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*                               PLAGUE                                     *
*                      in the Maze of the Mind                             *
*                     Copyright - SOFTFORUM 1996                           *
****************************************************************************


In this file you can find a list of possible troubles during the
installation and running of the program with possible solutions.


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                           GENERAL FEATURES

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SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS:


Base system:

IBM PC or compatible 80486 66 MHz or higher.
8 MBs RAM memory or higher.
MS DOS 6.0 operative system or higher (or DOS inside WINDOWS 95).
Hard Disk with about 8 MBs free (2.5 MBs for installed files).
VESA graphic card 100% compatible with 640*480*256 colors video mode.
CD ROM disk drive 2x speed or higher.
Monitor SVGA color 640*480*256 video mode.
Microsoft Mouse or 100% compatible.


Recommended system:

IBM PC or compatible Pentium 90 MHz or higher.
16 MBs RAM memory or higher.
MS DOS 6.0 operative system or higher (or DOS inside WINDOWS 95).
Hard Disk with about 8 MBs free (2.5 MBs for installed files).
VESA graphic card 100% compatible with 640*480*256 colors video mode.
CD ROM disk drive 4x speed or higher.
Monitor SVGA color 640*480*256 video mode.
Microsoft Mouse or 100% compatible.
Sound card.


Optional:

Sound Card

    Sound Blaster or compatible.
    Sound Blaster 2.01 or compatible.
    Sound Blaster Pro, Sound Galaxy Pro or compatible.
    Sound Blaster 16/16ASP, Wave Blaster or Sound Blaster AWE32.
    Media Vision Pro Audio Spectrum or compatible.
    Media Vision Pro Audio Spectrum Plus or compatible.
    Pro Audio Spectrum 16, Logitech SoundMan 16 or compatible.
    Windows Sound System, Audiotrix Pro or compatible.
    Advanced Gravis UltraSound, UltraSound Max or compatible.


Joystick IBM PC 100% compatible.



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                      NOTES FOR MS-DOS 6.xx SYSTEMS

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Running game requires large amounts of data to be transferred from CD ROM to
Hard Disk. If animations are too slow or loading time is too long, it is 
better to load a program like SMARTDRV.EXE before running the game.
Usually SMARTDRV.EXE is called inside the file AUTOEXEC.BAT after the
line of CD ROM manager MSCDEX.EXE.

A possible example is (supposing that all programs are in the directory
DOS on Hard Disk C:)

...........
C:\DOS\MSCDEX /d:....
C:\DOS\SMARTDRV
...........

Some systems require that SMARTDRV be loaded into base memory.
In this case add parameter /L on the line

...........
C:\DOS\MSCDEX /d:....
C:\DOS\SMARTDRV /L
...........

Some disk controllers require double buffering.  In this case it is 
necessary to load the following line inside the config.sys.

DEVICE=C:\DOS\SMARTDRV /DOUBLE_BUFFER

See your DOS Help/Manual for better information.


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                      NOTES FOR WINDOWS 3.xx USERS

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Windows 3.xx is an environment running inside MS-DOS environment.
To run program simply close windows, go back to DOS and run program from
MS-DOS prompt.


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                      NOTES FOR WINDOWS 95 SYSTEMS

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Plague in the maze of the Mind is a DOS program, anyway it can also run 
inside Windows 95.

After installation is complete you can run the program in two ways:

1_  Open PLAGUE Directory on the installed Hard Disk

    Double click on MSDOS icon SETUP to setup program (only first time)
    Double click on MSDOS icon PLAGUE to see intro and to play game
    Double click on MSDOS icon PLAY to skip intro and to play game

N.B. Plague has inside 4 PIF files that automatically set up system and
     memory to their best configuration.
     Don't run program from PLAGUE.BAT and PLAY.BAT files, but only from
     MSDOS icon PLAGUE and PLAY.

2_ Exit to DOS environment inside Windows 95 and run program from DOS
   prompt.
   Before doing that follow set the following properties for the
   MS-DOS prompt (see your Windows 95 manual for details):

   A) Change Protected MS-DOS memory (DPMI) value to 24756
   B) Set Display Option to FULL SCREEN
   C) Disable the screen saver

   N.B. Windows 95 has its own built-in MS-DOS environment.
   Don't close session from Windows 95 to MS-DOS to run the program, but 
   simply exit to DOS running MS-DOS prompt from menu START of Windows 95
   desktop.




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                           TROUBLESHOOTING

***************************************************************************


Before installing, please check if your system matches the requirements,
and check that all cables are connected properly.

Here is a list of possible troubles you may find during the game or
the installation of the program. Read it carefully and please notice
that problems can be in the specific configuration of your system and
may not be mentioned here.




1- Installation program doesn't work.


Possible causes:

A CD ROM disk drive doesn't work properly.

B Hard Disk doesn't work properly.


Possible solutions:

A1 Check your CD ROM in hardware and software configuration.

A2 Check that the surface of your installation disk is clean.

