home
***
CD-ROM
|
disk
|
FTP
|
other
***
search
/
The World of Computer Software
/
World_Of_Computer_Software-02-385-Vol-1of3.iso
/
f
/
f15wee.zip
/
F15_WEE.TXT
next >
Wrap
Text File
|
1992-12-31
|
10KB
|
290 lines
F15_WEE.TXT - 12/31/92
HOW TO REDUCE YOUR HARD DISK OVERHEAD USING F-15 STRIKE EAGLE III
-----------------------------------------------------------------
BACKGROUND
----------
I've argued for some time about the benefits of custom installation
routines for flight simulator applications.
Falcon 3.0 and F-15 Strike Eagle III are two examples of sophisticated
flight simulators that, because of their use of high-resolution scenery,
gobble up 10 to 12 megabytes of hard disk space apiece.
In both cases, the end-user is required to bear the burden of a crowded
hard disk due to the installation of scenery files for three or more
theaters of operation -- a nice thing if you've got disk space to burn,
but not if disk space is at a premium.
Neither program offers a "custom installation" for one or two SELECTED
theaters, a space-saving option many users would appreciate.
I know dozens of Falcon and F-15III users who would be content to fly in
only one locale, provided there was a way to safely remove the scenery
files he or she did not require.
While I haven't been able to safely remove selected data files from
Falcon 3.0, I can report some success with F-15 Strike Eagle III.
WHAT THIS INVOLVES
------------------
Assuming there is a theater of operation in which you MOST enjoy flying,
it follows that there are a few locales in which you don't. If you
could remove the data files used when flying in your "least favorite"
theaters -- and do this WITHOUT crippling the simulator itself -- you'd
save yourself a couple of megs of disk space.
Please bear with me and read through the entire text file before
arbitrarily "cutting and slashing" through your F-15III directory. You
will need to make some hard choices here and there, and may have to run
F-15III in order to disable a feature or two BEFORE certain files can
be safely deleted.
It is up to you, the individual user, to determine if the disk space
saved through such efforts is worth the sacrifice of "doing without"
a theater or two.
Which brings me to the...
LEGAL MUMBO JUMBO
-----------------
I've tested all the suggestions made in this text file, and have yet to
discover any problems with actual gameplay or the maintenance of file
integrity. Further, there's nothing involved in my suggestions that
cannot be quickly and easily undone simply by "copying back" the deleted
files or (in a worst case scenario) by deleting the entire contents of
your F-15III directory and reinstalling the program from scratch.
However, just to be on the safe side, let's get a few things straight.
MicroProse, F15 Strike Eagle, F15 Strike Eagle III, Spectrum Holobyte,
and Falcon 3.0 are all trademarks or registered trademarks of their
respective companies, and are hereby acknowledged. All use of these or
any other trademarks in this text is for identification purposes only.
Further, the suggestions made in this text involve selective deletion of
a number of program files and voluntary disabling of certain program
features. They do not involve the modification, patching, or illegal
duplication of any existing software. At the same time, none of the
suggestions made here have been approved by MicroProse Software.
I make no claim or warranties, expressed or implied, with respect to the
suggestions contained in this text file, including its quality or
fitness for a particular purpose, nor do I accept responsibility for any
costs including, but not limited to, those incurred as a result of lost
profits or revenues, loss of time or use of the software, loss of data,
the cost of recovering software or data, the cost of substitute
software, claims by third parties, or similar costs.
So there.
CATEGORY 1 - FILES NOT REQUIRED FOR RUNNING F-15III
---------------------------------------------------
ABSTRACT
There are five files that are installed to your F-15III directory which
are not required during normal use of the program itself.
FILENAME SIZE DESCRIPTION/COMMENTS
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
BOOTDISK.EXE 24,027 Utility program used for preparing a clean boot
disk.
README.TXT 21 Contains nothing of consequence in Version 1.0.
ADS.EXE 32,456 Runs the end-program advertisements for 4 other
MicroProse games. With this file eliminated,
F-15III closes without incident or error message.
INSTALL.EXE 48,682 If located in your F-15III directory, this
program is used for reconfiguring your hardware
configuration settings without having to re-
install the program from scratch. The file can
safely deleted if you have F-15III correctly
configured.
INSTALL.TXT 58 Contains nothing of consequence in Version 1.0.
TOTAL DISK SPACE REPRESENTED BY CATEGORY 1 FILES: 105,244 bytes.
CATEGORY 2 - FILES REQUIRED ONLY BY THE OPENING TITLE/ANIMATION SEQUENCES
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
ABSTRACT
There are six files that are used only when the opening title animation
sequences are enabled. If you can do without the MicroProse logo and the
F-15 Eagle scramble/sortie animation every time you run F-15III, these
files can be safely removed without affecting the simulator itself.
