Studio Physics I
Installation of LoggerPro and VideoPoint
Please follow these instructions carefully.
1. Insert the “2003-2004 Studio Physics at Rensselaer” CD into you laptop.
2. Double-click on My Computer, double-click on your CD ROM drive. This should open the first
level of the CD, with several folders.
Installation of LoggerPro
3. LoggerPro is the program that we will use to capture data from our measurement devices and plot the
data on our laptops. Double-click on the LoggerPro folder. There are several files in the folder with
the name “Setup” plus various extensions. We want the file with the “.exe” extension, but depending
on the settings on your laptop you may not see the file name extensions. In any case, the file we want
has an icon that looks like a computer. Double-click on it to begin installation of LoggerPro.
4. Accept all the defaults including the USB driver.
5. At the end of the installation, you do not need to reboot yet. Select No Restart and finish the
installation.
Installation of VideoPoint
6. VideoPoint is the program that we will use to analyze the motion of various objects frame-by-frame
using previously captured video clips. Go back to the top level of the CD and double-click on the
VideoPoint folder. Like LoggerPro, there are several files that begin with “Setup”. Double click on
Setup.exe or the icon that looks like a computer with an open box.
7. Accept all the defaults unless directed otherwise, including Curve Fitting and Install Quick Time.
8. Uncheck the option to open the VideoPoint ReadMe file, then click Finish.
Installation of QuickTime
9. QuickTime installation will begin automatically. Again, keep the defaults unless otherwise directed,
including English. Allow the plug-ins for Explorer and Navigator. Leave the “Registered To” form
blank. In the “Associated Multimedia Files” form, accept the default of Macintosh files only. Click
on Finish.
10. Uncheck QuickTime README and uncheck Launch QuickTime. Click on Close.
Physics 1 Data Files
11. Go to the top of the CD and find the Physics1 folder. Copy the entire folder to a convenient place on
your hard drive. It contains data files that we will use for the Physics 1 activities. If you are
planning to take Physics 2 next semester, you can copy that folder as well.
12. Close all open windows, remove the CD, and reboot.
Studio Physics I
Installation of Driver for USB to Serial Port Converter
If you have a laptop without a serial port, you will need to use a USB to serial
port converter when you run LoggerPro. One end of the converter plugs into
your USB port, the other plugs into the older style serial cable connected to
one of the ULIs. As LoggerPro software views the connection, this port will
look like one of the PC’s COM ports, not the USB PORT.
Installation of Driver Software
1. Someone on your team should get a USB-serial converter and driver CD from the instructor.
Because we have experienced some lost converters, you will need to leave an ID card with the
instructor which you will get back when you return the converter.
2. Do not insert the converter into your USB port yet. Insert the driver CD into your laptop and
follow the instructions for Windows XP (assuming that is your operating system). Accept the
defaults.
3. When the software asks, insert the converter into your USB port. The program should complete
successfully. You can remove the CD at this time. Leave the converter in your USB port.
4. LoggerPro only recognizes COM1-COM4. In many cases, the driver software will install the
converter in a higher COM port. You need to check which port was assigned and change it if
necessary. First, Start / Control Panel (Classic View), select System / Hardware / Device Manager.
You should see a list of devices on your system. Click on the “+” sign to the left of “Ports (COM &
LPT)” to display all the ports on your system. You should see the USB converter as one of the COM
ports. If it is COM1-COM4, skip step 5.
5. Right click on the USB converter COM port and select Properties / Port Settings / Advanced. You
can reassign the COM port number to any open number in the range 1-4.
6. Close the Device Drivers window(s) and connect to the ULI. Make sure the ULI is on. When you
run LoggerPro, it should recognize the COM port number assigned to your converter. LoggerPro
will NOT access your laptop through its own USB driver; the converter will look like an oldstyle COM port to LoggerPro.
It should not be necessary to install the driver again, but you may need to go through step 5
each time you connect the adapter.