Mechwarrior 2: Mercenaries other - Help file
- Mechwarrior 2: Mercenaries
- other
---------------TABLE OF CONTENTS---------------
SECTION 1 - HARDWARE REQUIREMENTS FOR MS-DOS VERSION
SECTION 2 - ABOUT THE MS-DOS VERSION
SECTION 3 - INSTALLATION PROCEDURES
A. MS-DOS 6.22
B. MS-DOS MODE
C. MS-DOS PROMPT OF WINDOWS 95
SECTION 4 - COMMON SETUP AND INSTALLATION PROBLEMS
A. SOUND
B. ELECTRONIC REGISTRATION
C. POST INSTALLATION NOTES
SECTION 5 - BEFORE RUNNING MERCENARIES
SECTION 6 - TROUBLESHOOTING STEPS
A. MEMORY
B. VIDEO
C. SOUND
D. MOUSE
SECTION 7 - CREATING A BOOT DISK
A. BASIC BOOT DISK
B. ADVANCED BOOT DISK
SECTION 8 - THREE WAYS TO PLAY FROM A MS-DOS PROMPT
A. MS-DOS 6.22
B. MS-DOS MODE
C. MS-DOS PROMPT OF WINDOWS 95
SECTION 9 - PERFORMANCE TIPS
SECTION 10 - IF YOU STILL HAVE PROBLEMS...
*************** MERCNET INFORMATION ***************
SECTION 11 - HARDWARE REQUIREMENTS FOR MS-DOS MERCNET
SECTION 12 - PRE-INSTALLATION INFORMATION
SECTION 13 - HOW DO I START MERCNET?
SECTION 14 - PLAYING MERCNET DOS IN WINDOWS 95
SECTION 15 - TROUBLESHOOTING TIPS
A. PERFORMANCE
B. NETWORK
C. MODEMS
D. NULL MODEMS
E. QUICK SOLUTIONS: TOP QUESTIONS ANSWERED
F. WHERE CAN I FIND OTHER MERCNET PLAYERS
NOTE: For your benefit, we have created a README.TXT file that
contains last minute information that could not be included in
this HELP.TXT file. If information is not found within this
HELP.TXT file, please view our README.TXT file.
SECTION 1 - HARDWARE REQUIREMENTS FOR MS-DOS VERSION
- 100% IBM PC-compatible computer
- 486 DX2/66 MHz processor
- 8 MB RAM
- Microsoft MS-DOS 6.22 operating system with MSCDEX 2.10.
- Double-speed CD-ROM drive (300K/second sustained transfer rate)
- 62 MB of uncompressed hard disk space
- VESA local bus or PCI video with 1 MB RAM
- 256 Color SVGA (640 x 480) Video card
- 100% Microsoft-compatible mouse and driver
- Dedicated game card is highly recommended for joystick
Please Note: In order to play Mercenaries for MS-DOS(r) the CD must be in
your CD-ROM drive at all times.
Mercenaries may have trouble working with some 1993 or earlier
Matsushita CD-ROM drives. These CD-ROM drives have trouble reading
beyond 63 minutes on CDs, and Mercenaries uses the full CD. These drives
were sold under the names of Panasonic, JVC, Reveal, Creative Labs and
Plextor. Game play may occasionally slow down and the CD-ROM drive will
be accessed constantly. We highly recommend that you upgrade to a newer
CD-ROM drive to avoid problems with other programs in the future.
SECTION 2 - ABOUT THE MS-DOS VERSION
- Highly recommended that the game be played from MS-DOS MODE or DOS
6.22. The MS-DOS Prompt of Windows(r) 95 is not recommended.
- Does not use Microsoft DirectX video and audio drivers.
- Should not be installed to a compressed drive.
SECTION 3 - INSTALLATION PROCEDURES
A. ----------MS-DOS 6.22----------
(1) At the DOS prompt, type D: and press Enter.
(for these instructions, we will assume that your CD drive is D:).
(2) At the D: prompt, type CD\DOS and press Enter.
(3) At the D:\DOS> prompt, type INSTALL and press Enter.
(4) Follow the on-screen instructions carefully.
(5) When installation is complete, you will be returned to the
directory in which Mercenaries was installed. To begin
your Mercenaries experience, type MERCS and press Enter.
B. ----------MS-DOS MODE----------
(1) Make sure the CD is in the CD-ROM drive.
(2) If the Mercenaries title screen is displayed, click the
Exit button.
(3) Click on the Windows 95 Start button, choose shutdown.
(4) Now click on the option SHUT DOWN AND RESTART IN MS-DOS MODE,
then choose OK.
(5) At the DOS prompt, type D: and press Enter.
(for these instructions, we will assume that your CD drive is D:).
(6) At the D: prompt, type CD\DOS and press Enter.
(7) At the D:\DOS> prompt, type INSTALL and press Enter.
(8) Follow the on-screen instructions carefully.
(9) When installation is complete, you will be returned to the
directory in which Mercenaries was installed. To begin your
Mercenaries experience, type MERCS and press Enter.
C. ----------MS-DOS PROMPT OF WINDOWS 95----------
Although we do not recommend it, the following will work on some
machines.
(1) Make sure the game's CD is in the CD-ROM drive.
(2) If the Mercenaries title screen is displayed, click the
Exit button.
(3) Close all open windows on your screen. You can close a window by
clicking on the close button located in the top right-hand corner
of the window. Also close programs listed on the Taskbar. Do this
by right-clicking on a program's button and selecting Close.
(4) Double-click on the My Computer icon located on the desktop. (The
name of this icon may have been changed by you or the person who
installed Windows 95 on your system.) In the window that opens,
right-click on the icon for your CD-ROM drive and select Open.
Look for the Install icon in the DOS folder. (The icon is a
picture of a window labeled Install underneath it.) Double-click
on this icon to start the Mercenaries MS-DOS Installer and
follow the on-screen instructions.
Important: Note that a message will appear at the end of the install
process that asks if you want to make a boot disk. Answer No. The game's
Boot Disk-maker utility was designed for systems using MS-DOS as their
operating system and will not work properly with Windows 95.
