PC Gamer 6/1995-05_Disc_6.iso/help.txt

Text File | 1995-02-02 | 8KB | 203 lines

@BEGIN
Conventional Memory
─────────────────────
  R.A.M. or Random Access Memory is located on your computer's motherboard.
Base RAM is recognized as the first 640k or 655,360 bytes (a K=1024 bytes).
If you have insufficent Base RAM, your computer may be loading extraneous
programs that occupy this memory.

  During each and every startup, your computer searches for 'startup' files
(i.e. the CONFIG.SYS and AUTOEXEC.BAT files). These files, programmed by
the user at an earlier time, contain the instructions to load programs and
configure the computer. The solution to free more Base RAM is to either
modify those startup files or create alternative startup files
specifically configured for your game.
This can be accomplished by creating a 'boot disk' with new startup files.
Those startup files will be called CONFIG.SYS and AUTOEXEC.BAT.

There are two ways you can create a 'boot' disk:

1) You can automatically create a boot disk by selecting the
   'Create Boot Disk' icon in the install menu. You will need a blank disk
   of the appropriate size for your A: drive.

2) You can manually create a boot disk by following the instructions below:
    A. Place a floppy disk in drive A.
    B. From the C: prompt type FORMAT A: /S <Enter>
    C. After the format is complete and the system has been transferred,
        type A: <Enter>
    D. Type EDIT CONFIG.SYS <Enter>. When the blue screen appears type
        in the lines just as they appear in the sample CONFIG.SYS in your
        users guide.  Once this is done, choose Save from under the File
        menu, and then exit.
    E. Type EDIT AUTOEXEC.BAT <Enter>. When the blue screen appears type
        in the lines just as they appear in the sample AUTOEXEC.BAT in your
        data card. Once this is done, choose Save from under the File menu,
        and then exit.
@END



@BEGIN
Extended Memory (XMS)
─────────────────────
  Your total extended memory is equal to all the memory above one Megabyte.
If you know your computer has the required total, yet the Install detects
it as being insufficient, your computer may not have the amount *free* or
available.

  There are programs or drivers (such as SMARTDRV.EXE and EMM386.EXE) that
use your extended memory. If you have the required total memory, but have
insufficent *free* memory, you will have to disable any extraneous drivers
that are occupying your extended memory. A simple solution is a
'boot disk.'

See CONVENTIONAL memory help for creating a 'boot disk'.
@END



@BEGIN
Expanded Memory (EMS)
─────────────────────
  Some programs require EMS memory to functions properly. EMS or expanded
memory exists only if a certain program or driver is activated. This
driver, under DOS, is called EMM386.EXE. It must be included in one of
your startup files called CONFIG.SYS.
  The EMM386 driver converts a specified amount of extended memory into
expanded memory. If you do not have the required amount of FREE EMS, your
EMM386 driver may not have specified the minimum amount in your CONFIG.SYS
file. To verify that this is the problem, follow these instructions:

  1) Access your C: drive by typing C: <Enter>

  2) Type EDIT CONFIG.SYS <Enter>

  3) A window will appear, and you will be editing a file called
     CONFIG.SYS.

  4) Look for the EMM386.EXE command. There should be a number following
     the command.
     For example: DEVICE = C:\DOS\EMM386.EXE 1024
     The 1024 represents the amount of extended memory which is being
     requested to be converted to expanded memory. The amount is measured
     in K, so in our example above, the amount requested is exactly
     1 Megabyte. If the amount is not set to the minimum required, or if
     the EMM386.EXE command does not exist in your CONFIG.SYS file, the
     problem can be solved using one of the options below:

      A)  Adjust the amount to satisfy the minimum required by our game
          and be sure that the word RAM appears after the amount. This
          allows your system to load programs such as your mouse driver
          'high' and is essential for most systems.

      B)  Create a boot disk using our boot disk creator.  The boot disk
          program will create a CONFIG.SYS and AUTOEXEC.BAT file
          appropriate for the game.  To run the boot disk creator program,
          click on 'Continue' from the main detection screen. When the
          INSTALL appears, click on 'Create Book Disk'.

      C)  Users of MS-DOS 6.0 and above can try running Microsoft's
          MEMMAKER program to give DOS a chance to make the corrections
          automatically. Choose 'Y' when MEMMAKER asks whether you have any
          programs that use Expanded Memory.
@END



@BEGIN
Hard Drive Space
─────────────────────
  If you do not have the required hard drive space to install the game, you
will need to delete enough programs from your hard drive to free the
required amount of space. This can be done with the 'DEL' command. Please
see your DOS manual if you are not familiar on how to use this command.
@END



@BEGIN
Video Adapter
─────────────────────
  This program will detect the model, type, and capabilities of your video
card. It will also determine whether it supports the mode required by the
game. If your card does not support the mode necessary for the game to
run, you will need to correct this before proceeding.

  This may be as simple as installing a VESA driver, or you may need to
upgrade your video card.
@END



@BEGIN
VESA
─────────────────────
  A VESA (Video Electronics Standards Association) driver is a standard to
which all video card manufacturers comply to produce a variety of video
modes. Video cards can have VESA drivers built into the card, or available
separately on a disk included with the card. If after the game installation
our install program does not detect a VESA driver present, a program called
VINSTALL will be run. It will suggest a VESA driver for your particular
video card, and allow you to install it. If the suggested VESA driver does
not work, or none of the drivers listed are compatible with your video
card, check the software that accompanied your video card for a VESA driver
and refer to the video card manual for further instructions.
@END



@BEGIN
Mouse
─────────────────────

  Some of our games require a mouse; the game may not run if the mouse
isn't activated. If you have problems, and know you have the mouse
properly connected, verify that the mouse driver is loaded by typing
MEM /C | MORE <Enter> at the C: prompt.

  If you do not see the mouse driver listed, you'll need to find the
directory that holds the mouse driver. (This is usually the MOUSE
directory; you may need to refer to your mouse manual for help finding it
if the name is different.) Once located, type the appropriate command to
enable your mouse (usually MOUSE) and press <Enter>.  Please be aware that
Microsoft Windows has its own built-in mouse drivers that *do not*
function outside of Windows. You must have the mouse driver loaded in DOS
to play our games.
@END


@BEGIN
Joystick
─────────────────────

Possible causes for disabled joystick(s):
 - The joystick is not properly connected. Double-check the connections
   and reboot your machine.
 - The joystick port on the sound card or game card is disabled. Refer to
   your sound card or game card manual for instructions on how to enable
   the port.
 - You may have two joystick ports enabled. This can cause a conflict
   between the two ports, and in most cases neither will operate properly.
   The solution would be to disable one of them.
 - If you are having problems using two joysticks using a 'Y' (or splitter)
   cable, you may have an older version of the 'Y' cable that is
   incompatible with the new joystick ports on many newer sound cards. Try
   using a new splitter cable. Please be aware that when using a 'Y' (or
   splitter) cable, only two buttons on each joystick function.
@END



@BEGIN
DOS Version
─────────────────────
  If you do not have the required operating system version, (the operating
system usually referred to as DOS) you will need to upgrade for the game to
run properly.

  Unless specified otherwise, we do not recommend running the game through
the Windows environment.
@END