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1995-07-03
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AIRPOWER READ ME - Last Update: ;;JIM 03Jul95
=================================================
Copyright 1995 Rowan Software Ltd
This file is an up to date copy of the main part of the Technical
Reference Supplement.
This readme file is concerned with the game Airpower, it contains information
which is common to the demo and the game.
There is a separate readme file for the demo called demoread.me.
Contents:
MEMORY
requirements
Freeing Memory Under 1MB
Expanded Memory
SUPER VGA DRIVERS
notes on universal vesa option (low speed)
THRUSTMASTER STICKS
===============================================================================
MEMORY
======
1 Requirements
--------------
under 1Mb: 515Kb of conventional memory to load program
+ 70Kb of conventional or UMB memory (555K)
(20Kb for sound and music is included above)
ems: 2.2 Mbytes for VGA
ems: 2.5 Mbytes for the High Speed SVGA & VESA drivers
ems: 3 Mbytes for the Universal VESA driver
NOTE: THE UNDER 1MB FIGURES ARE UNDER REVIEW AND ARE HEAVILY OVER ESTIMATED.
THE EXAMPLES HAVE NOT BEEN WORKED WITH THESE FIGURES
The under 1Mb memory figure given above assumes that the additional conventional
or upper memory is available as one continuous block. It is likely that
slightly higher figures will be required if the memory comes from 2 or more
separate blocks.
For example if you have 540K of conventional (485+55K) and 32K of UMBs free
(additional=55k+32k=87K) you may find that SVGA mode will pop out during the
game with a memory error message even though there would seem be a large
enough total. Estimate an addititional 5K overhead per additional region
(and ignore blocks under 5K in size) when trying to tune your memory map,
or try to merge regions in order to reduce the overhead.
Type mem at the DOS prompt to find the memory available on your computer.
The figures required are "Total under 1MB" third figure (free),
and "Free Expanded (EMS)".
For the demo the main program size is a little lower (about 470K)
2 Freeing Memory Under 1MB
--------------------------
2.1 Introduction
----------------
This section describes how you can make enough memory available for Airpower
to run on almost any machine, even with a CD-ROM, SVGA, and MUSIC drivers
installed.
If you are not using MS-DOS, but are using Novell or DR-DOS then you will have
to assume an equivalence when MS-DOS version numbers are mentioned.
2.2 Security boot disk
--------------------
To release memory for Airpower and other games you will have to make edits to
your config.sys and autoexec.bat files (set-up files). We suggest that you make a security
boot disk now. If your machine stops working as a result of an edit to your set
up files, you can use the boot disk to restore your system.
If you use Stacker or Superstore and Airpower is installed onto the compressed
drive then you will have to use the instructions provided with the compression
software on how to make a boot disk that lets you access the compressed drive.
To make a security boot disk, from the DOS prompt:
1) FORMAT /S A:
2) MD A:\OLD
3) COPY C:\AUTOEXEC.BAT A:\OLD
4) COPY C:\CONFIG.SYS A:\OLD
5) remove the floppy
To use the security boot disk:
1) Place the recovery floppy in the drive
2) Reboot the machine
3) COPY A:\OLD\AUTOEXEC.BAT C:\
4) COPY A:\OLD\CONFIG.SYS C:\
5) remove the floppy
6) Reboot the machine
The machine should now behave as it did before you made any edits to
your setup files.
2.3 Game boot disk
------------------
Section 2.5 contains advice on how to modify your setup files. It is
possible to make these edits on either the setup files in your c: drive
or on a game boot disk.
Edits made on your c: setup files will effect your machine every time you
reboot from the hard drive. Edits made on the game boot disk are only
effective when you boot with the game boot disk.
Some edits will work with all software and could be included on your c:
drive setup files. Other edits will not work with some software. Some
experimentation is required once you have successfully configured a
bootdisk that runs Airpower.
In the following text, we will assume that a game disk is being used.
DOS 6.x users may wish to make alternate boot setups.