(5) After installation is complete, if the DOS box is still on the
screen, close it by clicking on the close button located in the
top right-hand corner of the DOS box window.
(6) Double-click on the My Computer icon. In the window that opens,
double-click on the icon for the hard disk drive where Mercenaries
was installed. Look for the Mercenaries folder icon. (The icon is
a picture of a folder labeled Mercenaries underneath it.)
Double-click on this icon to open the folder; look for the DOS
icon and double click on it to start the game.
If the above process does not work for you, click on the Start icon,
choose Shutdown and restart the computer in MS-DOS mode. At the MS-DOS
prompt, go to the directory where you installed Mercenaries
(default is \MERCS), and from the MERCS directory type MERCS and
press Enter to start the game.
NOTE: If your system came pre-installed with Windows 95, you may not
have the necessary MS-DOS drivers for your mouse, CD-ROM and sound
card to play the game. Please contact your system manufacturer for
these DOS drivers.
SECTION 4 - COMMON SETUP AND INSTALLATION PROBLEMS
A. ----------SOUND----------
In order to enjoy the audio component of the game, you will need to
select your sound device for digital audio. Choose your sound
card from the list provided. The Installer will then try to verify
the presence of that sound card in your system. If your sound card is
not shown and is 100-percent Sound Blaster 16 compatible, you should
be able to select the Creative Labs Sound Blaster 16 driver to hear
sound and music in the game. When you are finished selecting the
proper sound devices, select DONE and press .
If you need to set the sound card manully here are a couple of
methods to try and find out what sound card you have and what the
proper Port, IRQ and DMA settings are for your computer:
View your CONFIG.SYS and AUTOEXEC.BAT files which are found at the
root directory of your hard drive. Look at the lines that load the set
parameters of your sound card for clues to what the I/O Port, IRQ and
DMA settings should be set to.
Also, for more clues type SET at a MS-DOS prompt and press Enter. Look
at the BLASTER = line. Record that information and use it to manually
detect your sound card.
B. ----------ELECTRONIC REGISTRATION (North America Only)----------
After the game is installed, you will be presented with the option to
register your copy of Mercenaries via our online registration system. If
you have a modem connected to your computer, registering your purchase
of Mercenaries is very easy, quick and toll-free. Please register only
once. If you successfully use the online registration method, there is
no need to mail-in the enclosed registration card.
C. ----------POST INSTALLATION NOTES----------
After installing Mercenaries, it is easy to change your sound
device configurations, make a Boot Disk, or register Mercenaries
electronically (if you bypassed these steps while installing).
Simply go to the Mercenaries directory on your hard drive, type
SETUP and press Enter. This will launch a program that will allow
you to do all of these options.
SECTION 5 - BEFORE RUNNING MERCENARIES
When playing the MS-DOS version of Mercenaries, we strongly
recommend that you run under the following conditions:
Before playing, close all other applications. Some users have
experienced random fatal errors while playing Mercenaries if
they have other memory-intensive programs running at the same time.
We highly recommend running Mercenaries as a stand-alone DOS
application.
Do NOT play the MS-DOS version of Mercenaries through Windows
3.1x. Completely exit out of Windows and start the game from the
MS-DOS prompt.
SECTION 6 - TROUBLESHOOTING STEPS
A. ----------MEMORY----------
Mercenaries requires a minimum of 8 MB of main memory (RAM).
On some machines, even if you have the required 8 MB of RAM, Mercenaries
may report that you do not have enough free extended or
conventional memory.
During game start up, Mercenaries will determine if there is
enough free memory to properly run. If it is determined that there is
not enough memory available, then the program will let you know how
much additional memory is needed. In many cases you may be able to
remove/disable only one or two TSRs (Terminate and Stay Resident
programs) or drivers that are not needed to run Mercenaries, to make
this memory available.
You might also try disabling SMARTDRV, changing your CONFIG.SYS and
AUTOEXEC.BAT so that some of your drivers are loaded into conventional
rather than high memory or setting your EMM386 line to NOEMS. Since
these modifications affect your CONFIG.SYS and AUTOEXEC.BAT files,
you should consider making these changes to CONFIG.SYS and
AUTOEXEC.BAT files on a boot disk. See the section on creating a boot
disk for more details.
B. ----------VIDEO----------
Mercenaries was designed to take advantage of some of the
higher resolution video modes on your computer. In most cases
Mercenaries will detect and work with your video card just fine.
However, some video cards may require that a VESA video driver be
loaded in order for the video card to work properly with Mercenaries.
VESA stands for Video Electronics Standards Association. It is a
standard that allows software companies to write programs that work
on many video cards without having to know how each card works. The
VESA driver is the program that handles this. Almost every video card
available today has VESA drivers available for it. These drivers may
be stored in a BIOS chip on the video card, or they may be a program
that the user has to load by hand (or with a batch file). Some cards
(such as the Diamond Viper) have the driver on the video card, but
need the user to run a special program to activate the driver. If the
VESA driver is an external program, it will probably be found on the
disks that came with your video card. If you don't have a VESA driver
you should contact your video card manufacturer.
If the VESA driver supplied by your video card does not function
properly with MercNet, try using the Display Doctor utility. This is
available for downloading from the SciTech Software Web page
(http://www.scitechsoft.com). It might also be located on your local
BBS or other online services.
***Question***
I am having troubles making my video card support VBE 2.0. How do I
make my card support this mode?
***Answer***
Mercenaries was designed to take advantage of the higher resolution
video modes on your computer. In most cases, Mercenaries will detect
and work with your video card just fine. However, some video
cards may require that a VESA video driver be loaded in order for
the video card to work properly with Mercenaries.
Mercenaries for MS-DOS requires that your video card can support the
VBE 2.0 standard, as set forth by VESA. Please verify that you have
this VESA video driver for your video card loaded before launching
Mercenaries for MS-DOS.
***Question***
I have a Trident video card and I can't get the game to start correctly
***Answer***
We suggest you try playing in MS-DOS Mode.
Please follow these instructions:
(1) There is a file named TRIVESA.EXE on our web site. It contains
updated video drivers which are required for the game to play.
(WWW.ACTIVISION.COM)
(2) After TRIVESA has been downloaded exit to DOS MODE.
