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STATIC stuff,S7,The latest test results have not been printed or saved to disk, and will be lost when you exit. Do you want to save or print them now?
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Steve Whalen: Writer, Editor, Alpha-Test Coordinator && Programmer, Designer
Jeff Kymer: Programmer (low-level tests && Windows hacks), Driver King
Ridgely Curry and Associates, Brian Speight: Artwork && Screen Design
Todd Whitney: Driver Emperor, This && that
Dylan Haggerty: Voice
Chris Kitze: Program Concept and Design
Diane Heppting: Program Concept and Design
Vance Gloster: Programmer, MIDI music
Jamie Brehm, Kevin Mannis: Audio
Joe Gershen, Richard Bryant: Audio
Gary Wagner: Sound Mixing
Steve Kaplan: Movie editing
Sandra Mueller, Eric Simonson: Design and Production Help
Carrie Kitze (EMK Group): Packaging
NASA: Movie Clips
,B7,FALSE
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S O F T K E Y I N T E R N A T I O N A L P R E S E N T S . . .. N T SS
307,420,419,418
xrecordFields
troubleshootingTips
.&+ +E
.&+ +E
buttonClick
If you encountered a problem with any of the tests on this screen, click this button to see a list of possible causes.
statusBarText
goBack
.&+ +E
w, #?
.&+ +E
Test Results
sTestJumpPage
KvuSection
UparentSection
buttonClick
w, #?
button to return to the
Click this
button to return to the Test Results screen.
wizardStatusBar
screen.
sTestJumpPage
UparentSection
mouseEnter
Click this button to return to the previous screen.
statusBarText
sectionButtons
go What's an MPC?
Click this button to learn about the Multimedia PC standards for Level 1 and Level 2.
statusBarText
&What's an MPC?
go MPC Tests
Click this button to choose the MPC test you'd like to run.
statusBarText
MPC &Tests
go Find a Driver
Click this button to locate a graphics, sound, or CD-ROM driver on the MPC Wizard CD.
statusBarText
Find a &Driver
go Test Results
Click this button to view, save, or print the cumulative results of all tests performed during this MPC Wizard session.
statusBarText
Test &Results
softKey catalog
Click this button to launch other multimedia applications included on the MPC Wizard CD.
statusBarText
Soft&Key Catalog
Cancel
sTestRunning
Are you sure you want to exit this program?
sResultsNotSaved
buttonClick
buttonDown
Click this button to exit the MPC Wizard program.
statusBarText
E&xit
textAndButtons
mainText
mainText
mainText
pstatusBarText
This is informational text.
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This is informational text. Use the buttons immediately below the text to copy it or page through it.
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textToClipboard
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Click this button to copy all pages of the above text to the Windows clipboard.
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.&, 8
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textPages
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Click this button to go to the first page of text.
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textPages
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lastPage
+",!Y
mainText
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textPages
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textPages
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To learn about a feature, just move your mouse over it. Information about that feature will appear here.
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To learn about a feature, just move your mouse over it. Information about that feature will appear here.{/
What's an MPC?
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What's an MPC?
uSection
W H A T ' S A N M P C ?
MPC stands for Multimedia Personal Computer. The Windows
versions of SoftKey International's MediaClips
series of software were designed to run only on MPC-compatible computers. Your computer is considered MPC compatible if it conforms to the minimum hardware and software requirements set by the Multimedia PC Marketing Council. The Council has defined two sets of specifications for MPCs, known as Level 1 and Level 2.
Level 1 is the base level, and includes the following minimum requirements:
Computer with a 386SX or compatible microprocessor (CPU);
2 megabytes of RAM;
3.5" floppy drive, 1.44 MB capacity;
30 megabyte hard drive;
2-button mouse;
101-key keyboard;
Serial, parallel, MIDI I/O, and joystick ports;
Windows 3.0 with the Multimedia Extensions, or Windows 3.1 or higher;
MSCDEX driver, version 2.2 or greater;
CD-ROM drive capable of transferring data at a sustained rate of 150 kilobytes per second without taking up more than 40% of your computer's CPU time, an average seek time of 1 second or less, CD digital audio (Red Book audio) outputs, and front-panel volume control;
8-bit wave audio (digitized sound) playback at 22.05 kHz and 11.02 kHz sampling rates, using no more than 10% of your computer's CPU time;
MIDI (music synthesizer) with the ability to play back multi-voice, multi-timbral sounds, 6 melody notes simultaneously, and 2 percussive notes simultaneously;
On-board ability to mix CD audio (Red Book), synthesizer, and wave sounds into one stereo line source out of the computer's back panel;
VGA-compatible display adapter and monitor with a 640 x 480 pixel resolution. Although 16 colors is the minimum requirement for MPC machines, the photos displayed in SoftKey International's MediaClips programs were meant to be viewed in 256 colors or greater. 640 x 480 pixels with 256 colors is recommended by the MPC Marketing Council, and strongly recommended by SoftKey International.
Level 2 includes all of the specifications for Level 1 mentioned above,
and adds the following minimum requirements:
Computer with a 486SX or compatible microprocessor (CPU) running at 25 MHz;
4 megabytes of RAM (8 megabytes recommended);
160 megabyte hard drive;
CD-ROM drive with a sustained data rate of 300 kilobytes per second. It is recommended that the drive accomplish this without taking up more than 60% of your computer's CPU time. The average seek time must be 400 milliseconds or less. The drive must be XA-ready and multisession capable. XA is a method of storing data on a CD that allows for the near simultaneous playback of audio, video, and data. Multisession capability is the ability to read information that was added to the original information on the CD.
16-bit wave audio (digitized sound) at 44.1kHz, 22.05 kHz, and 11.02 kHz sampling rates, in mono and stereo. No more than 10% of your computer's CPU time should be taken up playing 22.05 kHz and 11.02 kHz sounds. It is recommended that no more than 15% of CPU time be taken up playing 44.1kHz audio;
VGA-compatible display adapter and monitor with a 640 x 480 pixel resolution in 65,536 (16-bit) colors.
The MPC Wizard tests your system for several of the above-mentioned requirements. The tests will assist you in determining whether your system conforms to MPC specifications......
page 1 of 5?
MPC Tests
go CD-ROM Drive Tests
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CD-ROM Drive Tests"
MPC Tests
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M P C T E S T Sw
The MPC Wizard provides you with a suite of tests to determine how well your computer performs several multimedia-related tasks. The tests are divided into four parts: CD-ROM Drive Tests, Graphics Tests, Sound Tests, and Motion Video Tests. Each part is accessible by clicking the appropriate button below. An extensive amount of information about multimedia in general and the tests in particular can be found in these parts. If you're unfamiliar with the MPC Wizard version 3--and especially if you're new to multimedia on a PC--we suggest you begin by clicking these buttons.
Once you understand multimedia and the MPC Wizard tests, you may want to click the Auto Run All Tests button. Doing so will bring you to the Test Results screen and automatically run nearly all of the MPC Wizard tests back to back. The Test Results screen uses colors to let you see at a glance just how well your own system stacks up against several of the MPC Council's requirements and recommendations. Click the Test Results Screen Help button when you're on the Test Results screen for more information about that section.
mation about that section.
page 1 of 2 22
go CD-ROM Drive Tests
Make sure that your CD-ROM drive is performing up to speed. Click this button for an introduction to the CD-ROM drive tests.
statusBarText
CD-R&OM Drive Tests
go Graphics Tests
Get information about your graphics display performance in Windows. Click this button for an introduction to the graphics tests.
statusBarText
&Graphics Tests
go Sound Tests
Check your system's ability to play CD audio, wave, and MIDI sounds. Click this button for an introduction to the sound tests.
statusBarText
&Sound Tests
go Motion Video Tests
See if you can play Video for Windows and MPEG files. Click this button for an introduction to the motion video tests.
statusBarText
Motion &Video Tests
go Test Results
runAllTests
buttonClick
onClick
runAllTests
If you're already familiar with MPCs and the MPC Wizard tests, click this button to automatically run each test in succession.
statusBarText
&Auto Run All Tests
CD-ROM Drive Tests
1, #b
tranRate100
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svCDdrive
lgrSDbutton
isSmartDriveCachingCD
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MPC Tests
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MPC Tests
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C D - R O M D R I V E T E S T S
About the Information Reported by Your System
The CD-ROM Drive Letter is the letter that DOS has assigned the CD-ROM drive containing the MPC Wizard.
SMARTDrive is a disk caching program from Microsoft that comes with MS-DOS and with Windows. SMARTDrive versions 5.0 and higher can be set to cache CD-ROM drives in addition to other types of drives.
About the CD-ROM Drive Tests
MSCDEX Version reports the version of the file MSCDEX.EXE you are currently using. MSCDEX.EXE allows the MS-DOS or PC-DOS operating systems (versions 3.1 or higher) to read CD-ROM discs. MSCDEX.EXE is sometimes referred to as the MS-DOS CD-ROM Extensions. For your computer to be MPC-compatible, it must be running version 2.2 or greater of these extensions.
Data Transfer Rate Tests: 100%. This is the rate at which your drive reads data from a CD. Because your CPU (the "brains" of your computer) is allowed to devote all of its time to this test, the results are "best-case." Given 100% of the CPU, Level 1 drives must transfer 150 kilobytes per second or greater. Level 2-compatible drives must transfer 300 kilobytes per second or greater. In this and the other data transfer rate tests, the data is read in 16-kilobyte sequential chunks.
Data Transfer Rate Tests: 60% & 40%. These tests are similar to the previous one, except that they force your CPU to devote only part of its time to reading data from the CD.
The 40% button allows your CPU to spend forty percent of its time reading data from the CD. In order for your CD-ROM drive to be Level 1 MPC-compatible, it should read at least 150 kilobytes of data per second directly from a CD for a sustained period of time while using 40% of your CPU's time. Drives with a significantly lower rate than 150 kilobytes/second will probably cause sound, motion video, and animation to "break up" when you play such files directly off of a CD.
The 60% button allows your CPU to spend sixty percent of its time reading data from the CD. Level 2 MPC specifications require that your CD-ROM drive be able to read data at a sustained rate of 300 kilobytes per second. They recommend (but do not require) that the drive do this using a maximum of 60% of the CPU's time.
