This book assumes you have installed Microsoft Access 2010 as part of Microsoft Office Professional Plus 2010. To install Office and related software for a single user, you need a Microsoft Windows–compatible computer configured as follows:
A Pentium 500 megahertz (MHz) or faster processor (Pentium III is recommended as a minimum), and 1 gigahertz (GHz) is required for Microsoft Outlook with Business Contact Manager.
Microsoft Windows XP with Service Pack (SP) 3 (32-bit), Windows Vista with SP1 (32-bit or 64-bit), Windows Server 2003 R2 (32-bit or 64-bit) with MSXML 6.0 installed, Windows Server 2008 (32-bit or 64-bit), or Windows 7 (32-bit or 64-bit). Terminal Server and Windows on Windows (WOW), which allows installing 32-bit versions of Office 2010 on 64-bit operating systems, are supported.
At least 256 megabytes (MB) of random access memory (RAM); 512 MB is recommended.
A hard drive with at least 527 MB of free space for a minimum installation when your network administrator has set up an install package for you on a server. When you perform a local installation, you need up to 3.5 gigabytes (GB) on your primary hard drive for the installation files and programs. At the end of the Office system install, you have the option to leave some of the installation files on your hard drive, which requires up to an additional 240 MB of free space.
A CD-ROM or DVD-ROM drive. (A DVD-ROM is recommended.) If you are installing over a network, no disc drive is required.
A mouse or other pointing device.
A 1024 × 768 or greater monitor display.
Other options required to use all features include the following:
A multimedia computer for sound and other multimedia effects.
Dial-up or broadband Internet access.
Certain inking features require running Windows XP Table PC edition or later. Speech recognition functionality requires a close-talk microphone and an audio output device. Information Rights Management features require access to a Windows Server 2003 with SP1 or later running Windows Rights Management Services.
Connectivity to Microsoft Exchange 2000 Server or later is required for certain advanced functionality in Outlook 2010. Instant Search requires Windows Desktop Search 3.0. Dynamic Calendars require server connectivity.
Microsoft Internet Explorer 6 or later, 32-bit browser only. Internet functionality requires Internet access (fees might apply).
Connection to an Internet service provider or a local copy of Microsoft Internet Information Services (IIS) installed.
512 MB of RAM or higher recommended for Outlook Instant Search. Grammar and contextual spelling in Microsoft Word 2010 is not turned on unless the computer has 1 GB memory.