(3) Type TRIVESA, from wherever it was downloaded to. If you do not
know where it is, go to DOS Mode type CD\ and press , then
type DIR TRIVESA.* /s , and press .
(4) Follow the instructions that appear after typing TRIVESA.
If after installing Trivesa you still have problems, please contact
Trident at 415-691-9211.
***Question***
I can not seem to get my ATI video card to support VBE 2.0.
What should I do?
***Answer***
If you are unable to play in either the Windows 95 or DOS
modes, please contact ATI at (905) 882-2626.
The ATI cards have many different BIOS versions. Each BIOS version
does something a little different. Ex. Some support VESA 2.0, some
just 1.2. Some older drivers work with WIN95 for our games, while
other newer ones may not depending on the BIOS.
Using a program they supply, ATI can help find your cards specific
part number. ATI Customer Support can then use your part number
to find your cards BIOS. After the correct BIOS is determined ATI
can determine the cards features and help trouble shoot your video
problems.
C. ----------SOUND----------
In the PC environment, sound card detection and configuration is often
a difficult process. Although many cards can be automatically detected
and configured, there are cases where this is not true. It is often
necessary to use a manual card selection (select a card manufacturer
and model) and configuration.(select I/O, DMA and IRQ). Because of the
complexity of some sound cards, it may be necessary to try several
options. ON SYSTEMS WITH A SCSI DISK CONTROLLER, YOU SHOULD SKIP THE
AUTODETECTION ALTOGETHER.
You should always use the Test option to verify that a valid
configuration was selected.
It is often possible to determine the resources needed by your sound
card (resources include I/O address, DMA channel, and IRQ interrupt
number), either from your AUTOEXEC.BAT file (if in DOS), or from the
SYSTEM utility (if in Windows 95).
To run the SYSTEM utility from Windows 95, select Start, Settings,
Control Panel, then select the System icon. When in the SYSTEM utility,
select the Device Manager tab, then select the "Sound, Video and Game
Controllers", select your sound card, and the Resources tab to see the
settings for your sound card.
A typical entry in the CONFIG.SYS file would be as follows:
SET BLASTER=A220 I5 D1 H5 T6
This indicates I/O port 220, IRQ 5, and 5 for high DMA
(i.e.16-bit sound). Whenever possible use high DMA.
Many software configurable sound cards require that a separate utility
is run, before the card can be used. For example Sound Blaster 16
requires that the card is configured using the SB16SET utility.
Please refer to your sound card manual for the method used for your
card. IF YOU DO NOT CONFIGURE YOUR SOUND CARD CORRECTLY, YOU MAY
EXPERIENCE DMA OR IRQ CONFLICTS WITH OTHER CONTROLLERS (E.G. NETWORK
CARDS WILL FAIL).
***Question***
My Program runs under MS-DOS but not under a Windows 95 DOS Prompt.
***Answer***
The DMA used for your sound card for DOS and DOS Prompt may be
different. You may have to reconfigure the sound card settings, by
typing SMSETUP from wherever you installed Mercenaries to
(e.g. C:\MERCS). This should be done from where the game will most
likely be played from.
***Question***
My sound cards worked fine before I ran the Mercenaries SetSound utility.
Now they do not work.
***Answer***
On systems with two sound cards, it is not always possible to detect
both cards at the same time. Within the SETUP utility you should
configure your sound card using the manual mode (do not use Auto
Detect).
***Question***
My sound card plays sounds but the WAVE files sound awful.
***Answer***
Most sound cards offer Sound Blaster emulation, but sound much better
if used in their native mode. Use manual selection in SETUP, and
make sure that the native mode is selected. It is also important
that all cards (including the Sound Blaster) are set for 16-bit
sound. In many cases the card uses two DMA channels, one for 8-bit
operation and one for 16-bit operation. This can also be a problem.
***Question***
I am using arrow keys to select the sound card and arrow keys to
select the resources, but the card still does not work.
***Answer***
You must press enter after you highlight the sound card name. Only
after that can you select resources for that card.
***Question***
On my Compaq machine the SETUP auto detects the card as Sound
Blaster, but I know that it is not correct.
***Answer***
Try to manually select ESS AudioDrive.
***Question***
I have an IBM Aptiva with a MWAVE card (i.e. sound/modem card). I am
getting choppy sound and video. What should I do?
***Answer***
Please follow these instructions EACH TIME before playing
Mercenaries:
(1) From WIN95, click on the START button and chose shutdown.
(2) Select Restart the computer in MS-DOS Mode?
(3) Choose the OK button
(4) Type MWGAMES ON and press .
(5) Next, type CD\MERCS and press
(6) Type MERCS and press
If the game has no volume or it is to low you will want to use the
mixer utility provided by IBM. Please follow the instructions listed
below for volume control settings.
(1) From a DOS Mode prompt type CD\MWD\MANAGER and press .
(2) Type MWVOLUME and press
These will be your options:
Hold down CTRL, ALT, U. Hold all three of these buttons down at the
same time for about 5 seconds. This will turn up your sound.
Hold down CTRL, ALT, D. Hold all three of these buttons down at the
same time for about 5 seconds. This will turn down your sound.
Hold down CTRL, ALT, F. Hold all three of these buttons down at the
same and it will turn on FM Mode.
Hold down CTRL, ALT, W. Hold all three of these buttons down at the
same and it will turn on WAVE Mode.
Once you are finished choosing your settings in the volume control area
follow the next 2 steps.
(1) Type CD\MERCS and press
(2) Type MERCS and press
If problems persist you might want to consider contacting IBM at:
Technical Support: (404) 238-1234
Technical Support Multimedia: (908) 329-7131
Technical Support PS/1 PRO: (800) 765-4747
Technical Support Valuepoint: (800) 772-2227
Technical Support Valuepoint: (213) 621-5576
BBS: (919) 517-0001
World Wide Web: http://vm.cfsan.fda.gov/ibmlist.html
***Question***
I have a Packard Bell and have no sound when playing the MS-DOS version
of Mercenaries. What should I do?
***Answer***
Please use the mixer utility provided by Packard Bell. Follow the
instructions listed below for volume control settings.
