Filename:  readme.txt
=============================================================================
Ford Simulator 6.0 for Windows, Super VGA CD-ROM Version
Copyright (c) 1995 The SoftAd Group, Inc., Mill Valley, CA
March 10, 1995

=============================================================================
Contents:

      1. Introduction
      2. Required Hardware and Software
      3. Installation
      4. Running Ford Simulator 6.0
      5. Technical Information
         A. Directories and files
         B. Fordsim6.ini
         C. Other miscellaneous information
      6. Troubleshooting
         A. No videos are played.
         B. My videos run poorly, jerky, or choppy.
         C. No sound is played during videos; or no sound is played
               at any time.
         D. Sound is too loud or too soft.
         E. A message box always comes up complaining about the CD-ROM
               drive letter.
         F. The graphics (colors mostly) look funny or bad.
         G. The program runs really slow.
         H. Other errors not mentioned.

=============================================================================
1. Introduction

You're about to enter the new Ford Simulator 6.0.
All the facts.  All the fun!

Now you can have access to the models, options, option packages, leasing
and purchase prices for 1995 Ford and Lincoln-Mercury vehicles.  Plus
an updated version of the fun and challenging Lake Wakatonka driving game.

Picture It! provides you with access to your own Ford or Lincoln-Mercury
showroom.  This special CD-ROM version adds dimension by integrating
the full power of multimedia technology:  video, music and voice over.  
In addition, you can choose the model of your preference and paint it in
any of the available colors.

Price It! allows you to determine the cost of buying or leasing the vehicle
of your choice equipped the way you want.  You can easily see the difference
adding or deleting equipment can make in your total cost or monthly payments.
Also, the ability to compare buying and leasing costs can help you determine
which of the two is best for you.

The road to Lake Wakatonka is filled with hazards.  You've got to get there
on time, but you don't dare speed or attempt a pass on a blind curve.  Or
do you?  It's all part of the fun with this challenging computer journey to
Lake Wakatonka.  It's great entertainment for children and adults.


=============================================================================
2. Required Hardware and Software

Required absolute minimum hardware and software for operation:
- Microsoft Windows 3.1 compatible computer
- 486 or better CPU processor, at 25 MHz or faster
- 8MB RAM
- Super VGA monitor graphics display card and monitor, with 640x480 pixels
  resolution and 256 simultaneous colors
      - the latest Windows drivers for your display card from the display
        card manufacturer
- Microsoft Windows 3.1 or later, running in 256 color mode
- Windows compatible double speed CD-ROM drive
- MS-DOS Version 5.0 or later
- Hard disk with at least 17MB free disk space
- MPC compatible sound card, capable of 8-bit, 11025 samples/sec, mono
        operation
      - with speakers or headphones, plugged into the sound card
      - the latest Windows sound drivers installed
- Microsoft Video for Windows 1.1D, supplied on this CD-ROM and installed
  during installation of the Ford Simulator 6.0
- Microsoft Windows compatible mouse and keyboard

---------------------------------------------------------------
Display of 256 color bitmaps and playback of video will test your
computer's performance more thoroughly than other applications.  For the
highest image quality and video playback, the following hardware and
software configuration is recommended:
- Microsoft Windows 3.1 compatible computer
- 486 or better CPU processor, at 50 MHz or faster
- 16MB RAM
- Super VGA monitor graphics display card and monitor, with 640x480 pixels
  resolution and 256 simultaneous colors
      - the latest Windows drivers for your display card from the display
        card manufacturer
- Local bus graphics
- Microsoft Windows 3.1 or later, running in 256 color mode
- Windows compatible double speed (or better) CD-ROM drive
- MS-DOS Version 5.0 or later
- Modern, fast hard disk (SCSI or IDE) with at least 17MB free disk space
- MPC compatible sound card, capable of 8-bit, 11025 samples/sec, mono
        operation
      - with speakers or headphones, plugged into the sound card
      - the latest Windows sound drivers installed
- Microsoft Video for Windows 1.1D, supplied on this CD-ROM and installed
  during installation of the Ford Simulator 6.0
- Microsoft Windows compatible mouse and keyboard
- Microsoft Windows compatible printer
- Use of SMARTDRV.EXE or another disk caching program

=============================================================================
3. Installation

1) Start Microsoft Windows.  After Windows is running, close all open
      applications to ensure best performance.
2) Insert the Ford Simulator 6.0 CD into your CD-ROM drive.
3) Make sure you are in 256 color mode.
4) Select 'File' and then 'Run' from the Program Manager menu.
5) At the "Command Line" prompt, type:
         D:\SETUP
   where 'D:' is the letter of your CD-ROM drive.  Substitute another letter
   if appropriate.
6) The installation program needs to copy some files to your hard drive.  It
   will ask you on which drive you wish to place the files.
7) The installation program will copy all necessary files to your hard drive,
   while retaining some files on the CD-ROM.  Install will create a Program
   Manager group with the Ford Simulator 6.0 program as an icon.