You MUST first run F-15III and turn the "Title Animation" option OFF via
the Home Screen "Menu/File" command! If "Title Animation" is left ON,
the program will hunt for the missing files 'til the cows come home!
FILENAME SIZE DESCRIPTION/COMMENTS
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
TITLE1.PAN 94,438 Title animation file (for MicroProse logo and
scramble/sortie animation sequence).
TITLE2.PAN 240,486 "
TITLE3.PAN 177,288 "
TITLE4.PAN 172,285 "
TITLE5.PAN 35,869 "
TITLE6.PAN 1,452,881 "
TOTAL DISK SPACE REPRESENTED BY CATEGORY 2 FILES: 2,173,247 bytes
REMEMBER: It is important to run F-15III first, and disable the title
animation routines via the Menu "File" selection, BEFORE deleting the
TITLE*.PAN files. 'Nuff said.
CATEGORY 3 - FILES REQUIRED ONLY FOR SPECIFIC GAME SCENARIOS
------------------------------------------------------------
ABSTRACT
There are a number of easily identifiable files which are used only when
F-15III is set up for specific theater operations. The Korean theater
files represent the largest group of scenery/mapping files in terms of disk
space used; the Desert Storm theater represents the smallest.
In theory, the smallest possible configuration of F-15III would require
the removal of all of the Category 1 files AND removal of two of the three
groups of Category 2 files, leaving you with the complete flight model,
roster, and support files and ONE theater in which to fly missions. This
is discussed in the "MINIMUM CONFIGURATION" section later in this file.
What I've done is take each of the three groups of Category 3 files and
compress them (using PKZIP) down into three "theater archive" files, which
I've moved to floppy disks. This way, I can quickly "drop in" and un-zip a
new theater whenever I want a change of pace.
DESERT STORM SCENARIOS
----------------------
Files may be moved or deleted using the wildcard specification "DS*.*"
DS.3DX
DS.ALL
DS.DAT
DS.GRY
DS.MIS
DS.NMY
DS.RNG
DS.WLD
DS0.DAT
DS0.FTR
DS0.WLD
DSLTSF.3DX
DSM.3DX
DSMOB.3DX
DSMOBM.3DX
DSMPCLR.3DX
DSMTNS.3DX
DSPAL.PIC
TOTAL DISK SPACE REPRESENTED BY DESERT STORM THEATER FILES: 590,023 bytes
KOREA SCENARIOS
---------------
Files may be moved or deleted using the wildcard specification "KO*.*"
KO.3DX
KO.ALL
KO.DAT
KO.GRY
KO.MIS
KO.NMY
KO.RNG
KO.WLD
KO0.DAT
KO0.FTR
KO0.WLD
KOLTSF.3DX
KOM.3DX
KOMOB.3DX
KOMOBM.3DX
KOMPCLR.PIC
KOMTNS.3DX
KOPAL.PIC
TOTAL DISK SPACE REPRESENTED BY KOREA THEATER FILES: 604,979 bytes
PANAMA SCENARIOS
----------------
File may be moved or deleted using the wildcard specification "PA*.*"
PA.3DX
PA.ALL
PA.DAT
PA.GRY
PA.MIS
PA.NMY
PA.RNG
PA.WLD
PA0.DAT
PA0.FTR
PA0.WLD
PADREAR.PIC
PALTSF.3DX
PAM.3DX
PAMOB.3DX
PAMOBM.3DX
PAMPCLR.PIC
PAMTNS.3DX
PAPAL.PIC
TOTAL DISK SPACE REPRESENTED BY PANAMA THEATER FILES: 599,207 bytes
ERROR MESSAGE NOTE
------------------
If you delete the Category 3 files for a selected theater, then run F-15III
and select that theater for Quick Start or an assigned mission (single or
campaign), the simulator will auger in with extreme prejudice. You will
receive a "Bad World Specified --> XX" error message, with XX representing
the prefix (DS, KO, PA) of the absent theater. The sim and your PC will
lock up and require a Ctrl-Alt-Del reboot.
In addition, a "worst case default" .WLD file may be created by the program
just before it locks -- an indication that F-15III creates some temporary
files on the fly as it loads theater data. This file will be stamped with
the current date and time, and can be safely overwritten with the original
file if you ever want to re-copy the previously deleted Category 3 files.
MINIMUM CONFIGURATION
---------------------
The smallest possible configuration requires removing all of the Category 1
files, all of the Category 2 files, and the Korea and Panama Category 3
files.
What you are left with is the complete F-15III flight model, support,
mission, and roster files, and the ability to fly any Quick Start, Single
Mission, or Campaign in the Desert Storm theater.
The final disk space inventory of the F-15III directory reflects a
significant space savings compared to the default "full" installation.
Final F-15III directory of files: 6,095,602 bytes
______________________
Matthew T. Smith
CIS 70661,3235