Average 1/3-Stroke Access Time. MPC Level 1 specifications state that a CD-ROM drive must have an average seek time of 1000 milliseconds (1 second) or less. The standard for MPC Level 2 is 400 milliseconds or less. A drive's access time is the time it takes the read head to move to a specific location on the CD and read the data there. In general, the lower the access time, the faster the drive.
You may have noticed that while the MPC specs refer to seek time, the MPC Wizard test measures access time. That's because it's impossible for a single, generic test to measure the seek time of all the makes and models of CD-ROM drives on the market. The phrases "seek time" and "access time" sound similar, and are sometimes used interchangeably. However, technically they refer to slightly different measurements. These different measurements reflect different phases of disc access.
Seek time is the time it takes for a drive's laser head to move to the proper track on the CD. Once the laser head is at the appropriate track, it takes time for the disc to rotate until the correct data is under the laser head. This time is called the latency. Once the correct data is under the read head, it takes time to read the data from the disc. This time is called the transmission time. Access time is the sum of the seek time, latency, and the transmission time.
MSCDEX.EXE, the standard software interface that lets DOS and Windows programs "talk" to the CD-ROM drive, does not provide a way for a generic testing program to separate out seek time from latency and transmission time. The only way to obtain the seek time for every model of CD-ROM on the market would be to run a specially-designed test on each. Therefore, any generic test that claims to measure seek time actually measures access time.
Access time is slightly higher than seek time. However, because latency and transmission time are tiny compared to the seek time, access time tests and seek time tests yield very similar results.
The 1/3-stroke access test is the traditional access test for disk drives. The test performs a series of seeks, each of which is equivalent to 1/3 the distance across a sixty minute CD. At the end of the test the seek times are averaged.
Please note:
Test results are approximate.
The faster your drive, the shorter the tests. Slow drives may take
several minutes to perform one or more tests.
Your mouse cursor is hidden while a test is performed.
Click the appropriate button below to run a test.
Click the Troubleshooting Tips button at the bottom right of your screen if your drive doesn't perform adequately.ly.
page 10of 8
Click a button below to see how much data your CD-ROM drive can read per second in Windows, at a given percent of CPU time.
statusBarText
Data Transfer Rate TestsE
.&+ +E
.&+ +E
runCDtest
withSD
withoutSD
withSmartDrive
buttonClick
tranRate100
Click this button to see how much data your CD-ROM drive can read each second in Windows, given 100% of your CPU's time.
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&100%
tranRate60
Click this button to see how much data your CD-ROM drive can read each second in Windows, given 60% of your CPU's time.
statusBarText
tranRate40
Click this button to see how much data your CD-ROM drive can read each second in Windows, given 40% of your CPU's time.
statusBarText
bottomLine
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withSmartDrive
your CD-ROM drive during the data transfer rate tests.
checkbox to prevent SmartDrive from caching your CD-ROM drive
Click this
svCDdrive
isn't available because SmartDrive isn't set to
cache CD-ROM drive
checkbox to let SmartDrive cache
wizardStatusBar
during the data transfer rate tests.
This feature
mouseEnter
buttonClick
With &SMARTDrive
.&+ +E
.&+ +E
krunMscdexTest
buttonClick
Click this button to find out which version of the MS-DOS CD-ROM Extensions (MSCDEX) is installed on your system.
statusBarText
MSCDEX &Version
bottomLine
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3strokeAccessWithoutSD
.&+ +E
.&+ +E
runCDtest
buttonClick
Click this button to see how fast your CD-ROM drive can access data from the CD in Windows.
statusBarText
Avg. &Access Time Test
bottomLine
topLine
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wizardStatusBar
mouseEnter
Information about your CD-ROM drive reported by your system. See the informational text above for a detailed explanation.
statusBarText
Information about your CD-ROM drive. See the informational text above for a detailed explanation.
statusBarText
Information Reported by Your System ur System CDEX:MSCDEX:
CD-ROM Drive Letter:
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L-,383
report2
report3
SMARTdrive Version:
SMARTdrive Set to Cache CD?:
Yesssson:
report1
ur System ur System CDEX:MSCDEX:
CD-ROM Drive Letter:
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report2
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SMARTdrive Version:
SMARTdrive Set to Cache CD?:
Yesssson:
report1
CD-ROM Drive Tips
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MPC Tests
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CD-ROM Drive Tests
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C D - R O M D R I V E T R O U B L E S H O O T I N G T I P S
8PROBLEM: Your drive isn't up to spec on one or more of the Data Transfer Rate tests.
Possible Causes/Solutions:
Your CD-ROM drive may not be MPC-compatible. This is likely if you purchased your drive prior to 1992. Check to see whether your CD-ROM drive's documentation states that it is MPC-compatible. Also check what the manufacturer claims is the data transfer rate and average access time for the drive.
You might be using a program that caches the CD-ROM drive, such as Microsoft's SMARTDrive 5.0. SMARTDrive 5.0 or higher comes with MS-DOS 6.2 and later, and with Windows for Workgroups 3.11. Caching a CD-ROM drive can actually slow down its sustained data transfer rate. This is most likely to happen if less than 100 percent of the CPU is available for transferring data. For this reason, you may notice that the 40% and 60% Data Transfer Rate Tests report a higher transfer rate when SMARTDrive is disabled than when it is enabled.
Caching a CD stores portions of the CD's data in RAM. This lets the computer retrieve that data much more quickly than it could if it had to access the disk again, because retrieving data from RAM is much, much faster than retrieving it from a CD. The process of caching takes time, but that time is far smaller than the amount of time it would have taken to access the disc. Since much of the computer code in the Windows operating system needs to be accessed again and again, caching the disk that is running Windows can noticeably speed up your system. However, when you're playing digital video (such as Video for Windows), you typically need to access the video data only once. In this situation, caching the disc that holds the video data consumes more time than not caching the data at all, because the overhead of caching is not compensated for by fewer disc accesses.
To prevent SMARTDrive 5.0 or higher from caching your CD-ROM drive, do the following:
1. Use a text editor, such as Windows Notepad, to edit your AUTOEXEC.BAT file.
2. Locate the line that includes the SMARTDRV command.
3. At the end of that line, add a space, a forward slash, and the letter "U" (not case-sensitive). For example, the line in your AUTOEXEC.BAT might read:
C:\DOS\SMARTDRV.EXE /U
4) Save the file and reboot your computer for this change to take effect.
The /U switch tells SMARTDrive not to cache your CD-ROM drive, but it will allow SMARTDrive to continue to cache your hard disk. We have found in some cases that this change increases the sustained transfer rate by as much as 50 KB per second. If you use your CD-ROM drive primarily for playing digital video or other tasks that require a fast sustained transfer rate, you may want to leave the /U in your AUTOEXEC.BAT file.
The CD-ROM driver software you are using may be inadequate or outdated. CD-ROM driver software usually comes with a drive or with a drive controller card. It is usually loaded automatically in the CONFIG.SYS file.
A CD-ROM drive that is mechanically capable of meeting or exceeding MPC specifications may nonetheless perform poorly because of an inadequate or old driver. Several manufacturers have issued updated drivers for their CD-ROM drives. Some are contained on this CD. Click the Find a Driver button on the left, then click the CD-ROM Drivers button to see if a driver for your drive is included. If not, contact the manufacturer of your drive for information on how you can obtain an updated driver.
You may have an old version of MSCDEX.EXE. MSCDEX.EXE allows the MS-DOS or PC-DOS operating systems (versions 3.1 or higher) to read CD-ROMs, and is referred to as the MS-DOS CD-ROM Extensions. You must be using MSCDEX.EXE version 2.2 or greater. If you are running Windows 3.1 or greater, then you should be using MSCDEX.EXE Version 2.21 or greater. The CD-ROM Tests screen reports the version you are currently using. MSCDEX.EXE files that have a file date before February, 1992 are older than version 2.21. To update your version, contact your drive manufacturer.
MSCDEX.EXE is included with versions 6.0 or greater of MS-DOS. If you are using any of these versions, you should only use the version of MSCDEX that came with your MS-DOS. For instance, do not use MSCDEX version 2.21 with MS-DOS 6.0, or MSCDEX version 2.22 with MS-DOS 6.2. In addition, do not use a version of MSCDEX greater than 2.21 with a version of MS-DOS lower than 6.0.
You are using MSCDEX.EXE version 2.2 or greater and you have the statement device=LANMAN10.386 in the [386Enh] section of your SYSTEM.INI file. Remove the statement. It is only needed with versions of MSCDEX.EXE earlier than 2.2.
The buffer for your CD-ROM drive may be insufficient. When loading the file MSCDEX.EXE, increase its /M: parameter. The higher the number, the larger the buffer (and the more memory you use up). Usually a number between 12 and 20 is sufficient. Since you probably load MSCDEX.EXE automatically from your AUTOEXEC.BAT file, go into AUTOEXEC.BAT with a text editor (like Notepad ) and make the change. If there is no /M: parameter, you can add one. Make sure you type /M: and then the number of buffers you want, with no spaces between any of the characters. You must place this parameter after the filename MSCDEX.EXE, with at least one space after the filename, as in the following example:
C:\DOS\MSCDEX /D:MSCD001 /M:12
After editing the /M: parameter, you must reboot your computer for the change to take effect. If you want to configure your system for optimum performance you can try setting /M: to zero, rebooting, and testing your transfer rate. Then try setting /M: to 10, rebooting, and running the test again. Repeat this process until you pinpoint the number of buffers that gives the optimum performance for your system. We have found that the optimum number differs from system to system.
Your CD-ROM controller device may be inadequate. CD-ROM drives are typically connected to desktop PCs through a SCSI device, sound device, IDE interface, or proprietary card supplied by the drive manufacturer. CD-ROM drives are typically connected to laptop PCs through either a parallel or PCMCIA interface. The quality of these interfaces can have a significant impact on the performance of your CD-ROM drive. Unfortunately, there is probably no solution to the problem of an inadequate controller card except to replace it with a better one. Note however that if your controller card is proprietary, you may not even have this option. In all cases, if you suspect your controller card, call your drive or computer dealer to enquire about possible replacements or ROM updates before you purchase a new card.
Your MPC Wizard CD may be dirty or damaged. Examine the side of the disc that has no printing on it. If it is dirty, clean it and try the tests again.
You can also try using another CD-ROM with the data transfer rate tests only (the access time test requires the MPC Wizard CD). To ensure that test results are accurate, make sure the disc you choose has at least 500 MB of data on it.