=============================================================================
4. Running Ford Simulator 6.0 for SVGA Windows

Click on the Ford Simulator 6.0 icon to run the program.

(You can also run the program FORDSVGA.EXE via the File Manager, from your
      C:\FORDSIM6 directory -- or whatever directory to which you installed
      the Ford Simulator program.)


=============================================================================
5. Technical Information

A. Directories and files

   During installation several files are copied to your hard disk from the
   CD-ROM.  You are able to specify to which drive they will be installed.
   The default is C:\FORDSIM6.  These files will require approximately
   15 MB of hard disk space.

   No files will be copied to the C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM directory; only one
   file, FORDSIM6.INI, will be copied to the C:\WINDOWS directory.  If you
   want to save space, and you already have several of the VBX and DLL files
   that are used by the Ford Simulator 6.0 program, you may move the VBX and
   DLL files to your C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM directory, retaining any later
   versions of these files that may already exist there.

   All video files and sound files remain on the CD-ROM and are not copied
   to your hard disk.


B. Fordsim6.ini
   There is a file which, during installation, is placed in your C:\WINDOWS
   directory.  This file is called FORDSIM6.INI and contains the following:

      [FordSim6]
      CDROM=D

   The installation program should place the correct CD-ROM drive letter
   into this file.

   If for any reason, the letter of your CD-ROM drive changes, you will need
   to use a text editing program such as Windows Notepad (NOT a word
   processing program) to edit this file and change the drive letter.


C. Other miscellaneous information

   1) You can go back and re-run any part of the installation program at a
   later date -- for example to only re-install Video for Windows, or to
   re-install the whole Ford Simulator 6.0 program.

   2) While it is running, the Ford Simulator 6.0 program requires that the
   Ford Simulator 6.0 CD-ROM be located in the CD-ROM drive.  The CD-ROM
   contains all of the video and sound files necessary to run the program.
   The program will still run without the CD-ROM, but you will not get any
   sound or video.


=============================================================================
6. Troubleshooting

A. No videos are played.

      1) Make sure the Ford Simulator 6.0 CD-ROM is located in your
      CD-ROM drive.

      2) Make sure that you have Video for Windows version 1.1D installed.
      This software is provided on the Ford Simulator 6.0 CD-ROM.  You can
      try to re-install this software by running D:\VFW11D\SETUP.EXE from
      the Ford Simulator 6.0 CD-ROM.  (If your CD-ROM drive letter is not D:,
      supply the correct drive letter for your system.)  Earlier versions
      of Video for Windows will NOT work with the Ford Simulator.

      3) If you have installed Video for Windows 1.1D, test that the Ford
      videos will play by themselves by opening the File Manager, selecting
      the CD-ROM drive, changing to the \FORDSIM6\VIDEOS directory, and
      double-clicking on any of the files with the .AVI file name extension.
      This should play the video.  If the video does not play, Video for
      Windows has probably not been properly installed.

      4) Test other multimedia titles you may have which include video.

B. My videos run poorly, jerky, or choppy.

      1) The Ford Simulator 6.0 was designed for use on systems that have
      double speed CD-ROM drives.  The videos are all produced using a data
      rate of approximately 200 KB/s -- which is the low end of a double
      speed drive, but much higher than a single speed drive can access
      smoothly in real time.

      2) Video performance from CD-ROM can be improved with the use of
      CD-ROM caching software such as MS-DOS Smartdrv.

      3) Your CD-ROM could be dirty or scratched.  Look at the non-printed
      side of the disk in a good light for any scratches or fingerprints
      that may be there.  Always handle the CD-ROM by its edges, and never
      place it on your work surface.  Always keep the CD-ROM in its cover
      when not in your CD-ROM drive.  Try cleaning the disk with mild soapy
      water, dry gently with a soft cloth, being careful not to scratch,
      and try again.

