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TECH
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1993-02-17
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READ THIS BEFORE CALLING TECHNICAL SUPPORT
If GNB doesn't operate after installing, take a look at these
suggestions and read the "TECH" readme file ****before**** calling
technical support. To read the "TECH" file, type,"TECH" in the GNBNA
directory. To print the "TECH" file, type, "PRINT TECH".
1. A mouse driver must be loaded in order for the game to run
properly. Some programs such as Windows have built-in mouse drivers
that only exist while the application is being run. In order for
Great Naval Battles to run a mouse driver must be loaded either at
start-up in the config.sys or autoexec.bat file, or from the DOS
prompt by typing:
CD\MOUSE
MOUSE
In this example MOUSE is given as the name of the directory in which
your mouse driver resides, and MOUSE is the command used to load the
mouse driver. This is used as an example only and may not work for
your machine. Consult your mouse user's manual for the name and
location of your mouse driver. If after loading the mouse you find
that you don't have enough free memory, you will need to load the
mouse driver into high memory. For MS-DOS 5.0 users, the command to
do this is:
LOADHIGH MOUSE
Once again, MOUSE is just used as an example of the mouse driver's
name. If you are using a version of DOS other than MS-DOS 5.0 or a
third party memory manager such as QEMM or 386MAX, the LOADHIGH
command will differ, so consult your DOS manual or memory manager
user's guide.
2. Most machines have the hardware necessary to run GNBNA. However,
having the hardware configured in a manner suitable to run the game is
another matter. Memory configuration is foremost in this area.
Think of your machine as having three memory areas: base memory,
which is made up of the first 640K of RAM; HMA memory, which is made
up of 384K of RAM located between the base memory and 1Mg (1000K);
and extended memory, which is all of the memory after 1Meg.
Although a machine may have 32 megs of RAM, this is absolutely no
guarantee that it meets a game's minimum memory requirements. A
certain amount of free base memory is necessary for any program to
operate. This game requires 584,704 available bytes of base memory.
To find out how much free memory your machine has type MEM [ENTER] at
the C: DOS prompt. The "largest executable program size" is the
amount of free base memory.
To free up memory, you can change your autoexec.bat file to exclude
as many memory resident programs as possible, or create a bootable
disk (see Bootable Disk section). REMEMBER: any changes to the
autoexec.bat or config.sys files may affect the way other programs
run. You must reboot your machine each time a change is made to the
autoexec.bat file. To change your autoexec.bat file consult the index
in your DOS manual. A possible example of how to change an
autoexec.bat file is as follows: type "edit" then [ENTER]. Open the
file called "AUTOEXEC.BAT". Make the necessary changes and save the
file.
The config.sys also contains information that defines the parameters
in which your machine operates and can affect the amount of free
memory. Changing the config.sys file is similar to changing the
autoexec.bat. Where you would have typed "AUTEXEC.BAT", type
"CONFIG.SYS".
Extended memory (XMS) and expanded memory (EMS) are different. This
game only uses EMS. Because any memory over 1 Mg. starts as XMS, you
must change it into EMS. This change takes place in the config.sys
file by typing: "DEVICE=C:\DOS\EMM386.EXE 724". However, if you have
more than 2 Mg. of RAM, it is highly recommended that you change the
"724" to the amount of XMS that you have. This is because other
programs can eat up EMS before the game can use it. The smartdrv.exe
(a disk cache) that comes with Windows is one example. Again, the
"mem" command states the amount of XMS memory. This is an example of
a basic configuration for a 2 megabyte machine running MS-DOS 5.0.
Autoexec.bat:
PATH=C:\;C:\MOUSE;C:\DOS
PROMPT=$P$G
LOADHIGH C:\MOUSE\MOUSE
Config.sys:
FILES=25
BUFFERS=20
DEVICE=C:\DOS\HIMEM.SYS ┌────────────────────────────────┐
DEVICE=C:\DOS\EMM386.EXE 724 {───┤This line would be omitted for a│
DOS=HIGH │machine with less than 2 │
│megabytes of memory. The 724 can│
┌────────────────────────────────┐ │be increased to convert whatever│
│* Notice that the MOUSE driver │ │free extended memory you have │
│is presumed to be located in a │ │into expanded. │
│directory named MOUSE. This may │ └────────────────────────────────┘
│not be true for your machine, in└──────────────────────────────────┐
│which case you would have to edit the file and insert the correct │
│name for the mouse driver and its directory. This would also apply │
│for HIMEM.SYS, EMM386.EXE, and the DOS directory. │
└───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘
3. If you are experiencing problems and have a sound card,
reconfigure your sound card for no sound. To reconfigure the sound,
type "SOUND" at the [input game directory]. If the game still
doesn't work, it is probably a memory deficiency. If the game does
work, the problem probably lies with the sound card. Run your sound
card's diagnostic programs to make sure that it is working correctly.
