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Text File | 1992-11-12 | 27KB | 623 lines

LINKS386 PRO Version 1.08 11-11-92 LINKS386 TROUBLE SHOOTING NOTES 11-11-92 ------------ Version 1.08 ------------ Version 1.08 corrects the problem with the swing panel going too fast or too slow when running in OS/2 or WINDOWS. If you want to run Links386 Pro from WINDOWS, you must play with all sounds turned off. To do this, start Links386 Pro from the dos prompt (Not through WINDOWS). Choose "Options" button. Choose "RealSound(no card)" button. Uncheck the "Post Shot Comments" and the "Sound Effects" check boxes. Choose the "OK" button. Exit Links386 Pro. You can now run Links386 Pro from WINDOWS. For best performance we still recommend running Links386 Pro from the MSDOS dos prompt and not through WINDOWS. ------------------------------------------------------- Packard Bell Computers with OAK TECHNOLOGY video chips. ------------------------------------------------------- There are three chip sets from OAK that are used in Packard Bell computers and are usually located on the motherboard. The OTI-037, OTI-067 and the OTI-077. These are the only chips that OAK makes. The OTI-037 will not support 256 colors and is NOT compatible with LINKS386. The OTI-067 and OTI-077 both support 640x480, 256 color Super VGA and will work with LINKS386. They require the VESA driver called OTIVESA.COM. 640x400 resolution is not supported by any of the OAK chips. The OTI-077 chip when installed on the motherboard should only be found on 486's. The following version numbers apply to the different OAK chips. Version 1.04x or earlier is the OTI-067 chip. Version 1.05x is the OTI-077 chip. Version 1.06x can be either the OTI-067 or OTI-077 chip. Version 2.xxx is the OTI-037 chip and will not work. To determine the version number of an OAK chip, try the following: Step 1. Run the DEBUG utility by typing: DEBUG [Enter] DEBUG is located in your DOS directory. Step 2. Display the video ROM by typing: D E000:0 [Enter] At the right side of the screen should be a group of characters. Look for: U*@k.B..OAK VGA BIOS, not for IB MPQRVW..SU...U.h or something very similar on the first three lines. If the characters on screen do not match those shown above, try typing the following commands: D C000:0 [Enter] D C800:0 [Enter] D D000:0 [Enter] D D800:0 [Enter] D E800:0 [Enter] D F000:0 [Enter] D F800:0 [Enter] If you see the characters shown above, proceed to step 3. If the characters still don't match, you can open the case on your computer if you want to know which chip version you have. Look for a chip with the word OAK on it. Then look for something like OTI-037C. Step 3. Now display more of the video ROM by typing: D [Enter] Step 4. Repeat step 3 several times looking for the words "Copyright 199x, Oak Technology VGA BIOS" Step 5. Immediately following the word BIOS look for the chip number and/or the version. For example the OTI-037 version 2.17 appears as follows: 990, Oak Technol ogy VGA BIOS Dv2 .17-351...=5.... While the OTI-067 version 1.042 appears as: 1991, Oak Techno logy VGA BIOS 06 7B/C V1.042..Vid If you can't find something that looks like the version number, keep repeating step 3. There are usually two occurances of the words "Copyright 199x, Oak Technology" and the version number normally follows the second occurance. It is usually located after offset :0300. The offset is the number after the colon (:) on the left side of the screen. Remember: Version 1.04x or earlier is the OTI-067 chip. Version 1.05x is the OTI-077 chip. Version 1.06x can be either the OTI-067 or OTI-077 chip. Version 2.xxx is the OTI-037 chip and will not work. Step 6. Write down the version number. Step 7. Exit the DEBUG utility by typing: Q [Enter] Which VESA driver should be used with the OTI-067 and OTI-077 chips? Use the driver called OTIVESA.COM It is located in the VESA library in the OAK directory. If the OAK chip is the OTI-037, what can be done to play LINKS386? Install a separate (or new) video card that is known to work with LINKS386. If the OTI-037 chip is located on the motherboard, the customer may have to move a jumper to set up the Packard Bell for use with a separate video card. On the model 416sx this jumper is called JVGAS. Refer to the computer manual if needed to determine the name and location of this jumper. It is normally located on the motherboard. Be sure to install the correct VESA driver that works with the new card. ---------------------------- OAK TECHOLOGY CARDS OR CHIPS ---------------------------- Refer to the information above regarding OAK