Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Why isn't the county or special project I chose loading?

The problem is due to your Java Virtual Machine (VM), software that runs Java programs such as MERLIN Online. You probably have the Sun VM installed. Unfortunately, recent versions of the Sun VM cause inconsistent problems with MERLIN Online, and the Microsoft VM is a better choice for viewing MERLIN. The way to correct this problem is to load the Microsoft VM.

Microsoft no longer distributes new installations of their VM, due to legal issues. You can still download the Microsoft VM from independent Java developers, though. To find one of these, visit a search engine and search for microsoft virtual machine download. Note that any search results from microsoft.com will lead you to the wrong VM, so ignore those results. Visit one of the resulting pages, download the Microsoft VM, then follow these steps to install it.

1. Optional Step: Use Add/Remove Programs (in Control Panel) to uninstall the Sun VM. It will most likely be listed as "Java Plug-in..." or something that mentions "Java". Performing this step will result in the Microsoft VM being used any time you visit a website that requires Java. You can optionally leave the Sun VM installed, as described at the bottom of the page.

2. Run the file you downloaded to install the Microsoft VM. Restart the computer if prompted to.

3. If step 2 results in an error message similar to "this is for updates only", repeat the search for the Microsoft VM and download from a different page. Repeat step 2 with the newly-downloaded file.

4. Visit windowsupdate.microsoft.com and install any critical updates.

The Microsoft VM should now be installed and ready for use.

If you want to leave the Sun VM on your computer, you can skip step 1. Just make sure to set the Microsoft VM as the default Java application before viewing MERLIN Online. You can change the setting for the default VM in the Control Panel applet for the Java plug-in after installing the Microsoft VM, or under Internet Options - Advanced in Internet Explorer.

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