(1) From DOS Mode prompt type CD\SOUND144\UTILITY and press .
SOUND144 can be replaced with FORTE16 or SOUND16A depending on
the sound card you have.
(2) Type MIXTSR and press
(3) Hold down the ALT key while you press the / key. (This will
activate a menu.)
These will be your options:
TAB = Moves your selection choice to the next device to manage.
Right arrow = Turns the volumes up.
Left arrow = Turns the volumes down.
S = Save
E = Exit
Once you are finished choosing your settings in the volume control area
follow the next 2 steps.
(1) Type CD\MERCS and press
(2) Type MERCS and press
D. ----------MOUSE----------
***Question***
Why do I get an Error: "Mouse Not Found" message?
***Answer***
This message is usually the result of one of two problems. First, and
most likely, a mouse driver has not been loaded. Mercenaries DOS
needs a DOS mouse driver to run in MS-DOS mode. You can try playing in
a Windows 95 DOS box or load your DOS mouse driver to play in MS-DOS
mode. To exit Windows 95 to MS-DOS mode and load your MS-DOS mouse
driver follow these instructions:
(1) Click on the START button.
(2) Choose Shut Down.
(3) Choose the Restart the computer in MS-DOS mode option.
(4) Now click on the YES button.
Find the mouse driver executable. After it is found execute it by
typing its name (e.g. C:\MOUSE.EXE). If you are unaware of where it is
follow these instructions:
(1) Type CD\ and press
(2) Type DIR *MOUSE.* /S and press
This will show you what directory your mouse resides in (e.g. C:\MOUSE).
As the example states MOUSE being the directory it is in, you would then
type CD MOUSE. This will put you in the mouse directory where you can
then type its name. The name may be LMOUSE, MOUSE, MSMOUSE. Those
names will be displayed when you follow the steps stated above on how
to find your mouse. If your mouse driver is not found you will want to
contact your system, or mouse manufacturer for a updated DOS mouse
driver.
Another reason you would get this error is that the mouse driver is
being correctly loaded, but it is an older version that is not
supported. In this case you should contact your system, or mouse
manufacturer for the updated DOS mouse driver as well.
SECTION 7 - CREATING A BOOT DISK
A. ----------STANDARD BOOT DISK---------
If you experience problems playing Mercenaries or receive messages
telling that you do not have enough memory to play. You will probably
need to create a Boot Disk. A Boot Disk lets your machine boot from a
floppy disk and will not load memory-extensive programs, freeing more
memory up for Mercenaries.
We have included an option that will automatically create a Boot Disk
for you in this package. To create a Boot Disk, first go to the
\MERCS directory. For example, if you installed Mercenaries
to C:\MERCS, you would type CD\MERCS and press Enter.
Then type SETUP and press Enter. Select Make a Boot Disk. Follow the
on-screen prompts, and the program will create a Boot Disk for you. If
you still lack sufficient memory, please refer to the next section,
on making a advanced boot disk.
B. ----------ADVANCED BOOT DISK----------
Sometimes even a Boot Disk creator can't get you past the memory limit
required to run a program. In the event you find our automatic Boot
Disk creator doesn't do the job, we have provided the following sample
CONFIG.SYS and AUTOEXEC.BAT files to assist you in getting Mercenaries
up and running.
If you are creating a Boot Disk from scratch, start with Step 1. If you
have already used the automatic Boot Disk creation utility in the
Mercenaries installer, start with Step 3.
Step 1: Place a diskette in your A: drive. The next step will erase any
data on the disk, so a new, blank floppy disk should be used. Make sure
that the disk is the same density as the drive (use a 1.44 MB disk in a
High Density 3.5" drive, etc.).
Step 2: At the C: prompt, type FORMAT A: /S and press Enter. The DOS
Format utility will format the disk and add the necessary DOS files
required to boot from the floppy disk.
Step 3: Change to drive A by typing A: and pressing Enter. Then type
EDIT CONFIG.SYS and press Enter. The DOS Editor program will appear.
If you used our Boot Disk-maker, just make sure the following lines,
or similar lines, in the [CONFIG.SYS] example on the next page, are
in your CONFIG.SYS file. Type REM and a space in front of all other
lines not listed.
If you are making your own Boot Disk manually, then type in the lines
following [CONFIG.SYS] in the example below. When you are finished
typing the lines, press ALT-F to bring up the File menu, and then
type X to Exit the DOS Editor program. When it asks you if you want
to save your file, choose Yes.
[CONFIG.SYS]
DEVICE=C:\DOS\HIMEM. SYS
DEVICE=C:\DOS\EMM386.EXE NOEMS
DOS=HIGH,UMB
FILES=40
BUFFERS=15,0
STACKS=9,256
Insert your CD-ROM driver line here
In the CONFIG.SYS file shown above, replace the last line in the
example with the line from your current CONFIG.SYS file on drive C:
that runs your CD-ROM drivers. It is important that you use your
CD-ROM line and not our example, otherwise your CD-ROM drive will
not function properly.
Additionally, if your graphics card requires a VESA driver, it
should go here as well.
Step 4: Type EDIT AUTOEXEC.BAT and press Enter. The DOS Editor
program will appear.
If you used our Boot Disk-maker, then just make sure these lines, are
similar to the lines, in the [AUTOEXEC.BAT] example below. Type REM
and a space in front of all other lines not listed.
If you are making your own Boot Disk manually, then type in the lines,
like the [AUTOEXEC.BAT] example below.
When you are finished typing the lines, press ALT-F to bring up the
File menu, and then type X to exit the DOS Edit program. When it asks
you if you want to save your file, choose Yes.
[AUTOEXEC.BAT]
@ECHO OFF
PROMPT $P$G
Insert your PATH statement here
LH C:\DOS\MSCDEX.EXE /D:MSCD000
SET SOUND=C:\SB 16
SET BLASTER=A220 15 D1 H5 P330 T6
C:\SB I6\DIAGNOSE /S
C:\SB 16SET /P /Q
SETMIDI=SYNTH:I MAP:E
C:\MOUSE\MOUSE.EXE
CD\MERCS
MERCS
In the AUTOEXEC.BAT file shown above, you would replace the third line
with the SET PATH command from your current AUTOEXEC.BAT file on drive
C:. Replace the fourth line with the line from your current
AUTOEXEC.BAT file on drive C: that loads MSCDEX.EXE. It is important
that you use your CD-ROM line and not our example, otherwise your
CD-ROM drive will not function properly.