The lens in your CD-ROM drive that reads the CD may be dirty. Try using a CD lens cleaner to clean the lens. A CD lens cleaner is usually a CD with a little brush on the bottom of it that brushes off the lens as the CD spins inside the drive. The same lens cleaners are used for CD-ROM drives and audio CD players, and you can usually find a CD lens cleaner at stores that sell electronic or stereo equipment.
Some other hardware or software component of your system may be tying up the resources of your system during the test. For instance, if you have a modem or fax that is set to auto receive while the test is running, it may be taking CPU time away from the test and causing some decrease in performance. Windows is a complex, multitasking operating system. It is impossible (and not even desirable) to totally halt all other tasks that may be going on in Windows while the test is running.
Your CD-ROM drive may be defective. Contact the retailer who sold it to you.
PROBLEM: Your reported access time differs from the published specs for your CD-ROM drive, or your access time doesn't meet the MPC specs.
Possible Causes/Solutions:
If you compare the CD-ROM drive specifications published by different manufacturers, you will notice that different manufacturers often use different phrases to refer to the time needed for the laser pickup to move to a specific location on the CD. Some of the phrases used to describe such tests include 1/3-stroke access time, 1/3-stroke seek time, access time, average access time, average full stroke access time, average random access time, average seek time, full stroke seek time, maximum average access time, and seek time! Occasionally a manufacturer will publish more than one type of measurement for its drive. Many consumers get confused by these similar-sounding names. The truth is that these phrases often refer to different measurements.
Because different manufacturers publish numbers based on different measurements, it is often inappropriate to compare these numbers. The Wizard runs the same access time test on every drive, so we suggest running it on several computers, then comparing the results to each other. This will ensure that you are comparing "apples (so to speak) with apples."
It is also important to consider that your CD-ROM drive manufacturer may have derived the specifications it published by testing brand new drives under ideal conditions. If this is the case, it is not surprising for your test results to vary from the manufacturer's claims. Also, different manufacturing runs of the same CD can vary in their readability, mostly due to how well the CD reflects the light from the laser read head. Therefore, tests run with different CDs that have the same data on them can produce slightly different results.
Remember, too, that the MPC Wizard tests are run from within Windows. CD tests run in DOS might report faster performance than the Wizard tests, because DOS-based test results don't reflect any of the overhead of running Windows. We feel it is appropriate to test drive performance while Windows is running because MPC-compatible applications must run in Windows.
Your CD-ROM drive may not be MPC-compatible. This is likely if you purchased your drive prior to 1992. Check to see whether your CD-ROM drive's documentation states that it is MPC-compatible. Also check what the manufacturer claims is the data transfer rate and average access time for the drive.
The CD-ROM driver software you are using may be inadequate or outdated. See the above discussion of CD-ROM driver software.
You may have an old version of MSCDEX.EXE. See the above discussion of MSCDEX.EXE.
You are using MSCDEX.EXE version 2.2 or greater and you have the statement device=LANMAN10.386 in the [386Enh] section of your SYSTEM.INI file. Remove the statement. It is only needed with versions of MSCDEX.EXE earlier than 2.2.
Your CD-ROM controller card may be inadequate. See the above discussion of controller cards.
Your MPC Wizard CD may be dirty or damaged. Examine the side of the disc that has no printing on it. If it is dirty, clean it and try the tests again.
The lens in your CD-ROM drive that reads the CD may be dirty. Try using a CD lens cleaner to clean the lens. A CD lens cleaner is usually a CD with a little brush on the bottom of the CD that brushes off the lens as the CD spins inside the drive. The same lens cleaners are used for CD-ROM drives and audio CD players, and you can usually find a CD lens cleaner at stores that sell electronic or stereo equipment.
Some other hardware or software component of your system may be tying up the resources of your system during the test. For instance, if you have a modem or fax that is set to auto receive while the test is running, it may be taking CPU time away from the test and causing some decrease in performance. Windows is a complex, multitasking operating system. It is impossible (and not even desirable) to totally halt all other tasks that may be going on in Windows while the test is running.
Your CD-ROM drive may be defective. Contact the retailer who sold it to you.
PROBLEM: The CD-ROM tests never end!
Possible Causes/Solutions:
"Old," non-MPC-compatible CD-ROM drives (typically those made prior to 1992) often have very slow seek times and transfer rates, making the tests seem interminable.
You have an old or bad copy of either MSCDEX.EXE or your CD-ROM driver. See the discussion of MSCDEX.EXE and CD-ROM drivers above.
The lens in your CD-ROM drive that reads the CD may be dirty. See the discussion of lens cleaners above.
PROBLEM: The MPC Wizard is unable to complete one or more tests, or the 1/3-Stoke Access Test reports an unrealistically fast rating of 100 milliseconds or less.
Possible Causes/Solutions:
You might be running a program that is caching the CD-ROM drive and interfering with the test. If you are running Microsoft's SMARTDrive 5.0 or higher, the Wizard attempts to temporarily disable SMARTDrive while it runs the 1/3-Stroke Access Test. However, there are other caching programs on the market that the Wizard cannot detect, and therefore cannot temporarily disable. If you have such a program, try disabling it before running the Access Test. Consult the documentation for your caching program to learn how to do this. You can re-enable the cache program when you're done using the Wizard to test your access time.
You may be wondering whether it would be useful to measure the access time of your drive while the cache is enabled. It would not be useful because an access time test tries to measure seeks by obtaining a large sample size, whereas a cache tries to limit CD accesses. Caching the data does not allow the drive to access the disc any faster, it simply reduces the number of disc accesses.
A file or files that the MPC Wizard needs is damaged, or has been removed from the program's hard disk directory. Run the MPC Wizard SETUP.EXE program again from the CD and accept the default installation.
Your CD-ROM drive may not be installed correctly. Check the appropriate manuals that came with your system.
Your CD-ROM drive may be defective. Contact the retailer who sold it to you.
To go back to the previous screen, click the return button at the bottom right of your screen.n.
Level 1 MPC specifications require a minimum screen resolution of 640 x 480 pixels and 16 simultaneous colors. 256 simultaneous colors at the same resolution is recommended. Many multimedia titles on the market (and all of SoftKey's MediaClips
programs) were meant to be viewed with a graphics display driver capable of displaying at least 256 simultaneous colors. Level 2 MPC specifications require 640 x 480 pixels and 65,536 simultaneous colors.
Even though your computer system may be capable of displaying more than 16 colors, the Windows display driver software that you're using may not be taking advantage of this capability. The Color Capability Test button will tell you how many colors you can display on your screen simultaneously with your currently installed video driver. The Display Resolution Test button will tell you the how many pixels are displayed on the screen by your currently installed video driver.
Bitmap Display Speed Tests
To display synchronized audio-visual presentations, an MPC must be able to draw bitmapped graphics on your computer screen fairly rapidly. As a result, MPC Level 1 specs recommend that your VGA adapter be able to draw 1, 4, and 8 bit-per-pixel DIBs (Device Independent Bitmaps) on your monitor at a rate of at least 358,400 (350 K) pixels per second, using 100% of the CPU time. Level 1 specs also recommend that your MPC be able to draw 143,360 (140 K) pixels per second on your screen, given 40% of CPU time.
MPC Level 2 specs are considerably more stringent. They recommend that your VGA adapter be able to draw 1, 4, and 8 bit-per-pixel DIBs at a rate of least 1,258,292 (1.2 M) pixels per second, using 40% of the CPU time. This recommendation was intended to ensure that the MPC was capable of meeting the demands of higher-end multimedia programs. In particular, it was intended that the MPC be able to play video at 320 X 240 resolution, in 256 colors, at 15 frames per second. (In case you don't have a calculator handy, 320 X 240 X 15 = 1,152,000 pixels per second.)
There are several methods that Windows programs use to draw graphics on the screen. These methods have the names BitBlt, StretchBlt, DrawDib, and (a recent addition) Win/G. The MPC Wizard uses the DrawDib method to test bitmap display speed because DrawDib was created with multimedia in mind. It is, for instance, the method used by Microsoft's Video for Windows to display images.
The test loads eighteen 1-bit, 4-bit, or 8-bit images into RAM, then measures how fast it can draw the images given either 40% or 100% of the CPU time. Choose the bit depth and percentage of CPU time of the test by clicking the appropriate radio buttons below. Then click the Run Bitmap Display Test button.
If you encounter a problem, click the troubleshooting tips button at the bottom right of your screen.
To go back to the previous screen, click the return button at the bottom right of your screen..een.n..
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Click this radio button to run the Bitmap Display Speed Test while using 100% of your CPU's time.
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1&00%
Click this radio button to run the Bitmap Display Speed Test while using 40% of your CPU's time.
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Click this radio button to display 8-bit (256-color) bitmapped images during the Bitmap Display Speed Test.
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&8-bit
Click this radio button to display 4-bit (16-color) bitmapped images during the Bitmap Display Speed Test.
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4-b&it
Click this radio button to display 1-bit (2-color) bitmapped images during the Bitmap Display Speed Test.
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playCD
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08Bit
bitDepth
percentCpu
After selecting the percent of CPU time and color depth that you want, click this button to run the Bitmap Display Speed Test.
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Run &Bitmap Display Test
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Test your system's ability to display bitmapped images, using a method similiar to the one used by Video for Windows movies.
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Bitmap Display Speed Testsss
Click a radio button below to choose the color depth of the bitmapped images displayed during the Bitmap Display Speed Test.
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Color Depth
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topLine
Click a radio button below to choose the percent of CPU time to take up while running the Bitmap Display Speed Test.
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CPU Time
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colorTest
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.&+ +E
<runResolutionTest
buttonClick
Click this button to find out the number of pixels on your screen.
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Di&splay Resolution Test
screenColorDepth
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CrunColorTest
buttonClick
Click this button to find out how many colors you can display on your screen simultaneously in Windows.
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C&olor Capability Test
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Click this button to find out how many colors you can display on your screen simultaneously in Windows.
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C&olor Capability Test
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Graphics Tests
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G R A P H I C S T R O U B L E S H O O T I N G T I P S
@)3)PROBLEM: The color capability test reports that Windows can only display 16 colors simultaneously.
