Current Shareware 1994 January/SHAR194.ISO/unprotec/uhsdos.zip/UHSTSR.TXT

Text File | 1993-10-11 | 19KB | 348 lines

Universal Hint System
Revision 91a
TSR Reader for MS-DOS, Version 1.10
  (October 10, 1993)


Copyright Information
=====================

This program and all related documentation are copyright 1992-1993 by Jason
Strautman.  All rights reserved.  Portions written and copyright 1992 by
Robert Norton.  This program may be used for evaluation purposes (as described
in UHS.TXT), as long as users who have not registered UHS/TSR are not using
another person's registration codes.

Although efforts were made to insure that this program is compatible with as
many hardware and software configurations as possible, there are no guarantees
that this program will be compatible with a particular system configuration.
Any damages resulting from use of this program are solely the responsibility
of the user.  See LICENSE.DOC for complete information.


System Requirements
===================

Required:    - 80286 computer or higher
             - 640K of RAM
             - VGA graphics card

Recommended: - 80386-SX computer or higher
             - 2 MB of RAM, with 256K configured as EMS
               (640K of EMS may be required with DOS 6.0 and DBLSPACE)
             - DOS 5.0, QEMM, or any other expanded memory manager
             - 40KB of free upper memory (UMBs) highly recommended

If your system does not meet these requirements, you will not be able to use
UHSTSR.EXE.  The stand-alone version of this program, UHS.EXE, should still
work on your computer.  I can't guarantee that a system meeting these
requirements will be able to run UHSTSR at the same time as any particular
game.  Many new games also require EMS or XMS; if you are trying to get UHSTSR
to run with one of these games, you may need to increase the overall RAM
recommendations.  If your game also uses EMS, you will need to add 256K to the
game's EMS requirement to determine how much EMS your system will need.


Loading UHSTSR
==============

You'll need a UHS hint file to load into the TSR reader.  I have explained how
to find such a file in the main documentation for this program, UHS.TXT.  Once
you have your TSR, simply type the name of this program (UHSTSR) followed by
the name of the file.  The program will assume that the file is in the same
directory as UHSTSR.  If the UHS file is located in another directory or
drive, you will have to give the drive or directory with the filename (as in
UHSTSR \UHS\ALONE or UHSTSR C:\UHS\ALONE).  As you can see in the example, you
can leave the ".UHS" off the UHS filename.

UHSTSR will also load into any upper memory block if you have enough free
memory (approximately 40KB).  You should use the appropriate command for your
memory manager (like LH for DOS 5.0 or LOADHI for QEMM).  More details on
maximizing system resources are listed later in this text file.

If you have at least 256K of EMS free memory when you load UHSTSR, all data
will be stored in expanded memory for faster access.  To install EMS memory on
your system, you'll need an EMS memory manager like DOS 5.0's EMM386.SYS or
QEMM's QEMM386.SYS.  If you're using EMM386.SYS, don't forget to add a number
specifying the amount of EMS in KB that you want to install to the command
line (as in "DEVICE = C:\DOS\EMM386.SYS 256").  And with EMM386, it doesn't
hurt to add the parameter "RAM" to the end of the command line (as in "DEVICE
= C:\DOS\EMM386.SYS 256 RAM") -- this parameter lets you load device drivers
and TSR programs into upper memory.

Without EMS, UHSTSR will need to create two medium-sized files (up to 128K
each) called ~HINTS.$$$ and ~SCREEN.$$$.  These files will be placed in the
same directory as UHSTSR.EXE, so make sure that you have sufficient hard drive
space before you start the TSR.  Expect delays when starting and exiting the
TSR while the program access these files.


Interface
=========

You can run UHSTSR from within most games.  Simply press the ALT and ? keys
simultaneously (you don't need to hold down SHIFT with the question mark, so
ALT + / also works), and the program will start itself if it can.  Please note
that some games will not allow hotkeys to activate a TSR, so you may not be
able to start the TSR under all games.  The TSR should always activate itself
at the DOS prompt, so you may want to press ALT-? at the DOS prompt to make
sure the TSR is installed correctly.  If the TSR works under DOS but not under
your game, please let me know and I'll try to work out the conflict.