chips in Packard Bell computers. Most of the information will apply to OAK chips on other cards or in other computers. ------------------------------------------------------------------- THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN 640X400 and 640X480 (AND HIGHER) RESOLUTIONS ------------------------------------------------------------------- LINKS386 uses 400 pixels vertically, regardless of which screen resolution is selected. Thus in 640x400 resolution, LINKS386 uses all of the 400 pixels that are available in the vertical direction. In 640x480 mode, LINKS386 still uses 400 vertical pixels and therefore leaves 80 pixels unused. This makes the image appear squashed. Some monitors have controls to adjust the vertical size of the display. If your monitor has such a control, you can adjust the output of a 640x480 video card so that LINKS386 fills more of the screen. LINKS386 will cover empty portions of the screen with graphic tiles to fill the screen and make the game more graphically pleasing in the higher resolution modes. (above 640x400) -------------------------------------- WHICH VIDEO CARD IS BEST FOR LINKS386? -------------------------------------- If you are about to purchase a new video card for use with LINKS386, we recommend the following: 1. Find a card that supports 640x400 resolution as well as other VESA resolutions(640x480 - 800x600 - 1024x768). Make sure there is a VESA driver available for the card. Here are some examples: ATI Wonder XL Diamond Speedstar Orchid ProDesigner 2 Ahead Wizard Deluxe (1meg) 2. Be careful if buying a brand new "latest technology" card. Some manufacturers are not real thorough in testing their cards and VESA drivers for compliance with the VESA standards. You may find yourself waiting for a VESA driver that actually works. 3. If possible, "Test Drive" the card before you buy. Perhaps the safest solution is to buy from a retailer that has LINKS386 running on a machine in his/her store. Then buy the same card. ---------------- COMPAQ COMPUTERS ---------------- Compaq computers with Compaq video chips/cards may not work with LINKS386 because there is no VESA driver available for Compaq's video chips. Compaq is currently writing a VESA driver(s) that should be available by mid December 1992 that will work on the QVision video cards. If you have a Compaq computer that won't run LINKS386 and has a QVision video card, call us to get the VESA driver (after December 15th) or buy a third party video card that supports the VESA BIOS extensions. ------------------ IBM PS/2 COMPUTERS ------------------ Some IBM PS/2 computers will not run LINKS386. The computer must have the version 2 video hardware. This hardware has 512k of video RAM and is the same as that found on the Model 25sx. PS/2 models that should work are the 25sx, 55sx, 56sx, and 57sx. If your IBM computer has XGA graphics, try using the new IBM XGA VESA driver which is included in the VESA library. -------------------------- DIAMOND STEALTH VIDEO CARD -------------------------- Diamond Stealth cards with the newer bios work fine (version 2.30 and higher). Owners of cards with older bios versions should call Diamond. They will provide a new chip FREE OF CHARGE. ------------------------------------------- DIAMOND CARDS WITH WESTERN DIGITAL CHIPSETS ------------------------------------------- Try using the Diamond VESA Driver called 24XVESA.EXE which is located in the VESA library in the Diamond sub-directory. -------------------------------------------------------------- "BOCA SUPER X VGA" CARD (32,768 colors - product code SVGAX1) "SUPER VGA BY BOCA" CARD (256 colors - product code SVGAN1) NEW NCR CHIPSETS -------------------------------------------------------------- These cards require the driver called SOFTMODE.SYS which is located in the \LINKS386\VESA\BOCA directory. It must be added to the CONFIG.SYS file as follows: DEVICE=C:\LINKS386\VESA\BOCA\SOFTMODE.SYS /M:12 /V Both BOCA cards operate in 640x480 only, so the picture is squashed. The BOCA SVGA10 card still uses the Tseng labs driver(TLIVESA.COM). ------------ NCR CHIPSETS ------------ Same as BOCA above. --------------------------- ORCHID FAHRENHEIT 1280 CARD --------------------------- ORCHID FAHRENHEIT 1280 card should work with one of the included ORCHID drivers. ----------------- GENOA VIDEO CARDS ----------------- If you are having problems with your GENOA card, try the new driver (VESA.COM) which is included in the \LINKS386\VESA\GENOA directory. -------------------------------------------------- VIDEO CARDS WITH PARADISE/WESTERN DIGITAL CHIPSETS -------------------------------------------------- Included with this version are three new VESA drivers from Western Digital. Many cards use Western Digital chipsets even though there may be no mention of Western in the Card brand name or in the documentation. You may have to remove the computer case and actually look at the video chip. The following chips should use the VESA drivers shown. CHIPSET VESA DRIVER PVGA1A,PVGA1B, or 90C00 VESAX.EXE (8-13-92) 90C11 VESA1C.EXE (8-13-92) 90C30 or 90C31 VESA1D.EXE (8-13-92) ------------------------------------------------------ PARADISE/WESTERN DIGITAL CARDS WITH BUILT IN VESA BIOS ------------------------------------------------------ Paradise or Western Digital cards with "built in" VESA BIOS extensions on ROM may experience the following problem: The SETVESA program recognizes the an installed driver, which is correct. However, when the player types GOLF to run the game, he/she gets a "MEMORY PROTECTION ERROR" and a bunch of garbage on screen. Solution: Go to SETVESA and do "Manual Trial and Error" install the Paradise 1D or the Western Digital 1D driver (VESA1D.EXE). If that doesn't work try the other Paradise or Western Digital drivers starting with VESA1C. -------------------- STB POWERGRAPH CARDS -------------------- This version of LINKS386 should work. If it doesn't, give us a call. We are working with STB to solve problems. Also refer to "OTHER STB CARDS" below. --------------- OTHER STB CARDS --------------- The VESA driver for most STB cards must be installed before any other video drivers such as MOUSE or ANSI. If you are having problems with your STB VESA driver, try removing device calls to ANSI, NANSI, OR TANSI and calls to a MOUSE driver from your CONFIG.SYS file. Also make sure that the call to the STB VESA driver is at the top of the AUTOEXEC.BAT file. If you are using SETVESA, it will place the STB driver at the top of the AUTOEXEC.BAT for you. --------------- ATI ULTRA CARDS --------------- Try the newest ATI VESA driver(included). If it doesn't work, give us a call. We are working with ATI to make sure all ATI cards will run LINKS386. ------------------ ACUMOS VIDEO CHIPS ------------------ Tandy and some other manufacturers use ACUMOS video chips in their computers or video cards. Most of these chips have the VESA driver built into the ROM BIOS. Some users of LINKS386 have experienced problems with these chips as follows: After playing one or more holes, the screen suddenly begins to "break up" with images drawing "all over the screen in random blocks". If you are experiencing these symptoms, start LINKS386 using the /J command. Type: GOLF /J [Enter] to start LINKS386 ------------------------------------ SOUND BLASTER - INTERMITTANT LOCKUPS ------------------------------------ This version of LINKS386 has program changes to help solve problems with Sound Blaster interrupt conflicts. If you're having intermittant lockup problems and have a Sound Blaster card, using this version should let you continue play even if an IRQ conflict is occurring. In such cases, occasional "Abnormal Sounds" may be heard. This is unavoidable. If you are having problems, start LINKS386 using the /S command. This will enable the Sound Blaster fail-safe system. Type: GOLF /S [Enter] Also, please read the information below to see if there may be ways to set up your Sound Blaster to avoid interrupt conflicts. Sound Blaster audio cards seem to cause problems in different configurations because of conflicts with other hardware using the same interrupts, If you are having problems with LINKS386 and you have a Sound Blaster card, try changing to REALSOUND in the Sound Options Screen. If the problem clears up, then it was Sound Blaster related. Try changing your Sound Blaster to use a different interrupt. If possible, stay away from IRQ 10 which is known to have potential problems. Also, printers and modems use IRQ 7 and can conflict with a Sound Blaster on the same IRQ. If you have a printer and a Sound Blaster and are having problems with LINKS386, switch to REALSOUND to see if the problem clears up. If it does, then try using Sound Blaster but turn off the printer. This may not work however, because simply having the port connected can be enough to cause problems, even though the printer is off or disconnected. You may have to try switching your Sound Blaster to another interrupt such as IRQ 5 or IRQ 2. The old Sound Blaster version 1.0 is especially suspicious. We believe there may be a bug in the hardware. Again, try turning off the Sound Blaster by selecting REALSOUND to see if you can get the game to