Possible Causes/Solutions:
Your graphics device doesn't support more than 16 colors in VGA (640 x 480 pixel) resolution. Devices that can support 256 colors in VGA resolution must have at least 512KB of video RAM (as opposed to system RAM). Devices with 256KB of RAM can display 256 colors only in MCGA mode, which has a resolution of 320 x 200 pixels. Many DOS programs use this mode to display photographs. However, because of its low resolution, MCGA mode is not MPC-compatible. Some devices support a non-standard resolution of 640 x 400 pixels in 256 colors. This mode also does not meet MPC specs. Many graphics devices that have only 256KB of video RAM can be upgraded to 512KB or more. Check your documentation to see if this is possible, or ask the retailer who sold you the device.
You are using the standard Windows 16-color graphics display driver. Windows 3.0 and 3.1 don't come with 256-color drivers for most graphics devices. When you first install one of these versions of Windows on a computer with VGA graphics capability, the Setup program defaults to the standard 16-color VGA driver. However, many multimedia applications (and all of SoftKey International's MediaClips programs) are meant to be viewed with a graphics driver capable of displaying at least 256 colors at VGA (640 x 480 pixel) resolution or greater. Check the documentation that came with your graphics device to make sure it can display at this resolution and color depth. If you're sure that this is the case, click the Find a Driver button on the left to locate the appropriate graphics driver.
PROBLEM: The results of the Bitmap Display Speed Tests don't measure up to MPC Specs.
Possible Causes/Solutions:
Your graphics card and/or driver is optimized to run best at a certain color depth. We have found, for instance, that several video cards will display 16-color (4-bit) images faster when their drivers are set to a 256-color (8-bit) depth than when they're set to a 16-color depth. If your current color depth is different from 256 colors, try the 256-color setting.
Your graphics card and/or driver is optimized to display one color depth faster than another. We have found that, when running at a depth of 256 colors (8-bit), many cards and drivers display 256-color images far faster than 16-color (4-bit) or 2-color (1-bit) images.
You are using a graphics driver that is inefficient with, or inappropriate for, the version of Windows you are running. Graphics device manufacturers often release updated and improved drivers for their devices. For this reason, any time you are concerned about the performance of your graphics device, verify that you are using the very latest drivers.
The MPC Wizard contains graphics drivers for most of the major graphics devices on the market today. Click the Find a Driver button on the left to locate the appropriate graphics driver for your device. While SoftKey International periodically updates the drivers on the MPC Wizard, your graphics device manufacturer may have issued a newer version after this CD was issued. Therefore, if you load a video driver from the Wizard and it still doesn't improve performance to the level your satisfaction, you might want to contact the graphics device manufacturer to see if they have a more recent version of the driver software you need.
Also, make sure that if you're running Windows 3.1, you're using a driver specifically written for Windows 3.1. Some drivers written for Windows 3.0 work with version 3.1, but work poorly. Many are highly unstable, and should not be used with 3.1 at all.
Good performance on this test also depends on three hardware variables:
1. The type of CPU you have.
2. How your graphics device is connected to your CPU.
3. The type of graphics device you have.
A graphics device is usually a card that plugs into your computer's bus, but sometimes the device is built right onto the motherboard.
All other factors being equal, the faster your CPU (the "brains" of your computer), the faster your graphics performance. A 386 33MHz CPU is faster than a 386 25MHz CPU. A 486 33MHz CPU is faster than a 386 33MHz CPU.
All other factors being equal, a graphics device that is connected to your computer via the standard AT 8MHz, 16-bit wide ISA bus will be slower than a version of that device made expressly for computers that have a 32-bit wide EISA bus. Similarly, a version of that graphics device connected to the local bus of your computer would out-perform the other two devices, since the local bus runs at or near the speed and data width of your CPU.
All other factors being equal, a graphics device that relieves the CPU of some of its work drawing bitmapped pictures on the screen will outperform a device that doesn't. Many devices that are meant to accelerate Windows screen-drawing may not perform any better on the Bitmap Display Speed Test than a non-accelerated device. This is probably because the Windows accelerator device only speeds the drawing of vector graphics, not bitmapped graphics. Vector graphics are screen objects like windows, dialog boxes, buttons, etc. These objects are stored in files as mathematical relationships. Bitmap files (like those containing photographs) store the color of each pixel of the image. Since many multimedia applications display bitmapped images (including SoftKey International's MediaClips series), this test is included.
To get your system to display bitmaps faster, you might consider upgrading one or more of the three variables discussed above. However, consider the following before you do so. We have found that the MPC Level 2 recommendations in this area are fairly demanding, and only a small percentage of the systems we have tested meet MPC Level 2 recommendations for 1-bit, 4-bit and 8-bit bitmaps. Some MPCs that run multimedia applications satisfactorily will still fail to meet these recommendations for bitmap display speed. We suggest that you not be particularly concerned about bitmap display performance at the 1-bit and 4-bit levels, since few multimedia applications need to display bitmaps rapidly at these low color depths.
PROBLEM: You get similar test results even though you run the tests at different resolutions.
Possible Causes/Solutions:
The resolution of your display usually has little effect upon the bitmap display speed. For example, if you run a test with a screen resolution of 640 X 480 pixels, your results probably won't be much different than if you ran the same test with a resolution of 800 X 600 pixels (assuming the color depth is the same). That's because the amount of pixels being displayed at both resolutions is the same. The only difference is that a pixel at 800 x 600 is smaller than one at 640 x 480.
PROBLEM: The MPC Wizard is unable to complete one or more tests.
Possible Causes/Solutions:
One or more of the files that the MPC Wizard needs is damaged, or has been removed from the program's hard disk directory. Run the MPC Wizard SETUP.EXE program again from the CD and accept the default installation.
PROBLEM: Photo images on your MPC are very dark.
Possible Causes/Solutions:
If the photo images in some Windows programs appear very dark, then your monitor might not be aligned properly, or your graphics display driver might be inaccurately representing the color spectrum. If you believe the problem is your monitor, contact the dealer who sold it to you and see if you can get it adjusted. If you believe the problem is your graphics driver, click the Find a Driver button on the left to see whether the Wizard contains a more recent version of the graphics driver for your device.
PROBLEM: You get Windows System Errors or General Protection Faults when you run in 256 colors or more. A typical error message might read "Application error: MTB30RUN.EXE caused a general protection fault in module gdi.exe" and then give a memory address.
Possible Causes/Solutions:
You are using Microsoft's EMM386.EXE, Quarterdeck's QEMM386.SYS, or another expanded memory manager, and your graphics device is conflicting with it. Add an EXCLUDE switch to the line that loads the memory manager in order to prevent it from using an area of memory needed by your graphics device. See your memory manager's documentation for details. You can accomplish the same result (effective in Windows only) by adding the following statement to the [386Enh] section of your Windows SYSTEM.INI file:
emmexclude=C400-C7FF
This statement prevents Windows from using the area of memory C400 to C7FF. C400 and C7FF are hexadecimal (base 16) numbers. To block a different area of memory, change the hexadecimal number range.
Your graphics driver might be defective. If you tried adding the emmexclude switch to SYSTEM.INI as mentioned above, and you are still getting this problem, try the following. Set Windows to run in standard VGA mode using the VGA driver in the Windows Setup program. If your MPC runs okay in VGA mode with this driver (ignoring the unattractive colors), the problem may be with the graphics driver that was made specifically for your device.
Sometimes a device-specific driver will work fine at one color depth setting, but not at another. To see whether or not this is the case, try setting the driver that was written for your graphics device to another color depth that it supports (like 16, 65,536 or 16 million colors). If you find that the driver works okay at one or more color depths but not at others, the problem is likely with your driver.
The only way to solve problems caused by defective drivers is to replace the driver. Check if the Wizard has a later version of the driver made for your card. To do this, click the Find a Driver button on the left and go to the Graphics Drivers screen.
Your graphics driver isn't appropriate for the version of Windows you are running. See the above discussion regarding inappropriate versions of graphics drivers.
If necessary, see your Windows User's Guide for more information on installing device drivers not supplied with Windows. Windows 3.1 users can also check the section titled "Using Specific Display Adapters with Windows Version 3.1" in the file README.WRI, located in the Windows directory.
To go back to the previous screen, click the return button at the bottom right of your screen.
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Sound Tests
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CD Audio Tests"
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S O U N D T E S T S
A multimedia PC must be capable of playing back sounds stored in three different audio-only formats. Find out whether your system conforms to MPC specifications by clicking one of the following buttons:
CD Audio Tests. You're probably familiar with this format--it's standard CD audio (known in the trade as CD-DA or Red Book audio). The MPC Wizard is a mixed-mode CD, meaning that the first section of the CD contains standard computer data, while the sections after it contain CD-DA (the DA stands for digital audio) tracks. A mixed-mode CD can have up to ninety-eight CD-DA tracks. See if your system is set up to play the CD audio portion of this disc.
Wave Audio Tests. Like CD audio, wave audio sounds are stored digitally. Unlike CD audio however, wave audio sounds are stored as standard computer files. This means they can be copied, moved, and erased just like your spreadsheet or word-processor files. The sound device in your MPC (usually a sound card) should allow you to play back wave audio sounds with varying degrees of quality inside of Windows. Can you?
MIDI Audio Tests. CD audio tracks and wave audio files are sound recordings. A MIDI audio file, on the other hand, is like a piece of sheet music. The music synthesizer inside of every MPC "reads" a MIDI file (which is stored as a standard computer file), then tries to play back that file using one of its built-in "instuments." Make sure you can play MIDI files, and hear how each of those built-in instruments sound. It's fun! Try it!
To go back to the previous screen, click the return button at the bottom right of your screen.
page 1 of 2
go CD Audio Tests
Click this button to go to the CD Audio Tests screen.
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CD &Audio Tests
go Wave Audio Tests
Click this button to go to the Wave Audio Tests screen.
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Wa&ve Audio Tests
go MIDI Audio Tests
Click this button to go to the MIDI Audio Tests screen.
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M&IDI Audio Tests
Wave Audio Tests
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Sound Tests
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W A V E A U D I O T E S T S
About Wave Audio
Wave audio is a convenient format for storing high-quality sound recordings. But not all wave files are created equal. The higher the sample rate and sample size of a recording, the higher the quality. An 8-bit, 22.05 kHz recording, for example, will sound better than an 8-bit, 11.025 kHz recording (assuming the rest of your sound equipment lets you hear the difference). A 16-bit, 44.1 kHz, stereo wave file is the same quality as a standard CD audio recording.
Unfortunately, you pay a price for high-quality wave files. The higher the sample size and sample rate of a file, the more disk space the file takes up. This is also true with stereo versus mono wave files--stereo takes up about twice the disk space that mono does.
