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README.TXT
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1996-12-16
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185 lines
DISCWORLD II WIN 95 PATCH #2 - 16 December 1996
-----------------------------------------------
Dear Discworld fan,
Thank you for choosing to play Discworld II. We want you
to see it running at its best on your machine. To this end
we are still improving Discworld II - even after release.
These improvements will be in the form of patch programs
that automatically update your installed version of Discworld II.
Hints on improving performance and troubleshooting will be
updated in README.TXT files (such as this one).
We had a lot of fun (and sleepless nights) making Discworld II.
We hope you have a lot of fun (and sleepless nights) playing it!
David Johnston
Software Development Manager
Perfect Entertainment Ltd.
dijit@teeny.demon.co.uk
Improvements in this patch
--------------------------
This patch is designed to improve the performance
of the Windows 95 version of Discworld II including:
- Corrects movie synchronisation on specific machines
where the sound can drift out of sync. Also improves
performance of movies on slower machines.
- Speeds up loading and playing of many scenes especially
on low-memory machines.
- Corrects the system registry so that the game will run
from whatever drive you install it to (Simply install to
the required drive then run this patch).
Note
----
This patch replaces PATCH #1.
You do NOT need patch number #1 to run this patch.
Instructions
------------
Please install the Windows 95 version of Discworld II first.
Run the patch program entitled DW2_WP2.EXE
This will ensure your version is up-to-date and files
correctly organised.
------------------------------------------------------------
Troubleshooting Hints
--------------------
Q. Why won't Discworld II (Win 95) run if I install it to
a drive other than C.
A. The Windows installation program on early versions of
Discworld II set a system "registry key" to "C" regardless of
the drive it installed to. To correct this you need to change
the registry key to point to the drive you did install Discworld II
on (see below). Or you can simply run the patch program to correct
it automatically.
- Run 'regedit' from the 'Start' menu, 'Run' option.
- Expand 'HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE' (click on the plus symbol)
- Expand 'SOFTWARE'
- Expand 'PERFECT Entertainment'
- Select 'Discworld II'
- Select 'Drive' in the right-hand window
- Select 'Edit' then 'Modify' from the menu
- Enter the new drive letter (where you installed Discworld II)
- Close RegEdit and run Discworld II
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Q. Why does the game (Windows only) pause briefly whenever
Rincewind changes scale?
A. The Windows installation program on early versions of
Discworld II copied some files to the wrong place on your hard
drive. If you move these files (see below) to the correct
folder the momentary pauses will disappear. Or you can simply
run the patch program to correct it automatically.
n.b. this problem may only be visible on machines with the minimum
specified amount of RAM. See also the following tip for speeding up
CD access generally.
- There is a folder called CACHE under the folder you
installed Discworld II in. The installation program incorrectly
copied 21 files (needed for faster access) into a folder called
DW2 within the CACHE folder. Simply move the files back to the
CACHE folder and the pauses should vanish.
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Q. My CD ROM drive does not appear to be fast enough to run
Discworld II properly. The sound cuts out briefly every now
and then. How can I speed the game up on my machine?
A. This is a tough one as it depends on the configuration of your
machine. If you have a lot of free drive space you can move many
files from the Discworld II CDs to your hard drive (see below).
Discworld II still requires the presence of the CDs but will
check the hard disk first before loading files, this will speed
up the game significantly.
- There is a folder called CACHE under the folder you
installed Discworld II in. Most files can be copied here from
the DW2 folders of either CD 1 or CD 2, however, some files
(of the same name) are different on CD1 and CD 2. To cater for
these specific files you can create folders under the CACHE folder
called CD1 and CD2. The files in question relate to text and speech
and have extensions of .SMP, .TXT and .IDX (see following hint for
details). Any of these files from the DW2 folder of CD 1 can go in
CD1 and those from the DW2 folder of CD 2 can go in CD2.
n.b. To save space you only have to have files from the CD you
are currently playing on your hard drive.
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Q. I only want to copy some files from the CDs to my hard drive
to speed it up. What are the various file types on the Discworld II CDs?
A. To make your choice of files to copy easier here are some details
of the more important file types on the Discworld II CDs. The CACHE
folder is found within the folder you installed Discworld II. The CD1
and CD2 folders should be created within the CACHE folder (if required).
File Type Description Should I copy to hard disk? Where to copy...
--------- ----------- --------------------------- ----------------
.MUS Music data Reduces CD access significantly if CACHE folder
copied to hard disk as music is read
in regularly. Should improve scenes
containing lots of sound effects.
.SCN Code and graphics Scene load times reduced if copied to CACHE folder
hard disk - no other benefit.
n.b. some critical scenes are already
copied to hard disk during installation.
.CDP Graphic sequences Smoothes out brief pauses while CACHE folder
loading extra graphics within a scene.
.BMV 'B movies' Only copy to hard drive if the movies CACHE folder
are playing badly or sound shuts off.
Movie pre-load times are also reduced
if the movies are copied.
.SMP Speech/Sound FX Only copy to hard drive if you are CD1 or CD2 folder
experiencing regular sound glitches.
.IDX Speech index Loaded once only - can stay on CD. CD1 or CD2 folder
.TXT Sub-title text Loaded once only - can stay on CD. CD1 or CD2 folder
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Q. Why is the sound in Discworld II distorting when running
under Windows 95 on my Packard Bell PC?
A. There may be a conflict with the 'Software Wave Table'
feature of your sound card. Try turning the option off
(See below).
- Open the control panel (under 'setting' on the Start menu)
- Open 'system'
- Select 'Device Manager'
- Expand 'Sound, video and game controllers' (click on the plus symbol)
- Select 'Sound 16 SRS & Wave Table'
- Click on the 'Properties' button
- Select 'Settings'
- De-select the option 'Software Wave Table Enabled'
- Close the control panel windows and run Discworld II
----------------------------------------------------------------------
- End of README.TXT -