FAQs
General | BIMS | CRU | FRED 2.0 | Orientation/Practice Materials | Scores | Step 2 CS
In addition to individual answers to FAQs below, you can also click here to open or close all answers for all FAQs on this page.
Questions About the Orientation and Practice Test Materials
See also FAQs re "FRED 2.0"Where can I get the sample test materials to practice running them?
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Tutorials that illustrate the USMLE Step 1, Step 2 CK, and Step 3 multiple-choice question and Step 3 computer-based case simulation (Primum® CCS) software, sample multiple-choice test questions for each Step, sample Step 3 Primum cases, and orientation materials for Step 2 CS are available at this website:
Can I use the USMLE Practice Materials on a Mac?
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The sample test questions are only available for the Windows (PC) operating system because the exams are administered on a PC-only platform at test centers. The sample test questions may run on a Mac that has PC-emulation software installed, such as Virtual PC; however, we do not test the installation or the application running with PC-emulation software, and cannot advise you about Mac applications. If you use a Mac and do not have access to PC-emulation software, you may be able to contact someone who can arrange for the sample test questions to be installed on computers that can be accessed by Mac users or students who do not have personal PCs (i.e., in learning resource centers or libraries).
I am getting error # 372. How can I fix this problem?
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This error message should only appear when using an older version of the USMLE practice materials. Please uninstall the outdated materials from your PC and then visit our website, www.usmle.org, to download the most current version.
When I try to run the practice materials I receive the following error message: “A fatal error has occurred. Please notify the Proctor. The desktop environment does not meet the necessary requirements. hres: 1280 vres: 800 colors: 16." How do I fix this?
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It sounds like either your screen resolution or color settings do not meet the minimum requirements. Resolution must be set to 1024 x 768 (or higher) and color must be set to 24 bit or True Color.
To change you settings, please...
• Go to your Windows START button and select CONTROL PANEL
• From the CONTROL PANEL window, click the APPEARANCE AND THEMES link and then the DISPLAY link
• From the DISPLAY window, select the SETTINGS tab
• Change your color quality and/or screen resolution as mentioned above and then click APPLY
After closing all the windows, please attempt to use the Practice Materials again.
If you are using Windows Vista, instead of using the above instructions, you should right click anywhere on your desktop and select PERSONALIZE. Then select DISPLAY SETTINGS to make the change.
I successfully installed the practice materials, but when I try to start a block of questions, I get a message that says “"Navigation to the webpage was canceled." How do I fix this?
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- Start by clicking on the start menu – Accessories. Right click on Notepad and select “Run as administrator”.
- If User Access Control(UAC) is enabled, click Continue to move forward. If UAC is not enabled you will simply not see this message.
- Click on File – Open.
- Click Computer in the left hand pane, this will give you the option to click on the C drive.
- Now click on C drive – Windows – System32 – drivers – etc. The folder will at first look empty, in the lower right hand corner click on the arrow next to Text Documents and select All Files.
- Now you will see the “hosts” file, double click it and it will open in Notepad.
- Once it is open add the line highlighted below. Then click File – Save.
I received the following script error:
Internet explorer script error
An error has occurred in the script on this page
Line: 202
Char: 3
Error: 'responseXML.getElementsByTagName(.).0' is null or not an object
Code: 0
URL: http://localhost:10001/driver_resource/js/timer.js
Do you want to continue running scripts on this page?
Yes No
How can I fix this?
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This error occurs when your regional language is not set to English (United States), which is a requirement for the software to run properly. To change your language setting please follow the steps below which are appropriate to your version of Windows.
Windows 2000: Go to the Start menu/ Settings/Control Panel. Select the "Regional Options" icon from Control Panel. Select the General Tab and in the "Settings for the current user" field, select ENGLISH(United States) from the drop down list.
Windows XP (home or Professional): Go to the Start menu, then the Control Panel. Navigate to the Regional and Language Options. On the Regional Options tab, change the language to English (United States) using the drop down menu. Then select the Advance Tab and change the language to English (United States) using that drop down list. Then click Apply.
Windows Vista: Start by clicking on the Start Menu, then open up the Control Panel. Select Clock, Language, and Region. Then select Regional and Language Options. On the Formats tab, make sure that Current Format is set to English(United States). Then on the Location tab make sure the Current Location is set to United States. Lastly, on the Administrative tab click on Change system locale. Click Continue on the User Access Control warning message that may pop up. Then change the current system locale to English(United States)
Please make sure you change the language on both the “Regional Options” tab AND the “Advanced” tab before restarting your computer. See screen shots below.
Windows 7: Begin by clicking on the Start button, then click Control Panel. Once the Control Panel is open click on “Clock, Language, and Region” from the options.
- On the next screen click on “Change the date, time, or number format”
- On the Formats tab, set the Format to English (United States)
- On the Location tab, set the Current Location to United States
- On the Administrative tab if the language used for non-Unicode programs IS NOT set to English (United States), click on the Change system locale button.
- Select English (United States) from the dropdown and click OK.
- These changes will require a reboot in order to take effect, so if any changes are made please restart your system.
General | BIMS | CRU | FRED 2.0 | Orientation/Practice Materials | Scores | Step 2 CS