Wave audio sound capability is usually provided by a sound card connected to a PC's bus, but increasingly the device is being built right on the motherboard. Wave audio file names usually have the .WAV extension. MPC Level 1 specifications require that an MPC be able to play back and record 8-bit sound at 22.05 kHz and 11.02 kHz sampling rates, using no more than 10% of your computer's CPU time.
MPC Level 2 specifications require, in addition to the Level 1 specs, 16-bit wave audio at 44.1kHz, 22.05 kHz, and 11.02 kHz sampling rates, in mono and stereo. No more than 10% of your Level 2 computer's CPU time should be taken up playing 22.05 kHz and 11.02 kHz sounds. Level 2 specifications also recommend that no more than 15% of CPU time be taken up playing 44.1kHz audio.
About the Information Reported by Your System
The Product Name is the name of the wave device as reported by the device driver installed in your system. It may or may not match the name of your sound device. If it doesn't, it's probably because the manufacturer of your sound device licensed the computer chipset or driver it uses from another manufacturer.
The Driver Version is the version number of the wave device driver installed in your system. After you've tested your wave audio device, you may want to see whether the MPC Wizard has a newer version of your driver. To do so, click the Find a Driver button on the left, then click the Sound Drivers button to bring you to a list of all the available sound drivers on the MPC Wizard CD, and their locations.
About the Wave Audio Tests
The Wave Audio Tests tell you what wave files (if any) your MPC can play, and how good one type of wave file sounds compared with another. The tests use wave files recorded from a single sound source at many different sample sizes and sample rates, in both mono and stereo. Play each of the files, and see if you can discern the differences in sound quality between them.
The Wizard wave audio tests do not attempt to determine whether your sound device meets MPC requirements or recommendations for CPU utilization. That's because a sound device's CPU utilization in Windows can fluctuate greatly, making generalized pronouncements about it impossible.
Choose below any combination of sample size, sample rate, and output you wish by clicking the appropriate buttons.
Click the Play Wave File button when you're ready to hear the recording.
About the Speaker Tests
The Speaker Tests let you know if your left and right speakers are placed correctly, and properly balanced. Click the Speaker Tests button to bring up a dialog box that lets you choose one of the following Audio Output options:
Stereo. Click this radio button to choose a stereo wave recording of a person speaking first through the left channel, then through the right channel. If you discover that your left and right channels are reversed, you probably need to switch your speakers around.
Mono. Click this radio button to choose a mono wave recording of a person speaking. The speaker's voice should sound as if it's coming from a point midway between your two speakers. If his voice sounds as if it's closer to the left speaker, adjust the volume or balance controls on your speakers or mixer as appropriate.
Left Channel Only. Click this radio button to choose a wave recording of a person speaking through the left channel only
Right Channel Only. Click this radio button to choose a wave recording of a person speaking through the right channel only
Click the Play Speaker Test File button in the dialog box when you're ready to hear the recording.
If you encounter a problem, click the troubleshooting tips button at the bottom right of your screen.
To go back to the previous screen, click the return button at the bottom right of your screen. your screen.
To go back to the previous screen, click the return button at the bottom right of your screen. right of your screen.
To go back to the previous screen, click the return button at the bottom right of your screen.reen...een.
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doesn't support it.
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mouseEnter
Click this radio button to play an 11.025 kHz wave file during the Wave Audio Test. 11.025 kHz is the lowest-quality sample rate.
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&11.025 kHz
Click this radio button to play a 22.05 kHz wave file during the Wave Audio Test.
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&22.05 kHz
Click this radio button to play an 44.1 kHz wave file during the Wave Audio Test. 44.1 kHz is the highest-quality sample rate.
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&44.1 kHz
Click this radio button to play an 8-bit wave file during the Wave Audio Test. 8-bit is the lowest-quality sample size.
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&8-bit
Click this radio button to play a 16-bit wave file during the Wave Audio Test. 16-bit is the highest-quality sample rate.
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1&6-bit
Click this radio button to play a mono wave file during the Wave Audio Test.
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Click this radio button to play a stereo wave file during the Wave Audio Test.
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&Stereo
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After you've chosen a sample rate, sample size, and output, click this button to play your choice.
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Click a radio button below to choose the output of the audio file played during the Wave Audio Test.
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Output
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See how well your system plays wave files in Windows. Choose a sample rate, size, and output, then click Play Wave File.
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Wave Audio TestsWave Audio Tests-+
Click a radio button below to choose the sample size of the wave audio file played during the Wave Audio Test.
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Click a radio button below to choose the sample rate of the wave audio file played during the Wave Audio Test.
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Wave audio-related information provided by your system. See the text above for a detailed explanation.
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Information Reported by Your System ur System CDEX:MSCDEX:
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Product Name:
Driver Version:
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speakerTest
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buttonClick
Click this button to see if your left and right speakers are placed correctly, and properly balanced.
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Sp&eaker Tests...
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CD Audio Tests
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Sound Tests
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C D A U D I O T E S T S
About CD Audio
MPC Marketing Council specifications require all CD-ROM drives to play Red Book CD audio in addition to reading computer data. This means that with the right program (like Media Player, which comes with Windows 3.1), you should be able to pop your favorite music CD into your CD-ROM drive and play it from inside Windows.
Some computer programs issued on CD-ROM use CD audio to add narration or music. But when you put a mixed-mode CD into your CD-ROM drive and look at its file directory (perhaps through the Windows File Manager), you won't see any sign of the CD audio tracks. That's because they're not computer files.
The sound quality of CD audio tracks on a mixed-mode CD is usually the same as your typical music CD--in other words, quite good. Each track contains two channels of information, usually referred to as the right and left channels. Multimedia publishers can use these tracks in two ways. They can use them to provide stereo sound, or they can store completely different audio information on each of them.
MPC specs require an output jack and volume control on the front panel of every MPC-compatible CD-ROM drive. This enables you to plug a set of headphones into your CD-ROM player--perhaps to enjoy some Bach while you're word processing at 2 a.m.
In order for you to hear CD audio through the same speakers that play your wave and MIDI audio, your CD-ROM device must be wired to your sound device. An MPC sound device should allow you to mix the CD audio signal with wave and MIDI audio signals, adjust the relative volumes of each of these types of sound, and direct the output to a single stereo output jack at the back of your computer. You plug one end of a stereo cable into the jack, the other end into your amplifier and speaker system, and enjoy.
About the Information Reported by Your System
The CD-ROM Drive Letter is the letter that DOS has assigned the CD-ROM drive containing the MPC Wizard.
The CD Audio Device Name is the name that Windows assigned to the CD-ROM drive containing the Wizard CD when you first installed the [MCI] CD Audio driver for that drive. MCI stands for Media Control Interface. Through MCI, Windows provides a standard way for programs to easily control various types of media like CD audio, wave audio, MIDI audio, digital video, videodiscs, etc. [MCI] CD Audio is installed via the Windows Control Panel.
About the CD Audio Tests
Click a button inside the Audio Output box to select the CD audio channels you wish to test.
Click Stereo to choose both channels of a stereo CD audio track on the Wizard CD. If your MPC is connected to a stereo system, when you play this track you should clearly hear the stereo effect resulting from two distinct channels of audio information. The left channel should come through your left speaker, and the right channel should come through your right speaker.
Click Mono to choose a CD audio track recorded in mono (i.e., the same information sent to the left and right channels). When listening to the mono track, it should sound as if the person who is speaking is doing so from a point midway between both of your speakers. If this is not the case, adjust the balance control on your MPC mixer or (if available) the volume controls on your speakers.
Click Left Channel Only to choose only the left channel of the CD audio track recorded in stereo.
Click Right Channel Only to choose only the right channel of the CD audio track recorded in stereo.
Note that some CD-ROM players or audio mixers, when instructed to play one channel only, will send that channel through both of your speakers. Other CD-ROM players or audio mixers will play the left channel only through the left speaker, and the right channel only through the right speaker.
Click Play CD Audio Track to hear the appropriate CD audio recording on the MPC Wizard CD.
If you encounter a problem, click the troubleshooting tips button at the bottom right of your screen.
To go back to the previous screen, click the return button at the bottom right of your screen..right of your screen.
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Choose the type of audio output you'd like to hear by clicking one of the radio buttons below.
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Audio Output
stereo
Click this radio button to choose a CD audio track recorded in stereo (i.e., different information sent to the left and right channels).
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&Stereo
Click this radio button to choose a CD audio track recorded in mono (i.e., the same information sent to the left and right channels).
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M&ono
Click this radio button to choose only the left channel of a CD audio track recorded in stereo.
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&Left Channel Only
right
Click this radio button to choose only the right channel of a CD audio track recorded in stereo.
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Right C&hannel Only
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CD Audio Teststs
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Motion Video Tests
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Video
Windows Tests"
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MPC Tests
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M O T I O N V I D E O T E S T S
The arrival of powerful CPUs at affordable prices made it possible to play digitally-recorded movies inside of Windows. The arrival of affordable CD-ROM technology--with its 600+ megabytes of file storage space--provided a platform to mass distribute these movies. The MPC Wizard lets you test your system's ability to play two types of digital motion video technology. Choose the type of motion video tests you want to perform:
Click the Video for Windows
Tests button to see whether your system can play back digital motion video files in Microsoft's Video for Windows format. Three compression/decompression methods are supported: Microsoft Video 1, Intel Indeo
, and Cinepak
Click the MPEG Video Tests button to see whether your system supports playback of MPEG motion video. Unlike Video for Windows, MPEG playback currently requires extra hardware not included in the MPC Level 1 or Level 2 specifications.
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go Video for Windows Tests
Click this button to go to the Video for Windows Tests screen.
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go MPEG Video Tests
Click this button to go to the MPEG Motion Video Tests screen.
MIDI is a standard computer language for electronic music synthesizers. It stands for Musical Instrument Digital Interface. Storing the musical instructions for a piece of music in a MIDI file has some important advantages over storing an actual recording of that music in a wave audio file or CD audio track. One advantage is that a MIDI file produced one day can be easily modified at a later date with the appropriate MIDI sequencer software. Another advantage, for both musicians and their audiences, is the small amount of disk space that MIDI files take up compared with digitally-recorded music like wave or CD audio.
