Encarta Reference Library 2003 installed easily. No problems at all. Computer requirements - Multimedia PC with a Pentium 233 MHz (300 MHz recommended) or higher processor. Microsoft Windows 98, Windows 2000 Professional, Windows Me, or Windows XP. Up to 385 MB of available hard-disk space. DVD-ROM drive. Super VGA, 16-bit or higher monitor supporting 800 x 600 screen resolution.1 MB or more of video memory. Mouse or compatible pointing device. 16 bit sound card with speakers or headphones.

To Update Encarta and Web links you need - 14.4 kbps or faster modem, Access to the Internet. Up to 2 MB of additional hard-disk space for each months installments. To use the Encarta Copy to Hard Drive feature, you need: Up to 2.5 GB of additional available hard- disk space. To hear the Encarta Dictionary Pronouncements, you need up to 150 MB of additional available hard-disk space.

I experimented using the minimum installation and keeping the DVD-Rom in the drive. It requires less hard drive space. It worked well, but not as conveniently as copying the full DVD-Rom to the hard drive. My installation has all the information on the hard drive.

Encarta Reference Library 2003 includes:

• Encarta Encyclopedia Deluxe
• Encarta Interactive World Atlas
• Encarta English Dictionary
• Thesaurus
• Book of Quotations
• Research and Learning Tools

The above items include 69,300 articles, 26,050 photos and illustrations, 395 videos and animations, 3,300 sound and music clips, 30,500 web links, a Web center, 1.8 million map locations, live news, radio and weather, games, and article updates.

The Encyclopedia includes 2D and 3D virtual tours and read aloud.  The Homework starter section includes a Homework Center, World English Dictionary, Thesaurus, Translation Dictionary, Interactive World Atlas, Africana, Literature Guide, Book of Quotations and on the DVD disk, Virtual Flights.

In addition to all of the above, you have the right of Internet contact with MSN and the vast reference library that supports Encarta Reference Library 2003. If you do not find what you want on the DVD, you can contact MSN and use their auxiliary library and download the information.

When you click on the icon on the screen the home page of the program comes up. From the home page you can proceed to all the large amount of information contained in the program. It has the following INFORMATION CENTERS: Article Center includes Encyclopedia Articles and Quotes, Map Center includes World Maps and Historical Maps, Multimedia Center includes Pictures, Sounds, Videos, and Animation, Homework Center includes Research, Homework starters, Online Center includes Web. MSN Learning TimeLine Center includes Dynamic Timeline, Africana Timeline Tours Center includes Virtual, Map Treks, Virtual Flights Statistics Center includes Chart Maker, Facts & Figures Game Center includes Geographic Quiz, Mind Maze Tools include Updates, Interline World Atlas and Translation Dictionaries.

At the left top of the page is a blank area where you can type in the question you have. Under the blank all the references to the question typed pop up in alphabetic order. I typed in the name of one of my ancestors, William the Conqueror. Listed thereunder came up Map references, Area references and Names. Clicking on any reference and the article appeared. When I clicked on his genealogy, the program took me to ancestry.com and opened the ancestry chart of William the Conqueror.

William the Conqueror was the Duke of Normandy and became the King of England. He had been scheduled to become King of England but the Saxon Barons named Harold the King. This infuriated William and he gathered an army of 35,000 Normans, crossed the English Channel from France, and defeated Harold at the Battle of Hastings in 1066. Harold was killed in the battle. This was an event of comparable importance to the American Revolution. The Normans became the predominant force in Britain, replacing the Saxons.

Clicking on any one of the Centers above listed and the program takes you to the area indicated. Click on Maps Center, and the program takes you to the map portion. Type in the area you are interested in, and a map of that area appears on the screen.

The Encarta Reference Library 2003 is produced by Microsoft Corporation and the least expensive price I found on the Internet was $58.97 for the DVD version and $57.95 for the CD version. Highly recommended.