One of the great convenience features of Explore the World of
Software CD-ROMs is that most of the programs are not compressed
and can be run directly from your CD-ROM drive without hard drive
installation, unless MUST COPY is indicated in which case you must
click on the COPY TO DISK button and proceed with the hard drive
installation routine.
However, it is important to realize that CD-ROMs are by definition
read only, so if programs on this CD-ROM attempt to write data back
to the disk, for example: high scores, this will cause an error. These
programs should be copied and run from hard drive. Please note that we
indicate MUST COPY when the program must be installed on the hard drive
to function properly, but we do not indicate MUST COPY when it is only needed in order to record scores. If you wish to record scores, you must ALWAYS copy the program to the hard drive.
In general, running a program directly from the CD-ROM is fine to
quickly try out a game. But as soon as you decide to play it seriously,
it is best to copy it to your hard drive. This way the program will run
faster, you can record scores, and you can get into the program directory
which gives you access to documentation, setup, and alternative command
files. Anytime you have trouble running a program directly from the
CD-ROM, first reboot your computer, check that you have enough memory,
then go into the CD-ROM menu and copy the program to your hard drive.
If it still doesn't run from the hard drive, go into the program
directory and check out the different documentation, setup and command
files.
OTHER COMMON PROBLEMS
Canot exit program: With most programs, you can exit by hitting ESC,
ALT-X, or by following the program exit command (such as Q for quit).
There are few programs which have no exit, in this case just reboot
your computer by typing CTRL-ALT-DEL.
Programs runs too fast or too slow: Some programs may run too fast
using a 486 computer, in this case try switching off your TURBO button
to slow the program down. On the other hand, if the program runs too
slow ( eg. DOOM ), make sure that your TURBO button is switched on.
Nevertheless, you may encounter a few programs which are too fast or
too slow for your computer, no matter what you do. For example, a few
old programs may simply run too fast on a 486, and a few newer programs
may run too slow on a 286 or 386sx.
COPY TO DISK COMMAND PROBLEMS
"Copy to disk" command fails to copy files, "Insufficient memory"
message received. If you experience this problem, edit your autoexec.bat
file as follows: Go to the line containing the MSCDEX.EXE command.
In this line you will find the CD-ROM memory setting such as M:15.
Change this to M:10. Save this configuration and reboot your computer.
The "Copy to Disk" routine should now work.
TSR PROGRAMS
With some fax modems or TSR programs, the HRS menu system may not run.
You then have two choices:
a) Disable the fax modem or TSR program by editing your Autoexec.bat
and Config.sys files by typing REM in front of the applicable TSR lines
and resetting your computer, or
b) If the HRS menu doesn't run and you don't want to disable your fax
modem or other TSR programs, you can access all the programs in this
CD-ROM by using the traditional DOS " navigate the directories" method.
Just go into the GAMES directory in the CD-ROM and then the applicable
subdirectory for the program in question such as DISK001 to DISK426,