MPC specifications require that every MPC be equipped with an internal music synthesizer (also called a sequencer), which is usually an integrated part of the sound device. This synthesizer must be able to play back MIDI files authored according to a standard published by Microsoft. The standard, among other things, defines 128 musical instruments and 47 percussion instruments that every MIDI sequencer should try to support. This means, for example, that if a MIDI author writes a string quartet, every MPC should play that MIDI file using sounds designated as stringed--and not brass--instruments.
Instrument designations are based on the General MIDI Mode specification issued by the MIDI Manufacturers Association. Where support for all of these instruments is not feasible, a synthesizer manufacturer should support at least one instrument from each of the sixteen "groups" of instruments detailed in the General MIDI Patch Assignments of the General MIDI Mode spec. The synthesizer manufacturer can support these instruments and other requirements either at the hardware level, or by supplying its own "MIDI map" file that can be read by the MIDI Mapper included in Windows 3.1 or later.
About the MIDI Audio Tests
The MIDI audio tests let you know not only whether the MIDI sequencer portion of your MPC is working, but how good it is. The MPC Wizard CD contains a MIDI file that spans a four-octave range. By clicking the Select New Sound button in the Melodic Sounds & Sound Effects box, you can assign that MIDI file to any of the 128 standard musical instruments supported by your MPC. Instruments with a wide range (like pianos) will probably play all four octaves well. Instruments with a more limited range will be low or silent during one or more parts of the piece. Synthesizers will vary in their ability to faithfully reproduce the 128 standard instruments. When you've selected the instrument you want to hear, its name will appear in the box. Click the Play Sound button to play the MIDI file.
You can also sample how well your MIDI sequencer reproduces the 47 percussive instruments by clicking the Select New Sound button in the Percussive Sounds box. When you've selected the instrument you want to hear, its name will appear in the box. Click the Play Sound button to play a short percussive sound.
If you encounter a problem, click the troubleshooting tips button at the bottom right of your screen.
To go back to the previous screen, click the return button at the bottom right of your screen.)"
page 1 of 6
testingMIDI
Testing your MIDI audio playback.
Playing a MIDI file.
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Try playing MIDI melodic sounds & sound effects in Windows. Click Select a New Sound to choose a sound, then click Play Sound.
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Melodic Sounds & Sound Effectss
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MPEG Video Tests
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Motion Video Tests
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M P E G V I D E O T E S T S
About MPEG Video
MPEG (which stands for Motion Picture Experts Group) is a method of compressing and decompressing synchronized digital sound and video. It was developed by the International Standards Organization (ISO) and the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) as a universal standard suitable for all types of computers and other electronic equipment.
Like Microsoft's Video for Windows (VFW) format, an MPEG movie on the PC is stored in a single, standard computer file. Unlike the VFW format, however, playing back an MPEG file currently requires hardware in addition to what is required under MPC Level 1 or Level 2 specifications. Playing MPEG movies through the Windows Media Control Interface (MCI) also requires the installation of an additional software driver (usually available from the MPEG device manufacturer).
While it requires more equipment to play MPEG movies than software-only Video for Windows movies, the difference in quality between the two formats is dramatic. Though the sizes of MPEG and VFW files are similar, MPEG files recorded in 320 x 240 pixels play back at 30 frames per second directly off of a Level 1-compatible CD-ROM drive, with CD-quality stereo sound! What's more, MPEG devices like the ReelMagic
board from Sigma Designs do a great job of stretching the image up to 1024 x 768 pixels.
About the MPEG Video Tests
The MPEG video tests let you play one sample movie in two sizes. Click the Play Video File (Full Screen) button to see how well your MPEG board plays the movie full-screen. Click the Play Video File (Small Screen) button to view the movie in its originally-recorded size.
Press the Esc key to abort the test.
If you encounter a problem, click the troubleshooting tips button at the bottom right of your screen.
To go back to the previous screen, click the return button at the bottom right of your screen.
page 1 of 3
fullScreen
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Wave Audio Tips
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Wave Audio Tests
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W A V E A U D I O T R O U B L E S H O O T I N G T I P S
CPROBLEM: You're able to play some wave files, but not others.
Possible Causes/Solutions:
Not all sound devices support all combinations of sample rates, sample sizes, and output. Many devices, for instance, can't play any 16-bit sound. Others can play 44kHz sound in mono, but not in stereo.
PROBLEM: You get a message saying the wave audio file played, but you didn't hear anything.
Possible Causes/Solutions:
External speakers or headphones are not attached to your sound device's output port. Plug them in. The headphone jack on your CD-ROM drive is for CD audio sound only, so don't expect to hear wave audio sounds when you plug a pair of headphones in it.
The volume control on your speakers is at 0. Some speakers have their own volume controls. Turn the volume up.
The volume control on your sound device is at 0. Some sound boards have a volume control next to their output ports. Find the sound card in the back of your computer, find the volume control for output, and turn it up. Note that some cards also have a volume control to adjust the microphone or other input . That's not the control you want.
The wave audio or master volume control in your sound mixer is at 0. MPC specifications require a sound mixer, which is usually provided by the sound device manufacturer as a stand-alone Windows program. A sound mixer allows you to control the relative volume of each MPC music source (i.e., wave audio, CD audio, microphone, and MIDI audio). A control is also provided to let you adjust the total volume from all sources. See if a mixer is installed on your system, or check for one on the disks that came with your sound device. Make sure that both volume controls in your mixer are up high enough.
PROBLEM: Your wave audio device or device driver is not responding.
Possible Causes/Solutions:
You don't have an MPC-compatible sound device installed in your computer. A PC that conforms to MPC specifications must have a sound device. Check to see whether your sound device's documentation states that it is MPC-compatible and supports waveform audio (.WAV) playback.
Microsoft makes available a driver called SPEAKER.DRV that plays back Windows system sounds through the PC's internal speaker without extra sound hardware. As of this writing, SPEAKER.DRV is not MPC-compatible and will not work with SoftKey's MediaClips products.
Two or more devices installed on your system are using the same IRQ, DMA, or base I/O port settings in Windows. Peripheral devices attached to a PC (like graphics boards, sound boards, and mice) usually can't share any of these settings. Some devices allow changing these settings via software, while others require you to re-set jumpers on the board itself. Unfortunately, many programs designed to detect which of these settings are in use on your system only detect devices that are active at the time the program is running. We strongly recommend that you keep a list handy of the DMA, IRQ, and base I/O settings for each device on your system. This will help you avoid headaches the next time you attempt to install a new peripheral device.
You must be particularly careful when setting sound devices, since many devices on the market use multiple IRQs, DMAs, or port I/O settings. For instance, one sound card on the market uses a special base I/O port for MIDI in addition to another, general one. In addition, some sound devices allow you to set different DMAs and IRQs for Windows and DOS.
You never installed the Windows sound driver for your sound device, or you installed it incorrectly. A sound driver specifically for Windows and specifically for your brand of sound device must be installed. Installation procedures for these drivers vary from device to device. Check the documentation that came with your device for the name of the appropriate waveform sound driver. Note that this driver is different from one you may have installed for your DOS (non-Windows) programs. Check to see whether the driver is installed by running the Windows program called Control Panel. When Control Panel is running, double-click the Drivers icon. If a driver for your sound device is listed under Installed Drivers, then it's installed.
If the driver is installed, you can usually examine the driver's settings by selecting it, then clicking the Setup button. This should bring up a dialog box showing settings for your sound device's IRQ, DMA, and/or base I/O port settings. See the instructions that came with your sound device to learn how to change them, if you find this necessary. For more information about IRQs, DMAs, and base I/O ports, see the above discussion.
If the driver for your sound device is not listed, see if the MPC Wizard has the sound driver you need. To do so, click the Find a Driver button to the left, then click the Sound Drivers button. If the Wizard doesn't have a driver that is compatible with your sound device, you will need to obtain one. Sound drivers usually come with the sound device, so you should already have a disk that has the right one. If you don't, or if you need an updated driver, contact the maker or the seller of the device to see if they have one available.
You have the wrong Windows sound driver installed, or both the right and the wrong drivers installed. Remove the incorrect driver via the Drivers section of the Windows Control Panel. Then, if need be, load the correct driver by following the documentation that came with your device. You can also see if the MPC Wizard has the sound driver you need. To do so, click the Find a Driver button to the left, then click the Sound Drivers button.
You are running Windows in Standard Mode, and your Windows audio driver works only in 386 Enhanced Mode. Some drivers require that you run in the latter mode. Check your sound device's manual to see if this is the case with your driver. See your Windows manual for information about Standard and 386 Enhanced modes.
PROBLEM: The MPC Wizard is unable to complete one or more tests.
Possible Causes/Solutions:
The [MCI] Sound driver may not be installed on your system, or may not be configured correctly. This generic driver must be installed in addition to the wave audio driver written specifically for your sound device. [MCI] Sound allows your sound device to work with the Windows multimedia interface known as MCI (Media Control Interface). Some Windows programs that incorporate sound don't use MCI, making it possible that you are able to hear some sounds in Windows (like system sounds) but not others (like the MPC Wizard's wave audio tests). To configure your sound device to work with MCI, follow these directions:
1) Run the Control Panel program (probably located in the Main program group of Program Manager).
2) Double-click the Drivers icon.
4) Examine the list of installed drivers. If it doesn't include [MCI] Sound, continue.
3) Click the Add button.
4) Scroll down the list of drivers, and click [MCI] Sound.
5) Click OK to install it.
6) You will be asked for the appropriate Windows disk that contains the driver, so have your original Windows disks handy. When prompted, insert the appropriate disk.
7) Shut down Windows and re-start it so the driver will load.
After you've installed the [MCI] Sound driver, run the MPC Wizard and try the wave audio tests again.
The statement
wav=waveaudio
is missing from the [mci extensions] section of your WIN.INI file. Use a text editor (such as Windows Notepad) to insert the statement on a new line. This statement tells Windows to use the waveform audio driver to play all files with a .wav extension.
The statement
WaveAudio=mciwave.drv
is missing from the [mci] section of your SYSTEM.INI file. Use a text editor (such as Windows Notepad) to insert the statement on a new line. This line tells Windows that wave audio should be played using the MCI Waveform Driver MCIWAVE.DRV.
At the end of this line there might be a space, then a number ranging from 2 to 9. This number represents the amount of memory that MCIWAVE.DRV will use for buffering audio data during playback or recording. By default, MCIWAVE.DRV will allocate enough memory for four seconds of audio. This parameter is set in the Drivers Control Panel under [MCI] Sound, which is discussed below.
