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1995-07-25
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TABLE:OF CONTENTS
Before Installing 1
Installing MechWarrior 2 4
Troubleshooting 8
Cockpit Controls 19
Customer Service 21
Warranty 23
BEFORE INSTALLING
MINIMUM SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS
* IBM PC or 1 00% compatible
* 486DX2/66 MHz processor
* 8 MB RAM (7 MB of free extended memory)
* Double-speed CD-ROM drive (30OK/sec transfer rate)
* Hard disk drive with 30 MB of uncompressed space available
* VESA local bus (VLB) or PCI video
* 256 color SVGA (640 x 480)
* MS-DOS 6.0
* 100% Microsoft'-compatible mouse and driver
* 100% Sound Blaster-compatible sound card
(digital and FM/MIDI audio)
* Dedicated game card highly recommended for joysticks
Supported Sound Devices
Creative Labs Sound Blaster Basic, Pro, 16 and AWE 32; Media Vision Pro
Audio Spectrum Basic, Plus and 16; Gravis Ultrasound; Ensoniq Sound-
scape; Roland MT-32; General MIDI devices
Supported Input Devices
Standard two-button joysticks; CH Flightstick and ProPedals; Thrust-
master flight, weapons and rudder control systems; Thrustmaster F-1 6
Flightstick; Gravis gamepad and Phoenix joystick; Virtual 1/0 i-glasses;
Suncom Technologies SFX gamepad; Microsoft Sidewinder joystick
Multi-player DEMO requires
100% Hayes-compatible modem (9600 BPS or faster), null-modem
connection, or IPX/Netbios network
Here is some important information that you should know before you
install and start your MechWarrior 2 experience.
HARD DISK
The game requires 30 MB of UN-compressed free disk space. Mech-
Warrior 2 will not work properly using compressed hard disk space
(such as Stacker and DoubleSpace). If you have the space, there are two
other install options that require even more hard disk space and allow
animations and movies to run even smoother.
MEMORY
In order to run MechWarrior 2 you need over 6.8 MB of extended
memory. If you have between 6.5 MB and 6.9 MB of extended memory,
the game will play, but some missions will run slower. For optimal
performance it is best to configure your memory so you have over
6.9 MB of extended memory. To help you free up more memory, we
included a Boot Disk-making utility which you will be prompted to use
from the Installer.
OTHER OPERATING SYSTEMS AND WINDOWS 95
MechWarrior 2 requires MS-DOS 6.0 or later. Other operating systems
(e.g., OS/2 Warp and Windows 95) are not supported. Although Mech-
Warrior 2 might work just fine with them, we have not tested thoroughly
with them. If you have a problem using unsupported operating systems it
is best to contact the operating system company to try and work out
compatibility issues. Please check Activision's on-line forums on a
regular basis for future updates on MechWarrior 2 compatibility issues.
A special note for Windows 95 users: MechWarrior 2 was released
before the commercial release of Windows 95. For this reason, we were
not able to ensure that the DOS version of MechWarrior 2 would be
compatible with the Windows 95 operating system. We are currently
working on a Windows 95 version of MechWarrior 2 which will be avail-
able late 1995. For more information on obtaining the Windows 95
version of MechWarrior 2, please contact Activision at one of the on-line
locations listed in the Customer Support section (WWW, America On-
line, Compuserve, Prodigy, Microsoft Network), or write to us at: Activi-
sion, MW2 WIN95 INFO, P.O. Box 67713, Los Angeles, CA 90067.
VESA VIDEO DRIVERS
MechWarrior 2 requires that your system have a standard VESA video
driver to run your video. Please verify that you have one loaded before
launching MechWarrior 2.
CONTROLLERS
MechWarrior 2 supports a wide variety of input devices. Please consult
or refer to the Cockpit Controls section for further details.
TROUBLESHOOTING
We have compiled extensive information on compatibility issues and
solutions into a README file. This is an extremely valuable resource that
should be consulted first in the event you experience any difficulty
running this game. The README.TXT file can be viewed when running
the Installer and after installation by typing MW2SETUP in the Mech-
Warrior 2 directory. To access the latest information and assistance on
MechWarrior 2, please download the MechWarrior 2 Update document
from one of the Activision on-line forums.