It's usually a good idea to save your game before starting the TSR under a
game for the first time.  Although the beta testers and I have done extensive
testing to work out compatibility problems, conflicts are sure to arise with
some games.  If you cannot save your game, I would advise that you test the
TSR as soon as possible after starting the game.

I had to greatly simplify the interface of UHSTSR to reduce the amount of
memory that it uses.  All you need to do is select a lettered choice from the
menus by pressing the appropriate key.  The SPACE BAR will take you back one
menu, and if you're reading hints, the ENTER key will show you the next hint.
You'll also be asked to confirm if you hit the SPACE BAR at the top menu to
exit the program; the TSR will return control to whatever program was running
once you exit this menu.


Boot Disk Instructions
======================

These instructions are for systems with DOS 5.0 or higher.  They should help
you free up memory so that you can run your games.

1. Find a spare floppy of the same size as your A: drive -- one that doesn't
have any data you might need.  It can be either low density (360K/720K) or
high density (1.2MB/1.44MB).

2. Type "FORMAT A: /U" (without the quotes, as for all commands listed here)
and [ENTER].  Then hit [ENTER] when prompted for a new disk, again when asked
for the volume label, and type "N" [ENTER] when asked if you want to format
another disk.

3. Type "COPY CON A:CONFIG.SYS" [ENTER] at the prompt.  No prompt will appear
after you type this command, but type the following lines.  Note that if your
game requires EMS memory, you will need to increase the number "256", which
specifies 256KB of EMS.  Add the game's EMS requirement in kilobytes to 256
when typing the second line below -- for example, for a game that requires 1
megabyte of EMS (1024 KB), take 1024 + 256 = 1280 to make the second line
"DEVICE=C:\DOS\EMM386.SYS 1280 RAM".

  DEVICE=C:\DOS\HIMEM.SYS
  DEVICE=C:\DOS\EMM386.SYS 256 RAM
  BUFFERS=30
  FILES=30
  DOS=HIGH,UMB
  REM The following line is for DOS 6.0 users with Doublespace only.
  DEVICEHIGH=C:\DOS\DBLSPACE.SYS /MOVE

4. Hit CONTROL-Z and [ENTER] and you should get the message "1 file(s) copied"
and the DOS prompt.

5. Type "COPY CON A:AUTOEXEC.BAT" [ENTER] at the prompt, and enter the lines
following this paragraph.  If you do not have a file called MOUSE.COM,
MOUSE.EXE, or MOUSE.BAT in your C:\MOUSE directory, search for a mouse driver
elsewhere on your system and replace the reference below.  There are two ways
to do so: either look in the file C:\AUTOEXEC.BAT for a line similar to
C:\MOUSE\MOUSE, or read your mouse's documentation to find out where the
driver is located.  Replace C:\MOUSE\MOUSE in the first line below with the
name and location of the mouse driver on your system as necessary.

  LH C:\MOUSE\MOUSE
  PROMPT $P$G
  PATH=C:\;C:\DOS

6. Again, hit CONTROL-Z and [ENTER].  Your boot disk should be ready.  Make
sure to leave it in your A: drive, and hit CONTROL-ALT-DELETE to restart your
system.  Now you can run UHSTSR followed by your game.  Make sure to use the
"LH" command, as in "LH C:\UHS\UHSTSR KQ6.UHS".  And don't forget to specify a
hint file on the command line!

7. If these instructions don't work, you should try the boot disk instructions
listed in the manual for the game that you're trying to run.  There may be
some special commands required by your game that aren't listed above.  Start
your system with the game-specific boot disk and then run UHSTSR.  If all else
fails, contact me at any of the addresses below.  Please tell me the game
you're playing and send a copy of the AUTOEXEC.BAT and CONFIG.SYS files that
you normally use (the ones in the root directory of your hard drive).