You are running one or more waveform sound programs that are conflicting with the wave audio tests. There are several programs on the market that allow Windows users to attach specific sounds to specific Windows events. If a sound is attached to opening a file, and a wave file is being opened by MCI, the attached sound may clobber the sound file being opened. Some of these sound-attaching programs are clever enough to know not to play the attached sound when a wave file is being opened by MCI. Others are not so clever. If you are currently running one of these programs and are experiencing problems with the wave tests, try disabling the feature in the other sound program that causes it to play a sound whenever a file is opened or closed. This should eliminate the problem. If it doesn't, try disabling the other sound program while you're running the Wizard. You can enable it again when you're finished using the Wizard.
Two or more devices installed on your system are using the same IRQ, DMA, or base I/O port settings in Windows. See the above discussion of this topic.
You are running Windows in Standard Mode, and your Windows audio driver works only in 386 Enhanced Mode. Some drivers require that you run in the latter mode. Check your sound device's manual to see if this is the case with your driver. See your Windows manual for information about Standard and 386 Enhanced modes.
You may have a conflict involving SPEAKER.DRV. Microsoft makes available a driver called SPEAKER.DRV that plays back Windows system sounds through the PC's internal speaker without extra sound hardware. As of this writing, SPEAKER.DRV is not MPC-compatible and will NOT work with SoftKey MediaClips products. Some sound programs automatically install SPEAKER.DRV on your system if they fail to detect a sound device. This may have happened with your system if you installed such a program before you installed your sound device, or if your sound device was not set up correctly for use with Windows multimedia at the time you installed the program. To see whether SPEAKER.DRV is installed:
1) Run the Windows program called Control Panel.
2) Double-click the Drivers icon.
3) A list of currently-installed drivers will appear. If you see SPEAKER.DRV listed, continue.
4) Highlight the line that says SPEAKER.DRV and click the Remove button.
5) Re-start Windows, re-start the MPC Wizard, and try the wave audio tests again.
One or more of the files that the MPC Wizard needs is damaged, or has been removed from the program's hard disk directory. Run the MPC Wizard SETUP.EXE program again from the CD and accept the default installation.
Your CD-ROM drive may not be installed correctly. Check the appropriate manuals that came with your system.
PROBLEM: The Speaker Tests have revealed that your left and right channels are reversed.
Possible Causes/Solutions:
You placed them incorrectly. Move the speaker currently on the left side to the right side, and move the speaker currently on the right side to the left side.
PROBLEM: Even after adjusting your volume and balance controls, the speaker's voice in the mono wave Speaker Test doesn't sound like it's coming midway between your speakers, but instead sounds "dispersed."
Possible Causes/Solutions:
You have an "old" amplifier or "old" set of speakers, and your speakers are "out of phase." Two wires go to each speaker from the amplifier or sound device (though you may not be able to see this, because often the two wires are encased inside a single wrapping). Today's amplifiers are connected to today's speakers with wires that have jacks attached to both ends. These jacks prevent you from reversing the two wires that go to each speaker. Most old amplifiers and old speakers were not connected with wires that had jacks on them. This made it easy to reverse the wires.
Reversed wires cause a set of stereo speakers to be out of phase. Speakers are out of phase when one speaker's cone is moving in at the same moment that the other speaker's cone is moving out. To correct the problem, reverse the two wires going to one of the speakers. But be sure you are reversing the wires that carry the sound! A speaker with a built-in amplifier usually also has a power cable that attaches to it. Do not reverse the speaker and power cables! SoftKey International Inc. assumes no responsibility or liability for any suggestions we make. You're on your own. If you don't know what you're doing, contact someone who does (but not us, please!).
PROBLEM: The channels are reversed when you test your speakers with the CD Audio Tests, but not when you test your speakers with the the Speaker Tests.
Possible Causes/Solutions:
The cable that sends CD audio through your sound device is reversed. This cable usually has a jack with three or four pins on both ends. One end of the cable plugs into your CD-ROM drive, and the other end plugs into your sound device. Try reversing the plug on one end of the cable. Make sure that you're working with the cable that carries the sound, because there may be other cables also going from your CD-ROM drive to your sound device.
PROBLEM: The channels are reversed when you test your speakers with the Speaker Tests, but not when you test your speakers with the the CD Audio Tests.
Possible Causes/Solutions:
You have two problems. First, the cable that sends CD audio through your sound device is reversed. This cable usually has a jack with three or four pins on both ends. One end of the cable plugs into your CD-ROM drive, and the other end plugs into your sound device. Try reversing the plug on one end of the cable. Make sure that you're working with the cable that carries the sound, because there may be other cables also going from your CD-ROM drive to your sound device.
Second, your speakers are placed incorrectly. Move the speaker currently on the left side to the right side, and move the speaker currently on the right side to the left side.
PROBLEM: Wave audio sounds break up or make a stuttering sound.
Possible Causes/Solutions:
The Windows sound driver you are using is inadequate or outdated. Several manufacturers have issued updated Windows drivers. Contact the manufacturer of your device for information. You can also see if the MPC Wizard has the sound driver you need. To do so, click the Find a Driver button to the left, and click the Sound Drivers button.
The amount of buffer memory that Windows allots for playing waveform audio is insufficient. Try the following:
1) Run the Windows program called Control Panel.
2) Double-click the Drivers icon.
3) Select the [MCI] Sound driver.
4) Click the Setup button.
5) Increase the buffer size to a point where the problem disappears.
Two or more devices installed on your system are using the same IRQ, DMA, or base I/O port settings in Windows. See the above discussion of IRQs, DMAs, and I/O settings.
PROBLEM: Wave audio sound works fine in the MPC Wizard, but not in other programs.
Possible Causes/Solutions:
The other programs are playing MIDI or CD audio sounds--not wave sounds--and there is a problem with your setup for MIDI or CD audio. Run the CD Audio and MIDI tests to see whether this is true.
PROBLEM: The quality of the sounds are poor.
Possible Causes/Solutions:
The sound will only be as good as the weakest link in your audio chain. If a device's maximum playback rate is 8-bit, 11.025 kHz, the sound will never be as good as a commercial CD audio recording even if your sound system is superb. If your sound board produces 16-bit, 44.1 kHz sound but your speakers are poor in quality, the sound will be poor. Poor-quality amplifiers will also produce poor sound even if the rest of the system is state-of-the-art.
You have a sound device capable of using a 16-bit DMA, but it is not set up to do so. Using a 16-bit DMA will improve the sound quality of some devices. The 16-bit DMA settings are 4 through 7. The 8-bit DMA settings are 0 through 3. Some sound devices allow you to choose the DMA setting in the Drivers section of the Windows Control Panel. Others require you to set jumper switches on the sound card itself. See the manual that came with your sound device to see which case, if any, applies to you. Note that some PCs cannot use 16-bit DMA settings properly. If yours is one of them, you will have to be content with using an 8-bit DMA.
Some sound devices or drivers that can't play a high-fidelity file the way it was recorded will instead play that file at a lower fidelity. For instance, if a sound device is not capable of playing 16-bit, 44kHz, stereo sounds, it may be designed to automatically play any file recorded in that format at 8-bit, 44kHz, stereo instead.
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MIDI Audio Tips
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M I D I A U D I O T R O U B L E S H O O T I N G T I P S
GPROBLEM: You get a message saying the MIDI audio file played, but you didn't hear anything.
Possible Causes/Solutions:
External speakers are not attached to your sound device's output port. Plug them in.
The volume control on your speakers is set to 0. Some speakers have their own volume controls. Turn the volume up.
The volume control on your sound device is set to 0. Some sound boards have a volume control next to their output ports. Find the sound card in the back of your computer, find the volume control for output, and turn it up. Note that some cards also have a volume control to adjust the microphone or other input. That's not the control you want.
The MIDI sequencer or master volume control in your sound mixer is set to 0. MPC specifications require a sound mixer, which is usually provided by the sound device manufacturer as a stand-alone Windows program. A sound mixer allows you to control the relative volume of each MPC music source (e.g., wave audio, CD audio, microphone, and MIDI audio). A control is also provided to let you adjust the total volume from all sources. See if a mixer is installed on your system, or check for one on the disks that came with your sound device. Make sure that both volume controls in your mixer are set high enough.
Your MIDI sequencer doesn't support the instrument(s) you're trying to play. MPC-compatible MIDI sequencers are only required to support one instrument from each musical group in the General MIDI patch assignments. To see a list of these groups, click the Select New Sound button in the Melodic Sounds & Sound Effects box. While sequencers must also be capable of playing two simultaneous percussive sounds, there is no mention of what these sounds are in the MPC specs.
You are not using the MIDI map file that came with your sound device. This file, called MIDIMAP.CFG, is read by the MIDI Mapper program that comes with Windows 3.1. Windows comes with a default MIDIMAP.CFG file, but many sound device manufacturers supply their own. This replacement MIDIMAP.CFG file is usually copied to the SYSTEM sub-directory of your Windows directory when you run the manufacturer's Windows installation program. Check the documentation that came with your sound device, or contact the device manufacturer to find out how to re-run their installation program.
You are using an Advanced Gravis UltraSound
sound board, or another sound board that caches MIDI patches. There is a known conflict between our method of playing a melodic sound or sound effect and the Advanced Gravis sound driver. Try playing a .MID file in the Microsoft Windows Media Player application that comes with Windows 3.1 (usually found in the Accessories program group of the Program Manager). Do not use the BACH.MID file on the MPC Wizard CD, as this is a special MIDI file. If the file you selected plays in Media Player, then you know that the Windows Media Control Interface (MCI) is able to play a MIDI file.
Your MIDI Mapper settings are not correct. To change them, run the Control Panel program (probably located in the Main program group of Program Manager). Double-click the MIDI Mapper icon. Read the on-line help instructions for the program, and try to correct your settings. Unless you know what you're doing, altering the settings could make matters worse. If you do attempt it, jot down your original settings in case you need to go back to them.
The volume in the MIDI Mapper is not set correctly. To find out whether this is the case, do the following:
1. Run the Control Panel program (probably located in the Main program group of Program Manager).
2. Double-click the MIDI Mapper icon.
3. Click the Setups radio button.
4. Click the Edit button.
5. Look under the Patch Map Name column. If all the rows under the column say [None], then you are not using any patch maps, and MIDI Mapper volume is not your problem. In this case you can cancel out of the MIDI Mapper and the Control Panel programs. If any of the rows under the Patch Map Name column indicate you are using patch maps, then continue on to instruction #6.
