PC Lab Machine Setup
Hardware profiles
When you turn on a general behavioural computer, before it starts loading Windows it will ask you which hardware profile you want to load. There are two Optimised profiles and an option for normal use.
The "Optimised (Testing)" profile boots Windows into a highly optimised state, only services that are essential to run Windows XP and experimental software are running. This profile also disables the network interfaces, so you do not need to unplug the network cable from a computer before testing.
The "Optimised (MATLAB)" profile is the same as the "Optimised (Testing)" profile except that a few more services are running to enable network access. As MATLAB uses a network based licensing mechanisim this profile should be used for testing with the Psychtoolbox and MATLAB. This profile should not be used for any other type of network activity.
The normal profile does not restrict what services startup and allows the computer to access the network. You should never use this profile for running experiments. If you are unsure what profile the computer is booted into you should restart the computer before you begin testing.
Windows XP local account restrictions
After Windows is finished loading it automatically logs in as a user account. This account does not have access to install software or change system settings. If you want to run different software in the rooms where these computers are then you will have to use different computers. These computers are optimised to run DMDX, Presentation, E-Prime and Superlab well and seemingly trivial changes to the computer can affect its performance.
Where to store script and result files
The experimental PCs have two hard disks, in Windows these are labelled C:\ and D:\. The C drive contains Windows XP, DMDX, Presentation, E-Prime and Superlab software and whenever there is a need to restore the operating system this entire drive gets deleted. That is why you must store your files on the D:\ drive where they will be safe.
You should store all your files in the folder D:\Exp_Files\. There is a shortcut to this directory on the Windows desktop. Make a folder in here with your name if you wish. Do not store anything in "My Documents" or anywhere else you find that you can write files or they will be deleted.
Getting and removing files from the computers
Each computer is equiped with a DVD burner so you read DVD and CD discs as well as copy up to 4.7GB of data to a DVD-R or DVD+R disk. There are also FireWire 400 and USB 2.0 ports available so you should be able attach most memory sticks or external hard drives. For any of the above options to work you need to load Windows in the "Normal" hardware profile (see Hardware profiles above).
There is also a program called WinSCP on the desktop you can use to drag and drop files to and from a remote file server that supports secure file transfer protocol (SFTP) such as Currawong.
Hardware / Software guides
The following pages contain information that is specific to a certain stimulus presentation package or peripheral on the lab PCs.
Lab Locations
| PC Name | Booking System Room |
| DMDX 1,2,3,4,5 | Decommissioned |
| ExpPC 6 to 12 | Group3 (PC Lab) |
| ExpPC 11,13 (Laptop) | C5C435 |
| Exp 14,15,16 | Group4 (Memory Lab) |
| Exp 17 | BH1 (Hypnosis) |
| Exp 18 | BH6 (Speech) |
| Exp 19 | BH5 (Clinical Room) |
| Exp 20 | BH3 |
| Exp 21 | BH6 |
| Exp 22,23,24,25 | Group 1 (Booth) |
| Exp 26 | BH2 |
| Exp 27 | BH8 |
| Exp 28 | BH4 |
| Exp 29 | BH2 - Touch Screen |
| Exp 30 (Laptop) | GSR Setup (no room) |
Technical specifications
| Name | Version | License Detail |
| DMDX | 3.5.3.2 | |
| Presentation® | 12.0 / 11.3 | USB Key Required |
| Superlab | 4.0.5 | Run only |
| E-Prime | 1.2 | Run only |
| MATLAB | R2007b (7.5) | Network |
| Psychtoolbox | 2.54 / 3.0.8 | requires MATLAB |
Dell Optiplex GX745 (ExpPC 14->29) |
|
|---|---|
| Operating System | Windows XP SP2 |
| Processor | 1.8Ghz Intel Core 2 Duo |
| RAM | 1024MB |
| Primary hard disk | 80GB SATA |
| Secondary hard disk | 160GB SATA |
| Optical Drive | DVD+-R/CD-RW Combo |
| Floppy Drive | Yes |
| Zip Drive | None |
| Monitor | Dell P992 (Black) or Diamond Digital 1998E (Beige) |
| Video Card | ATI Radeon X1300 with 256MB VRAM |
| Audio Card | Sound Blaster X-Fi XtremeGamer |
| Button box interface | Computerboards PCI-DIO24 |
| Microphone | Beyerdynamics Opus 56-18 Neckworn |
| Other ports | USB 2.0, Serial, Parallel |
Operating System Windows XP SP2 Processor 3.0Ghz Intel Pentium 4 RAM 1024MB Primary hard disk 40GB SATA Secondary hard disk 80GB SATA Optical Drive DVD+-R/CD-RW Combo Floppy Drive Yes Zip Drive None Monitor Dell P991 Video Card ATI Radeon X300 with 64MB VRAM Audio Card Sound Blaster Audigy 2 ZS Button box interface Computerboards PCI-DIO24 Microphone Beyerdynamics Opus 56-18 Neckworn Other ports USB 2.0, FireWire 400, Serial, Parallel
Operating System Windows XP SP2 Processor 2.0Ghz Intel Core 2 Duo RAM 2GB Primary hard disk 150GB SATA Secondary hard disk None Optical Drive DVD+-R/CD-RW Combo Floppy Drive No Zip Drive No Monitor Laptops 14" Widescreen XGA LCD Video Card Audio Card OnBoard Button box interface Computerboards USB/DIO-37 Microphone None Other ports USB 2, Firewire 400, Serial,
Dell Latitude C640 (ExpPC 11,13) |
|
|---|---|
| Operating System | Windows XP SP2 |
| Processor | 2.0Ghz Pentium 4 |
| RAM | 256MB |
| Primary hard disk | 18GB ATA |
| Secondary hard disk | None |
| Optical Drive | CD-RW |
| Floppy Drive | Yes |
| Zip Drive | Yes |
| Monitor | Laptops 15" LCD |
| Video Card | ATI Mobility Radeon 7500 |
| Audio Card | Integrated Crystal Labs Audio |
| Button box interface | None |
| Microphone | Beyerdynamics Opus 56-18 Neckworn |
| Other ports | USB 1.1, Serial, Parallel |