B1 Check that your hard disk is properly configured, with 8 MBs of free
   space for swapping.
   Correct errors  using Scandisk.exe and then start the installation again.



2- Joystick doesn't work properly.


Possible causes:

A Joystick is not plugged in properly.

B Joystick is not 100% IBM pc compatible.

C Joystick is too sensitive.


Possible solutions:

A1 Verify that Joystick is plugged properly on the correct I/O game port.

B1 Replace your Joystick with a 100% compatible one.

B2 Disable Joystick use from SETUP program and play only with Mouse and
   Keyboard.

C1 Try to calibrate  your Joystick. If it doesn't work disable
   Joystick use from SETUP program and play only with Mouse and Keyboard.
  

3- Mouse doesn't work properly.


Possible causes:

A Mouse is not present or not plugged properly.

B Mouse is not configured properly.

C Mouse is not 100% Microsoft compatible.

D Mouse is dirty. 


Possible solutions:

A1 Check that Mouse is present and properly plugged in.

B1 Check if the mouse driver (ie. mouse.com) is properly installed.

C1 Use a mouse 100% Microsoft compatible.

D1 Open the mouse and clean it. 



4- The Program hangs up or freezes.


Possible causes:

A Some files have been deleted or they are corrupted.

B Mouse driver is not loaded into memory.


Solutions:

A1 Check the system integrity.

A2 Run SETUP program again and configure the game properly.

A3 Delete the Plague folder from your hard drive.  Install program again.

B1 Load the mouse driver into memory.



5- Program reports a "Memory" error.


Possible causes:

A RAM memory is not enough.

B Hard disk is full


Possible solutions:

A1 Check if the installed RAM is not less than 8 MBs.

B1 Check if your hard disk has at least 8 MBs of free space for swapping.



6- When the program starts, the screen is black for too long a time
   or program crashes.


Possible causes:

A The graphic card is not 100% Vesa compatible.

B The Video adapter is not connected properly to the monitor.

C The program is not set up properly.

D The mouse driver is not loaded in memory.


Possible solutions:

A1 Replace your graphic card with a VESA 100% compatible allowing
   video mode 640*480*256 colors.

B1 Check that the cables are connected properly.

C1 Re-run SETUP program and configure it according to your system.

D1 Load the mouse driver into memory.



7- The computer locks up or reboots.


Possible causes:

A The sound card is not properly configured.

B There are some  hardware conflicts. 

C The memory manager causes conflicts.


Possible solutions:

A1 Run SETUP and verify that your soundcard settings are correct:
   Check your I/O port address, IRQ line and DMA channel settings.

B1 Make sure your soundcard has no conflicts with other cards in
   your system. If your soundcard works properly with other programs,
   you can assume that there are no such conflicts.

C1 Memory managers like QEMM, EMM386, etc. and/or TSRs loaded in memory
   may cause problems. Try removing or changing them.



8- The sound runs slowly on my computer.


Possible causes:

A  Your computer or CD-Drive is not fast enough.


Possible solutions:

A1 You can speed up the system by running SETUP and setting a lower
   sampling rate.



9- The music sometimes skips like a broken record.


Possible causes:

A The sample rate setting is too high for your computer.


Possible solutions:

A1 Run SETUP again and select a lower mixing frequency.



10- The system does not recognize my soundcard.


Possible causes:

A You have selected the wrong soundcard or I/O port address.


Possible solutions:

A1 Run SETUP again and select the right settings.
   If you are using a SB16 card then you must check that the right
   drivers are loaded in your AUTOEXEC.BAT and CONFIG.SYS files.



11- I can't hear any sound.


Possible causes:

A    Probably the IRQ and/or DMA settings are incorrect.


Possible solutions:

A1 You must run the SETUP program to select the right settings, it is highly
   recommended to reboot your computer before trying the new settings.



12- The music sounds fine when I start, but it gets cut off several
    seconds after.


Possible causes:

A    You have selected a wrong IRQ line for your soundcard.


Possible solutions:

A1   Run SETUP again and select the correct IRQ number.



13- Sound Blaster clone is not recognized.


Possible causes:

A  Sound card is not 100% Sound Blaster compatible.


Possible solutions:

A1 Run the SETUP program and set the right hardware parameters. Choose
   the plain Sound Blaster. If this does not fix the problem, your
   Sound Blaster clone may not be 100% register compatible.



14- The music sounds slow on my Sound Blaster.


Possible causes:

A   You are using the Sound Blaster 2.0/Pro driver and your card does
    not support high speed DMA transfers.


Possible solutions:

A1    Run SETUP again and select the plain Sound Blaster.



15- The system hangs with my Sound Blaster 16.


Possible causes:

A   Your system's motherboard cannot handle high DMA at full speed. On
    some machines, the DMA controller does not function properly during
    high DMA transfer.


Possible solutions:

A1  Use an 8-bit DMA channel for high DMA transfers.
    See your SB16 manual for details.


16- I hear static in my Sound Blaster.


Possible causes:

A Volumes of MIC and LINE are too high.


