## Symptom

Menus for 'Input DXF' and 'Run SIBERIA' are selected but nothing happens

## Platform

All Windows platforms

## Suggested Fix

Sometimes these runs can take considerable time. First check that in fact you have not selected a set of options that results in very long run times.

- Bring the black DOS text output window to the front so you can see it. Select the menu item again. If no text appears in the text output window then the modules are not running correctly. Go to next stage. If text is appearing in this window then the program is running correctly (look particularly for the messages 'working ...' or ' program done' indicating successful progress). If the run time is too long then
  - for 'input dxf' select a smaller region to grid or use a bigger spacing (look for manual guide for what is an appropriate grid spacing). Alternatively, take a coffee break and come back later. If this a consistent problem look at ways of breaking your problem into a series of smaller bits or buying a faster computer.
  - for 'run SIBERIA'. Do not panic because SIBERIA runs can take a very long time (for a large domain say 200x200 nodes and 1000 years a run of 1/2 hour is not unusual even on a reasonably fast computer) depending on how many years you want to run for. You might trying reducing the number of years you do the simulations for. Simulation run times are approximately proportional to the number of years simulated. Maybe you can gain the same design information from a series of short design lifetime simulations rather than doing all runs for long lifetimes. Alternatively if long design lifetimes are important then you should consider reducing the resolution of the grid so that the grid size is smaller. Simulation run times are approximately proportional to the number of nodes (grid size squared).

OK it sounds like you've got a problem.

- If no text appears in the DOS text output window then there is a more serious problem. Typically this problem only occurs when there is insufficient page file space on your computer to run the modules (typically the page file needs to be set to 128 Megabytes or more to run MOSCOW and its modules). The normal default installation of Windows is 64 Megabytes which is typically too small.
  - You may wish to let your system management people do the following fix. Alternatively if you feel confident playing with the system configuration of your computer. You will need to reboot after these changes so save anything that is open.
    - Open the 'My Computer' icon on your desktop.
    - Open the 'Control Panels' icon in this window
    - Open the 'System' icon in this window
    - Select the 'Performance' page in system properties
    - Click on the 'Virtual Memory' button on the Performance page.
    - In Windows '95 and '98 you will be given the option of allowing Windows to manage the Virtual memory. If this option is already marked then then startup disk (where the windows system is installed ... typically C: drive) is too full and you should either delete files or move some files to other drives. If the option to Specify your own virtual memory is ticked (the default installation does not select this option so this indicative that your system management has cutomised your machine ... it would probably be wise to consult them at this stage before you proceed) then you should increase the number in the textbox for maximum file size (make sure you have enough diskspace on the disk before you do this). Make it 128 Megabytes or more.
    - In Windows NT you should change the the maximum size of the page file to at least 128 Megabytes or preferably more. 200 or 300 Megabytes would be more typical.