Setting Up a New Comptuer for Spikemark

Steps to get a brand new, out of the box, computer ready to run Spikemark

1. Install Windows with Offline Local Account

2. Power Settings

3. Taskbar Settings

4. Date and Time

5. Notifications

6. Spikemark Utility Shortcuts

7. Windows Updates

8. Programs to Install

9. Windows Security Settings

DO NOT just open your show file

ALWAYS open Spikemark through the Start Menu or Task Bar and then use File>Open to open your show

This will ensure that your show and machinery load properly in the software.

Install Windows With Offline Local Account

These steps begin once Windows has been installed and turns on to the initial setup

1. Shift + F10 -> Command prompt

2. OOBE\BYPASSNRO --> Restarts computer

3. Shift + F10 --> Command Prompt

4. ipconfig /release

Power Settings

• Turn off the display: 2hrs

• Put the computer to sleep: Never

• Turn off hard disk after: 0 (never)

• When I press the power button: Do nothing (prevents unintended shutdown/sleep)

• When I press the sleep button: Do nothing (prevents unintended shutdown/sleep)

1. Press WIN+R to open the Run Window

2. Type powercfg.cpl to open the Power Options

3. Click "Choose what the power buttons do"

4. Select "Do nothing" in each of the drop-down menus

   • Be sure to do this for the power button, sleep button, and "When I close the lid" for both On batter and Plugged in

Taskbar Settings

• Widgets: OFF

• Other system tray icons:

  • Safely Remove Hardware and Eject Media: ON

1. Right Click on a blank space on the Windows Taskbar

2. Turn the Widget slider to "Off"

3. Click the drop down carrot beside Other system tray icons

4. Turn the Safely Remove Hardware and EJect Media to "On"

5. Turn all other sliders to "Off"

Date and Time

• Set Time Zone for location

• Sync now

1. Right Click the clock in the lower right corner of the Windows Taskbar and select Adjust date and time

2. Click Time zone drop down menu and select current time zone

   • If this option is greyed out, click the Set time zone automatically slider to the "Off" position

3. Verify that Set time automatically slider is set to "On"

4. Click Sync now button and verify that the time updates to the current, local time

Notifications

• Notifications: OFF

• Do not disturb: ON

• Additional settings

  • Show the Windows welcome experience after updates and when signe din to show what's new and suggested: OFF

  • Suggest ways to get the most out of Windows and finish setting up this device: OFF

  • Get tips and suggestions when using Windows: OFF

1. Right Click the clock in the lower right corner of the Windows Taskbar and select Notification settings

2. Click Notifications slider to "Off"

3. Click Do not disturb slider to "On"

4. Scroll to the bottom off the screen and click the Additional settings carrot to display additional check boxes

5. Deselect all checkboxes under Additional settings

Spikemark Utility Shortcuts

• Drive Parameter Sets

• OSC Libraries

• Spikemark Firmware

• Spikemark Log Files

• CCI VFD Error Codes

• Common Log File Searches

Windows Updates

• Run Windows Update until there is nothing left to update

• Turn off Windows Update through the Services App

Even though we turn it off so that it does not interfere with our network or running a show, it is best practice to keep Windows up to date.

CLICK HERE to Check for Windows Updates Now

1. Select the Start menu, type services, and select it from the list of results

2. Scroll down the list of Services to Windows Update and select it

3. Select the option to Stop the service

If the service is already off, it will show the option to Start the service. In this case, you don't need to do anything!

Programs to Install

• Chrome

  • set docs.creativeconners.com as default start page

• Notepad++ - This is our preferred application for reading Log Files

• PDFGear

• PowerToys - We like to activate Find My Mouse, especially if using multiple screens

• Spikemark

Windows Security Settings

Allow Spikemark to communicate through Windows Defender Firewall

Add an app from the list of allowed apps

1. Select the Start menu , type Allow an app through Windows Firewall, and select

   1. Windows+R -> firewall.cpl -> Allow an App through Windows Firewall

2. Select . You might be asked for an administrator password or to confirm your choice.
3. Scroll down to Spikemark and Spikemark_Pendant_Port.
4. Check any boxes that are blank and select to save.

-- if Spikemark is not on the list --

1. Select and Browse or enter the path for the app. Select SpikeMark.exe and click then

   1. Default location is C:\Program Files\Spikemark

2. Return to Step 3 above to allow Spikemark through.

Open a port

1. Select the Start menu , type Windows Defender Firewall, and select

   • Windows+R -> firewall.cpl

2. Select on the side navigation menu. You might be asked for an administrator password or to confirm your choice.
3. Select .
4. To open a port, select and complete the instructions.

   1. then select
   2. Browse for the path to where you installed Spikemark. If you used the default location, copy this into the window: %ProgramFiles%\Spikemark\SpikeMark.exe then select
   3. Select then select
   4. Check all boxes for When does this rule apply? then select
   5. Name the rule Spikemark and select

Allow UDP in Spikemark

1. Select the Start menu , type Windows Defender Firewall, and select

   • Windows+R -> firewall.cpl

2. Select on the side navigation menu. You might be asked for an administrator password or to confirm your choice
3. Select
4. Scroll to Spikemark left click to select it. It wil highlight blue

5. Copy and past the rule using CTRL+C then CTRL+V

6. Click in the header 2x (not double click) to refresh the list
7. Select either Spikemark rule then select from the right hand Actions menu
8. Select the Protocols and Ports menu at the top, then change the Protocol type: to UDP using the dropdown menu and select to save

Open Port for Spikemark Pendant

1. Select the Start menu , type Windows Defender Firewall, and select

   • Windows+R -> firewall.cpl

2. Select on the side navigation menu. You might be asked for an administrator password or to confirm your choice
3. Select
4. To open a port, select and complete the instructions.

   1. then select
   2. Select then type 8080 into then select
   3. Select then select
   4. Check all boxes for When does this rule apply? then select
   5. Name the rule Spikemark_Pendant_Port and select

Windows Network Adapters

We recommend turning off any network adapters that are not being used by Spikemark to avoid network interference

1. Windows+R -> ncpa.cpl
2. Right click on each unused network adapter and select

Disabled adapters are greyed out and say Disabled

If you use a VPN, this must also be disabled to connect in Spikemark