Getting set up guide for installation and licensing

Welcome to Golden Software, your premier destination for cutting-edge data visualization solutions that empower your data analysis and interpretation journey. At Golden Software, we set the gold standard for geoscientific software solutions.

This comprehensive Getting Setup guide is designed to offer you detailed instructions on the essential steps needed for a successful initial software setup. It includes information on system requirements, processes for downloading and installation, along with instructions for purchasing, activating, and deactivating licenses for your Golden Software products.

The primary objective of this guide is to facilitate a smooth and efficient setup process, ensuring that you can begin to harness the full potential of our software solutions in a timely manner. Your choice to utilize Golden Software is greatly appreciated, and we are committed to providing you the support you need throughout this initial setup process, as well as when using Golden Software products.

As pioneers in the field of geoscience and engineering software, we are dedicated to empowering professionals across the globe with tools that bring unparalleled precision and efficiency to their work.

Our suite of products, ranging from robust data visualization and 3D graphing tools to advanced 3D surface mapping and geostatistical analyses, have been meticulously engineered to cater to your unique analytical needs. Our software not only delivers industry-leading performance but also enhances user experience through intuitive interfaces and unmatched customer support.

Here are some key products and services offered by Golden Software:

• Surfer: A 2D and 3D mapping, modeling, and analysis software designed for scientists and engineers.
• Grapher: An advanced graphing program for creating publication-quality graphs, charts, and diagrams.
• Golden Software Knowledge Base: Our knowledge base has many helpful articles about all of our products, many of the features within our products, and includes training videos and recordings of past webinars, to help you fully leverage our software to meet your specific needs.
• Golden Software Technical Support: We offer exceptional technical support to all active customers, ensuring you receive the assistance needed to fully benefit from our software solutions.

Please review the following general system requirements before installing Golden Software products.

Other recommendations

Internet connection for product activation, deactivation, and updates

This is recommended, but not required. If you do nor have internet access, you can find directions to perform an offline activation on the Activate your software on an offline computer page.

Please note that these system requirements are for general guidance only. Surfer and the license server have additional requirements or recommendations, which are listed on the Software installation system requirements page.

We recommend that you ensure your system meets the minimum requirements before installing Golden Software products. If you have any questions about system requirements or compatibility, please contact our support team for assistance.

Utilizing a trial version of Golden Software’s Surfer and Grapher offers customers a valuable opportunity to assess features, functionality, and overall suitability for a user’s specific needs, without any financial commitment. This risk-free, 14-day exploration allows potential users to gain hands-on experience with our software, ensuring that it aligns with their expectations and requirements before making a purchase. Additionally, trial versions enable our customers to familiarize themselves with the interface and workflow, ultimately empowering them to make an informed decision and maximize the return on investment when choosing the right software solution for them. Instructions on how to download a trial version of our software can be found below.

1. Head over to the Surfer trial or Grapher trial pages to get started.

2. To access the trial, you'll need to provide your name, email address, and other necessary information. This will create a trial account and enable you to download the software.

3. Once you've successfully registered, you will receive an email with download links and instructions for the trial version. Download the software and follow the on-screen prompts to install the software on your computer.

4. Take your time to explore the software's features, tools, and interface. The 14-day trial allows you to experience everything the product has to offer, so make the most of it! Don’t forget to check out our extensive resources to help you fully leverage Golden Software products, and to see real life applications.

Additional Resources

1. One-hour Surfer Tutorial
2. One-hour Grapher Tutorial
3. Online Surfer Help 
4. Online Grapher Help 
5. Introduction to License Administrator
6. Surfer Knowledge Base Articles
7. Grapher Knowledge Base Articles
8. Surfer Training Videos and Past Webinars
9. Grapher Training Videos and Past Webinars
10. Upcoming webinars
11. Blog posts

If you encounter any issues during this process, please don't hesitate to reach out to our dedicated support team. We're here to help and ensure you have the best experience with Golden Software Products.

Visit our official Golden Software online store to purchase the license for your chosen product(s). All of our products are backed by our Golden Guarantee, in an effort to ensure that our products are the correct solution to meet your needs. We offer a wide range of licensing options to suit your needs, including perpetual licenses and flexible monthly or annual subscriptions. Upon successful purchase, a unique product key will be sent to the email address you've provided. This product key is essential, allowing you to fully unlock and enjoy the advanced features of our software.

After purchasing your license, you'll receive an email at the address provided during the purchase, which includes a download link. After downloading, open the installer program for the specific product, and follow the on-screen instructions to install the software on your computer.

For additional help and best installation practices, please visit Best practices for software installation.

Locate your license information

Once you have downloaded and installed the software, you will need to locate your license information. This information is provided in your purchase confirmation email and can also be found by logging into your Golden Software My Account.

For more information and additional help in locating your license information, please visit Identify and locate your serial number or product key.

Single user activations

For single user activations, please see Activate your Golden Software products.

Concurrent Use Activations

If you have a concurrent use license for Surfer, Grapher or Strater, you must set up a license server before you can activate your concurrent use products. The license server will distribute concurrent license seats to the end users of the program.

For concurrent use activations, please Set up a concurrent license server.

Please refer to the Activate your software on an offline computer article for instructions on how to perform an offline activation.

If you encounter any issues during the license activation process, please visit our Licensing Troubleshooting and Error Codes knowledge base article. Here you can learn how to troubleshoot any issues you may encounter and ensure that your license is successfully activated.

Please visit Deactivate your Golden Software License for instructions on how to deactivate for both single user and concurrent use licenses.

Please visit Transfer software to a new computer for information on how to transfer your software and licenses to a new computer.

Before uninstalling the software, you should deactivate your license to free it up for use on another computer. Please visit Deactivate your Golden Software License for instructions on how to deactivate the license.

To uninstall Golden Software products from your computer, please complete the following steps:

1. Navigate to the Search area of your Windows taskbar

2. Start typing “Uninstall”

3. Click on the “Add or remove programs” option to open

   • This will open the Settings > Apps > Apps & Features window

4. Use the search bar to look for specific programs by name, or use the scroll bar to scroll down until you find the software you are looking for

5. After locating the software you’d like to uninstall, select the 3 vertical dots on the right side of the program tile

6. Click Uninstall and follow the prompts in the Uninstall Wizard

Troubleshooting Golden Software licensing issues

If you are experiencing licensing issues, please visit Licensing Troubleshooting and Error Codes for additional troubleshooting tips.

If you are still experiencing problems with getting your Golden Software products setup, please don’t hesitate to reach out to our Customer Success team by creating a new ticket here. Our legendary support agents will be happy to answer with any setup questions, or assist with any issues you may face during the setup process.