------------------- DJO 10:38AM 12/8/93 PRIVATEER HELP FILE ------------------- This HELP file contains basic help with PRIVATEER. You can read the CONTENTS and select a TOPIC that pertains to you, and to that area. But, it would be very helpful to read this file completely. If you still have problems, please feel free to give us a call at ORIGIN PRODUCT SUPPORT. When you call, if at all possible, be near your computer. If that is not possible, be sure that you have the following information: * The error message you are receiving. * The DOS name and version you are running. * Mouse type and driver you are using. * Listing of machine type and hardware contents. * Contents of your Autoexec.bat and Config.sys files. * Contents of your CHKDSK and MEM /c statement. CONTENTS: -------- 1. Making a BOOT DISK (Configurations included) 2. ERROR CODES: - D002-FFFF (sound card problem) - #1910 or #1941 - CRC errors, Bad Files on Disk, PKUNZIP file errors, General Failures reading the game disks. - ERROR #2 or Installation Error #2 - #1209 - Crashes when going through JUMP GATES - JEMM.OVL file not found 3. The install keeps hanging on a disk between reading and writing. (Manual PKUNZIP) 4. Joystick Problems. - Speed adjustable GameCards. - Program asks for a JOYSTICK B. TOPICS: ------ ------------------------------------------------------ 1. Almost all software and memory conflicts can be bypassed by using a BOOT DISK. Making one WILL NOT change you HARD DRIVE, you will only be changing your configuration on the disk. YOU WILL NOT WANT TO EDIT YOUR HARD DRIVE configuration, doing so might cause other applications to run incorrectly or not at all. MAKING A BOOT DISK ------------------ A. First put a Blank disk in the A: (it must be the A:, most BIOS will only boot from A: or C:) B. At your C:\> prompt you will want to type: format a: /s **This format is for a High Density-Double Sided diskette only. If your disk does not have HD on it or is not labled with the High Density Double-sided, then you will need to get one. C. Hit enter when it asks for a label, and then 'N' when it asks about formatting another diskette. D. At the C:\> prompt. You will want to type: edit a:config.sys E. Now should now be at a blank screen. Look at the HEADINGS listed below and find the memory management system you wish to use and TYPE every- thing UNDER that heading. NO EXPANDED MEMORY MANAGER -------------------------- device=c:\dos\himem.sys dos=high files=25 buffers=25 shell=c:\dos\command.com c:\dos /p EMS386 MEM. MANAGER (DOS 6.0 WITHOUT DBLSPACE) --------------------- device=c:\dos\himem.sys device=c:\dos\emm386.exe 2592 /i=b000-b7ff ram dos=umb dos=high files=25 buffers=25 shell=c:\dos\command.com c:\dos /p EMS386 MEM. MANAGER (DOS 6.0 WITH DoubleSPACE) --------------------- device=c:\dos\himem.sys device=c:\dos\emm386.exe 2592 /i=b000-b7ff ram dos=umb dos=high files=25 buffers=25 shell=c:\dos\command.com c:\dos /p devicehigh=c:\dos\dblspace.sys /move EMS386 MEMORY MANAGER (DOS 5.0) -------------------- device=c:\dos\himem.sys device=c:\dos\emm386.exe 2592 /i=b000-b7ff ram dos=high,umb files=25 buffers=25 shell=c:\dos\command.com c:\dos /p QEMM MEMORY MANAGER ------------------- device=c:\qemm\qemm386.sys dos=high files=25 buffers=25 shell=c:\dos\command.com /p F. After typing these lines, you want to exit and save your file. Do so by typing: {ALT} and the 'F' key, 'X' key, and then 'Y' to save. G. Next you NEED an AUTOEXEC.BAT file on your BOOT DISK. Type the following at the C:\> prompt: edit a:autoexec.bat After pressing , you will want to type the following at the blank screen: path c:\dos prompt $p$g set comspec=c:\dos\command.com c: lh C:\MOUSE\MOUSE DO NOT** C:\MOUSE\MOUSE is usually the line that * activates your mouse. You must have a driver * to run it. The one above is the most common, ENTER ** if the mouse does not work or you receive an * error with this line, then you will want to * look on your HARD DRIVE autoexec.bat or * config.sys files. Find the line that looks THESE ** similar, go back into your AUTOEXEC.BAT on * the BOOT DISK, and replace the line with the * one on listed on your HARD DRIVE. Other common LINES ** examples are: C:\WINDOWS\MOUSE, C:\DOS\MOUSE. H. After typing these lines, you want to exit and save your file. Do so by typing: {ALT} and the 'F' key, 'X' key, and then 'Y' to save. I. You will now want to keep this disk in the A: and REBOOT the