Mercinova's Google Earth Tutorial

How to start
 

It is easy to start Google Earth software, just run the application from your operating system, for Windows XP/Vista user you can run it by clicking "Start" button and choose All Program and click on "Google Earth" folder then click the "Google Earth" program name. Or you can double clicking the "Google Earth" icon on your monitor screen.

After that you will see Google Earth splash window and some information boxes that displaying connection process to Google Earth's server, this process could take a several minutes depending on your internet connection speed.

 

If the connection process succeed you will see the Google Earth application on your monitor screen, like this (click on image to see larger version):

800x600	1024x768
1280x1024

Google Earth recommending you to use 1280x1024 screen resolution, but you can use 1024x768 or 800x600 screen resolution if you are using 15 inch or less monitor type, just maximize the window to see all menus.

Troubleshooting
But if you find the warnings like these:

If you get "Google Earth could not contact the authentication server to activate your session" warning while you starting Google Earth software, or you get "Unable to perform search" while do searching. You can click the "Yes" button and this box will be appearing.

After you click "OK" button your internet browser will be appear with the Google Earth Diagnostic page, that displaying your test result.

That mean the Google Earth software can not connect to the internet, you must check your internet connection, if the connection is does not have problem the you must check your computer setting, please follow these testing procedures:

Google Earth Server Test
Click on this link to open Goggle test page:
http://earth.google.com/getest.html
You must open this link using Internet Explorer browser if you use Windows Operating System.

If you find all of three tests are unsuccessful

Check you Firewall Software
Make sure your Firewall Software on your computer does not block the Google Earth internet connection that use port 80, if you use ZoneAlarm please follow this instruction:

Click on Program Control on the left menu, then click Program on top right tab, scroll down the program name table to find Google Earth name, make all of the sign to check symbol (√), right click on the X (Block) or ? (Ask) and change it to √ (Allow).

Run again your Google Earth software, if it doesn't work then check again using Google Earth Server Test, if still unsuccessful you must check these conditions:

Check the Internet Explorer setting
Make sure the "Work Offline" option is not active, click on "File" then click "Work Offline" to make the check symbol √ disappear.

Turn off your Pop-Up Blocker
Turn off your Pop-Up Blocker software then check if Google Earth can run.

Check internet connection on your office
If you use internet connection from your office, please ask to the IT Staff to check the port 80 on your PC connection is open, and make sure the proxy server is allow the Google server to access internet on your office.

Check your wireless router access
If you use wireless router please try to by pass to your router link.
 

If the Google Earth Server Test, is successful but your Google Earth software is still can not run, then you must check this:

• Check the Firewall, Anti Virus, Anti Spyware and other protection software to allow Google Earth accessing internet and not marked as malicious software.
• Try to uninstall and install again Google Earth software.
• Try to delete all cache memory and other temporary files from your computer.

If you still can not run Google Earth please contact the support on Google website: http://earth.google.com/support/

If you don't have any problem with your software you can continue to "Tutorial" page.