INSTALLING MECHWARRIOR 2
1.If in Windows, exit completely out of Windows (press Alt-F4 from the
Program Manager) to get the DOS prompt.
2.Insert the MechWarrior 2 CD into your CD-ROM drive (for these
instructions, we will assume that your CD drive is drive D:).
3.At the DOS prompt, type D: and press Enter.
4.At the D:\ > prompt, type INSTALL and press Enter.
5.Follow the on-screen instructions carefully. Here are the basic steps
the Installer will follow:
A.GENERAL NOTES
To abort the installation process type Ctrl-X. If you do so, make
sure to delete the MechWarrior 2 directory and its subdirecto-
ries, if created.
Memory is checked before installing. You will need 6.9 MB of
RAM to run MechWarrior 2. If you get the warning message
that you are below the required amount, you will probably be
able to install anyway. At the end of the installation process,
you will be given the opportunity to create a Boot Disk to help
in freeing up more memory.
Your hard disk drive space is checked for sufficient room to
install. MechWarrior 2 requires a minimum of 30 MB to 105
MB of free uncompressed disk space, depending on the install
option you select.
A VESA video driver is checked for since it is required to run
MechWarrior 2.
If you have any trouble with the installation, please consult the
the README.TXT file.
B.CONFIGURING SOUND DEVICES
In order to enjoy the audio component of the game, you will need
to select your sound devices for MIDI music and digital audio. The
installer will attempt to automatically detect your sound configura-
tion and select the appropriate drivers. However, on some
systems you may need to manually choose your sound card from
the list provided. The Installer will then try to verify the presence
of that sound card in your system. If your sound card is not
shown and is 100-percent Sound Blaster-compatible, you should
be able to select the "Creative Labs Sound Blaster or 1 00% com-
patible" driver to hear sound and music in the game. When you
are finished selecting the proper sound devices, select Accept
Settings and press Enter.
C.VIEWING README FILE
At this point in the installation process, a README file is dis-
played. Because important information is included in this file, we
strongly suggest you review it before installing. It covers a vast
majority of the compatibility issues and solutions that resulted
from our testing program. Press ESC when you have finished
viewing this file.
You can always come back and review it by typing MW2SETUP
from the Mech2 directory.
D.INSTALLING THE GAME
The next step is to install MechWarrior 2 files to your hard drive.
Select Begin installation and press Enter. If you wish to view or
change your settings (such as the default directory, sound device
settings and performance option settings) before installation, just
select View or Change Installation Settings and press Enter.
When you are ready for MechWarrior 2 files to be installed, select
Accept These Settings and Install then press Enter.
You will need to select one of three install options, (1 ) Minimal,
(2) Recommended and (3) Full-Blown. For each of these settings,
there is an inherent tradeoff between the amount of hard drive
space required for the install and the playback rate and quality of
animations and movies in the game. The installer will explain the
differences between each option. Select the option you want,
making sure that you have enough hard disk space to install it.
Later on, if you ever want to change to a different install option,
just delete the MechWarrior 2 directory and re-install, selecting
the install option you want.
NOTE: If you want to save your pilot careers, make a copy of
MW2REG.CFG before deleting the MechWarrior 2 directory. After
installation, copy this file back into the MechWarrior 2 directory.
E.ELECTRONIC REGISTRATION
After the game is installed, you will be presented with the option
to register your copy of MechWarrior 2 via our on-line registration
system. If you have a modem connected to your computer, regis-
tering your purchase of MechWarrior 2 is very easy, quick and
toll-free. By registering, you might be able to win some cool stuff
as well. All you have to do is fill in the requested information
(basically your address plus a couple of other questions). Once
you have finished, select SEND and your registration information
will be sent to us via our toll-tree 800 number. Of course, if you
want to register later, just select BYPASS. Please only register
once. If you successfully use the on-line registration method,
there is no need to mail in the enclosed registration card.
F.CREATING A BOOT DISK
Next, you will be asked if you wish to make a Boot Disk. This
procedure requires that you insert a disk into your A: drive. Please
verify that you have created a backup of the contents of this disk,
since this process will erase all data on it. Also, use a high-density
disk. When the formatting process is complete and you have
typed in a volume label for the Boot Disk, you will be asked if you
want to format another; type N for "no" and press Enter.