computer. Make sure there are no error messages. If there are, make sure you have the correct the correct spelling, etc. Now you will want to go to the game directory (where you installed it), and type PRIV to play the game. ------------------------------------------------------- 2. Most of the ERROR CODES mean that you have a BAD set of Disks. But there are some that mean there might be a software conflict or hardware conflict. Listed are the most common error codes and what you need to do to get around them. ERROR CODE: D002-DFFF --------------------- This error means that the sound card selection you made was either invalid or that you are sharing an IRQ, DMA, or IO Address with current sound card selection. First, you will want to type INSTALL in the PRIVATEER sub-directory. This will allow you to change the MUSIC and SPEECH card options to NONE, then make sure you choose the top menu choice, INSTALL WITH THESE OPTIONS. Now try to go into the game, if it works then you have either chosen the incorrect IRQ, DMA, or IO Address or you are sharing one of those selection with another peripheral. You will want to make sure that you have the correct settings on your sound card, most have a test program that can tell you what your selections are and you will be able to enter those when prompted by the INSTALL program. You DO NOT want to use the DEFAULT settings as most will have a different default then the original cards. The other main problem is that some people have there IRQ set to 7. On almost every computer there is a printer that is set to IRQ 7, also. You CAN NOT share IRQ's, especially for the sound cards. If you are using IRQ 7, then your best bet would be to move the sound card to IRQ 5, which is open on most computers depending on what peripherals you have installed. Some sound cards are run by software and others by hardware jumpers. Two examples are the ProAudio Spectrum 16's which are primarily run through software and the Creative Labs Soundblaster which is run by jumper selections on the card itself as well as some software settings. Consult your sound card manual for the specific adjustment you will have to make. ERROR #1910 or #1941 -------------------- These errors will usually mean that you have either a bad disk or bad set of disks. You will want to make sure that you have made the BOOT DISK as recommended in TOPIC #1 and then boot with the disk then try to install the game. That has worked with many of the people. If you still receive the error, you probably have a bad set of disks and will want to exchange them for a new set if within 30 day of purchase. If it happens twice, you would probably want to give us a call. Please check warranty information on INSTALLATION CARD for charges that may apply. CRC ERRORS, BAD FILES ON DISK, GENERAL FAILURE READING THE GAME DISKS, and PKUNZIP FILE ERRORS --------------------------------------------------- These errors mean you almost definately have a bad set of disks. First, make sure that you have a boot disk and try to re-install. If that does not work get a new set and try them. If it happens again give us a call. ERROR #2 or Installation ERROR #2 --------------------------------- You will want to make a boot disk and then re-install the game. You need to make sure that you have the SHELL line in the config.sys and the SET COMSPEC line in the autoexec.bat file. ERROR #1209 ----------- Memory problems that have normally been caused by NON-INTEL processors. Somewhere the memory has been corrupted. Make sure you have a boot disk and add these parameters to your CONFIG.SYS EMM386.exe line (for a QEMM users try excluding the same regions): device=c:\dos\emm386.exe /x=e000-efff /i=b000-b7ff **Try doing the Manual PKunzip listed below in section 3. CRASHES going through Jump Gates -------------------------------- The only thing that we found to cause this (happened in testing) was additional joystick ports with no joysticks installed or installing a joystick then removing it and playing the game with keyboard and mouse. (See 4 and 4A section) JEMM.OVL File not found ----------------------- This error has occured when installing to a drive that is low on space or when you are installing to a compressed drive with ACTUAL SPACE of 25 meg or less. You will want to make a clean boot disk and free up 25 megs of actual space. Also, try the manual installation listed below. ------------------------------------------------------- 