Computers and Operating Systems

What are the system requirements for your software?

There are different requirements depending on which software you are running. At the bottom the pages on this web site for ExpertCAD, ExpertCAM and ToolDesigner are general guidelines for system requirements for those applications. Contact us if you have specific questions regarding hardware you are thinking about using or purchasing.

Which Windows operating systems are supported?

The table below lists the supported operating systems:

Operating System	32-bit	64-bit	Minimum Revision Level
Windows 11			All
Windows 10			All (Windows 10 S not supported)
Windows 7			Service Pack 1
Windows Server 2016	N.A.		8.1 and 8.1 Update
Windows Server 2012	N.A.		R1 and R1

The software will likely install and run without incident on Windows 8.x however we do not perform any testing on these versions of the Windows operating system. If you are running an 8.x version, we strongly recommend upgrading to Windows 10.

The software will not run on operating systems older than Windows 7 (e.g. Windows XP).

Windows 11 presents itself as Windows 10 to the application software. The 2021 releases will run without incident on Windows 11.

Can I run ExpertCAD in the cloud using Microsoft Azure?

No. Cloud-based solutions (AWS, Azure, ...) used in conjunction with a remote display technology such as Microsoft Remote Desktop, VMWare, etc. is not supported.

I have an old version of ExpertCAD. Will it install and run on Windows 10?

Maybe. If you have 2015 or later, you are all set - 2015 and later releases were developed with Windows 10 as a supported platform. Windows 10 did not exist at the time 2014 or earlier versions were created so it is unlikely that an old version will work install or work properly on Windows 10. Contact your AMT representative to upgrade to the latest release.

Does your software run on computers with ARM microprocessors like the Microsoft Surface Pro X?

Yes but this is not recommended. All AMT Software applications are compiled for to run native X86 code. Windows 10 / ARM computers can run x86 compiled applications but they must be 32-bit and are run in an emulation mode which substantially degrades their performance.

What display resolution do you recommend for a monitor?

You will want to get a display capable of a screen resolution of 1080 pixels in height (e.g. 1920 x 1080 is fine). This allows for all the icons on the right hand side to be visible. Lower resolutions will work but you will have to scroll the icons to get to those not visible.  Here is an example of a screen that is 1280x800 in size; notice how all the icons are not visible because the screen is only 800 pixels in height.

Can I use a high definition TV for a monitor?

That is possible but not recommended. It may be very difficult to configure display settings in order produce an optimal display. You are better off with a purpose-built computer monitor.

Do I need any special graphics card?

If you are a Prospector user, it would be a good idea to upgrade to a higher level graphics card. You can find out more at ProspectorNC.com by clicking here. ExpertCAD, ExpertCAM and ToolDesigner don't require any special graphics card. If you want to upgrade or have options when ordering a new computer, we recommend NVIDIA^® as the manufacturer of choice. They have proven to be the most trouble-free cards for use with our software applications.

I have version 7.7 of your software. It will not install on Windows 7. How do I fix this?

7.x and earlier versions of software are too old to install on computers running Windows 7 or later. The installation program doesn't recognize the operating system because it didn't exist at the time the software was created. Your only option is to upgrade to the current release. Contact your AMT Software representative for help upgrading.

Does the software work with a touch screen monitor? Should I get one?

Yes. Our software typically interprets a touch event as though the left mouse button was clicked so it will say add a point to the current line or perform a cursor stroke. It also recognizes Microsoft gestures such as 'pinch' to zoom in. If you use a desktop computer, you will likely find a touch screen to be ergonomically awkward to use so in our opinion, it's not worth the extra expense. Because of the way the user interface works, you really need a 3-button mouse to maximize your productivity.

Does your software install and run on a virtual machine?

Yes. Our installation does not prevent you from installing and running on a virtual computer. License enforcement will be an issue unless you choose to use floating licenses or an iLicense. A USB key is probably not going to work in this type of environment.

Can I install on a server and let multiple users access the software using remote desktop?

No. For obvious reasons, this form of usage is not allowed. At run time, the software will detect this form of usage and will not allow the application to run.

Can I use the software on a laptop computer?

Absolutely. Just make sure it has a USB port if you are using a USB key for licensing. If possible, get a higher resolution screen so you have 1080 pixels in height so you don't need to scroll the icons on the right side of the screen to get to those that are not visible.

Can I use the software on a tablet computer?

Yes. The tablet computer must have a Microsoft operating system that is supported and is powered by an Intel or Intel compatible microprocessor. You'll need a USB port if you are using a USB key for licensing.  You can't use a tablet with the Android operating system or a tablet with an ARM processor. Sure a tablet will work, but we don't recommend this type of computer unless you are just viewing drawings. Because tablets typically don't have a mouse, there is no way to position the cursor on the screen. Every touch of the screen will cause some sort of action to occur. In many functions it is a prerequisite to position the cursor first, then choose an icon. That is simply not possible to do on a tablet. Remember tablet computers are great for consuming content but not so great for creating content. That's why we don't see any problem if you are going to look at drawings but if you need to create content, get a mouse & and keyboard to use with it.

Does the software run on Linux operating systems?

No. Linux is not a supported platform and there are no plans to support this operating system at this time because there is simply not enough demand for it.

Do you or will you be supporting Apple computers?

We currently do not support Apple products. In the future? Maybe. But don't hold your breath because they simply aren't as popular as Windows-based computers in the CAD/CAM arena. But things could change.

Does AMT Software sell computers and other hardware that you recommend for your applications?

AMT Software does not sell hardware. We are a software and services company only. We do not resell computers, graphics cards or 3rd party software. If your account is handled by an AMT Software distributor, check with your account representative as they may offer attractive hardware options for you to consider.

The installation program is giving me the option to install the 32-bit edition or the 64 bit edition. Which should I choose?

Your Windows operating system is 64-bit. This allows you to install either the 32-bit edition or the 64-bit edition of the application software. Either version of the software will install on your computer and run in an identical fashion. Unless you have a good reason to do otherwise, we recommend installing the 64-bit edition of the software. The 64-bit edition can take advantage of the much larger address space (RAM memory) provided by the 64-bit OS.

Is the 64-bit edition of the software faster than the 32-bit edition?

No. The 64-bit edition allows the software access to a much larger address space (RAM memory) than the 32-bit edition. Performance in terms of how fast the program runs is the same.

A computer with 4 cores will be twice as fast as one with 2 cores. Right?

Well not really. If you have a computer with 4 cores that doesn't mean it will run twice as fast as a computer with 2 cores. Think of it like a horse-drawn carriage. If you add a second horse to pull the carriage, you can't go twice as fast. Horses only run so fast. Adding more horses doesn't add additional speed to any of them. But doubling the number of horses means you can pull twice the load! The same holds true for computers. Adding more cores or an additional processor(s) is additive to the overall computational capacity of the computer. This means the computer can tackle many more tasks concurrently which is a good thing. However each task runs only as fast as the speed of the processor itself.