Increasing Low Memory
=====================

If the boot disk doesn't work or you'd prefer not to use it, you may be able
to solve memory problems on your own.  Some memory managers come with their
own optimization programs -- for example, QEMM has OPTIMIZE and DOS 6.0 has
MEMMAKER.  If you have such a program, just follow the directions for those
programs and they will give you as much free conventional memory as possible.
If you don't want to load the TSR in your AUTOEXEC.BAT, I recommend that you
temporarily place UHSTSR in your AUTOEXEC.BAT just to run OPTIMIZE or
MEMMAKER.  Then you can delete UHSTSR from your AUTOEXEC.BAT, but a single
memory block will now have enough free for when you do decide to load the TSR.
QEMM's Stealth feature (available in version 6.0) may interfere with both
UHSTSR and many games and should be avoided if at all possible.

There's no elegant way to maximize conventional memory with DOS 5.0; if you
can't fit all of your TSR programs into the upper memory blocks, my best
advice is to load the largest TSRs into upper memory first.  For example, if
you have 45K in one UMB, and you load a 10K mouse driver into it, you won't
have room enough for UHSTSR and it will take about 40K of low memory.  On the
other hand, if you load UHSTSR first (or don't try to load the mouse driver
into high memory), it will fit into the UMBs and leave only the much smaller
mouse driver in low memory.  Of course, your system probably won't have the
same memory amounts as used in the above example, but the principle should
still hold.

I've found that there's enough free upper memory on most systems for both
UHSTSR and a disk compression program, but you may have trouble getting
additional TSR programs into upper memory, depending on your system.  You may
have to remove some of these TSRs (including disk caches) to gain enough low
memory for the most demanding games.  But also remember that many games don't
work well with compression programs; you may be better off putting your game
on an uncompressed partition and avoiding disk compression completely.

If you're trying to run UHSTSR with a CD-ROM game, you may need to use the
"/E" parameter on MSCDEX.EXE to move MSCDEX's buffers into expanded memory and
free up more memory for other TSR programs.  Please note that you will need
more than the standard 256K of EMS if you use this option; the exact amount
depends on the number of buffers you select.  Other TSRs may also offer
options to use XMS or EMS instead of low memory or the UMBs.


UHSTSRB
=======

Some games attempt to take total control of the keyboard, and as a result, the
standard UHSTSR program won't start when you press the ALT-? hotkey.  I have
written a different version of the TSR that will try to take control of the
keyboard back, but it does have some drawbacks, and you should only use this
version (called UHSTSRB) if the original UHSTSR.EXE fails to activate
normally.  As you will see in the WHATSNEW.151 file, UHSTSRB has been changed
significantly to remove many of the restrictions placed on it in version 1.00.
But at the same time, one key benefit of TSRB, allowing other TSR programs to
function when they otherwise wouldn't, has been removed to improve overall
compatibility of TSRB.  Aside from different keyboard handlers, UHSTSRB is
identical to UHSTSR, so you can interchange references to either program in
this documentation.


Reporting Problems
==================

Please read this documentation to see if it can help answer any problems you
have before reporting conflicts between this TSR and any games.  I'll need the
following information in order to help you solve any problems; if you don't
know the answer to the following questions, please say so, since I will
normally ask you to fill in any missing information before investigating your
conflict reports.

- Check to make sure that the hint file you're trying to access runs under the
  normal UHSDOS.  In order to reduce memory requirements, UHSTSR doesn't check
  files to verify their integrity, but UHSDOS will.  If a file has been
  changed, neither program will read the file properly -- but UHSDOS will be
  more accurate in its error reports.
- Try both UHSTSR and UHSTSRB.  If one doesn't work, the other might.
- Send me copies of your AUTOEXEC.BAT and CONFIG.SYS.  If you post a forum
  message on CompuServe, please make sure to post your message unformatted, or
  else CIS formatting may make your message unreadable.
- If you're using DOS 6 with multiple configurations, let me know which one(s)
  you tried using the TSR with.  Use the cleanest boot disk that you can --
  only a mouse driver, sound card driver, disk compression utility, or CD ROM
  drivers if necessary, and of course, the TSR.
- Name the manufacturer and model of your graphics card.
- And of course, state the nature of the problem: what game(s) do not work
  with the TSR, symptoms (if they do not appear all the time, please tell me),
  the publisher of those game(s), and whether or not the TSR will run at the
  DOS prompt.