3. MANUAL Installation of PRIVATEER using PKUNZIP If you are getting a lot of with PRIVATEER crashing & rebooting during the PKUNZIP phase. The new PKUNZIP does several new things to speed up the unzipping process those include: 1) swapping to DPMI (protected mode) 2) using extended mem. 3) using expanded mem. 4) some other things. Anyway, some computers are having a problem dealing with these above processes. The PKUNZIP program will automatically use the available XMS, DPMI, EMM, etc. So, if it locks-up during the install use this line: pkunzip -3+ -++ --+ -)+ [path to PRIVATEER disk #1] [path to PRIVATEER dir] EXAMPLE: pkunzip -3+ -++ --+ -)+ b:\privater.zip c:\privater Since this is a manual install, you will then need to copy the INSTALL.EXE file off Privateer Disk #1, then go into the PRIVATEER hard drive directory. (c:\privateer, etc) Type INSTALL, choose the sound options, and hopefully you will be able to get the game up and running. ------------------------------------------------------- 4. The joystick problems can be cleared up by trying several different suggestions. Most of the problems come from having two or more joystick cards active at the same time and there is address conflict. But, we have been able to get most of them up and going in no time at all. Just try the suggestions below. A. Make sure that you have only one game card active. If you have a Gamecard and a port on your sound card then you will want to disable the joystick port on your sound card, because it might cause a conflict. Also, another common problem is that there is usually a gameport on your PARALLEL/SERIEL IO card that is on your computer as well as the above joystick ports. All, except for one should be disabled. Speed Adjustable GameCards -------------------------- If you have a speed adjustable game card. The ones we tested were: CHGAMECARD III Automatic, GRAVIS Eliminator, THRUSTMASTER ACM, and both KRAFT- High Speed and software controlled. The speed you might have to change them to will vary between the game and your computer but we have included the settings which seem to work most often. REMEMBER, yours might be a little different, so do not get discouraged, just try change the number +/- 1 at a time and see what happens. CHGAMECARD III Auto is software controlled. The disk that came with the card has a small program that is named CHJOY3.exe which has to be run sometimes. Make sure that you have that file installed to a path in your boot up (put it in your DOS directory) or in the directory you will run it from like the C: or game directory. The type following command: CHJOY ## ## can be any number between 1 and 31. 150 can also be used but check your README.TXT on the disk that came with gamecard. The number 28 has been the setting with the most success. EXAMPLE: CHJOY 28 GRAVIS ELIMINATOR has a dial connection which you can vary the speed. Just make sure it is connected to the back and that you try the dial at the lower end. 1, 2, 3 have worked for most computers. THRUSTMASTER ACM uses a dial setting also. It has worked best on the lower end of the dial. Try using 0, 1, 2. KRAFT HIGH SPEED GAME CARD uses adjustments through dip switches on the back and the most common setting was switch #2 down and the rest in up position. Consult your manuals for the switch settings. KRAFT SOFTWARE CONTROLLED GAME CARD uses the command KCARD.EXE, make sure that you have that file installed to a path in your boot up (put it in your DOS directory) or in the directory you will run it from like the C: or game directory. The type following command: Kcard ## ## can be any number between 1 and 99. The setting most common was 5 to 7. Example: Kcard 6 PROGRAM ASKS FOR JOYSTICK B --------------------------- There are either two joystick ports active and you are sharing the gamecard address or you have an advanced joystick with throttle or panning control which is being detected as the second joystick. You will want to make sure that you eliminate any second port, (Read 4A above) and see if you are prompted for a second joystick. If you are positive that no other port is active on the computer and you are still being prompted for a second joystick then you will want move PRIVATEER game directory and type the following: copy joya.dat joyb.dat This will make a second joystick file which will get you past the 'CALIBRATE JOYSTICK B' prompt for one.