Windows Operating System Requirements

[bluespeck@icloud.com]

Good morning.  I know that Backyard Nikon (and Backyard EOS) are Windows only, but I could not find any reference on the website as to what the minimum operating system requirements are.  I normally work in a macOS environment and am looking to source a used Windows laptop so that I can use Backyard Nikon.  Can anyone confirm what the minimum (or perhaps recommended) requirements are? For example:  Windows version, RAM, etc.  Thanks

[astroman133]

Here is info from the User Guide. However, you need to take this with a grain of salt and read to the end of my post.

Prerequisites

BackyardEOS is built using the Microsoft .Net Framework and runs only on Windows operating systems.

The Mandatories:

• Windows XP, Vista, 7, 8, 10 or higher
• Microsoft .Net 4.0 (the installer will detect if it is not installed on your computer)

The Minimum:

• All items in 'The mandatories'
• Screen resolution of 1024 x 600
• Single CPU
• 1GB memory

The Recommended:

• All items in 'The mandatories'
• Screen resolution of 1024 x 768 or higher
• Dual CPU or more
• 2GB memory or more

Exceptions...

BackyardEOS will run on both Windows 32 bits and 64 bits alike... but there are a few exceptions...

If you have an older camera such as the Canon 5D, 20D, 20Da, 30D, or 350D, it will only work on Windows 32 bits. This is because Canon does not have any 64 bits drivers for there older models.
 

Now for my recommendations...

I would not recommend trying to get BYE to run with a DIGIC II camera.
I would not recommend trying to run BYE on XP, Vista, or Win 7.
I believe that it needs .NET 4.5.
I suggest a fairly powerful computer with multiple cores and 4GM RAM at a minimum that will be able to handle the demands of running astronomy equipment, especially with regard to USB throughput for both guiding and imaging.

[admin]

BackyardNIKON does not have a large footprint, it will run on pretty much anything, including a 10-year-old laptop. It runs a basic NUC computers as well.

BackyardNIKON is a Windows application, it will not run on a MAC natively unless your use virtualization software.

[bluespeck@icloud.com]

20 minutes ago, admin said:

BackyardNIKON s not have a large footprint, it will run on pretty much anything, including a 10-year-old laptop. It runs on your basic NUC computers as well.

BackyardNIKON is a Windows application, it will not run on a MAC natively unless your use virtualization software.

Thanks for the info

[bluespeck@icloud.com]

14 minutes ago, astroman133 said:

Here is info from the User Guide. However, you need to take this with a grain of salt and read to the end of my post.

Prerequisites

BackyardEOS is built using the Microsoft .Net Framework and runs only on Windows operating systems.

The Mandatories:

• Windows XP, Vista, 7, 8, 10 or higher
• Microsoft .Net 4.0 (the installer will detect if it is not installed on your computer)

The Minimum:

• All items in 'The mandatories'
• Screen resolution of 1024 x 600
• Single CPU
• 1GB memory

The Recommended:

• All items in 'The mandatories'
• Screen resolution of 1024 x 768 or higher
• Dual CPU or more
• 2GB memory or more

Exceptions...

BackyardEOS will run on both Windows 32 bits and 64 bits alike... but there are a few exceptions...

If you have an older camera such as the Canon 5D, 20D, 20Da, 30D, or 350D, it will only work on Windows 32 bits. This is because Canon does not have any 64 bits drivers for there older models.
 

Now for my recommendations...

I would not recommend trying to get BYE to run with a DIGIC II camera.
I would not recommend trying to run BYE on XP, Vista, or Win 7.
I believe that it needs .NET 4.5.
I suggest a fairly powerful computer with multiple cores and 4GM RAM at a minimum that will be able to handle the demands of running astronomy equipment, especially with regard to USB throughput for both guiding and imaging.

Hi Rick,

Thank you for the reply.  This will be very helpful when trying to source a used Windows laptop for Backyard Nikon.

Much appreciated. 

 

[bluespeck@icloud.com]

24 minutes ago, admin said:

BackyardNIKON does not have a large footprint, it will run on pretty much anything, including a 10-year-old laptop. It runs a basic NUC computers as well.

BackyardNIKON is a Windows application, it will not run on a MAC natively unless your use virtualization software.

Thanks for the info.