--- NETMECH DOS TECHNICAL HELP Introduction Quick Solutions: Top Questions Answered Minimum System Requirements Pre-installation Information Installing NetMech DOS Playing NetMech DOS Playing NetMech DOS in Windows 95 Finding Other MechWarriors for Modem Games Performance Network Modems Input Devices Memory Video Audio Cockpit Controls Customer Support Vendor List (Only in NETINFO.HLP) Credits Please note that customer support for NetMech for DOS will be available via our online services only. ------------------------------------------------------------------ --- INTRODUCTION Welcome to NetMech DOS! This troubleshooting guide contains tips and tricks we learned during the months we play-tested NetMech DOS. We hope it will help you solve any problems that come up when you are installing or using NetMech DOS If the problem you are having isn't covered in this guide, try downloading a more recent version; we will continue to update it as we learn more. If you already have the latest version, and still can't find a solution for your problem, try posting a question in one of our online forums, or sending us electronic mail. (See Customer Support below.) This troubleshooting guide can be read as a text file (NETINFO.TXT) or as a Microsoft Help file (NETINFO.HLP). For the User's Guide that describes how to use NetMech DOS after installation, read the companion file NETMECH.TXT (in Help, you can do this by clicking on the Guide button above). Please feel free to send comments or feedback to us via the online forums or e-mail; it will help us improve this guide and our products. ------------------------------------------------------------------ --- QUICK SOLUTIONS: TOP QUESTIONS ANSWERED Problems loading the game: Several of the answers below will mention VESA drivers. These are usually TSR programs which are loaded in AUTOEXEC.BAT or from the DOS prompt. Many video cards come with a VESA driver that you can load. For example, ATI Mach 32 video cards include VVESA.COM. Consult your video card manual for more information. See also the section titled "Video" below. If your card didn't come with a VESA driver, you can try one from a third party. The VESA driver we recommend is called UniVBE, the Universal Video BIOS Extension. It is a common shareware program, made by SciTech software, which can be downloaded from our BBS, SciTech Software's web page (http://www.scitechsoft.com), or commercial online services. You can contact SciTech Software directly for more information at (916) 894-8400. After typing MECH2 at the DOS prompt, the screen goes blank for a second and then returns to the DOS prompt. This usually either means you need a VESA driver (see above), or that NetMech 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. I get an Error #14 message when launching into a mission. 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 NetMech. (This only matters if you are running low on memory in Win95, and the operating system tries to use hard disk space to substitute for RAM.) I get an Error #29 message when loading the game or when entering missions. This problem is most commonly caused by a video card that can't adjust to the necessary video modes for NetMech 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 MW2SETUP.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. I am trying to load NetMech DOS, but it takes a long time to load. Is there something I can do to speed up this process? NetMech usually takes anywhere from 10-30 seconds to load. If NetMech 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. 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 NetMech. What can I do to run the game? 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. I get a Divide Overflow error when launching into missions. 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 1 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. Problems Joining Games: NetMech doesn't allow me to join a game. Why? Continue to click on the Join button, or back out of the Rooms screen and then go back in. If you still can't join, perhaps that game is full; only 8 players are allowed in a game. If there are less than 7 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 NetMech DOS. (They seem to work in a Windows 95 DOS box.) Sometimes I see more than one pilot's lounge. Why? There are several possibilities: 1. Only twenty 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. Problems Uninstalling: I want to delete NetMech DOS, but keep MechWarrior 2 DOS. If you installed NetMech DOS in the same directory as MechWarrior 2 DOS, you must delete the entire directory and reinstall MechWarrior 2 DOS. Remember to save the MEK subdirectory if you want to save your custom 'Mechs, and the GIDDI subdirectory to maintain