================================================ README.TXT file ================================================ This file contains the following information: 1) CD-ROM / Video Performance Problems 2) Video Display Problems 3) Audio Problems 4) "Out of Memory" Problems 5) Running on Windows NT ================================================ 1) CD-ROM / Video Performance Problems ================================================ NOTE: To avoid damage to the CD-ROM, do not remove it from your CD-ROM drive while it is in use (usually indicated by a light on the CD-ROM drive). You might be able to enhance video playback performance in a number of ways: 1. Increase the amount of buffer memory that your CD-ROM driver software uses. Most computers communicate with the CD-ROM drive through the Microsoft MSCDEX driver. Such systems can sometimes be accelerated by adding /M:32 to the MSCDEX entry in your AUTOEXEC.BAT file. See your CD-ROM documentation for more details. 2. Ensure that you are using the latest video driver for your video board. Contact your video board manufacturer for more information. You may also be able to get updated drivers from CompuServe or Internet in either the Microsoft forum or in a forum managed by your video board manufacturer. Also see the \DRIVERS directory on this CD-ROM for a number of Microsoft-provided video drivers. 3. Check Windows Setup (usually in the Main group of the Windows Program Manager) to ensure that you are using a 256 color video driver. Video playback is slower in both 16 color mode and any video mode with more than 256 colors. Video performance may also be improved by running Windows in 640 by 480 resolution if you are currently using a higher resolution. 4. If your computer has only 4 Megabytes of memory, you should consider purchasing an additional 4 Megabytes for a total of 8 Megabytes. Additional memory will significantly increase performance for all applications on your system. ================================================ 2) Video Display Problems ================================================ 1. 16 color mode This application runs in 64 color mode but, due to the full-motion video playback, we strongly suggest using a 256 color video mode. Many computers are factory-set to a 16 color mode although the video board is capable of 256 colors. The setup program should correctly warn you if you are in 16 color mode and suggest a remedy. 2. ATI video boards This product is incompatible with some features of the ATI Mach32 video system. This video board comes with a number of popular systems including most Gateway 2000 machines. The problem is not with the board itself, but with the Mach32 video driver software, so it can be resolved in at least two different ways (note that suggestion "A" will provide the best performance): A. Run the ATI Control Panel application that comes with your video board. i. Ensure that you are running in the 256 color mode. ii. Click Advanced Features and ensure that the 256 Color Palette option is turned ON and Device Bitmaps are OFF. See the ATI documentation for more details. B. From the Windows Setup application, choose a different video driver such as the 8514/a driver. See your ATI documentation for more details. ================================================ 3) Audio Problems ================================================ This application requires that an MPC-compatible sound board is installed in order to play sound. It will not function with software that uses the computer's internal speaker to generate sound (such as "PC Speaker"). Such software will usually not play any sounds and could cause your system to crash. To resolve other audio problems: 1. Make sure that the volume for your speakers is set to an audible level. 2. Your sound board may be set up incorrectly if you still do not hear any audio. Check to see if the audio driver that came with your sound board is installed correctly and, if necessary, reinstall it. See the documentation that came with your sound board for more details. 3. If the quicktime movie sound plays incorrectly, start the Quicktime Control Panel (Control Panels are situated in the Main Program Group). Click More / Audio. 3a Select "Automatic Rate Adjustment" (lower left) if this is not already selected. 3b For "Requested Hz" select "default" from the drop-down menu. 3c Click on "Close" and "Yes" to apply your adjustments. 3d Restart Windows! 3e Run the calibration movie "sample.mov", which you will find in the Windows directory. 3f Start the Quicktime Control panel again, and click More / Audio. 3g De-select "Automatic Rate Adjustment" (lower left). 3h Take note of the rate values for "Requested Hz" and "Actual Hz", which may have been altered by the calibration run you did under 3e. If these are still 'default', you have a good sound card that plays audio accurately at 22050 Hz, and generally both 11025 and 44100 Hz sound will also play well. If numerical values have appeared, the Requested rate should be 22050 Hz, and the Actual rate should be close to 22050 Hz. The further away the Actual Rate is from 22050, the less accurate your sound card is. If so, you may experience sound problems in other products as well, and you might want to consider replacing your sound card. ================================================ 4) "Out of Memory" Problems ================================================ This application uses your computer's memory to display pictures and video. Performance will be degraded if your system does not have enough free memory. If you receive Out-Of-Memory errors, you probably do not have enough free memory. Consider taking the following steps: 1. Close all unnecessary applications. 2. If you are running Windows in Enhanced mode (the default mode if you are running Windows on a 386 or better machine), create a permanent swapfile on your hard disk. See your Windows documentation details. ================================================ 5) Windows NT ================================================ Microsoft Windows NT is incompatible with the Microsoft Video For Windows drivers that this product uses. You will need to run this product with a Windows 3.xx system.