6.When installation is complete, you will be returned to the directory in
which MechWarrior 2 was installed. To begin your MechWarrior
experience, type MECH2 and press Enter.
POST INSTALLATION NOTES
After installing MechWarrior 2, it is easy to change your sound device
configurations, view the README file, make a Boot Disk or register
MechWarrior 2 electronically (if you bypassed this step while installing).
All you have to do is go to the MechWarrior 2 directory on your hard
drive, type MW2SETUP and press Enter. This will launch a program that
will allow you to do all of these things.
TROUBLESHOOTING
MEMORY
MechWarrior 2 requires a lot of memory torun - 8 MB of system
memory (RAM). On some machines, even if you have the required 8 MB,
MechWarrior 2 may report that you do not have enough free extended or
conventional memory. If this is the case, your best alternative is to create
a Boot Disk. See the Boot Disk section of this document for more infor-
mation on creating a Boot Disk.
Q:I get a message that says I do not have enough memory to run the
installer. How come?
A:The MechWarrior 2 installation program works best if you load as few
TSR (terminate and stay resident) programs as possible in
CONFIG.SYS and AUTOEXEC.BAT. Exceptions to this rule would be
your mouse driver and CD-ROM drivers. At least 500K of conven-
tional (the first 640K) memory is required to run the MechWarrior 2
installer.
Q:I get an out-of-memory error when I attempt to access one of the
Clans. -OR- I cannot launch missions from the pre-mission launch
area ("shell") portion of the game.
A:This problem occurs most often in computers with 8 MB of RAM.
MechWarrior 2 will run properly on these machines. However, this
RAM must be configured to allow MechWarrior 2 enough room. In
most cases, the conflict is with SMARTDRV. SMARTDRV, by default,
will occupy 2 MB of RAM in machines with more than 6 MB of
extended memory. By placing "REM" in front of your SMARTDRV
statement in your AUTOEXEC.BAT and rebooting, you should be able
to solve the problem. However, if this does not work, you must
remove drivers or other TSR's which are occupying memory. A better
solution is the creation of a Boot Disk that you can use to run the
program under optimum memory conditions.
BOOT DISKS
If you experience problems playing MechWarrior 2 or receive messages
that you do not have enough memory to play, you will probably need to
create a Boot Disk. A Boot Disk lets your machine boot from a floppy
disk and will not load memory-eating programs, freeing more memory
up for MechWarrior 2.
We have included an option that will automatically create Boot Disks for
you in this package. To create a Boot Disk, first go to the \MECH2 direc-
tory. For example if you installed MechWarrior 2 to C:\MECH2, you would
type CD MECH2 and press Enter. Then type MW2SETUP and press
Enter. Select Make a Boot Disk. Follow the on-screen prompts, and the
program will create a Boot Disk for you.
Optimum Setup
Sometimes even a Boot Disk creator can't get you past the memory limit
required to run a program. In the event you find our automatic Boot Disk
creator doesn't do the job, we have provided the following CONFIG.SYS
and AUTOEXEC.BAT files to assist you in getting MechWarrior 2 up and
running quickly.
If you are creating a Boot Disk from scratch, start at Step 1. If you have
already used the automatic Boot Disk creation utility in the Mech-
Warrior 2 installer, start at Step 3.
Step 1:Place a diskette in your A: drive. The next step will erase any
data on the disk, so a brand new blank floppy disk should be
used. Make sure that the disk is the same density as the drive
(Use a 1.44 MB disk in a High Density 3.5" drive, etc.).
Step 2:At the C: prompt, type FORMAT A: /S and press Enter. The
DOS Format utility will format the disk and add the necessary
DOS files required to boot from the floppy disk.
Step 3:Change to drive A by typing A: and pressing Enter. Then type
EDIT CONFIG.SYS and press Enter. The DOS Edit program
will appear.
- If you used our Boot Disk maker then just make sure these
lines, or similar lines, in the [CONFIG.SYS] example below,
are in your CONFIG.SYS file and type REM and a space in
front of all other lines not listed.
- If you are making your own Boot Disk manually, then type in
the lines following [CONFIG.SYS] in the example below.