your custom joystick configurations. Problems Installing: I have MechWarrior 2 DOS v.1.0 plus the v1.1 patch. Is it okay to install the patch after installing NetMech? No. You should install MechWarrior 2 DOS first, then the patch (if needed), then NetMech DOS. Installing in a different order may cause some function keys to stop working and may cause other problems. ------------------------------------------------------------------ --- MINIMUM SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS * 100% IBM PC-compatible computer * 486DX2/66MHz processor * 8 MB RAM (7 MB of free extended memory) * Double-speed CD-ROM drive (300K/second sustained transfer rate) * 30 MB of uncompressed hard disk space * VESA local bus or PCI video card * 256 color SVGA (640 x 480) * Microsoft MS-DOS 6.22 operating system * 100% Microsoft-compatible mouse and driver * 100% Sound Blaster-compatible sound card * Dedicated game card highly recommended for joystick * One of the following: * Novell Network * Novell Compatible IPX network (e.g., Windows 95) * 100 % Hayes/MS-DOS-compatible modem (9600 bps for head-to- head play. 14,400 bps is recommended.) * Null-modem cable and serial port with 16550 UART Note: Original MechWarrior 2 (DOS or Win95) disc required to host a game. Supported Input Devices: Analog joystick, CH Flightstick, Thrustmaster FCS, Microsoft SideWinder (CH Flightstick mode). If NetMech DOS is loaded into an existing MechWarrior 2 DOS directory, NetMech can use all configured and customized input devices that MechWarrior 2 DOS supports. ------------------------------------------------------------------ --- PRE-INSTALLATION INFORMATION Here is some important information that you should know before you install and start your NetMech experience: Hard Disk The game requires 30 MB of UN-compressed free disk space. NetMech will not work properly using compressed hard disk space (such as Stacker and DoubleSpace). Memory In order to run NetMech you need 8 MB of RAM and over 6.8 MB of extended memory. If you have between 6.5 MB and 6.8 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 95 NetMech requires MS-DOS 6.0 or later. Other operating systems (e.g., OS/2 Warp and Windows NT) are not supported. Although NetMech 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 NetMech compatibility issues. A special note for Windows 95 users: NetMech is a DOS program, but has been tested successfully under Windows 95. In your NetMech directory, we've provided a Windows 95 shortcut that you can double-click to start NetMech. VESA Video Drivers NetMech requires that your system have a standard VESA video driver to run your video. Please verify that you have one loaded before launching NetMech. If the VESA driver supplied by your video card does not function properly with NetMech, try using the UniVBE VESA driver. This is available for downloading from our Activision BBS or any of our online locations, or from the SciTech Software Web page (http://www.scitechsoft.com). It might also be located on your local BBS or other online services. ------------------------------------------------------------------ --- INSTALLING NETMECH DOS First, make sure you have 30 megabytes of free uncompressed hard disk space. Second, if you are running Windows, close all running programs. You can close a program by clicking on the close button (X) located in the top right- hand corner of each of its windows. Also close programs listed on the taskbar. Do this by right-clicking on a program's button and selecting Close. Third, if you downloaded the self-extracting executable, unpack and run the installer. (For these instructions, we will assume that you have downloaded it to the C:\TEMP folder.) Under Windows 95, 1. Click on the Start button on your Windows 95 taskbar. 2. Select Run, then type C:\TEMP\NM10 and click the OK button. This will take some time. 3. Click on the Start button on your Windows 95 taskbar. 4. Select Run, then type C:\MECH2\INSTALL.BAT and click the OK button. Under DOS, 1. At the DOS prompt, type CD \TEMP and press Enter 2. At the DOS prompt, type NM10 and press Enter. This will take some time. 3. At the DOS prompt, type CD \MECH2 and press Enter. 4. At the DOS prompt, type INSTALL.BAT and press Enter. Or, if you purchased a NetMech DOS CD-ROM, insert it into your CD- ROM drive (for these instructions, we will assume that your CD drive is drive D:) and run the installer. Under Windows 95, 1. Click on the Start button on your Windows 95 taskbar. 2. Select Run, then type D:\INSTALL and click the OK button. Under DOS, 1. At the DOS prompt, type D: and press Enter. 