To make the boot able disk:
1) Place the recovery floppy in the drive
2) COPY C:\AUTOEXEC.BAT A:
3) COPY C:\CONFIG.SYS A:
4) Edit a:CONFIG.SYS
5) All lines starting DEVICE=\something become DEVICE=C:\something
6) Similarly, any DEVICEHIGH=\something becomes DEVICEHIGH=C:\something
INSTALL=\something becomes INSTALL=C:\something
INSTALLHIGH=\something --> INSTALLHIGH=C:\something
SHELL=\something becomes SHELL=C:\something
7) Save the file
8) Edit a:AUTOEXEC.BAT
9) Insert 1 new line at the start which reads:
C:
10) Save the file
Now, if you reboot the machine with the floppy in the drive, it will boot
somewhat slower, but the messages on the screen will look the same.
If this is successful then you can move forward. Anytime from now on that we
mention AUTOEXEC.BAT or CONFIG.SYS we will mean the versions on A: floppy.
2.4 Config.sys and Autoexec.bat
-------------------------------
This section describes some of the likely contents of the two setup files.
Please try and identify the equvalent lines in your setup files so that you
will be able to modify them as described in (2.5).
First, Config.SYS:
1) A memory manager - one of:
DOS: Device=c:\dos\himem.sys
Device=c:\dos\emm386.exe
or Device=c:\windows\himem.sys
Device=c:\windows\emm386.exe
QEMM: Device=c:\qemm\qemm386.sys
386Max: Device=c:\386max\386max.sys
2) Memory: files and buffers
To get DOS out of conventional memory in Dos5 or Dos6:
DOS=HIGH,UMB
To minimize the size of DOS and still run Airpower:
FILES=10
BUFFERS=30 <- in DOS 5 or 6. In others BUFFERS=1
FCBS=1,0
STACKS=0,0
The figures above are ideal for Airpower. Yours may be different.
The following lines are in CONFIG.SYS and AUTOEXEC.BAT.
Please go through CONFIG.SYS for points 3,4,5,6,7.
Then, if neccessary, edit AUTOEXEC.BAT and check through the points again.
3) Disk cacheing software to speed access to the harddisk and possibly
speed up the CD drive as well:
CONFIG.SYS may contain DEVICE=C:\DOS\SMARTDRV.SYS
AUTOEXEC.BAT may contain SMARTDRV
or \DOS\SMARTDRV
or \WINDOWS\SMARTDRV
or lh SMARTDRV
or loadhigh SMARTDRV
Cacheing software is also provided in the NORTON UTILITIES and PC TOOLS:
CONFIG.SYS: Device=C:\NU\NCACHE-x.SYS
or Device=C:\PCTOOLS\PCCACHE.SYS
AUTOEXEC.BAT: C:\NU\NCACHE-x
or C:\PCTOOLS\PCCACHE
4) A mouse driver - something like:
In Config.sys: device=c:\mouse\mouse.sys
or
In autoexec.bat: c:\mouse\mouse
"c:\mouse\" might be "c:\dos\" or "c:\windows\"
5) To run the CD version you need 1 line each in Config.sys
and Autoexec.bat to enable your CD:
The line in config.sys is provided by your CD manufacturer
so it varies a lot. The following sould give you some idea:
In Config.sys:
Device=c:\cddrv\cddrv.sys /d:"something"
The line in autoexec.bat is pretty standard. There are only 3
different styles:
c:\dos\MSCDEX /L:r /D:"something" /M:xx
or c:\windows\MSCDEX /L:r /D:"something" /M:xx
or c:\cddrv\MSCDEX /L:r /D:"something" /M:xx
6) If you run any disk compression then the lines in Autoexec.BAT or
Config.SYS associated with the disk compression MUST NOT BE DELETED.
7) If you need to load any device drivers to access the hard disk where
Airpower is installed then the line that loads this driver
MUST NOT BE DELETED.
8) If you have an SBPRO, SB16, or AWE32 then you will find additional
lines in AUTOEXEC.BAT that reference the C:\SBPRO or C:\SB16
directory. DO NOT DELETE THESE LINES if you want to hear the sound
effects and music. Also, do not delete the statemen