You may also have special lines in your C:\AUTOEXEC.BAT file that
help your sound card to function properly. It is very important that
you copy those lines into this new file on A: so your sound card can
work.
Replace the examples on lines 5 through 9 with the appropriate lines
from your AUTOEXEC.BAT file.
If you do not know which line from your current AUTOEXEC.BAT runs your
CD-ROM drivers, or which lines are for your sound card, you should
contact the hardware manufacturer of the item in question.
Line 10 which loads your mouse driver is only an example. The command
to load your mouse driver is most likely different than our example.
Replace line 10 with the command that loads your mouse driver.
Step 5: Leave the disk in the drive and reboot your system. The game
should start and everything should be working properly.
NOTE: Some systems require special steps in order to boot from a floppy
disk. If you are not in the Mercenaries directory after attempting to
boot from the floppy, contact the system manufacturer to learn what
steps must be taken to start from a boot disk.
SECTION 8 - THREE WAYS TO PLAY FROM A MS-DOS PROMPT
The DOS version of Mercenaries can only run from a DOS prompt.
With today's PC compatible systems, there are three ways to get to the
DOS prompt:
A. ----------MS-DOS 6.22----------
Booting into DOS 6.22 (also called by Windows 95 "Previous version of
MS-DOS" ). This is the preferred method to run Mercenaries, and
it is the only way on a system without Windows 95. On systems with
Windows 95 you may be able to select this mode, during booting process,
by pressing the F8 key. Depending on the method used to install Windows
95, this option may not be available.
Advantage: Avoids potential conflicts between Windows 95 display &
sound drivers and the DOS drivers used by the Mercenaries
game. SETUP works reliably.
Disadvantage: On systems with Windows 95, your 16-bit CD-ROM and
Mouse drivers may not be installed (CONFIG.SYS and
AUTOEXEC.BAT files may have to be updated).
B. ---------MS-DOS MODE----------
Boot into DOS 7.0, by clicking the START button, then choosing SHUTDOWN.
Now choose RESTART THE COMPUTER IN MS-DOS MODE.
Advantage: Avoids potential conflicts between Windows 95 display &
sound drivers and the DOS drivers used by the Mercenaries
game. SETUP works reliably.
Disadvantage: On systems with Windows 95, your "old style DOS" CD-ROM
and Mouse drivers may not be installed, and you may
have to find and load 16-bit drivers in order to be able
to access the CD-ROM drive, or the mouse.
C. ----------MS-DOS PROMPT OF WINDOWS 95----------
To use the MS-DOS prompt of Windows 95, click the START button, then
choose PROGRAMS. Now choose MS-DOS Prompt.
Advantage: Guarantees that the CD-ROM driver and the Mouse driver are
available (without a need to load older 16-bit drivers).
The Virtual Memory available to Windows can also be used
by the game (this improves performance of the game on
machines with more than 8 MB of RAM).
Disadvantage: It is often impossible to do automatic sound card
detection, since Windows intercepts all of the I/O and IRQ
requests, and returns unpredictable results to the
auto-detection software. Even after manual setup, there
is a potential for DMA or IRQ conflicts between the
resources allocated by the Windows 95 Resource Manager, and
the resources detected by the DOS setup program. On some
systems (we have seen this on an HP machine) the VESA BIOS
calls are not supported in the DOS Box (i.e. They are
supported in MS-DOS MODE).
SECTION 9 - PERFORMANCE TIPS
Make sure that your sound card is configured for 16-bit stereo sound.
All of the game sounds are stored as 16-bit wave files. Playing these
wave files on 8-bit cards will require time consuming conversion,
resulting in choppy movies, and poor sound quality.
SECTION 10 - IF YOU STILL HAVE PROBLEMS...
If you have any comments, questions or suggestions about
Mercenaries or any other Activision product, please feel free
to contact us. Before contacting Customer Support, please
consult the Mercenaries Help file. It contains the answers to
some of our most frequently asked questions and may quickly
provide a solution to your problem. If, after reviewing the
Mercenaries Help file, you are still experiencing problems,
please feel free to contact us through any of the services
listed. So that we can better help you, please be at your
computer and have the following information ready:
1. Complete product title.
2. Exact error message reported (if any) and a brief description of
the problem.
3. Your computer's processor type and speed (e.g. 486-66, Pentium
90...)
4. Video and sound card makes and models (e.g. Diamond Stealth
64 video, Sound Blaster 16 sound...)
This supplemental information in this help file is designed as
a troubleshooting guide in the event you experience technical
problems while running the program. We will attempt to explain
in detail the various tips, tricks and troubleshooting techniques
we have learned through the course of our comprehensive testing
process. Mercenaries uses state-of-the-art video compression and is
subject to very specific needs in order to run on the average PC.
We believe you will have a trouble-free and enjoyable experience
playing Mercenaries, and we have tried to cover any issues you may
encounter.
North America
-----------
Online Services (English Only):
Services with Activision Forums, E-Mail and File Library Support:
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From any MSN window, pull down the Edit menu and select Go
To and then Other Location. At the prompt, type "Activision"
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Use keyword Activision to locate the Activision forum.
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76004,2122 or [GO GAMBPUB]
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ACTIVISION (E-mail support only)
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Internet E-mail:
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Fax:
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Mail:
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Phone:
Call our 24-hour voice-mail system for answers to our most
frequently asked questions at 310-479-5644. Contact a Customer
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except holidays.
UK and Europe
----------------------
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Customer Service: 0181 7429400
You can contact UK Customer Service between the hours of
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Services with Activision Forums, E-Mail and File Library Support:
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From any MSN window, pull down the Edit menu and select Go
To and then Other Location. At the prompt, type "Activision"
and click OK.