      4) Make sure you have the latest CD-ROM driver software from your
      CD-ROM manufacturer.  Also make sure that your SCSI or IDE (or however
      you access your CD-ROM drive) driver software is the latest available.

      5) Some CD-ROM drives overheat or misread data.  Turn off your
      CD-ROM drive, remove the CD-ROM disk, let it cool off for five
      or ten minutes, and try again.

      6) The read mechanism on CD-ROM drives can get dirty over time.  If
      your CD-ROM is located in a dusty environment, or if you've had it
      more than a few years, you might need to clean the reading mechanism.

      7) You can copy one or more of the video files to your hard drive, if
      you have the hard disk space.  You must copy the files to your hard
      drive to the directory \FORDSIM6\VIDEO.  You must change fordsim6.ini
      to make the CD-ROM drive letter refer to the hard disk drive letter.
      Only videos from the hard drive will be accessed.  You cannot
      access some videos from the hard disk and some from the CD-ROM drive.
      However, videos might still not look optimal from the hard disk of some
      systems -- they may still be jerky.

      8) On notebook computers that use a parallel port sound device, if
      video performance is poor, check for an I/O problem with the sound
      device.  To test, unplug the audio device, reboot and retest video
      playback.  The performance of the video should improve.  The problem
      is due to I/O interrupts and system resource requests with respect
      to the parallel port.  To solve this problem, replace the parallel
      port audio with an internal audio card.

C. No sound is played during videos; or no sound is played at any time.

      1) Make sure the Ford Simulator 6.0 CD-ROM is located in your
      CD-ROM drive.

      2) Make sure the volume is turned up loud enough.  You can usually
      adjust your volume three ways:

             a. A software program is often supplied with your sound card
             software that allows you to adjust the volume via a Windows
             program.

             b. Sound cards often have a dial on the back of the card, at the
             back of the computer, that allow you to manually adjust the
             volume.

             c. If you have speakers, make sure they are on and that their
             volume is adjusted properly.  Make sure your speakers have
             adequate power.

      3) If you have them, make sure your speakers or headphones are plugged
      into the correct audio output jack.  They should usually be plugged
      into the sound card, not into the audio jack on the CD-ROM drive.
      (Some systems may not need speakers or headphones; they have an
      internal speaker.)

      4) Make sure your sound card is installed properly.  Make sure you
      have the latest Windows sound card drivers available from your sound
      card manufacturer.

      5) Test that the Ford sound files will play by themselves by opening
      the File Manager, selecting the CD-ROM drive, changing to the
      \FORDSIM6\SOUNDS directory, and double-clicking on any of the files
      with the .WAV file extension.  This should play the sound.  If the
      sound does not play, perhaps you have not properly installed your
      sound card or its drivers.  You also may have a sound card that is
      incompatible with Windows WAV files.
      
      6) Test other multimedia titles you may have which include video and
      sound.

      7) Check for interrupt conflicts.  Audio cards may conflict on IRQ
      settings with CD-ROM drives, network cards or parallel ports.  A
      diagnostic utility may detect some conflicts.

D. Sound is too loud or too soft

      1) See the suggestion about volume control in the above item.

E. A message box always comes up complaining about the CD-ROM drive letter.

      1) Close the Ford Simulator 6.0 program.  Edit your FORDSIM6.INI file
      in your C:\WINDOWS directory, using Windows Notepad or another text
      editing program (NOT a word processing program), and include the
      correct CD-ROM drive letter.  See the technical details section for
      information on FORDSIM6.INI.

F. The graphics (colors mostly) look funny or bad.

      1) Make sure you have a 256 color driver installed as your Windows
      display driver.  Do not use a 16 color VGA driver, or colors will
      not look as they were designed to look.  Use a 256 color VGA or Super
      VGA driver, or another 256 color Windows driver designed for your
      hardware.  Make sure you have the latest version of the driver
      available from the manufacturer for your video display card.

      2) Make sure that you have Video for Windows version 1.1D installed.
      This software is provided on the Ford Simulator 6.0 CD-ROM.  You can
      try to re-install this software by running D:\VFW11D\SETUP.EXE from
      the Ford Simulator 6.0 CD-ROM.  (If your CD-ROM drive letter is not D:,
      supply the correct drive letter for your system.)  Earlier versions
      of Video for Windows will NOT work with the Ford Simulator.

