Five Quarters Bundle/Edge: Five Quarters Bundle.iso/gamerunr/read.me

Text File | 1995-12-30 | 17KB | 402 lines

 GAMERUNNER 3.0 README FILE
 ==========================

 This file includes information on what's new in this release of
 GameRunner, and tips to help you get the most out of the package.
 For that reason alone it is worthwhile reading!  It also contains
 last-minute information that did not make the manual and few
 corrections to the manual. If you want to print this file
 for future reference, be sure you are in the GAMERUNR directory
 and type "COPY READ.ME PRN:" at the DOS prompt.  Alternatively,
 you may print this file from the Windows Notepad by clicking on
 File, then Print.

 Although this file includes information on all components of
 GameRunner, it concentrates on QEMM 8 Game Edition and the
 Quarterdeck GameCheater.  You should also read the READ.ME file
 in the CACHE86 subdirectory for further information about
 Cache86.


 CACHE86 AND WINDOWS 95
 ======================

 Windows 95 comes with 32-bit file access, a disk cache,
 and Cache 86 therefore disables itself automatically when the
 Windows 95 graphical interface starts up.  It is re-enabled when
 you leave the graphical interface (for example, when you enter
 DOS Mode).   If you don't wish to use Windows 95's 32-bit file
 access, you can have Cache 86 active at all times by checking
 the "Override default Win95 caching" option in the Cache 86
 Setup program. However, choosing this option is NOT RECOMMENDED.


 THE QUARTERDECK GAMECHEATER
 ===========================

 HOW TO GET UPDATED GAME CHEATS

 As new cheats are developed and discovered, Quarterdeck will
 make new or upgraded Game Enhancement Modules available to
 registered GameRunner owners.  The simplest way to obtain
 these GEMs is to contact Quarterdeck electronically.

 * Quarterdeck's BBS number is Ireland 353 1 2844381 or
   UK 01245-496943.
 * Quarterdeck's forum on CompuServe can be reached by typing
   GO QUARTERDECK at any system prompt.
 * On the Internet, Quarterdeck's FTP site is qdeck.com
 * The URL for Web users is http://www.qdeck.com/


 RUNNING DOS GAMES FROM WINDOWS

 The Quarterdeck GameCheater for Windows is pre-configured to run
 all DOS games by temporarily exiting Windows. Many games have an
 additional option to launch the games in a Windows DOS box.
 However, we do not recommend enabling this option as DOS games
 tend to run poorly when inside Windows.


 CHEATING 32-BIT GAMES

 The Quarterdeck GameCheater cheats Windows 32-bit games only in
 Windows 95,  which is a 32-bit environment.


 SLIPSTREAM 5000 AND AVIL OF DAWN HANGING ON EXIT

 You may find that upon exiting Slipstream 5000 or Anvil of dawn a
 Page Fault error occurs.  Do not be concerned.  Continue and you
 will be free to continue using your machine.  The error emanates
 from SlipStream 5000 Anvil of Dawn, and currently appears
 unavoidable.


 REBEL ASSAULT II AND VIDEO MODES

 The Quarterdeck GameCheater does not support the high resolution
 video mode for Rebel Assault II.  You must run in low, or normal
 resolution when running Rebel Assault II from the Quarterdeck
 GameCheater.


 ERRATA IN THE DOCUMENTATION
 ===========================

 As documentation is produced often several months in advance of a
 product release, certain inconsistencies can occur in the natural
 product development cycle.  Below are four corrections to the
 printed documentation.

 On page 29, the screen shot of QEMM Setup is incorrect.
 Since the time of printing the buttons displayed in the screen
 shot have been updated to "property pages" to provide quicker
 access to setup options.  The description of each button on
 pages 29 and 30 now describe QEMM Setups' property pages.

 On page 30, the QEMM User Guide describes the buttons on the
 bottom of the QEMM Setup screen.  It does not describe the
 buttons on the right side of the window.  The Reset button
 restores your settings to the values that were in force when you
 entered that page.  The Help button provides context-sensitive
 online help for the displayed property page.

 Page 154 incorrectly states that you can use three- or four-key
 combinations for cheat hotkeys.  For example, ALT-SHIFT-S or
 CTRL-ALT-SHIFT-F10.  In fact, only two-key combinations can be
 used, and they cannot be any combination of ALT, SHIFT or CTRL.
 For example, you can use ALT-C, but you cannot use ALT-SHIFT.