Possible solutions:

A1  Try turning the MIC and LINE volumes to zero (you can use SBP-SET.EXE
    program for Sound Blaster Pro cards). If you still hear static try
    disconnecting your parallel port devices.



17- I only hear sounds, but not music.


Possible causes:

A  If you are using a GUS card probably the IRQ setting is incorrect.


Possible solutions:

A1 Run SETUP again and set the correct settings.


18- Movement is too slow.


Possible causes:

A You are playing in video mode 640*480*256 and your machine is not
  fast enough to use such resolution.

B RAM memory is not enough and program continuously swaps on Hard Disk.


Possible solutions:

A1 Reduce video viewport using W key.

A2 Change video mode to 320*200*256 colors by using H key.

B2 Increase RAM memory to over 8 MBs.



19- Animations are too slow.


Possible causes:

A Your CD ROM drive is too slow to transfer large amounts of data,
  and it is possible to play only few frames per second.

B You are trying to run program after closing session from Windows 95 
  to MS-DOS.

Possible solutions:

A1 Speed up data transfer using a cache like Smartdrv.exe loaded
   after mscdex.exe in your autoexec.bat (see "Notes for MS-DOS 6.xx
   systems" included in this document).

A2 Stop animation using ESC key and go on.

A3 Replace your CD ROM drive with a faster one.

B1 Restart system and run program from Windows 95 desktop (see "Notes
   for Windows 95 systems" included in this document).



20- Program halts and reports an error on opening a file or a library.


Possible causes:

A The game CD ROM is not in the proper drive.

B Some files on Hard Disk are missing or are corrupted.

C DOS cannot open files.


Possible solutions:

A1 Insert CD in the drive and specify the correct CD ROM to
   the program using the SETUP program.

B1 Delete the Plague folder and install the program again from the
   CD installation disk.

C1 Be sure that config.sys of your machine has declaration

   files=30
   buffers=25

   (or more) inside.



21- Sometimes the game switches to Windows 95 desktop or program crashes.


Possible causes:

A You are running the program directly from Windows 95 desktop in windows 
  mode.


Possible solutions:

A1 Set program properties in Windows desktop so that program runs in full
   screen Mode.



22- Program switches to Windows screen saver and doesn't restore video
    page properly.


Possible causes:

A Screen saver inside Windows is enabled and programmed to enter in
  action after too little time.


Possible solutions:

A1 Exit program, disable screen saver from Windows desktop and
   run program again. It is strongly recommended that any screen
   saver or resident timer based program is disabled before running
   Plague.



23- When I run the program some dirty lines appear on the screen.


Possible causes:

A1 Your VESA graphic card has been incorrectly initialized.


Possible solutions:

A2 Exit program, reboot your system and run program again. 



***************************************************************************

                         NOTES ABOUT SOUND CARDS

***************************************************************************



1- Sound Blaster 16 Notes:

    You must select the high DMA channel in the SETUP program, this is
    because the system uses 16-bit playback mode. See your SB16 manual
    for details.

    Make sure that the right SB16 drivers are loaded in the AUTOEXEC.BAT
    and CONFIG.SYS files. If you don't want to waste memory loading
    these drivers, you may want to try the following:

    Edit your AUTOEXEC.BAT file and insert the following lines:

        REM
        REM These lines will setup your SB16 soundcard at port 220h
        REM using IRQ 5, low DMA 1, high DMA 5 and MIDI port 330h.
        REM
        SET BLASTER=A220 I5 D1 H5 P330 T6
        DIAGNOSE /S

    The above lines will set your SB16 hardware configuration based on
    the BLASTER environment variable. Make sure that the above lines
    are setting the BLASTER variable with the right parameters.
    See your manual for details about the BLASTER environment variable.


2- Pro Audio Spectrum Notes:

    Make sure that the right PAS drivers are loaded in your
    AUTOEXEC.BAT and CONFIG.SYS files. Without these drivers the system
    won't recognize your PAS soundcard.
    If you have a PAS+ or PAS16 and the system does not work properly,
    you may want to try running SETUP and tell it that you have a
    Sound Blaster soundcard.


3- Gravis UltraSound Notes:

    You must choose the GF1 IRQ line and Playback DMA channel in the
    SETUP program. Make sure that the right GUS drivers are loaded in
    your AUTOEXEC.BAT and CONFIG.SYS files. However, the sound system
    should work without loading any of these drivers.
    Notice that some SB emulators (SBOS) may conflict with the sound
    system, so if you experience problems try disabling these emulators.




***************************************************************************

                                 NOTES

***************************************************************************



    This program uses the DSIK sound system for WATCOM C/C++
    and DOS/4GW from Carlos Hasan. Questions to the library
    should be directed to:
    hbsoftware@aol.com, Tel.: (707) 451-9653



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                           HOW TO REACH US

***************************************************************************




SOFTFORUM 

By phone:     North America           416  656-3949
              International calls   1 416  656-6404

E-mail:       support@microforum.com