When you are finished typing the lines, press ALT-F to bring
up the File menu, and then type X to Exit the DOS Edit
program. When it asks you if you want to save your file,
choose Yes.
[CONFIG.SYS]
DEVICE=C:\DOS\HIMEM.SYS
DEVICE=C:\DOS\EMM386.EXE NOEMS
DOS=UMB
FILES=40
BUFFERS=15,0
STACKS=9,256
DOS=HIGH
DEVICEHIGH=C:\CDROMDRV\DOllVlO9.SYS /D:MSCDOOO
In the CONFIG.SYS file shown above, replace the last line in
the example with the line from your current CONFIG.SYS file
on drive C: that runs your CD-ROM drivers. It is important that
you use your CD-ROM line and not our example, otherwise
your CD-ROM drive will not function properly.
You may also have special lines in your C:\CONFIG.SYS file
that help your sound card function properly. It is very impor-
tant that you copy those lines into this new file on A: so your
sound card can work. Place the appropriate lines from your
CONFIG.SYS file at the end of the example shown above.
Additionally, if your graphics card requires a VESA driver, it
should go here as well. (Check out our README file for more
details.)
Step 4:Type EDIT AUTOEXEC.BAT and press Enter. The DOS Edit
program will appear.
If you used our Boot Disk maker then just make sure these
lines, or similar lines, in the [AUTOEXEC.BAT] example
below, are in your AUTOEXEC.BAT file and type REM and a
space in front of all other lines not listed.
If you are making your own Boot Disk manually, then type in
the lines following [AUTOEXEC.BAT] in the example below.
When you are finished typing the lines, press ALT-F to bring
up the File menu, and then type X to Exit the DOS Edit
program. When it asks you if you want to save your file,
choose Yes.
[AUTOEXEC.BATl
@ECHO OFF
PROMPT $P$G
SET PATH=C:\DOS;C:\VIDCARD;C:\SNDCARD
LH C:\DOS\MSCDEX.EXE /D:MSCDOOO
SET SOUND=C:\SBPRO
SET BLASTER=A220 17 Dl T4
C:\MOUSE\MOUSE.EXE
C:
CD\MECH2
MECH2
In the AUTOEXEC.BAT file shown above, you would replace
line 4 with the line from your current AUTOEXEC.BAT file on
drive C: that loads MSCDEX.EXE. It is important that you use
your CD-ROM line and not our example, otherwise your CD-
ROM drive will not function properly.
You may also have special lines in your C:\AUTOEXEC.BAT file
that help your sound card to function properly. It is very
important that you copy those lines into this new file on A:
so your sound card can work. Replace the examples on lines 5
and 6 with the appropriate lines from your AUTOEXEC.BAT file.
The SET PATH command on line 3 is an example; replace it
with the one similar to it in your AUTOEXEC.BAT file on the
C: drive.
Step 5:Leave the disk in the drive and reboot your system. The game
should start and everything should be working properly.
NOTE: Once this Boot Disk is finished and functioning properly, use it to
boot up your system and then run the DOS MEMMAKER utility with the
Boot Disk in the drive. MEMMAKER will ensure that you have squeezed
every little bit of RAM out of the Boot Disk.
VIDEO
MechWarrior 2 was designed to take advantage of some of the higher
resolution video modes on your computer. The pre-mission launch
portion of the program (i.e. the "shell") runs in 64Ox48Ox256 SVGA
mode, and the simulation portion of the program runs by default in
32Ox2OOx256 standard VGA mode. The simulation can also run in
64Ox48Ox256 and 1024x768x256 mode using an SVGA video card. In
some cases MechWarrior 2 will detect and work with your video card just
fine. However, some video cards may require that a VESA video driver be
loaded in order for the video card to work properly with MechWarrior 2.
What Is A VESA Driver?
VESA stands for Video Electronics Standards Association. It is a standard
that allows software companies to write programs that work on many
video cards without having to know how each card works. The VESA
driver is the program that handles this. Almost every video card available
today has VESA drivers available for it. These drivers may be stored in a
chip on the video card, or they may be programs that the user has to
load manually (or with a batch file). Some cards (such as the Diamond
Viper) have the driver on the video card, but need the user to run a
special program to activate the driver. If the VESA driver is an external
program, it will probably be found on the disks that accompanied your
video card. If you don't have a VESA driver you should contact your
video card manufacturer. We have included a list of Customer Service
and BBS numbers for major manufacturers at the end of the README
file. Using most 'external' (programs that you must run) VESA drivers is
as easy as typing the name of the driver at the DOS prompt. For instance,
if the driver was called VVESA.COM, you would type VVESA.COM and
then press Enter. If you have any difficulty running MechWarrior 2 at a
higher resolution, contact the maker of your video card for the latest
VESA driver for your card.
