Installing ArcGIS 9.x on Windows XP at the Massaschusetts Institute of Technology

This document gives you step by step instructions for installing ArcGIS 9.x (Arcinfo level) on your Windows Operating System machine. You should be patient during the loading process - it may take you an hour or more.

Warning: All site licenses at MIT are exclusively run on an MIT only basis to insure our adherence to the site licenses.  Since your home computer is off of net 18, you can't run it without using a virtual private network. See this page to get one running on your home PCs: http://web.mit.edu/ist/services/network/vpn.html

If you have an earlier version of ArcGIS already installed, you must remove both ArcGIS Desktop and ArcInfo Workstation before starting the installation.

Install ArcGIS Desktop

You should install the ArcGIS 9.x Desktop DVD in your DVD drive. You should see this image:

Click on "ArcGIS Desktop." You will see this screen:

Choose the "Install ArcGIS Desktop" Option.

After a few minutes you will see the Welcome to the ArcGIS Desktop Setup program:

Click Next in this window.

A new window asks you to read the license file, which you should do. You should accept the license restrictions. You should also realize that this license entitles you to use ArcGIS for MIT purposes only.

The License Manager window opens next. (Note: if you are a computer lab admin using an MSI the install process skips this step.) You should click on "Define the License Manager later" option and then click on Next.

The Default Software window gives you a choice of ArcView ArcEditor or ArcInfo. Choose Arcinfo (which offers the most tools and reads the largest variety of formats) then click on Next.

The Installation Type window opens next. Choose the Complete installation then click on Next. The Destination Folder window opens next:

Under most circumstances (for almost all users), choose the default then click on next.

The Python Destination window opens next, again, most users will choose the default, then click on Next.

A confirmation window opens next:

Click on Next. The install starts at this time. This can take several minutes. After the installation is complete, you should see the success window:

Click on Finish. You have successfully completed installing the Desktop software but there are several steps left. When the setup program offers to restart the computer, select "No." The top install menu window reappears.

You have several choices here:

The ArcGIS Desktop Tutorial Data can be very helpful for new users. Additional ways of learning to use ArcGIS are listed at: http://libraries.mit.edu/gis/teach/index.html#learn

You should install the ArcGIS VBA Resources for Developers or SDKs only if you plan on programming in ArcGIS.

Crystal Reports is third party software that adds additional reporting functionality to ArcGIS. It is not required to run ArcGIS. You can find out more about it at: http://www.esri.com/partners/alliances/business_objects/crystal-reports.html

If you click on "ArcGIS Desktop Tutorial Data", the Tutorial Data Setup window opens next:

Click on Next. You will see another license window. Again, you should read the license and agree to it (and check the appropriate radio icon) then click on Next. You should see another Installation Type window, similar to the one you saw in the software setup. You should click on the "Complete" radio button then click on Next.

You will see another destination folder. You should accept the default then click on Next.

A confirmation window opens next. Click on Next.

You will see another success window for the installing the tutorial data. Click on Finish.

If you do not need the Resources for Developers, click on Exit.

Installing Arcinfo Workstation

Insert the Arcinfo Workstation DVD. (If it does not start automatically, browse to the DVD windows directory on your DVD drive and click on Setup.exe. The DVD contains other directories for non-Windows operating systems.) You will see the Installation Type window:

Choose Install ArcGIS for individual use then click on Next. You will see the License Manager window.

Click on Setup the License Manager later and then click on Next. You will see the Arcinfo Welcome window:

Click on Next. You will see the Arcinfo License Agreement window. Read the license then accept it then click on Next.

You will see the Arcinfo Installation Type window:

Click on Complete then on Next.

You will see the Arcinfo Workstation destination folder window. Most users will want to accept the default then click on Next.

You will see the Select Workspace folder window. This is the folder that Arcinfo starts in, by default. For most users, you won't start Arcinfo (which is command line driven) but instead will rely on ArcInfo tools available through the ArcGIS Desktop interface. Most users will want to accept the default then click on Next

You will see the Start Installation window:

Click on Next. A Successfully Installed window will appear when the installation is complete.

Setting the license manager

To set the license manager, use the Desktop Administrator. This is found from the Start Menu -> All Programs -> ArcGIS -> Desktop Administrator. You will see a window like this:

Click on the "License Manager" folder. Now click on the "Change" button on the right side of the window. Change the name to the name of the license manager sent to you by email when you were notified that your DVDs were ready. Click on OK to confirm the name then click on OK in the Desktop Administrator window.

Check for updates at the ESRI Support Center. Download and install the most recent Service Pack.

The easiest way to start working with a GIS project is by bringing in data from the MIT Geodata Repository. The MIT Geodata Search Tool runs on top of ESRI's ArcGIS. To download and install, and set up a user account for the MIT Geodata Search tool visit: http://libraries.mit.edu/gis/data/repository/install_geodata_census.html.

You are now ready to run ArcGIS on your PC. Be sure to restart your computer.