CompuServe:
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Australia and Pacific Rim
--------------------------------
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Epping, NSW 2121
Australia
Phone: 1902 962 000
Online Services:
Services with Activision Forums, E-Mail and File Library Support:
Microsoft Network:
From any MSN window, pull down the Edit menu and select Go
To and then Other Location. At the prompt, type "Activision"
and click OK.
CompuServe:
76004,2122 or [GO GAMBPUB]
Activision BBS:
310-479-1335 Up to 28,800 baud; Settings: 8 Bits, No
Parity, 1 Stop Bit (8, N, 1)
Internet E-mail:
support@activision.com
World Wide Web:
http://www.activision.com
*************** MERCNET INFORMATION ***************
SECTION 11 - HARDWARE REQUIREMENTS FOR MS-DOS MERCNET
To play MercNet you will need one of the following:
- Novell Network
- Novell-compatible IPX network (e.g., Windows 95)
- 100 % Hayes/MS-DOS-compatible modem (9,600 bps for
head-to-head play; 14,400 bps is recommended.)
- Null-modem cable and serial port with 16550 UART
You will also need to meet the minimum system requirements, which
are as follows:
- 100% IBM PC-compatible computer
- 486 DX2/66 MHz processor
- 8 MB RAM
- Microsoft MS-DOS 6.22 operating system with MSCDEX 2.10.
- Double-speed CD-ROM drive (300K/second sustained transfer rate)
- 62 MB of uncompressed hard disk space
- VESA local bus or PCI video with 1 MB RAM
- 256 Color SVGA (640 x 480) video card
- 100% Microsoft-compatible mouse and driver
- Dedicated game card is highly recommended for joystick
Please Note: In order to play Mercenaries for MS-DOS(r) the CD must be in
your CD-ROM drive at all times.
Mercenaries may have trouble working with some 1993 or earlier
Matsushita CD-ROM drives. These CD-ROM drives have trouble reading
beyond 63 minutes on CDs, and Mercenaries uses the full CD. These drives
were sold under the names of Panasonic, JVC, Reveal, Creative Labs and
Plextor. Game play may occasionally slow down and the CD-ROM drive will
be accessed constantly. We highly recommend that you upgrade to a newer
CD-ROM drive to avoid problems with other programs in the future.
SECTION 12 - PRE-INSTALLATION INFORMATION
Here is some important information that you should know before you
install and start your MercNet experience:
Hard Disk:
The game is part of the MS-DOS version which requires 62 MB of
UN-compressed free disk space. MercNet will not work properly using
compressed hard disk space (such as Stacker and DoubleSpace).
Memory:
In order to run MercNet you need 8 MB of RAM and over 6.9 MB of
extended memory. If you have between 6.5 MB and 6.9 MB of extended
memory, the game will play, but some missions will run slower. For
optimal performance it is best to configure your memory so you have over
6.9 MB of extended memory. To help you free up more memory, we included
a boot disk-making utility that you will be prompted to use from the
Installer.
Other Operating Systems and Windows(r) 95:
MercNet requires MS-DOS 6.22 or later. Other operating systems
(e.g., OS/2 Warp and Windows NT) are not supported. Although MercNet
might work just fine with them, we have not tested thoroughly with them.
If you have a problem using unsupported operating systems it is best to
contact the operating system company to try and work out compatibility
issues. Please check Activision's online forums on a regular basis for
future updates on MercNet compatibility issues.
A special note for Windows 95 users: MercNet is a DOS program, but has
been tested successfully under Windows 95. In your MercNet directory,
we've provided a Windows 95 shortcut that you can double-click to start
MercNet.
VESA Video Drivers:
MercNet requires that your system have a standard VESA video driver to
run your video. Please verify that you have one loaded before launching
MercNet.
If the VESA driver supplied by your video card does not function
properly with MercNet, try using the Display Doctor utility. This is
available for downloading from the SciTech Software Web page
(http://www.scitechsoft.com). It might also be located on your local
BBS or other online services.
SECTION 13 - HOW DO I START MERCNET?
There are two ways to start your MercNet experience. They are as
follows:
1. Start Mercenaries as you normally would. Click on the button to
play MercNet.
or
2. Go to the folder or directory where you installed Mercenaries
(Default is C:\MERCS). Within this folder double click MercNet.exe
or if you are in directory type MERCNET and press .
SECTION 14 - PLAYING MERCNET DOS IN WINDOWS 95
Other applications can continue running in the background while you use
MercNet DOS, if you have enough memory. However, MercNet DOS does
require the whole screen, so you won't be able to see the other
applications until you quit MercNet.
***Question***
I get palette corruption when going from the DOS prompt to the
Windows 95 Desktop and back to the DOS prompt. What Do I do?
***Answer***
MercNet DOS is a DOS version of the game. While the game can be played
from a Windows 95 DOS box, Windows has trouble restoring the MercNet
screen if you switch away from it. Using Alt+Tab to switch between
MercNet DOS and the Windows 95 desktop is not recommended.
***Question***
When I insert a CD-ROM, the MercNet screen goes away, the program on the
CD-ROM starts running, and I can't get back to MercNet. What is going
on?
***Answer***
Windows 95 has detected a new program, and thinks you want to run it.
You can keep this from happening by holding down the Shift key for 20
seconds after you insert the CD-ROM. Another way to prevent this is to
turn off AutoPlay by following these steps:
1. In Control Panel, click on System, then click on Device Manager.
2. Click on your CD-ROM device, and click on Properties, then
Settings.
3. Make sure the box labeled "Auto Insert Notification" is not
checked.
SECTION 15 - TROUBLESHOOTING TIPS
A. ----------PERFORMANCE----------
MercNet has features that were designed to support a wide range of
computers. When you initially configure MercNet for play, MercNet will
make several default settings regarding which features should be used
and which should be turned OFF.
The trade-offs are different for each user, so we allow any machine to
run any options, but please keep in mind that the higher the level of
detail, the more demanding the machine requirements.
MercNet's default resolution is 320x200. We recommend this resolution
unless you have a P-90 or above. On Pentium 90 computers, MercNet
should run well at 640x480, while 1024x768 is recommended for P-120s
or higher. Video cards also vary dramatically; many cards are optimized
for extremely high performance in Windows, but can actually be very
slow for use in DOS. The best way to determine this is by running
MercNet. Start with a resolution of 320x200, and select whatever options
best match your machine's capabilities and your desire for realism.