work properly. ---------------------------------------- SOUND BLASTER AUDIO CARDS - CAN'T SELECT ---------------------------------------- If the SOUND BLASTER button in the Game Settings screen won't stay activated, the available memory is too low. Total available memory must be above 1.5 MB and conventional memory (CM) must be above 384k when using Sound Blaster. Type: LINKS386 /M [Enter] to see what's available. A message should read something like this: |------------------------------------------------| | LINKS386 detects the following memory available| |------------------------------------------------| | 1.5 MB ( 384CM/ 1046XM) | |------------------------------------------------| If your numbers are below the minimums shown above, you'll have to free up memory to allow the Sound Blaster card to operate. NOTE: If the message "Phar Lap error 58: Can't create VM swap file" appears, Type: DEL \LINKS386.SWP [Enter] and then try again. NOTE: LINKS386.SWP is in the root directory ----------------------------------- SOUND BLASTER PRO W/ TANDY COMPUTER ----------------------------------- For TANDY computers, set the Sound Blaster Pro to IRQ 5 unless the Tandy system is a MULTI-MEDIA system, then set it to IRQ 7. -------- JOYSTICK -------- If you have a joystick, unplug it. It may cause the program to crash at random. ----------------- FILES AND BUFFERS ----------------- Don't set files and buffers too low. Files=20 and Buffers=20 are good minimums. -------------------------------------------------- PHAR LAP ERROR 58: CAN'T CREATE VM SWAP FILE.... -------------------------------------------------- Under normal conditions, Phar Lap's VMM creates a SWAP FILE when LINKS386 is executed and deletes it when the program is properly terminated. However, if a SWAP FILE exists, the VMM cannot create a new one. This will happen if the game is IMPROPERLY TERMINATED by using RESET, CRTL+ALT+DEL or as a result of a CRASH. Error 58 will only occur if the user types LINKS386 instead of GOLF to start the program or when attempting to check memory (e.g. LINKS386 /M). To delete the SWAP FILE, type: DEL \LINKS386.SWP NOTE: The file is in the root directory. When starting the game, always use GOLF [Enter]. This calls the batch file GOLF.BAT which deletes any existing swap file before calling LINKS386.EXE. --------------------- CONFIGURATION CHANGES --------------------- If changes are made to the hardware configuration such as sound boards or additional memory, be sure to delete the file called "LINKS386.CFG". This will force LINKS386 to reconfigure itself for the new hardware or added memory. --------------------------------------------------- ERROR: MEMORY PROTECTION FAULT CS: EIP 0002CA16H CPU PROBLEM --------------------------------------------------- Some early versions of the INTEL 80386 chips were manufactured with defects affectionately known as erratum 17 and 21. These chips may cause LINKS386 to crash almost immediately with an error message similar to: Memory Protection Fault CS: EIP 0002CA16H If you are getting this message, do the following to determine if you have a B1 stepping chip: A. From the LINKS386 directory type: TEST -CPU [Enter] B. Look for the line labeled "chip stepping". If the line reads "D0 or later", then the chip is OK. If the line reads "B0" or "B1", then the chip may not work with LINKS386. C: Try repeating steps A and B to see if you get the same results. D: You can try to have Intel replace your chip by contacting them at: 1-800-321-4044 Intel's current position on replacement is that they are "evaluating the scope of the problem." It will probably cost you "something" to obtain a replacement chip, but we don't know what that cost is yet. Other programs that try to use true 32 bit code on 386 chips with "B1" stepping, may experience similar problems. This problem does not appear to pertain to 386SX chips. ------------------------------------------------------------------- PHAR LAP FATAL ERR 10031 386;VMM; PAGE FAULT HANDLER WAS RE-ENTERED ------------------------------------------------------------------- This is caused by insufficient free memory. Check available memory by typing: DEL \LINKS386.SWP [Enter] LINKS386 /M [Enter] If available memory is less than 1.5MB, then refer to your manual for ways to free up additional RAM. ------------------------------------ ERROR: ABNORMAL PROGRAM TERMINATION ------------------------------------ If the program terminates with the message "Abnormal Program Termination" after pressing "OK" in the Select Players screen, the problem may be a corrupt course file. This could occur if