2. At the D:\> prompt, type INSTALL and press Enter. Follow the on-screen instructions carefully. (For instance, if you don't have the CD-ROM, the installer will prompt you to press 'F'.) On a 486/66, the installer can take up to 25 seconds to load, so be patient. (To abort the installation process, type Ctrl+X. Make sure you first delete the NetMech DOS directory and its subdirectories, if created, before reinstalling. Note: If you want to save any customized 'Mechs, be sure to copy the MEK folder onto a floppy disk before deleting the NetMech DOS directory.) The installer will first check to make sure you have enough memory. You need about 400k of free DOS memory to run it. (If you don't have enough, try commenting out a TSR (e.g. MSCDEX) in autoexec.bat temporarily.) You need about 6,900k of free XMS memory to run NetMech DOS. (If you don't have enough, try commenting out the SMARTDRV line in autoexec.bat.) If you get the warning message that you are below the required amount, you will probably be able to install anyway. At the end of the installation process, you will be given the opportunity to create a boot disk to help in freeing up more main memory (RAM). The installer then asks you to tell it what sound card you have. It will attempt to detect your sound configuration automatically and select the appropriate drivers. However, on some systems you may need to choose your sound card manually 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% Sound Blaster-compatible, you should be able to select the Creative Labs Sound Blaster or 100% compatible driver to hear sound and music in the game. When you are finished selecting the proper sound devices, select Accept Settings and press Enter. If you're installing from CD-ROM, the installer then copies NetMech files to your hard drive. The Installer will automatically install all the files necessary for IPX, modem and null-modem play. After the game is installed, you will be presented with the option to register your copy of NetMech via our online registration system. If you live in North America, and have a modem connected to your computer, registering your purchase of NetMech is very easy, quick and toll-free. By registering, you might win some cool stuff as well. All you have to do is fill in the requested information (basically your address plus a couple of other questions). Once you have finished, select SEND and your registration information will be sent to us via our toll-free 800 number. Of course, if you want to register later, just select BYPASS. Please only register once. If you successfully use the online registration method, there is no need to mail in the enclosed registration card. Finally, you will be asked if you wish to make a boot disk. This procedure requires that you insert a disk into your A: drive. Please verify that you have created a backup of the contents of this disk, since this process will erase all data on it. Also, use a high-density disk. When the formatting process is complete and you have typed in a volume label for the boot disk, you will be asked if you want to format another; type N for no and press Enter. NOTE: The game's boot disk maker utility was designed for systems using DOS as their operating system, and is usually not needed with Windows 95. If installing from Windows, close the installer window by clicking on the close button (X) located in the top right-hand corner of the DOS box window. If installing from DOS, you will be returned to the directory in which NetMech was installed. To begin your NetMech experience, type NETMECH and press Enter. ------------------------------------------------------------------ --- POST-INSTALLATION NOTES After installing NetMech, it is easy to change your sound device configurations, view the README file, make a boot disk or register NetMech electronically (if you bypassed this step while installing). The program NETSETUP does of all these things. Just go to the NetMech directory on your hard drive, type NETSETUP and press Enter. This will launch a program that will allow you to do all of these things. Under Windows 95, 1. Click on the Start button on your Windows 95 taskbar. 2. Select Run, then type C:\MECH2\NETSETUP and click the OK button. Under DOS, 1. At the DOS prompt, type CD \MECH2 and press Enter. 2. At the DOS prompt, type NETSETUP and press Enter. What if I run into trouble running NetMech under Windows 95? 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 NetMech (default is MECH2) and from the NetMech directory type NETMECH and press Enter to start the game. ------------------------------------------------------------------ --- PLAYING NETMECH DOS Can I use Ghost Bear 'Mechs in this version of NetMech? Ghost Bear 'Mechs are not available in NetMech DOS, but will be available in the upcoming MechWarrior 2 Mercenaries. The actual distance a weapon fires is not the same as the stated distance in