Before you load and use the WorldsAway application, please read the Software License Agreement which you'll find by clicking the WorldsAway Software Icon from the GO AWAY menu page.
MINIMUM RECOMMENDED SYSTEM CONFIGURATION:
CPU: 486-33 Mhz (or better)
System Software: Windows 3.1 (or better)
RAM: 8 MB
Hard Drive: 15 MB free
Display: 256 colors
Modem: 9600 baud Hayes compatible
Notes on this Minimum Recommended Configuration:
* If your configuration has less than the recommended 8 MB, you will need to use virtual memory.
* WorldsAway will run with more than 256 colors, however if your view of the World is slow or unappealing we suggest you set the colors to 256. If the colors of the World do not look good in 256 colors, we suggest you check your video driver.
* A 2,400 baud modem is the minimum requirement for using the WorldsAway service, however, we recommend a minimum of a 9,600 baud modem to speed downloading the WorldsAway client software and the periodic in-World resource updates which you will be receiving regularly.
* Regarding network connection, WorldsAway for Windows will work with the "COMx" Connector settings. It will also work with a COMx Connector setting and the "Direct" Dial Type.
INSTALLATION FROM CD-ROM:
1. Select RUN from Program Manager's FILE menu.
2. Type <CD_ROM drive letter>:\setup.exe
3. Press ENTER
4. Follow the onscreen prompts to complete the installation.
DOWNLOADING and INSTALLING FROM COMPUSERVE:
1. The WorldsAway software file is very large and the download will take a long time depending on your modem speed. You will not be charged for the time it takes to download this software. We suggest that you set your HMI Timeout to a higher value to insure that CIS does not disconnect during the download. To adjust the HMI Timeout use "Special -Session Settings - More" and put a greater value (such as 99 seconds) in the HMI Timeout box. When you're done, you should change your HMI timeout back to the default 30 seconds. For more information use CIS Help or call CIS Customer Support.
2. Using the CompuServe "Go" option, go to the AWAY page. Choose the "WorldsAway Software" icon and then, after reading the "Software License" choose the "WorldsAway for Windows" option. This will give you an article page with further information about the download. Choose "Retrieve" and the file WAWIN.EXE will be prompted to download to your c:\cserve\download directory on your system. Choose OK on the "Save to" window.
3. To begin the installation, within Windows open your File Manager to the c:\cserve\download directory. You should see the WAWIN.EXE file located in the download directory. Double click on this file. Alternatively, you may use the Program Manager by selecting Run from the File menu and entering c:\cserve\download\WAWIN.EXE. Either of these will begin the installation. The installer will create a new directory, c:\FJWA, which is necessary for WorldsAway to run.
IN-WORLD TIPS:
* If you have questions or run into trouble, you can Page an Acolyte. You'll find this under the Help menu on the WorldsAway menu bar.
* You can control the orientation of your avatar by using the "Turn" command in the avatar pop up menu.
* An avatar can collect 50 tokens from the chest in the Argo cabin and also starts with 50 tokens in its ATM account (your ATM account acrues tokens for the time you spend in the world).
* You may type up to 79 characters in the "communication" text entry field.
* You may type up to 30 characters for an avatar's name.
KNOWN PROBLEMS:
* If you turn off or reset your modem, you will need to restart WorldsAway.
* WorldsAway for Windows will NOT currently work with INT14, NASI or NCSI.
* Use of WINSOCK requires WinCIM v.2.0 or greater.
* If your client hangs, you may want to try quitting by using [ALT] File Exit.
Performance Suggestions for Windows 3.1 or Windows for Workgroups 3.11:
You may find the following tips for configuring your system helpful if you are experiencing performance problems while running WorldsAway v.1.0.
* We recommend that you close all applications except for WinCIM before launching WorldsAway. If you have had WinCIM running for a period of time you may wish to exit windows, turn off your machine and after 15 seconds turn it back on and re-enter Windows to free up system resources.
* The WorldsAway application has been tested for compatibility with Windows 95. Recommendations for settings can be found in the WIN95 Technical FAQ found in the WorldsAway Community Forum "Help Desk" Library.
* Virtual Memory Allocation: We recommend that all users run WorldsAway with at least 4 to 8 megabytes of Virtual Memory.
* Cache: Users should have their cache settings at no less than 256K.
For people running windows 3.1, run C:\DOS\SMARTDRV.EXE.
For people running windows 3.11 WFW (windows for workgroups): You have a feature in the Control Panel --> 386 Enhanced --> Virtual Mem called 32 bit file access. This is a replacement for smartdrv.exe. We recommend its use for people who work exclusively in windows (or don't mind lack of cache under DOS). If you turn this on, set it just like you would smartdrv (in terms of size 256k to 2 megabytes typical, depending on how much physical memory you have in your system). It is our experience that this is more effective than smartdrv but has problems on certain systems. Whatever path you choose to follow, don't do both, although it will not hurt anything, it will be slower than either of the other individual choices (two caches working at the same time will defeat the purpose).
* CONFIG.SYS and AUTOEXEC.BAT Settings: Below are sample CONFIG.SYS and AUTOEXEC.BAT files and our recommendations for configuring these system files. Many of our recommendations are based on the assumption that your DOS version is more recent than your Windows version. If you have never before edited these files, we strongly suggest you consult a technical support person.
Note: Your system may (and probably does) require additional lines for CD-ROM support and support of other devices like sound cards, scanners, etc.
* Sample CONFIG.SYS file:
DEVICE=C:\DOS\HIMEM.SYS /TESTMEM:OFF
DEVICE=C:\DOS\EMM386.EXE NOEMS
BUFFERS=30
FILES=50
DOS=UMB
DOS=HIGH
STACKS=9,256
DEVICEHIGH=C:\WINDOWS\IFSHLP.SYS
* Recommended CONFIG.SYS settings:
DEVICE=C:\DOS\EMM386.EXE NOEMS Including this line will disable EMS (old Expanded Memory Support). Windows installation disables EMS, however, some game software requires that it be on.
Set the BUFFERS line to a value between 15 and 30.
Set the FILES line to a value between 40 and 50.
Set the STACKS line to 9,256 (larger values are okay).
Have two separate lines for the HIGH and UMB settings:
DOS=UMB
DOS=HIGH
With all of the items in the CONFIG.SYS file which have either DOS or WINDOWS in the path name, we recommend that only IFSHLP have WINDOWS in the path: DEVICEHIGH=C:\WINDOWS\IFSHLP.SYS
* Sample AUTOEXEC.BAT file:
@ECHO OFF
PROMPT $p$g
PATH C:\DOS;C:\WINDOWS
SET TEMP=C:\DOS
LOADHIGH C:\DOS\SMARTDRV.EXE
* Recommended AUTOEXEC.BAT settings:
Note in the third line of the above example that DOS comes before WINDOWS. You should only have the reverse if your Windows version is newer than your DOS version.
In the above example we have "LOADHIGH C:\DOS\SMARTDRV.EXE". You do not necessarily need this line if in Windows, in "Main --> Control Panel --> 386 Enhanced --> Virtual Memory" you have the option to "Use 32-Bit File Access." Choosing this option will show "Drive C: 32-Bit" in the "File Access" box. On some machines having the 32-Bit option set may cause problems in which case you can change it to 16-Bit and include the SMARTDRV line in your AUTOEXEC.BAT.
