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1996-03-04
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Explore Yellowstone
Copyright 1996, MECC and its licensors
All Rights Reserved
Version 1.0
This README file is provided as a reference document to help you setup
the program in your Windows environment or fix problems that you are having
with Explore Yellowstone.
It contains:
Installation Information
How to Run Demos
Hardware Requirements
Troubleshooting Tips
Playing Instructions
How to Contact Technical Support
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Installation Information
WINDOWS 95
1. To setup Explore Yellowstone, insert the CD in the drive and click on
Setup button after the autorun screen appears.
2. Follow the on screen instructions.
Note: Explore Yellowstone requires QuickTime for Windows. If you do
not have QuickTime for Windows 2.01 installed on your machine,
you will need to answer 'Yes' when prompted during the installation.
3. Explore Yellowstone installation places two icons in the Start menu
under the MECC program group:
Explore Yellowstone
Explore Yellowstone ReadMe
If you install QuickTime, it will also create a QuickTime for Windows folder
containing three icons:
Movie Player
Picture Viewer
Read Me
4. Installation is now complete. Click on Start in the taskbar, and select Programs.
Move the mouse to the Mecc folder and click on 'Explore Yellowstone'
icon to start the program.
WINDOWS 95 Notes:
- Use the Windows 95 Explorer to remove Explore Yellowstone before
reinstalling.
- The yellow.ini file is located in the Windows directory.
- When the Explore Yellowstone CD is inserted, an Explore Yellowstone autorun screen
will appear with "Run", "Setup", "Demos" and "Exit" buttons at the bottom.
If the logo appears without buttons, try resizing the Window until the
buttons appear. If the buttons are still not visable, change your
screen font to "small fonts" (in Control Panel/Display settings).
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
WINDOWS 3.1x, & WFW 3.11
1. In the program manager, click on File and select Run.
2. In the command line, type D:\setup, where D: is the CD-ROM drive and click OK.
Follow the on screen instructions.
Note: Explore Yellowstone requires QuickTime for Windows. If you do
not have QuickTime for Windows 2.01 installed on your machine,
you will need to answer 'Yes' when prompted during the installation.
3. Explore Yellowstone installation places two icons in the MECC
program group:
Explore Yellowstone
Explore Yellowstone ReadMe
4. Installation is now complete, double-click on the "Explore Yellowstone"
icon in the MECC to start the program.
WINDOWS 3.1x Notes:
- Use the Windows File Manager to remove Explore Yellowstone before
reinstalling.
- The yellow.ini file is located in the Windows directory.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
How to Run Demos
Windows 95
1. Put the Explore Yellowstone CD into the computer.
2. Select the Demo button on the autorun screen.
3. Click on any of the buttons to view the demos. You may press ESC anytime
during a demo to return to the autorun screen.
Windows 3.1x
1. Put the Explore Yellowstone CD into the computer.
2. In File Manager, click on Disk in the menu bar. Click on Select Drive.
Click on your CD-ROM drive (usally D:) and click OK.
3. Double-click on the Demos folder. On the right-hand side of the screen, you
will see several files ending in .EXE. You can double-click on any of these files
to run the individual demos.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Hardware Requirements
- 486 or higher
- Windows 3.1 or later
- 4 MB RAM, 8MB RAM highly recommended
(8 MB RAM required for Windows for Workgroups and Windows 95)
- DOS 5.0 or later
- Double Speed CD-ROM
- 256 colors, 640 x 480
- Windows compatible sound card
- Hard Drive
- Windows compatible mouse
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Troubleshooting Tips
==Memory - RAM ===============================
Explore Yellowstone requires a minimum of 4 megabytes of
random access memory (RAM) to operate. Check that available
memory is adequate. Although Windows allows you to run more
than one application simultaneously, it is highly
recommended that you close everything else to release all
available memory when you run Explore Yellowstone .
If you do not have a permament swap file setup it is recommended
that you create one.
========== VIDEO DISPLAY ================================
Explore Yellowstone requires 256 colors in a screen resolution of at
least 640 x 480. Explore Yellowstone can be run in 65K color mode,
but performance will be diminished. (In 256 colors, graphics
can be written directly to the screen. With 65K colors or more,
the graphics must be built off screen and then displayed. If
the display is painted in three large sections, then a 256 color
driver is not in use.)
