCSC CD-ROM bookmarking a page and making a note are two separate functions. Users may create notes on any page by first clicking the “Notes” tab on the left-hand side of the screen, clicking the “New Note” button that appears, and then entering their text in the space provided. Checking the box next to the “Bookmark Page” option on the right-hand side of the screen will bookmark that page.
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Why did my Bookmarks and Notes disappear when I restarted the CD?
Are you running the CD from the same Windows User Account?
Bookmarks, Notes, and Highlights are personal data associated with a Windows User Account. If the program is run from different User Accounts, separate sets of Bookmarks, Notes, and Highlights are created.
Have you removed data-writing permission in your Flash Player settings?
To save your Bookmarks, Notes, and Highlights, the Flash Player program that runs the BCSC CD-ROM must be able to save data on your local computer. If you have removed data-writing permission in your Flash Player settings, you will need to restore this permission.
How can I view my Bookmarks, Notes, and Highlights if I use the CD on several computers?
The BCSC CD-ROM allows users to “pack” a copy of their Bookmarks, Notes, and Highlights on a floppy disk, USB memory stick, or the hard drive of their computer. After saving the file to the hard drive on a new computer, you can “unpack” the latest version of their Bookmarks, Notes, and Highlights prior to beginning a new session.
How do I obtain CME credit?
Physicians may earn a maximum of between 30 and 40 category 1 credits toward the AMA’s Physician Recognition Award by completing one section of the BCSC CD-ROM. The number of credits awarded for a particular section is listed under the General and CME Information heading of that section.
What if I have other questions?
Users may call 1.800.825.2956 between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. PST Monday through Friday. During other hours or if there is no answer, you may leave a message, and someone will return your call. Those who are having difficulty launching and/or running the BCSC CD-ROM should see FAQ 3 for the type of information that technical support will need about their computer configuration.
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