INPUT DEVICES (Joysticks, Mice, VR Headsets)
MechWarrior 2 supports a wide variety of input devices. The following
section, Cockpit Controls, will cover any issues encountered with these
controllers. We will be adding more input devices to the current list in the
near future. Look on our BBS or any of the on-line services that we
currently support for updates. Some future additions are the Spaceball
Avenger and the CH Virtual Pilot Pro.
MechWarrior 2 requires a Microsoft-compatible mouse to run. Most
mice today (including Logitech, Mouse Systems, and Kensington) are
Microsoft-compatible. In order for the mouse to work properly in Mech-
Warrior 2, a mouse driver must be loaded before running the game. The
mouse driver must also be fairly current and VESA compatible. Contact the
manufacturer of your mouse or the dealer who sold the mouse to you to
see if your driver is the most current available.
NETWORK AND MODEM PLAY
The multi-player demo version of MechWarrior 2, NetMech, is designed to
show you a taste of the multi-play MechWarrior 2 to come. Although it will
function on many different systems, it has not yet been thoroughly tested.
It's performance and reliability will vary across systems. On some systems
the demo might not function at all. However, rest assured that the full
version of NetMech, which will be made available to you in the future, will
be extensively tested, compatible across a greater number of systems and
include many new and exciting features. For the NetMech Demo, these are
some common questions that may arise:
Q:NETB2 is not connecting the two computers running NetMech Demo.
What is the problem?
A:You might be networked across a router. NETB2, and by necessity
NetMech Demo, will not connect across a router. We are currently
working on a solution to this for our full network version.
Q:Why won't NETB2 run?
A:Ensure that you have loaded NETBIOS or 1 00% NETBIOS compatible
software. NETB2 will not work without NETBIOS or compatible software
loaded.
Q:I cannot get NetMech Demo to run on my Windows network, Why not?
A:NetMech Demo does not support Windows NETBIOS.
Q:When I run NETB2 I get a message stating that other players are
already registered. What does this mean?
A:This message indicates that other people are currently playing
NetMech Demo on the network. Fortunately, NETB2 provides four
sockets to connect through. To use a different socket type "NETB2 x"
where "x" is the number of the socket (1 through 4). Unless there are
four games going on, you should be able to find an open socket. Both
players need to type in the same socket number to play against each
other in NetMech Demo.
Q:Does NetMech Demo support Lantastic?
A:NetMech Demo should function properly on a Lantastic network or
any other network that supports NETBIOS or 100% NETBIOS compat-
ible software.
Q:My frame rate in the NetMech Demo is choppy and I get "memory
low" messages on my screen. Why is this?
A:In the heat of battle, sometimes more memory is required out of your
computer due to the increased demands on the processor by the
multi-player version. If you are running the network version on an 8
MB machine, you may occasionally get memory low banners or
experience choppy frame rates. Ideally, the NetMech Demo should be
run in computer with more than 8MB.
Q:My modem is not connecting. Why not?
A:NetMech Demo requires a connection through two 100% Hayes
compatible modems at 9600 BPS. If you do not have a Hayes com-
patible modem, NetMech Demo might not function properly, if at all.
Additionally, some modems will require initialization strings that force
the modem into 9600 BPS, otherwise, the game will not function.
NetMech Demo will not run at baud rates over or under 9600 BPS.
Q:I can't get the null-modem version of NetMech to function.
What's wrong?
A:If you are using a joystick as a control, you may experience problems
connecting with another computer via null-modem. This could be the
result of conflicts with your joystick. Try removing the joystick. We
recommend using a mouse and keyboard for NetMech null-modem.