To install the preferred 256 color video driver use the
"Windows Setup" icon (setup.exe) and take the following
steps (note: setup.exe can also be accessed from DOS when in
the windows directory) :
1. Locate your video card manufacturer's display drivers disk.
2. Find your Windows disks.
3. Find the Windows Setup Icon (setup.exe) in the Main Group.
4. Select Change System Settings from the Options menu.
5. In the pop-up menu, locate the Other Drivers selection.
6. Specify the drive and/or directory of the video display
drivers disk.
7. Select the driver which supports 640 x 480 in 256 colors
and click OK.
8. You may need to insert some of the Windows disks for fonts,
etc.
9. To change to any other video mode, simply follow steps 1
through 8 for whatever mode required.
10. Once the above steps are completed, restart Windows.
Note that current drivers may be obtained directly from the
video card manufacturer or from bulletin boards that are
often setup by the video board manufacturers. Bulletin
boards are databases that are accessible via a modem.
Problems with specific video cards are described in the
problem section at the end of this file.
====== SOUND and MUSIC =================================
There are a great number of manufacturers of MPC sound cards of
varying qualities.
1. Explore Yellowstone will have a small amount of "white noise" or
background hiss when playing digitized sound effects and
speech. It should not "crackle", "pop" or "motorboat".
2. If sound or music fails to play at all or the quality is still
not as expected, then try reinstalling your sound card drivers
as follows:
Locate your manufacturer's Driver disk for the sound card that
needs software installation. Also check your manual for
any information regarding installation. Usually there is a
set procedure for installation and most of the steps are
done for you. Follow the manufacturer's procedures for
installation which usually works.
However if the manufacturer's installation doesn't work
or is incomplete, the following describes a more "manual"
installation process:
1. Keep your Windows 3.1 disks handy. They're often
needed for hardware installations.
2. Find the Windows "Control Panel".
3. Find the Drivers Icon.
4. Find the Add button and click on it.
5. Find and select "Other".
6. Insert your manufacturer's Driver disk.
7. Click on OK and follow the prompts.
8. If necessary, delete older drivers
once the above steps are completed, restart Windows.
9. Try installing Explore Yellowstone again or try the
Sound Test to see if there is any improvement.
Description : Explore Yellowstone won't complete it's installation.
Solution #1: Check the surface of the CD-ROM (the shiny side) for
any smudges, scratches, fingerprints, peanut butter
or other foreign substances. Anything that can bend
or obstruct light can cause incorrect data to be read.
Try cleaning the CD-ROM with a soft cotton cloth,
wiping in a straight line from the center hole towards
the outside edge. Do not use paper towels, do not use
any cleaning fluids, and do not wipe in a circle.
Description : Cannot hear any sound or music.
Solution #2: Try using the MEDIA PLAYER that comes with Windows.
This will allow you to try MIDI or WAVE sounds (there
are some .mid and .wav files in the Windows directory
for you to try). From Program Manager select RUN and
enter: MPLAYER CANYON.MID
(Windows 95 users can click on Start in the taskbar and select Run.)
Hit the play button and you should hear music. If you
still don't hear anything, this means that the problem is not
just Explore Yellowstone but may be the connection between
your sound card and your speakers.
Check all your connections with speakers, headphones and
volume controls.
Solution #3: "No. I'm still not hearing any sounds" - take a look at the
software mixer in Windows that came with your sound card
Are the sliders for MIDI and WAVE turned up ? Is the master
volume control turned up ?
If you still are not hearing sound/music contact your computer
and/or hardware manufacturer.
Description : Explore Yellowstone was working before, but now it isn't!
Solution #4: Check the surface of the Explore Yellowstone CD-ROM (the shiny side)
for any smudges, scratches, fingerprints, peanut butter or other
foreign substances. Anything that can bend or obstruct light
can cause incorrect data to be read and can cause some very
bizarre errors to occur.
Description : A "System Error Cannot read from drive D" error message
appears.
