"README" file
     for
installation of NEURON under MSWindows


This will install the MSWindows version of the NEURON 
simulation environment on your hard disk.  The core 
source code for this software is identical with the 
UNIX/Linux version, which is available over the WWW.


Please read the following information before proceeding 
further.


========================================================


REQUIREMENTS

1. 386 or above running MSWindows 3.1 or above.

2. At least 8MB of RAM.  If you compile biophysical
mechanisms, gcc is pretty slow with 8MB RAM due to
swapping.

3. 10MB disk space (20MB if you install the portion that
compiles biophysical mechanisms and creates DLLs).

4. If you are using MSWindows 3.1, you will also need 
win32s.  After the installation program has exited, be 
sure to read the topic "Completing installation" at the 
beginning of the NOTES file ($(NEURONHOME)/notes.txt).


========================================================


UNINSTALLING PRIOR VERSIONS

Before installing a new version of NEURON, it is
probably a good idea to uninstall your old version.  
Win 95/98/NT users can use Add/Remove Programs 
in the Control Panel to uninstall NEURON v.4.2b
and later.  Earlier versions can be uninstalled by
following these steps:

1. Remove the directory created by the install program
where the NEURON software resides.  This will free a
good deal of disk space.

2. Remove the NEURON program group.

3. Edit the win.ini file and remove the [INTERVIEWS] 
and [NEURON] sections.

4. Edit the autoexec.bat file and remove the 
NEURONHOME and DJGENV environment variables.  
Also eliminate the old NEURON directory from the 
PATH.

5. Remove (or return to its original state) the shell
command in config.sys (prior NEURON installations 
may have increased the environment size to 5000).


========================================================


INSTALLATION UNDER MSWin 95/98/NT

1.  Open the Control Panel and click on the 
Add/Remove Programs icon.

2.  Follow the setup instructions that appear on the
screen.  You will be offered these three alternatives:

Typical installation
    installs NEURON, the on-line help files, 
    and the NMODL compiler.

Minimum installation
    installs only NEURON's core files, so you can run
    simulations.  If you later decide to put the help
    files on your PC, or want to create your own
    biophysical mechanisms, you can add these
    components with the Custom installation.

Custom installation
    lets you install just those components that you
    select. Please note that the NMODL compiler 
    requires the presence of NEURON's core files.

3.  When the installer has finished, 
please be sure to read $(NEURONHOME)/notes.txt, 
especially the topic "Completing installation."


========================================================


USER-DEFINED MEMBRANE MECHANISMS

If you wish use the model description language to write
your own membrane mechanisms, you will need the 
NMODL compiler to turn them into a DLL that will 
be dynamically loaded into neuron.exe.  You do not 
have to install the NMODL compiler if you already have 
a DLL file that contains the desired mechanisms.

The NMODL compiler requires a preexisting installation
of NEURON.

After installation, read the NOTES and README files
in the $(NEURONHOME)/djg subdirectory.


========================================================


WWW BROWSERS

You can configure your browser to use NEURON 
as a "helper program."  This will let hypertext links
bring up dynamic simulations.  For further information
see $(NEURONHOME)/notes.txt