Move up to a higher resolution, and adjust graphic options until you
reach a satisfactory balance.
Try making the following changes to increase the game's performance
(They will be found within Combat Variables):
Object Textmaps: Try turning these OFF.
Terrain Textmaps: Try turning these OFF.
Display Detail: Try switching to LOW.
Object Density: Try switching to LOW.
Explosion Chunks: Try turning these OFF.
Particles: Try turning these OFF.
Multiple Lights: Try turning these OFF.
Shadows: Try turning these OFF.
Resolution: Reduce to the next lower resolution if you're running above
320x200.
Note: The resolution can only be changed in the shell prior to the
fighting simulation.
Implementing just some of the changes listed above should be sufficient
to get the game running reasonably on any machine. Other options can be
left ON, as their performance cost is low.
B. ----------NETWORK----------
***Question***
I start the game, select IPX, and the screen says "Network driver not
available". What should I do?
***Answer***
If you're running Windows 95, you might have left another copy of
MercNet DOS running in the background. You can only run one copy at
a time. If this isn't the case, you probably need to load an IPX driver.
To load an IPX driver in Windows 95, go to Start, then Settings, then
click on Control Panel, click on Networking, and make sure that you have
an IPX or IPX-compatible driver listed. If you don't, try the following:
double-click on Add, then double-click on Protocol, then click on
Microsoft, and finally double-click on IPX/SPX-compatible Protocol.
To load an IPX driver in MS-DOS 6.22, check the floppy that came with
your Ethernet card; most cards come with a setup program that installs
an IPX driver for you. If the card's setup program asks you what network
operating system, choose the one that looks closest to
"Novell Netware 3.x for MS-DOS". Often, there are two different types of
drivers: NETX and VLM. NETX is the elder and probably safer, but either
should work.
Technically inclined people who want to connect an IPX driver to a modem
instead of to an Ethernet card may be able to do so in the Protocol
control panel under Windows 95, or under DOS by loading a PPP dialer
program that presents a Packet Driver interface, then loading a Packet
Driver version of IPX.COM. This is treading in uncharted territory,
though, since these procedures have not been tested. One good place to
research network driver issues is "The PC and Mac TCP/IP and NFS FAQ",
http://www.rtd.com/pcnfsfaq/faq.html.
***Question***
When in DOS 6.22 or real mode DOS 7/Windows 95, MercNet doesn't seem to
work with my parallel port Ethernet adapter. Why?
***Answer***
Parallel port Ethernet adapters seem to have trouble in real mode
DOS 7.0 or DOS 6.22, and are not supported with MercNet DOS. (They seem
to work in a Windows 95 DOS box.) Real mode drivers don't seem to work
well with 32-bit programs like MercNet DOS.
***Question***
When using DOS 6.22, I type MERCNET from the directory where I installed
MercNet. The computer hangs and I can't get into the game or see any
hosts or players in the Pilot's Lounge. What is going on?
***Answer***
Make sure you have the latest network driver for the Ethernet card.
C. ----------MODEMS----------
***Question***
The game cannot detect my modem when I am in DOS. Is this a problem with
my modem?
***Answer***
You may have an internal U.S. Robotics WinModem. This modem is not
compatible with DOS programs. Also, it does not emulate the regular
serial chips so it cannot be detected by DOS.
***Question***
I am trying to play the game in DOS 6.22 using the modem on my
Aptiva/M-Wave system, but I can't get it to work. How come this is
happening?
***Answer***
The M-Wave modem supports MercNet DOS in a Window 95 DOS box and
DOS 7.0. However, the M-Wave modem cannot be used in DOS 6.X.
***Question***
The person I was playing with got disconnected and now I want to play
again. What do I do?
***Answer***
You must return to the Transport Selection screen and repeat the process
you used to connect in the first place.
***Question***
My modem does not respond when I call the modem of another player who
has just disconnected from a previous game.
***Answer***
If it is an external modem, switch it off and then on and try to
connect. If it is an internal modem, go back to the MERCS directory
and then return to MercNet and try connecting gain.
***Question***
There seems to be a lag in game play and the other 'Mechs keep
disappearing when using modems and slower machines.
***Answer***
Your machine probably has an old 8250 serial chip. You need to upgrade
to a serial port with a 16550 serial chip. You can tell what kind of
serial chip you have by running MSD.
***Question***
My modem isn't listed in the modem list in the modem configuration
string and the init string for the other modems doesn't work with mine.
***Answer***
Usually, the "Hayes Compatible" init string works for all modems, so
make sure nothing's wrong with your modem setup. If you're sure you
need to change your init string, then use a text editor to edit the
file MODEM.LST; add a line with modem name and init string like so:
modem name=init string
Make sure you pick an init string you know works, such as one included
in the installation manual for your modem.
***Question***
How do I disable call waiting?
***Answer***
If your phone line has the Disable Call Waiting feature, you can disable
call waiting by including the appropriate command in front of the phone
number you are calling. This will prevent anyone from interrupting the
call. For example:
Name: Gumby
Number: *70,,,1-818-555-1212
Where "*70" is the code to disable call waiting, and the commas (,) are
simply used to provide a delay so you can hear the special dial tone
that acknowledges your code. Check with your local phone company
regarding how to disable call waiting for your particular area; you
might need to use some other code instead of *70, for instance, #70.
Only the person placing the call can disable call waiting!
***Question***
In the list of serial ports, I only see two serial ports listed, COM2
and COM4. Why don't I see COM1 and COM3?
***Answer***
If the mouse is on COM1 you can't use COM3; if it's on COM2, you can't
use COM4. This is because COM1 and COM3 share the same IRQ line.
D. ----------NULL MODEMS----------
If you have two computers in the same room, but they don't have Ethernet
cards, you can use a direct serial connection to play a two player game
of MercNet. To do this, get a null modem cable (also known as a
Laplink(tm) cable), and plug each end into a serial port on one of the
computers.
