If you have one of Apple's new G3 or iMac computers, or a certain type of PC Compatible, you may have struck a problem with installing certain 4D products. 4D V3.5.4 requires you to insert a "key disk" to complete installation, and 4D server requires you to insert expansion disks if you want more than two client licenses. Many of these computers have no floppy drive at all, while others offer an Imation "Superdrive", which has not previously been able to read 4D's special Expansion and Key disks.

4D is addressing this problem directly. 4D V6.5 will offer a floppy-less server license expansion scheme. In the interim, 4D Server V6.0.6r3 or later allows you to install server licenses using a Superdrive, and possibly some other types of USB-based floppy disk drives.

Also, there is a way to install 4D V3.5.4 on a Macintosh with no floppy drive, as long as you have access to a networked Macintosh with a floppy drive. Let us assume you have two such computers; we'll call them iMac and oldMac. To get 4D V3.5.4 running on iMac, follow these steps:

• Install 4D V3.5.4 on iMac, but don't launch it. - Turn on File Sharing (Sharing Setup or File Sharing Control Panel) on iMac. Share the hard disk of iMac, so that you can write to it. If you're not sure how to use File Sharing, consult Apple's built-in help, or the documentation that came with your computer.
  
• Connect to iMac from oldMac. - Launch the copy of 4D V3.5.4 on iMac's hard disk. You are running 4D on OldMac, but the copy you are running is on iMac, and you are loading it over the network. - When you are asked for the Key Disk, insert it. Then quit from 4D V3.5.4. - Disconnect oldMac from iMac. If you previously had file sharing turned off on iMac, turn it off again.