*****************************Patch.txt**************************** NATO FIGHTERS (ATF) Patch v1.01F ENGLISH ****************************************************************** Table of Contents I. Letter from EA II. Installation Instructions III. Changes and Additions IV. Troubleshooting V. Product Support Information ****************************************************************** I. LETTER FROM EA Thank you for obtaining the Jane's Combat Simulations - NATO Fighters (ATF) v1.01F Patch. This patch is intended for use with Cyrix 6x86-based systems that exhibit a "crash to DOS" when NATO Fighters is run. The "crash" problem is most noticable when trying to fly any of the Baltic-region campaign missions. During takeoff the Cyrix 6x86-based system that this patch is intended for will crash to DOS with a message in the upper-left corner of the screen stating: "Application C:\Janes\ATF\AF.EXE has caused an exception: Access Violation..." PLEASE NOTE: Any system, whether it is Cyrix-based or otherwise, can exhibit this very same error message when something ELSE is wrong. Make certain that you are running the game from either a BOOT DISK or SHORTCUT to DOS prepared in the manner prescribed by the Install guide. The use of the patch will NOT impact the persistence of this error message if there are other problems with the game's configuration. Only proper installation and configuration will prevent these problems. Use of the "WORK-AROUND": When the incompatibility between NATO Fighters and the Cyrix 6x86 was first discovered, Origin and Electronic Arts released information about a possible 'fix.' This 'fix' was a matter of turning off the texture-map options for in-flight objects. In almost all cases, this did keep the game from crashing to DOS. With the patch successfully installed, you should be able to turn the object TEXTURE MAPPING back ON... and keep it turned ON. Please note the following instructions carefully and let us know if you encounter any serious problems in trying to use the patch. Thank you! ****************************************************************** II. INSTALLATION INSTRUCTIONS Copy the file NATO_11E.exe into a temporary directory. (You may opt to copy this file into the ATF directory.) Once the copy is complete, change to the directory containing NATO_11E.exe and type: "NATO_11E" and press ENTER You should have the following files present after running the self extracting executable NATO_11E.exe: PATCH.RTP PATCH.EXE PATCH.TXT PATCH.BAT If all files are present after typing "NATO_11E" then you are ready to 'patch' the game. To install the patch, type the following: 1. Type "copy patch*.* c:\" -- You should see a message reading "4 files copied" Note: If you expanded the NATO_11E.exe file while in the ATF directory, you will NOT need to copy the files. Skip to step #3. 2. Change to your ATF directory by typing: -- "cd\" press enter -- "cd " press enter 3. Once in the ATF directory, type "patch.bat" and press enter !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !! !! !! This procedure could take up to 10 minutes. !! !! Your system may also appear to be locked up upwards to !! !! 5 minutes during this process... !! !! !! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 4. When the patch is finished installing itself, you should see a message saying: -- "Total File Patches Processed ....( 2)" 5. The patch is now installed, run NATO(ATF) as normal. ****************************************************************** III. Changes and Additions None ****************************************************************** IV. TROUBLESHOOTING ** [ Problems Expanding the Patch program ] ** If you are experiencing problems during the installation of the patch program, please refer to the steps listed at the top of this file. Ensure that you have copied the NATO_11E.exe file to a TEMPORARY directory prior to typing "NATO_11E." In addition, make sure that you executed "NATO_11E" within the temporary directory and that all files (PATCH*.*) are present after the decompression routine. *** The file 'NATO_11E.exe' contains the 'Patch' files... *** The 'Patch' files need to be copied to the ATF directory... *** The file called "PATCH" needs to be run in the ATF directory... Should problems persist with the installation of the patch, you may need to DOWNLOAD the NATO_11E.exe file again. If you did not recieve this file via Internet site (ftp or www. home-page), then you may need to RE-COPY the file from the original floppy disk onto your hard drive. It is possible to get a "bad download" of a file of any size. Make sure that you have downloaded the file through a reliable Internet connection. ** [ Problems Installing the Patch ] ** If after typing "patch" from the ATF directory (after having copied all PATCH files from the temporary directory into the ATF directory) you do not see any hard drive activity for longer than one hour or if you receive an error message, there may be a problem with data on your hard drive. Prepare your hard drive: Run a complete SCAN and DEFRAGmentation of your hard drive. If your primary operating system is a version of MS-DOS (6.0 or later), you can type "SCANDISK" at the command prompt to do a thorough scan of all data areas on the hard drive. Make sure that SCANDISK fixes any and all problems that you feel should be remedied. After using SCANDISK you can type "DEFRAG C: /F" to de-fragment your hard drive. Windows 95 users can find these tools located (generally) in the "System Tools" folder within "Accessories." Simply click on "START" and then on "PROGRAM" then on "ACCESSORIES" and finally on "SYSTEM TOOLS." You will be able to select both 'Scandisk' and 'Defrag' from this folder. Reinstall the patch (following all steps) after your hard disk is verified to be running smoothly. ** [ Problems Running the Game ] ** For any problems, make sure that you are using a Cyrix-based system for which this patch was intended. */ Game does not run /* ----------------------- Fortunately, the NATO_11E patch modifies code in the AF.exe module that will prevent an otherwise inevitable crash to DOS on any Cyrix 6x86 system. If the game ran before you installed the patch but has ceased to run after installing the patch, it is best to assume that the version of the patch that you recieved is a "bad version." * See section above dealing with Patch installation * Get a new version of the patch. Download it again during a 'low-traffic' time, or call Origin or Electronic Arts Technical Support for a patch disk to be sent to you. */ Game never ran... still doesn't after the patch /* ----------------------------------------------------- If ATF / NATO Fighters never ran on your computer system and still does not after installing the patch, you will probably need to consult the installation guide for help making a BOOT DISK or a SHORTCUT to DOS through Windows 95. The patch does not solve configuration problems nor difficulties in setting up peripherals (such as sound cards). */ Game runs... can't see a difference, though /* ------------------------------------------------- The use of the NATO_11E patch should allow you to turn ON the texture mapping for all objects in the game without risking a 'crash to DOS.' While in the "Choose Activity" (or 'Main Screen') click on PREF and then select "Graphics." Turn on TEXTURE MAPPING for objects in the game. The TEXTURE MAPPING option is located on the right-hand-side of the pull-down menu for Graphics Preferences. You can also turn your textures back ON while in-flight. Press the ESC key and select Preferences from the menu at the top of your screen. Select Graphics and then elect to turn ON the TEXTURE MAPPING option (located on the right-hand-side of the menu). ****************************************************************** V. PRODUCT SUPPORT If you have any problems contact us at: ORIGIN Phone Tech Support: (512) 434-HELP -- HOURS: (Central Standard Time) 9:00 AM-12:45 and 2:00-4:45 M-T 9:00 AM-12:45 and 2:00-3:45 F EA Phone Tech Support: (415) 572-2787 -- HOURS: (Pacific Standard Time) 8:30 AM-4:30 M-F ORIGIN FAX Tech Support: (512) 795-8014 ORIGIN BBS Tech Support: (512) 346-2BBS (14.4 kBaud @ 8,N,1) ORIGIN Internet Tech Support: support@origin.ea.com ORIGIN Internet FTP Site: ftp://ftp.ea.com/pub/patches ORIGIN Tech Support Mailing Address: ORIGIN Systems C/O Customer Service 5918 West Courtyard Drive Austin, TX 78730-5036 Jane's Combat Simulations Web Site: http://www.ea.com/janes/ <>