Also, double check the IRQ setting and I/O address. If these are
input incorrectly, the game will crash every time it is run.
4. Read the README file. This file contains pertinant information
about this product. To read the README file type
"TYPE README | MORE". To print the README file type "PRINT README".
To print this file (TECH) type, "PRINT TECH".
If you have MS-DOS 4.0, you may need to use a memory manager to have
enough free memory after loading your mouse driver.
Common error messages:
MEL Fatal Error #3 or 16
[ The program was unable to locate the sound card for which it was
configured. Re-run SOUND.EXE from your Great Naval Battles directory
and re-select your sound card. If you still receive the same message,
run the configuration software that came with your sound card. For
Soundblaster users, that would be TEST-SBC.EXE. Be sure to record the
interrupt number and the base port address for use in the sound
configuration.]
Init Count: GR FAIL
[ This indicates that a mouse driver was not loaded. The game must
have a mouse driver loaded in order to run. (Your mouse may run
properly with other programs, though the driver may not be loaded.)
This is usually done by typing MOUSE at the DOS prompt, but may be
different for your mouse. Check your mouse documentation.]
Init Count: MX FAIL or MEL FATAL ERROR 7, 12, or 15
This most commonly indicates insufficient memory. The following
paragraphs contain data specific to the configuration of your
machine's memory.
One easy way to temporarily eliminate the memory resident
programs and free up enough RAM memory without affecting the way other
programs run, is to create a bootable system disk, or "boot disk" as
it is commonly called.
A boot disk is created by placing a blank unformatted diskette in
your A: drive (it must be the A: drive to work properly) and typing
the following at the DOS prompt:
FORMAT A: /S
*** Note: All information that was on a disk prior to formatting it
will be permanently erased.
Once the format is complete, type:
DIR A:
...to be sure that the file COMMAND.COM was transferred to the
diskette. If it is missing, you will have to manually copy it to the
A: drive. After confirming the presence of COMMAND.COM, you will need
to have the appropriate CONFIG.SYS and AUTOEXEC.BAT files copied to
your boot disk. We have included some batch files and generic
configurations to ease this process. In your Great Naval Battles
directory are the following batch files:
1MEGDOS5.BAT [ For a 1 meg machine running MS-DOS 5.0
2MEGDOS5.BAT [ For a 2 meg or greater machine running MS-DOS 5.0
DRDOS6.BAT [ For a 1 meg or greater machine running DR-DOS 6.0
QEMM.BAT [ For a 2 meg or greater machine using QEMM
In order to configure your boot disk to run with your machine's
settings, pick the most appropriate batch file and type its name from
your Great Naval Battles directory. For example, if you have MS-DOS
5.0 and have at least 2 megabytes of RAM, type:
2MEGMS5
...and hit enter from within your Great Naval Battles directory.
This will copy the appropriate config.sys and autoexec.bat files to
the boot disk.
*** Remember, you must have your boot disk in the A: drive at this
time for the files to be transferred properly.
****************************** IMPORTANT ****************************
*********************************************************************
These pre-configured files are generic, and may need modification
if your DOS, mouse driver, and memory manager files are not located
in their default directories. If the files do not load accordingly,
use a text editor (such as DOS 5.0's EDIT) to open the boot disk's
CONFIG.SYS and AUTOEXEC.BAT in order to correct the paths. **** If
you are using Stacker, Superstor or any other disk compression
utility, you will also have to add their respective drivers to the
CONFIG.SYS and AUTOEXEC.BAT files on the boot disk. Check your
utilities documentation for the specific commands.
*********************************************************************
Now restart your machine with the boot disk in your A: drive. The
boot process may take a little longer than normal, and you may not
see all of the messages displayed on the screen that you are used to.
This is normal. After the boot process is complete and you are left
at the A: prompt, just type the drive letter that the game resides
on. If it is on the C: drive, just type: C:
...and hit enter. Change to your Great Naval Battles directory and
start the game by typing GNBNA and hit enter.
From all of us at SSI, we wish you "Smooth Sailing" and
congratulate you on your purchase of what we consider the most
advanced battleship simulator the software market has to offer. If
you have any comments or suggestions, we would be happy to hear from
you. Please write us at:
SSI
Great Naval Battles
675 Almanor Ave. Ste. 201
Sunnyvale, Ca. 94086