 Page 169 discusses Quickboot, a feature of QEMM 8 not included
 in the Game Edition.   (Additional note:  Both the DOS and
 Windows QEMM Setup programs provide inactive controls to enable
 or disable Quickboot.  These are simply placeholders for the
 full QEMM 8 version.)


 QEMM INSTALLATION AND COMPATIBILITY NOTES
 =========================================

 QEMM TECHNOTES

 There are several helpful technical notes in the TECHNOTE
 subdirectory of the directory into which you installed
 GameRunner. All of the QEMM technotes may be viewed by running
 QEMM Setup (QSETUP) either from DOS or from Windows; QEMM Setup
 incorporates a file viewer that allows you to read these notes
 easily.  The Windows version of QEMM Setup features a Windows
 Help file that also incorporates versions of these notes.

 PRODUCTS.TEC contains a list of compatibility issues between
 QEMM and other hardware and software products.  Please read this
 technote before beginning any troubleshooting.  Other online
 documents, including QEMMUTIL.TEC, TESTPRGS.TEC, and QPI.TEC,
 describe utility programs and technical information for
 programmers and advanced users of QEMM.  Still others provide
 background information, compatibility notes, or tips and tricks
 related to various types of hardware and software.


 SAVING DISK SPACE FOR WINDOWS-ONLY USERS

 If you work exclusively in Microsoft Windows, you can delete the
 contents of the GAMERUNR\TECHNOTE subdirectory, at a savings of
 about 400K of disk space.  All the QEMM technotes are also
 included in the Windows Help file, and can be read by selecting
 Technotes from the QEMM Setup Help menu.


 OPTIMIZE'S CONVENTIONAL MEMORY REQUIREMENTS

 It is possible to load so many TSRs and device drivers on your
 system that you may run out of memory during the OPTIMIZE
 process! Please refer to the technical note MAXMEM.TEC in your
 GAMERUNR\TECHNOTE directory for suggestions on improving your
 pre-OPTIMIZE configuration.  In cases where OPTIMIZE does not
 complete successfully, you may wish to try taking advantage of
 expanded memory by skipping the hardware detection phase as
 noted above.


 OPTIMIZE, DOS-UP AND BUFFERS

 In versions of MS-DOS up to 6.22, up to 48 DOS BUFFERS could be
 loaded into the High Memory Area (HMA) along with the DOS kernel.
 In DOS 7 (the version of DOS that accompanies Windows 95), it is
 possible for other parts of DOS to be loaded into the HMA,
 reducing the amount of space available for BUFFERS, and causing
 them to be loaded below the HMA.  This may result in a conflict
 during the OPTIMIZE Software Detection phase, such that not
 enough memory is available to determine accurately the memory
 needed by DOS-Up to load BUFFERS above 640K.

 If you are using Windows 95 or the underlying version of DOS
 that accompanies it, and if you are using the DOS=LOW setting
 in CONFIG.SYS, Quarterdeck recommends that you set your BUFFERS=
 value to 30 or less.


 DOS-UP OPTIONS AND WINDOWS 95

 If you are using real-mode Novell Netware drivers in Microsoft
 Windows 95, Microsoft recommends that you set the LOADTOP=0
 option in the MSDOS.SYS text file.  (Note that Windows 95's
 text-based MSDOS.SYS is NOT the same as the MSDOS.SYS DOS
 component in previous versions of DOS.)  If you choose Windows
 95's default LOADTOP=1 setting to load the command processor at
 the top of conventional memory, you may experience corruption of
 the DOS environment, which includes values for PROMPT, PATH, and
 SET statements.

 This happens irrespective of the presence of Quarterdeck
 software.  However, for similar reasons, if you are using Novell
 Netware real-mode drivers with Windows 95, you should configure
 the DOS-Up option to load COMMAND.COM low, rather than high.


 DOS-UP, WINDOWS 95, AND PREVIOUS DOS VERSIONS

 If you wish to use DOS-Up and the Windows 95 feature that allows
 you to boot into your previous version of DOS, you should create
 a Windows 95 Boot Menu as described in the technical note
 W95BOOT.TEC, found in your GAMERUNR\TECHNOTE directory, and a
 DOS 6 multiple-path CONFIG.SYS as described in your DOS 6
 reference materials.

 On systems where the previous DOS version is DOS 5, however, the
 OPTIMIZE process run from DOS will not recognize multiple
 configurations, and will not create a DOS-UP.DAT file with
 multiple paths.