Known Compatibility Problems
============================

EGA-based games may not have their color palettes properly restored.  A VESA
driver must be loaded for SVGA graphics to be restored, even if the game using
the SVGA graphics does not require such a driver.  Some VGA cards and VESA
drivers do not support all VGA or VESA functions, and as a result, graphics
may not be completely restored.  The TESTVGA program included in this archive
will let you know if your system might have problems running this TSR.  If you
have any problems with the TSR, especially with the display, please run
TESTVGA and report the results to me.

You should avoid activating the TSR within any CD-ROM game while the CD drive
is being accessed.  Many CD games depend on a certain transfer rate or access
time, and starting the TSR while the drive is being activated will interfere
with the apparent transfer rate or access time.  The best solution is simply
to wait for the drive to stop or to pause your game before pressing ALT-?.

It's also a good idea not to activate the TSR when digitized sound is being
played (speech and sound effects are digitized sounds, but music generally
isn't).  The consequences vary from game to game: you may find yourself unable
to exit the TSR or experience corrupted sound if you do.  Pausing the game or
turning off the sound temporarily should prevent problems.

I've noticed problems with ATI's VESA driver version 1.2 dated 3/19/92.  An
older version such as 1.1 dated 10/17/91 will work correctly with this TSR.  I
have not seen any version newer than 1.2, so I don't know if such a version
would work properly.

Some Trident-based cards and their VESA drivers apparently do not support the
VESA functions that the TSR requires.  The display may be corrupted or
completely blacked out if you try to use UHSTSR within any SVGA program on
these cards. You may need to test compatibility on a case-by-case basis with
SVGA programs, since some seem to work better than others, and be prepared to
lose any progress that you have made in your game the first time you test the
TSR from inside SVGA games.


Shareware Notice
================

This program is shareware.  Under the shareware concept, you should register a
program after you have had a chance to evaluate it and decide that you like
it.  I do not feel, however, that much evaluation of this TSR is necessary. It
provides the same high quality of hints that the main UHS.EXE provides; the
only major difference between the pop-up and the stand-alone programs is the
way that they are started.

For this reason, I have limited the number of hints that you can view within
the TSR reader.  After you have read a total of 20 hints within one session,
hint display will be stopped and you'll have to uninstall and reinstall
UHSTSR.  Of course, if you're in the middle of the game, you'll have to quit
the game to reset the TSR counter.  I didn't want to force people to register
this program without having a chance to test it with their favorite games, but
I also don't want people to become too comfortable with UHSTSR before they
register.  I think this system is fair, since you can read a few questions
before having to enter and exit their game, but you won't get the full benefit
of the TSR.

Packaging UHSTSR in this archive gives you a chance to make sure that you will
be able to use the pop-up program.  If you need to test the quality of the UHS
hints, you can use the stand-alone program to do so.  You can combine the hint
quality from UHS.EXE with the ease of use that UHSTSR provides to determine
what the registered version of this program will give you.

In addition to the endless joy and satisfaction that you will get from knowing
that you have supported the UHS, registered users of this program will receive
a free copy of the stand-alone program (UHS.EXE), for use with those rare
programs that aren't compatible with the TSR.  The stand-alone program also
offers features that wouldn't fit into the limited amount of space that the
TSR has to use.  Registration for both programs is only $20.

The package of the DOS and TSR versions of this program is available in SWREG
on CompuServe for $24.00 (again, the extra cost is to cover CIS's handling
fee).  The program ID number is 1261, and no disk is included with this
package.  See UHS.TXT for information on foreign disk orders.

As is the policy for UHS.EXE, a disk with all of the latest UHS files and
readers will be provided to anyone who includes an extra $5 or more with
his/her registration.  Please see UHS.TXT for information update disks for
registered users, automatic registration for file authors, and distribution
policies.  All of these items also apply to the TSR version of the UHS reader.


Jason Strautman
P.O. Box 391481
Cambridge, MA  02139-0015
CompuServe: [72337,2611]
America On-Line: JStrautman
GEnie: J.STRAUTMAN