      3) The program will look best when the screen resolution is set to
      640x480 pixels.  Higher screen resolutions may make the video look
      too small.

G. The program runs really slow.

      1) Close all other applications when running the Ford Simulator 6.0.
      The more memory that is available for this program, the faster it
      will run.

      2) Make sure you are running the Ford Simulator 6.0 program from hard
      disk, and not directly from the CD-ROM.  The CD-ROM drive access speed
      is far too slow for running a program.

      3) Have at least 8 MB of RAM.  More memory would be even better.

      4) Make sure that Windows disk caching and memory management programs
      are installed correctly and are configured for optimal use on your
      system.  If you have the program memmaker.exe that comes with DOS
      6.0 or later, run it.

      5) Ensure that the external cache and internal caches of the CPU are
      enabled, via the system BIOS setup utility, usually accessed during
      power-on.

      6) Use the most current hard disk and memory drivers (such as Smartdrv,
      HIMEM, QEMM, EMM386) for Microsoft Windows and MS-DOS.

      7) Disk-compression software such as Stacker or MS-DOS Doublespace
      adds CPU overhead, slowing down access time to most files on hard disk.

      8) Disable any screen savers other than the one provided by
      Windows 3.1.

      9) If you have a turbo button on the front of your computer, or if you
      are able to set a turbo mode on or off any other way, ensure that your
      computer is running in turbo mode.

      10) Make sure that the VGA ROM BIOS is being shadowed to RAM, if
      your system supports this.  This is usually handled in the system
      configuration utility (normally accessed through the BIOS setup at
      power-on).  QEMM7 is one third party utility that supports this.

      11) Make sure that Windows is running in Enhanced Mode.  You can
      determine the operating mode by accessing "Help"  and then "About"
      from the Windows Program Manager menu bar.

      12) Performance might be improved by changing from 24 bit or 16 bit
      Windows graphics mode to 8 bit (256) color graphics mode.  However,
      on some systems, 16 bit performance may be worse than 24 bit --
      experiment with your system and pick the best mode for you.

      13)  If the system is a notebook or other energy-conserving computer,
      ensure that power conservation measures are not operational.
      Optimizations for power conservation can make peripherals or CPU's
      run at reduced rates, so there will a reduction in video performance.
      To test, plug your system into AC power and/or change the
      power-management controls to check for improved performance.

      14) Use Microsoft's SMARTDRV.EXE disk caching program efficiently.
      Smartdrv's "/b" option tells it how far to read ahead.  To determine
      the optimum configuration, change the command string and reboot.
      Typically, for systems with 8 MB of RAM, your AUTOEXEC.BAT file
      should contain the following line:

                C:\DOS\SMARTDRV.EXE 4096 4096 /b:81920

      4096 tells the computer to use 4 MB of RAM for its cache.  For 
      systems with 16 MB, use "8192 8192" in the SMARTDRV command
      line.  The default of 2048 is typically too small for most modern
      computers.  See Microsoft Windows or MS-DOS documentation for
      details on SMARTDRV parameters.

      15) If your CONFIG.SYS file has a SMARTDRV line with the
      "/DOUBLE_BUFFER" switch in it, comment out this line, and put the
      above (item 14) smartdrv invocation into AUTOEXEC.BAT.  This switch
      makes SCSI drives much slower.

      16) Third party disk caching software (such as Norton Utilities
      Ncache2 or PC-KWIK) can improve performance for slower hard disks.

      17) Create a permanent swap file for Windows rather than a temporary
      swap file (via the Control Panel, 386 enhanced, Virtual Memory
      selection).

H. Other errors not mentioned.

      1) If, as with any software, this program does not function properly,
      read all instructions first, then try re-installing the program.

      2) The Ford Simulator 6.0 program has not been tested on Windows '95,
      Windows NT, or on any Apple/Macintosh products running Windows,
      although it may run there.  No guarantees are made regarding these
      operating systems.

      3) This program has not been tested on network CD-ROM drives, nor on
      machines with Windows loaded on a network drive.  It has not been
      tested in any environment where there are files shared between two
      or more machines.


=============================================================================
Produced exclusively for Ford Motor Company
   by The SoftAd Group, Mill Valley, CA.
Copyright (c) 1995 The SoftAd Group, Inc.
All rights reserved.