 The workaround for this problem is to begin OPTIMIZE in the DOS 5
 environment, and to reboot into DOS 5 at every stage of the
 OPTIMIZE process.  When OPTIMIZE is complete, copy your
 DOS-UP.DAT file to another name (e.g. DOS-UP-5.DAT).  Then edit
 the DOS-UP.SYS line in your CONFIG.SYS file to specify
 DOS-UP-5.DAT as your DOS-UP configuration file:

 DEVICE=C:\GAMERUNR\DOS-UP.SYS @C:\GAMERUNR\DOS-UP-5.DAT


 QEMM'S STEALTH D*SPACE AND DRIVESPACE

 QEMM supports all versions of DoubleSpace or DriveSpace that
 accompany MS-DOS version 6.00 through 6.22.  QEMM does not
 currently support the version of DriveSpace that comes with
 Windows 95 (or DOS 7), nor the DriveSpace that comes with the
 Microsoft Plus Pack.


 IF LESS MEMORY IS AVAILABLE WITH THIS VERSION

 Some customers may observe less conventional memory available
 with QEMM 8 Game Edition than with previous versions.  In many
 cases, this is  because QEMM attempts automatically to EXCLUDE
 a byte in the F000  region, in order to support better Microsoft
 Windows' MaxBPS= SYSTEM.INI setting.  If you have set MaxBPS set
 to a value greater than 200, QEMM's default behavior will likely
 be preferable to you.  If you have MaxBPS set to a value of 200
 or less, you might wish to try adding the SRBP:N parameter to the
 end of the QEMM386.SYS line in CONFIG.SYS.

 QEMM's superior detection of Plug and Play BIOS and other forms
 of adapter RAM and ROM may cause QEMM to EXCLUDE automatically
 more address space than previous versions.  This is safer than
 including these regions by default, but can result in less High
 RAM or less conventional memory than before, or can result in the
 EMS page frame being placed in conventional memory.  The QEMM
 Analysis procedure, detailed in the manual, may allow you to
 reclaim this High RAM.  You may also wish to check Manifest's
 Hints screen to confirm that Analysis will be helpful.

 Finally, QEMM may have increased extended memory overhead in this
 version on some systems, which may result in a net loss in
 available extended or expanded memory.  There is no remedy for
 this situation.


 QEMM SETUP AND THE CONFIG VARIABLE

 MS-DOS 6 and PC DOS 6 support multiple paths of execution through
 CONFIG.SYS.  DOS 6 can use the CONFIG environment variable and
 the GOTO %CONFIG% batch statement to support separate paths of
 execution in the AUTOEXEC.BAT that correspond to the different
 CONFIG.SYS configuration paths.  When you use QEMM Setup to add a
 new path to your DOS 6 multiple configuration CONFIG.SYS file,
 QEMM Setup does not create an entirely new branch in the
 AUTOEXEC.BAT to correspond to your new CONFIG.SYS path. Instead,
 QEMM Setup makes sure that the new configuration path and the
 existing one that it was based on will execute the same commands
 in AUTOEXEC.BAT.  If you want the new path to execute different
 AUTOEXEC.BAT commands than the path from which it was created,
 you must edit your AUTOEXEC.BAT file to create two separate
 branches to replace the common branch that QEMM Setup creates.
 See the DOS 6 manual for more information on the CONFIG variable.


 MS-DOS 6.22 AND MISSING LABELS IN AUTOEXEC.BAT

 If you have a command in AUTOEXEC.BAT in the form GOTO <LABEL>,
 where there is no corresponding <LABEL> in the AUTOEXEC.BAT file,
 the OPTIMIZE process may simply terminate.  Ensure that all GOTO
 statements in AUTOEXEC.BAT refer to valid labels.


 BATCH FILES AS THE LAST LINE OF AUTOEXEC.BAT

 The OPTIMIZE process will fail if the last line of your
 AUTOEXEC.BAT file is a batch file that is not "CALLed" (i.e., a
 batch file without a CALL command in front of it).


 OPTIMIZE AND WINDOWS IN MULTIPLE CONFIGURATION PATHS

 In most cases, OPTIMIZE will disable Microsoft Windows during the
 OPTIMIZE process.  However, if you are using a multiple-path
 CONFIG.SYS file, and separate paths of execution in AUTOEXEC.BAT,
 OPTIMIZE will allow Windows to run during certain phases.  To
 ensure that the OPTIMIZE process is complete, make sure that you
 enter and exit Windows for every step of the OPTIMIZE process,
 until you see OPTIMIZE's report on the amount of memory gained.
 Alternatively you should, for the duration of the OPTIMIZE
 process, remove any line in AUTOEXEC.BAT that launches Microsoft
 Windows.