the Harbour Town course was not correctly combined during installation or if old LINKS courses did not get properly converted to the Super VGA format. Running out of hard disk space during conversion of the old courses is a common cause of this problem. Compare the converted courses with the size information below. HARBOUR_.CRH = 2,117,XXX (hi-res) BARTON_C.CRH = 2,158,XXX BARTON_C.CRH = 1,302,XXX (lo-res) BAY_HILL.CRH = 962,XXX BOUNTIFU.CRH = 645,XXX DORADO_B.CRH = 825,XXX FIRESTON.CRH = 623,XXX PINEHURS.CRH = 959,XXX TORREY_P.CRH = 781,XXX TROON_NO.CRH = 1,479,XXX If any of your courses are not approximately the same size as shown above, delete the course and re-convert. Do them one at a time, checking to make sure there is adequate hard drive space available before each conversion. ------------------------ USING LINKS386 WITH QEMM ------------------------ QEMM386 version 6.xx W/STEALTH and video cards with VESA BIOS in ROM: QEMM386 version 6.xx W/STEALTH and SOUND BLASTER and other audio cards: Both of these situations may cause problems with LINKS386 because QEMM386 will not allow other programs to see ROM during interrupts in protected mode. If this conditions occurs, LINKS386 will not run and will terminate with the message: Abnormal program termination: Page fault CS:EIP = 000Fh:000386FAh There are three ways to correct the problem: 1. Disable QEMM386 by holding down the ALT key while booting. 2. Turn off QEMM386's stealth option (version 6.xx). 3. Add the following switch to the QEMM386.SYS line in the CONFIG.SYS. (Applies to version 6.xx only). VS:Y This will insure that LINKS386 can see the VESA BIOS in ROM and the Sound Blaster I/O ports during interrupt. Conflicts between QEMM and LINKS386 may occur under other conditions. If you are having problems running LINKS386, try disabling QEMM by holding down the ALT key while booting. -------------------------- USING LINKS386 WITH EMM386 -------------------------- If you are using EMM386 as a memory manager, do not use the MA option with the NOEMS option. This may cause the manager to misbehave. --------------------------- USING LINKS386 WITH STACKER --------------------------- We have had several LINKS386 owners who are having problems using LINKS386 on a STACKED drive. Other owners are using STACKER with no problem at all. If you have a choice, we recommend using LINKS386 on the UN-STACKED portion of your drive. --------------------- COMMAND LINE SWITCHES --------------------- LINKS386 has the following command line switches: GOLF /V Display version number. GOLF /M Display available memory. GOLF /F Run LINKS386 with write cache flushing off. (Try this option if you're having intermittant problems with LINKS386.) GOLF /S Run LINKS386 and enable SOUND BLASTER fail-safe system. (Use this switch if you have a SOUND BLASTER and are experiencing lockups.) GOLF /1 Run LINKS386 and force into 640x480 mode. (Try this option if your VESA driver seems to be working, but you're still not getting a picture.) GOLF /3 Run LINKS386 and force into 800x600 mode. GOLF /5 Run LINKS386 and force into 1024x768 mode. GOLF /P Use BIOS to change color palette instead of hardcoding addresses as usual. (Try this switch if the colors do not appear to be correct.) GOLF /J Bypass BIOS for video page switching. (Use this switch if the screen "breaks up" and redraws in strange patterns.) GOLF /D Run in DEMO mode. This mode will allow a Software Dealer to use LINKS386 Pro in a store demo as follows: 1. Type LINKS386 /D [Enter] 2. Start a game as usual and select one or more RECORDED players(no human players). 3. The game will play 18 holes, pause at the score card for 15 seconds, and then start the same game again. GOLF /H Display a HELP menu of these switch options. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- CHANGING THE BACKGROUND TILE COLORS (For 640x480, 800x600, or 1024x768) ----------------------------------------------------------------------- This new version of LINKS386 uses a file called TILE.TIL to fill blank portions of the screen when LINKS386 is running in resolutions above 640x400. The default tile is green, but additional tiles are available as listed below: GREEN.TIL (DEFAULT) BLUE.TIL RED.TIL DARKGRAY.TIL MEDGRAY.TIL LITEGRAY.TIL To change to a new tile such as RED.TIL, do the following: 1. Go to the LINKS386 directory. Type: CD\LINKS386 [Enter] 2. Replace TILE.TIL with the tile of your choice by copying over it. For example, if you want to use the red tile, type the following: COPY RED.TIL TILE.TIL [Enter] 3. To change back, type the following: COPY GREEN.TIL TILE.TIL [Enter]