Solution #5: This error will occur if the Explore Yellowstone CD is NOT
in the drive. Also, Check the surface of the Explore Yellowstone
CD-ROM (the shiny side) for any smudges, scratches,
fingerprints, peanut butter or other foreign substances.
Anything that can bend or obstruct light can cause incorrect data
to be read and can cause some very bizarre errors to occur.
Description: Random General Protection Faults (GPFs) in "module unknown".
Solution #6: The problem has been traced to systems using Avance Logic
chip-based video cards. Windows Setup display line may
read one of the following:
"ALG 2228/2301"
"Video 7 512K"
"Hercules Stingray"
The problem has been traced to the video drivers provided by
the video card manufacturers. At the time of this release the
current video drivers or generic Windows video drivers do not
solve the problem. Please contact your video manufacturer for
information on the latest video driver available for your video
card. MECC will add new information as it develops to the
24-hour Automated Technical Support System and also post this
information on America-On-Line BBS (keyword MECC).
Description: The "Save Game" option is disabled.
Solution #7: You may be trying to save to the CD-ROM drive. Verify that you have
a hard drive or diskette selected.
Description: Screen colors seem incorrect.
Solution #8: This error occurs on systems using ATI Mach 32 video
drivers. This caused by the Crystal Font setting. To
correct the problem disable Crystal Fonts in the ATI
Flexdesk Control Panel and make sure a 256 color driver
is selected.
Description: The videos in the Guidebook to not play correctly or
give a black screen.
Solution #9: The videos in the Guidebook are QuickTime for Windows files. If the videos do not play or play correctly,
You may need to reinstall QuickTime for Windows. Reinstall
Explore Yellowstone and answer 'Yes' to the question about
QuickTime for Windows.
GENERAL TROUBLESHOOTING TIPS!
Rule #1 is to eliminate as may variables as possible!
Windows 3.1x
- Try turning off Sound and Music - does
the error still occur?
- Are any other programs running in the background? Hold down the
Ctrl & Esc keys to bring up Windows task list. Close all applications
except Program Manager. Then start Explore Yellowstone again.
- DOS 6.0 and above allow users to step through the Config.sys and
Autoexec.bat files, answering Yes or No for each line. When your
computer is starting up a "Loading MS-DOS" message appears. Hold
down the F8 key to step through these system files. Do not attempt
this if you do not know what each line is doing.
NOTE: Check to make sure you have the latest Windows Video & sound drivers
for the video and sound cards installed in your computer. Check the
documentation that came with your video card or sound card for
information on obtaining updated drivers.
Windows 95
- Make sure there are no other programs running at the same time. Press
Ctrl-Alt-Delete at the same time. This will pop-up a Close Program
Window. Try ending anything listed other than Explorer and Systray
before starting the program.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Playing Instructions
1. After starting program using the instructions found in the Installation Information
section of this document, select a name from the Ranger Roster or enter a new
one.
2. Explore Yellowstone will put you inside the park headquarters. You will notice
mouse pointer will highlight various objects as it passes over them. When an object
highlighted, you can click on it and the program will respond with the appropriate
action.
3. On the table in the headquarters is an Employee Handbook. Click on this book and it will
bring up a screen describing every part of Explore Yellowstone. You can use the Employee
Handbook to find out how to move around in the program, how to preform field surveys, or
how to answer visitor questions.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
How to Contact Technical Support
MECC Technical Support is available through the following:
1. 24-Hour Automated Technical Support System. 1-612-569-1678
2. E-Mail. When sending a technical support request via E-Mail,
please be sure to include detailed information about the problem
you are having and include the following:
(examples for MAC & Windows systems)
Platform: Windows Macintosh
Computer Type/Model: Gateway 2000 Performa 6115CD
Operating System: Windows 3.1 System 7.5
RAM: 8 Meg 8 Meg
Video Driver: CL GD5426/28
Sound Card: Ensoniq
Contact MECC Technical Support via E-MAIL at:
America Online. keyword MECC
Internet. mecctech@mecc.com
World-Wide-Web: http://mecc.com (look for the MECCTECH icon)
BBS (First Class System) (612) 569-1769
MECC technical Support: Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Central Time (612) 569-1678.