 OPTIMIZE AND MULTICONFIG INCLUDE STATEMENTS

 QEMM 8.0 Game Edition's OPTIMIZE program does not support more
 than one level of INCLUDE statements in a CONFIG.SYS with multiple
 configurations. You can use INCLUDE statements with OPTIMIZE, but
 you cannot use an INCLUDE statement inside a CONFIG.SYS block
 that has already been included in another block. If you have more
 than one level of INCLUDE statements, you must edit your
 CONFIG.SYS file before running OPTIMIZE and make sure that all
 INCLUDE statements below the first level are replaced with the
 actual CONFIG.SYS lines which the INCLUDE statement formerly
 invoked.


 FIXINT13.SYS AND ULTRAFIX.SYS

 FIXINT13.SYS is designed to assist in resolving problems with
 certain disk controllers that hang because they use stacks that
 are too small for the work that they do at the time that they do
 it. It replaces ULTRAFIX.SYS, which was formerly distributed on
 the Quarterdeck bulletin board and other electronic forums.  If
 you use ULTRAFIX.SYS, replace it with FIXINT13.SYS. FIXINT13.SYS
 is documented in the file QEMMUTIL.TEC, located in the
 GAMERUNR\TECHNOTE directory.


 PCMCIA (PC CARD) HARDWARE AND SOFTWARE

 There is a technical note in the GAMERUNR\TECHNOTE directory on
 the subject of maximizing memory while using PCMCIA (PC Card)
 adapters.  This and other technical notes are readable via the
 QEMM Setup program.  In Windows, choose Help from the menu bar,
 and then "Technotes"; in DOS, from the QEMM
 Setup main menu, choose "View QEMM hints, technotes and READ.ME",
 and then "View QEMM technical notes".

 VIDEO CARDS AND EXCLUSIONS

 While manufacturers of video cards often recommend EXCLUDEing
 large regions of address space -- for example, A000-C7FF -- this
 is almost never necessary, and these recommendations should be
 taken with a good deal of skepticism.  QEMM is intelligent enough
 to recognize the addresses used by video cards, and makes the
 appropriate exclusions automatically.  QEMM INCLUDEs the
 B000-B7FF region by default, and EXCLUDEs video RAM and ROM
 automatically when appropriate.  A few video cards require that
 the address space between B000-B7FF be EXCLUDEd when using
 Microsoft Windows high-resolution video drivers.  However, it may
 be possible instead to use QEMMExclude=B000-B7FF in the [386Enh]
 section of the Windows SYSTEM.INI file.  This parameter is
 documented in the Technical Reference section of the QEMM manual.


 DESQVIEW/X SERVER AND QEMM'S VCPISHARE PARAMETER

 QEMM's VCPISHARE:Y (VS:Y) is not compatible with the DESQview/X
 SERVER module.  Do not use the VS:Y parameter if you are using
 DESQview/X.


 OPTIMIZE'S STEALTH TESTING PROCESS

 OPTIMIZE's Stealth Testing process is the best way to ensure both
 maximum memory and maximum compatibility with your system. To
 take advantage of this feature, make sure that you're starting
 from a stable, bootable QEMM configuration.  Typically the line

 DEVICE=C:\GAMERUNR\QEMM386.SYS ON

 will allow you to boot your system safely.  From this, you may
 run OPTIMIZE's Stealth Testing procedure in the following way:

 1) At the DOS prompt, type

    OPTIMIZE /REMOVEALL

    This will remove LOADHI commands and parameters from all of
    the lines in CONFIG.SYS, AUTOEXEC.BAT, and any batch files
    called from AUTOEXEC.BAT.

 2) Edit CONFIG.SYS and remove all parameters except ON from the
    QEMM386.SYS line in CONFIG.SYS.

 3) At the DOS prompt, type

    OPTIMIZE /ST

 The Stealth Testing process provides maximum compatibility with
 your system, at the possible expense of some High RAM or
 conventional memory.  If this is the case, see the section above,
 "IF LESS MEMORY IS AVAILABLE WITH THIS VERSION".

 The Quarterdeck GameRunner Team.