***Question***
In the list of serial ports, I only see two serial ports listed, COM2
and COM4. Why don't I see COM1 and COM3?
***Answer***
If the mouse is on COM1 you can't use COM3; if it's on COM2, you can't
use COM4. This is because COM1 and COM3 share the same IRQ line.
E. ----------QUICK SOLUTIONS: TOP QUESTIONS ANSWERED----------
***Question***
I get funny lines on my display in game play when running from a Windows
95 DOS box.
***Answer***
The black lines that run through MercNet DOS when running in 640x480 or
higher in a Windows 95 box can be resolved by running in a window
instead of full screen. One way to do this is to make a shortcut to
C:\MERCS\MERCNET.EXE, then right mouse click on it and choose
Properties. Choose the Screen tab. Click on the box that has Windowed
next to it rather than Full Screen.
***Question***
In the list of serial ports, I only see two serial ports listed, COM2
and COM4. Why don't I see COM1 and COM3?
***Answer***
If the mouse is on COM1 you can't use COM3; if it's on COM2, you can't
use COM4. This is because COM1 and COM3 share the same IRQ line.
***Question***
After typing MERCS at the DOS prompt, the screen goes blank for a second
and then returns to the DOS prompt.
***Answer***
This usually either means you need a VESA driver (see above), or that
MercNet DOS can't find your mouse driver. This commonly occurs with
Logitech mice. You may want to get a Microsoft compatible mouse driver
which is often readily available from commercial online services and
many Bulletin Board Systems.
***Question***
I get an Error #14 message when launching into a mission.
***Answer***
You may have run out of disk space! If this happens, make sure you have
four or so megabytes of free disk space when starting MercNet.
(This only matters if you are running low on memory in Windows 95,
and the operating system tries to use hard disk space to substitute
for RAM.)
***Question***
I get an Error #29 message when loading the game or when entering
missions.
***Answer***
This problem is most commonly caused by a video card that can't adjust
to the necessary video modes for MercNet DOS. This can usually be solved
by loading a VESA driver before loading the game (see above).
If you are sure that this message is not caused by your video card, you
can try making a boot disk using the menu option in NETSETUP.EXE located
in the directory where you installed the game. The boot disk program
will copy your startup files to a floppy disk and attempt to make
necessary changes to the CONFIG.SYS and AUTOEXEC.BAT files. If you have
problems with your boot disk and need help, it is best to contact us by
fax or e-mail. Include information about any error messages caused by
the boot disk and your CONFIG.SYS and AUTOEXEC.BAT files.
***Question***
I am trying to load MercNet DOS, but it takes a long time to load. Is
there something I can do to speed up this process?
***Answer***
MercNet usually takes anywhere from 10-30 seconds to load. If MercNet
is taking an exceedingly long time to load, try disabling any virus
scan programs.
To disable a virus scan program from DOS:
You must edit your AUTOEXEC.BAT file. Type REM in front of the line in
the AUTOEXEC.BAT that contains the virus program. For further
instructions consult the manual that came with your virus scan program.
To disable a virus scan program from Windows 95:
Right-click on the Virus Scan icon on your taskbar. Choose Disable.
***Question***
I have a Hewlett Packard Pavilion 7070 with a Crystal 16 bit sound
card and Trio 64V+ video card and the computer locks up when I start
MercNet. What can I do to run the game?
***Answer***
This computer configuration only supports the game when in DOS 7.0
or DOS 6.22. When using the DOS box the game will probably not run.
***Question***
I get a Divide Overflow error when launching into missions.
***Answer***
This problem can occasionally be caused by a video card or joystick
port problem.
If the error is occurring because of your video card, it can usually be
solved by loading a VESA driver (see above).
This problem can also be caused by multiple joystick ports. Most sound
cards include a game port where you can connect a joystick to your
computer. In addition, many systems also have a dedicated game port or
a game port on an I/O card. If you have more than one game port, only
one should be enabled. Many ports can be deactivated with a utility
program included in the software. Consult your user's manuals or contact
your system manufacturer on how to disable an active port.
We have also found this message can be caused by the digital mode
driver for the Microsoft Sidewinder 3D Pro. This can be solved by using
the analog mode of the joystick.
***Question***
MercNet doesn't allow me to join a game. Why?
***Answer***
Continue to click on the Join button, or back out of the Game Selection
screen and then go back in. If you still can't join, perhaps that game
is full; only eight players are allowed in a game.
If there are less than seven players in the game, it could be a network
problem, and you should check your network cards and drivers for
problems. In particular, parallel port Ethernet adapters seem to have
trouble in real mode DOS 7.0 or DOS 6.22, and are not supported with
MercNet DOS. (They seem to work in a Windows 95 DOS box.)
***Question***
Sometimes I see more than one pilot's lounge. Why?
***Answer***
There are a couple possibilities:
1. Only 20 or so players can fit in a pilot's lounge. When a lounge
fills up, another one is created to accommodate new players.
2. A rogue pilot's lounge has been accidentally created by a
net-lagged player. In this case there are simply two pilot's
lounges and you can join whichever one you want by clicking on
and joining it. The rogue pilot's lounge will most likely merge
into the normal pilot's lounge once there is only one player left
in the rogue pilot's lounge.
F. ----------WHERE CAN I FIND OTHER MERCNET PLAYERS----------
If you have e-mail and access to the World Wide Web, you can access
several sites that maintain lists of people with MercNet who are looking
for sparring partners. There are even tournaments organized by
enthusiasts. You can get a list of these sites at the MercNet web page,
http://www.activision.com/mercnet
If you have Usenet news access, try the MechWarrior 2 news group,
alt.games.mechwarrior2. It's a lively place!
If you have AOL access, you might try asking people in the MercNet
discussion group in Activision's forum; go to keyword ACTIVISION,
then select General Discussion Areas, and finally click on MercNet.
If you have Microsoft Network access, inside MSN, pull down the Edit
menu and select Go To and then Other Location. At the prompt, type
ACTIVISION and click OK.
If you have CompuServe, try GO GAMBPUB.
You can also try the Activision BBS, at (310) 479-1335.
If you're an IRC (Internet Relay Chat) enthusiast, you might try dialing
up the #MERCS channel.
