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- ************************************************************************
- * *
- * Copyright (c) Creative Technology Ltd, 1994. All rights reserved. *
- * *
- ************************************************************************
-
- Video Blaster MP400 Common Questions and Answers
- ================================================
-
- This file contains some common problems faced and the solutions to
- those problems. Please read the sections below when you encounter a
- problem, and call our Technical Support when you cannot find an answer
- in this file.
-
- Sections in this file:
- 1. Error in initializing card.
- 2. Unable to find font files or Microcode file
- 3. No video image
- 4. The video image has a magenta border
- 5. The video image is flickering
- 6. VGA blanks out when running Video Blaster MP400 software
- 7. The playback of MPEG streams is jerky
- 8. The mouse is not responding in the DOS/Windows application
- 9. Unable to playback CDI Digital Video movies
- 10. The MPEG playback stops after the first screen
- 11. Network driver hangs with Video Blaster MP400 card installed
-
-
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------
-
- 1. Error in initializing card.
-
- Causes:
- 1. The software is not able to locate the card at the port address
- specified in the VIDEOBLST_MP400 environment string, the environment
- string may be different from the hardware settings.
-
- 2. The card may be set a port address that is in conflict with another
- card on your system.
-
- Solutions:
- 1. Check that the AUTOEXEC.BAT file contains the statement SET
- VIDEOBLST_MP400=C:\MP400 A:2c0 I:15 D:7 T:4. If any of the entries are
- missing you have to run MP400SET to reconfigure, after which you will
- need to reboot the system. The values for A:, I:, D: may be different
- depending on your card settings.
-
- 2. Switch off your system and change the card's port address (refer to
- User Manual). After which, start up your system and run MP400SET to
- reconfigure the environment string. MP400SET is able to detect any
- conflict in port addresses.
-
-
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------
-
- 2. Unable to find font files or Microcode file
-
- Causes:
- 1) The DOS software could not locate the font files that it needs from
- the current directory.
-
- 2) The software could not locate the microcode file that it needs from
- the directory specified in the environment string VIDEOBLST_MP400.
-
- Solution:
- 1) Ensure that you run the DOS application from the directory where the
- following font files are stored : Helvb.fon, Courb.fon and Tmsrb.fon.
-
- 2) Check that the microcode file DRAM450.200 is located in the directory
- specified in the VIDEOBLST_MP400. If not, either reinstall the software
- to copy the microcode file. Or, run MP400SET to change the directory
- set in the environment string.
-
-
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------
-
- 3. No video image
-
- Causes:
- 1. VGA cable is not connected to the Video Blaster MP400 card.
-
- 2. Feature connector is not connected from Video Blaster MP400 to the
- VGA card.
-
- 3. The loop back cable is not connected properly.
-
- 4. Video image is not aligned
-
- 5. There is no MPEG source
-
- Solutions:
- 1-3. Refer to user manual for installation procedures.
-
- 4. Use the DOS/Windows application software and set up the
- alignment. Remember to save the alignment before quitting from
- the respective programs.
-
- 5. Use the DOS/Windows application software to load a MPEG file,
- Karaoke/Video CD or CDI CD (if you have a compliant CD ROM
- Drive). Click the play button.
-
-
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------
-
- 4. The video image has a magenta border
-
- Cause:
- The video image is not aligned with the VGA monitor.
-
- Solution:
- Run the application software, MP400WIN (in Windows) or MP400DOS (in
- DOS). Click the alignment option, adjust both the crop settings and
- alignment settings.
-
-
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------
-
- 5. The video image is flickering
-
-
- Cause:
- Some connections are not secured.
-
- Solution:
- Ensure that the feature connector and video interface cables are firmly
- secured.
-
-
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------
-
- 6. VGA blanks out when running Video Blaster MP400 software
-
- Cause:
- The screen resolution may be too high
-
- Solution:
- Try switching your Windows resolution to a lower one and try again.
-
-
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------
-
- 7. The playback of MPEG streams is jerky
-
- Causes:
- 1. The source of MPEG stream (CD ROM drive or hard disk) may be too
- slow.
-
- 2. There may be a conflict of DMA or interrupts on your system.
-
- 3. The computer system may be too slow.
-
- Solutions:
- 1. Try running MPEG streams from a fast hard disk and if the problem
- disappears, it confirms that the other source may be too slow. If you
- are using Creative CD-ROM model CR-563, you need to have at least a
- version 4.18 SBCD driver. Please contact our Technical Support or
- distributor if you need one. Some MPEG files are known to have problems
- playing on a Single Speed CD ROM, this is because they are meant for
- Double Speed CD ROMs.
-
- 2. Try changing the DMA and interrupt. If it still fails, change the
- expansion slot location of the Video Blaster MP400 board on your system.
-
- 3. Ensure that the PC system is running in turbo.
-
-
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------
-
- 8. The mouse is not responding in the DOS/Windows application
-
- Cause:
- It requires a substantial amount of processing to read MPEG streams and
- prepare them for the hardware. Resulting in less processing time for the
- rest of the system (mouse included).
-
- Solution:
- Pause the video before making video adjustments and other processes that
- requires lots of mouse activity. In Windows, remove all other background
- processes before playing video.
-
-
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------
-
- 9. Unable to playback CDI Digital Video movies
-
- Cause:
- The CD ROM drive is not able to read CDI format CDs.
-
- Solution:
- Your CD ROM may not be able to read CDI disk, please check with your
- supplier.
-
-
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------
-
- 10. The MPEG playback stops after the first screen
-
- Cause:
- The interrupt setting is wrong or conflicts with another hardware board
- on your system
-
- Solutions:
- 1) Ensure that the interrupt specified in the I: parameter of the
- environment string is the same as your card. If not, run MP400SET to
- reconfigure the string before rebooting the system.
-
- 2) If it still fails, switch off your system, change the interrupt
- setting on your board and run MP400SET to reconfigure the environment
- string. After which, you will need to reboot your system.
-
-
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------
-
- 11. Network driver hangs with Video Blaster MP400 card installed
-
- Cause:
- The card is not properly initialised upon boot up. This problem will
- only occur on certain systems.
-
- Solution:
- Do not boot up the system with any network drivers. Install the Video
- Blaster MP400 software. You will now have to run MP400INI before
- running the network driver concern.
- You can run MP400INI from your AUTOEXEC.BAT file, before running the
- network driver concerned.
-
- ********** End of Common Questions and Answers **********
-
-