PERFORMANCE
MechWarrior 2 has features that were designed to support a wide range
of computers. When you initially configure MechWarrior 2 for play,
MechWarrior 2 will make several default settings regarding which fea-
tures should be used and which should be turned OFF
The trade-offs are different for each user, so we allow any machine to run
any options, but please keep in mind that the higher the level of detail,
the more demanding the machine requirements.
We recommend that all 486 owners use low resolution, 32Ox2OO. 486-
66's and up with very fast video sub-systems can run in 64Ox480, but
most of the graphic options should be turned OFF Video cards also vary
dramatically; many cards are optimized for extremely high performance
in Windows, but can actually be very slow for use in DOS. The best way
to determine this is by running MechWarrior 2. Start with a resolution of
32Ox2OO, and select whatever options best match your machine's
capabilities and your desire for realism. Machine and graphics card
allowing, move up to a higher resolution, and adjust graphic options until
you reach a satisfactory balance.
Try making the following changes to increase the game's performance:
Terrain Textures: Try turning these OFF.
Object Textures: Try turning these OFF.
Display Detail: Try switching to LOW.
Object Density: Try switching to LOW.
Chunk Explosions: Try turning these OFF.
Resolution:Reduce to the next lower resolution
if you're running above 32Ox2OO.
These changes should be sufficient to get the game running reasonably
on any machine. Other options can be left ON, as their performance cost
is low.
COCKPICK CONTROLS
To select the input device(s) you'll be using to pilot your mech, select
Cockpit Controls from the ESC menu. Here you can select the ones you'll
be using by clicking on them (accepted ones are shown in red). It's
perfectly OK to use multiple devices simultaneously, as long as your
computer is happy with the setup.
Once you've selected your inputs, click on ACCEPT to take your current
configuration into battle.
If you're really brave, you can choose to customize your mech's controls
in Custom Config. Don't let all the options scare you...
To modify/customize a device: Select the device you want to map game
functions to from the list of devices in the upper-left corner. Only high-
lighted ones are available. The selected one will turn red (as a rule, if a
button is bright white, you can select it, and if it's red, it is selected). Now
select one of the game controls which you want to map the device to.
Lastly, select the specific input (button or axis) you want placed there.
Inputs can be prefaced by modifier keys, and can be inverted by clicking
on the R/L, U/D areas.
Since you can have multiple (duplicate) inputs controlling the same
function, there are multiple pages of controls, starting with Primary.
Cycle through the other Controls pages to see the redundancies
(instances where functions have been assigned to multiple keys,
switches, etc.).
You can save and load up to four custom configurations, each with its
own name (just click on Current Config and enter a new name). Click on
Accept and exit when you're satisfied. Enjoy.
Sound complicated? Well, it is...
If you simply want to switch your turret from Tank to Plane mode
(reverse them), then all you need to do is click on the L/R following
Torso Turn for your joystick (which may not show up as the Primary
Controller, so you may have to click on Primary Controls to get there).
COSTOMER SERVICE
If you have any comments, questions or suggestions about Mech-
Warrior 2, or any other Activision product, you can contact us at (310)
479-5644 between the hours of 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. (Pacific Time)
Monday through Friday, with the exception of holidays, or contact a
customer service representative through the following on-line services:
Activision BBS: (310) 479-1335
*Available 24 hours a day
*Up to 14,400 baud
*Settings: 8 bits, no parity, 1 stop bit (8, N, 1
CompuServe: 76004,2122 or [GO GAMEPUB] in the Game Publishers
Forum B
Prodigy: ACT110B
GEnie: ACTIVISION
America on-line: MEDIAJAKE or use keyword "ACTIVISION" to locate
the Activision forum.
Internet:support@activision.com
http:Hwww.activision.com
For information on how to use our listserver, please send email to
CSbulletins@activision.com with the word "help" in the subject line. If
you're already familiar with listservers, send email to the same address
with the word "index" in the subject of your message for a list of files
available from this service.
For customer service in Australia and the Pacific Rim, please
refer to the following:
ACTIVISION AUSTRALIA AND PACIFIC RIM
P.O. Box 873
Epping, NSW 2121
Australia
(61)2 869 0955
Activision is a registered trademark of Activision, Inc. All rights reserved.
MechWarrior, BattleTech, BaftleMech and 'Mech
are registered trademarks of FASA CORPORATION. Used with permission.
1995 Activision, Inc.