6. Note the name of the patch map(s).
7. Click the Cancel button to return to the previous window.
8. Click the Patch Maps radio button.
9. Click the down arrow button.
10. Choose one of the patch maps you are using.
11. Click the Edit button.
12. Look at the Volume % column. The default setting for all instruments is 100. If yours is less, try increasing the volume for each instrument. To do so, click the box that contains the number you wish to change, then type in a new number or use the arrow buttons that appear.
13. When you're finished, click the OK button.
14. Repeat these instructions for every other patch map you are using, then exit the MIDI Mapper and the Control Panel.
The Windows sound driver you are using is inadequate or outdated. Several manufacturers have issued updated Windows sound drivers. Contact the manufacturer of your device for information. You can also see if the MPC Wizard has the sound driver you need. To do so, click the Find a Driver button to the left, and click the Sound Drivers button.
PROBLEM: The instruments don't sound like they should.
Possible Causes/Solutions:
Your sound device doesn't faithfully reproduce some or all instruments. There is no definition in the MPC specs of how an instrument should sound. Some sequencers will sound more realistic than others. The typical method of sound reproduction used by PC sequencers is FM synthesis. The FM synthesis method tries to imitate the sounds of instruments.
Sequencers that use sampled sounds to recreate instruments will generally sound better than those that use FM synthesis. Sampled sounds, in this context, are digitized recordings of each instrument stored in the sound board's ROM (read-only memory) chip, or on your hard disk.
You are not using the MIDI map file that came with your sound device. This file, called MIDIMAP.CFG, is read by the MIDI Mapper program that comes with Windows 3.1. Windows comes with a default MIDIMAP.CFG file, but many sound device manufacturers supply their own. This replacement MIDIMAP.CFG file is usually copied to the SYSTEM sub-directory of your Windows directory when you run the manufacturer's Windows installation program. To find out how to re-run the installation program, check the documentation that came with your sound device, or contact the device manufacturer .
Your MIDI Mapper settings are not correct. To change them, do the following:
1. Run the Control Panel program (probably located in the Main program group of Program Manager).
2. Double-click the MIDI Mapper icon.
3. Read the on-line help instructions for the MIDI Mapper program, and try to correct your settings. Unless you know what you're doing, altering the settings could make matters worse. If you do attempt to alter the settings, jot down your original settings in case you need to go back to them.
The Windows sound driver you are using is inadequate or outdated. Several manufacturers have issued updated Windows sound drivers. Contact the manufacturer of your device for information. You can also see if the MPC Wizard has the sound driver you need. To do so, click the Find a Driver button to the left, then click the Sound Drivers button.
PROBLEM: A message appears saying that the file may not play correctly with the default MIDI setup.
Possible Causes/Solutions:
A standard MIDI file specifies what instrument(s) it wants the music to sound like. The test MIDI file on the MPC Wizard CD does not; it leaves that choice to you. This may cause a warning notice to appear on some systems. If the MIDI file plays after you click the OK button, click the Don't display this warning in future checkbox the next time you get this notice, and you will not see the message again. If the MIDI file doesn't play, see the other troubleshooting tips on this screen.
PROBLEM: Your synthesizer device or device driver is not responding.
Possible Causes/Solutions:
You don't have an MPC-compatible sound device installed in your computer. Check to see whether your sound device's documentation states that it is MPC-compatible and supports MIDI audio (.MID) playback.
Two or more devices installed on your system are using the same IRQ, DMA, or base I/O port settings in Windows. Peripheral devices attached to a PC (like graphics boards, sound boards, and mice) usually can't share any of these settings. Some devices allow changing these settings via software, while others require you to re-set jumpers on the board itself. Unfortunately, many programs designed to detect which of these settings are in use on your system only detect devices that are active at the time the program is running. We strongly suggest that you keep a list handy of the DMA, IRQ, and base I/O settings for each device on your system, so you can avoid headaches the next time you attempt to install a new peripheral device.
You must be particularly careful when setting sound boards, since many of them on the market use multiple IRQs, DMAs, or port I/O settings. For instance, one sound card on the market uses a special base I/O port for MIDI in addition to another, general one. In addition, some sound devices allow you to set different DMAs and IRQs for Windows and DOS.
You never installed the Windows MIDI Sequencer driver for your sound device, or it was installed incorrectly. A MIDI Sequencer driver specifically for Windows and specifically for your brand of sound device must be installed, apart from any other installation you may have done to use your device in DOS. Installation procedures for these drivers vary from device to device. Check the documentation that came with your device. You can also see if the MPC Wizard has the sound driver you need. To do so, click the Find a Driver button to the left, and click the Sound Drivers button.
You have the wrong Windows MIDI Sequencer driver installed, or both the right and the wrong drivers installed. Remove the incorrect driver via the Drivers section of the Windows Control Panel. Then, if need be, load the correct driver by following the documentation that came with your device. You can also see if the MPC Wizard has the sound driver you need. To do so, click the Find a Driver button to the left, and click the Sound Drivers button.
The statement
mid=sequencer
is missing from the [mci extensions] section of your WIN.INI file. Use a text editor (such as Windows Notepad) to insert the statement on a new line. This statement tells Windows to use the MIDI sequencer audio driver to play all files with a .mid extension.
The statement
Sequencer=mciseq.drv
is missing from the [mci] section of your SYSTEM.INI file. Use a text editor (such as Windows Notepad) to insert the statement on a new line. This line tells Windows that MIDI audio should be played using the MCI Waveform Driver MCISEQ.DRV.
You are running Windows in Standard Mode, and your Windows audio driver works only in 386 Enhanced Mode. Some drivers require that you run in the latter mode. Check your sound device's manual to see if this is the case with your driver. See your Windows manual for information about Standard and 386 Enhanced modes.
PROBLEM: The MPC Wizard is unable to complete one or more tests.
Possible Causes/Solutions:
You never configured your MIDI sequencer device to work with the Windows multimedia interface known as MCI (Media Control Interface), or you didn't configure it correctly. Some Windows programs that incorporate MIDI sound don't use MCI. To configure your MIDI sequencer device to work with MCI, follow these directions:
1. Run the Control Panel program (probably located in the Main program group of Program Manager).
2. Double-click the Drivers icon.
3. Click the Add button.
4. Scroll down the list of drivers, and click [MCI] MIDI Sequencer.
5. Click OK to install it.
6. You will be asked for the appropriate Windows disk that contains the driver, so have your original Windows disks handy.
7. Shut down Windows and re-start it.
Once you've installed the driver, run the MPC Wizard and try the MIDI audio tests again.
Two or more devices installed on your system are using the same IRQ, DMA, or base I/O port settings in Windows. See the discussion of this above.
The Windows sound driver you are using is inadequate or outdated. Several manufacturers have issued updated Windows sound drivers. Contact the manufacturer of your device for information. You can also see if the MPC Wizard has the sound driver you need. To do so, click the Find a Driver button to the left, and click the Sound Drivers button.
A file or files that the MPC Wizard needs is damaged, or has been removed from the program's hard disk directory. Run the MPC Wizard SETUP.EXE program again from the CD and accept the default installation.
Your CD-ROM drive may not be installed correctly. Check the appropriate manuals that came with your system.
You are running Windows in Standard Mode, and your Windows audio driver works only in 386 Enhanced Mode. Some drivers require that you run in the latter mode. Check your sound device's manual to see if this is the case with your driver. See your Windows manual for information about Standard and 386 Enhanced modes.
PROBLEM: You get a message saying there is no current MIDI map, or there is a problem with your MIDI mapper.
Possible Causes/Solutions:
You never installed the MIDI Mapper driver. This driver is needed in addition to the device-specific MIDI driver and [MCI] MIDI Sequencer drivers mentioned above. Follow these directions to install it:
1. Run the Control Panel program (probably located in the Main program group of Program Manager).
2. Double-click the Drivers icon.
3. Click the Add button.
4. Scroll down the list of drivers, and click MIDI Mapper.
5. Click OK to install it.
6. You will be asked for the appropriate Windows disk that contains the driver, so have your original Windows disks handy. Insert the requested disk when prompted.
7. Shut down Windows and re-start it.
After you've installed the MIDI Mapper, run the MPC Wizard and try the MIDI audio tests again.
There is no MIDI map file for the MIDI Mapper to read, or the file is corrupt. This file, called MIDIMAP.CFG, is read by the MIDI Mapper program that comes with Windows 3.1 or greater. Windows comes with a default MIDIMAP.CFG file, but many sound device manufacturers supply their own, and copy it to the SYSTEM sub-directory of your Windows directory when you run their installation program. Check the documentation that came with your sound device, or contact the device manufacturer to find out how to re-run their installation program.
Your MIDI sequencer already complies with the Microsoft MIDI guidelines, and does not require a mapper. This may be the case if your MIDI sounds are acceptable in spite of the absence of the mapper.
The Windows sound driver you are using is inadequate or outdated. Several manufacturers have issued updated Windows sound drivers. Contact the manufacturer of your device for information. You can also see if the MPC Wizard has the sound driver you need. To do so, click the Find a Driver button to the left, and click the Sound Drivers button.
PROBLEM: MIDI audio sounds break up.
Possible Causes/Solutions:
The Windows MIDI sequencer driver you are using is inadequate or outdated. Several manufacturers have issued updated Windows drivers. Contact the manufacturer of your device for information. You can also see if the MPC Wizard has the MIDI sequencer driver you need. To do so, click the Find a Driver button to the left, and click the Sound Drivers button. If you find your device's driver, follow the installation instructions provided.
Your CD-ROM drive is defective. Contact the retailer who sold it to you.
PROBLEM: Sound quality is poor.
Possible Causes/Solutions:
The sound will only be as good as the weakest link in your audio chain. If you have an inexpensive MIDI sequencer, the sound will never be as good as a commercial CD audio recording of synthesized music even if your sound system is superb. If your MIDI sequencer is the finest money can buy but your speakers are poor in quality, the sound will be poor. Poor quality amplifiers will also produce poor sound even if the rest of the system is state-of-the-art.
You have a sound device capable of using a 16-bit DMA, but it is not set up to do so. Using a 16-bit DMA will improve the sound quality of some devices. The 16-bit DMA settings are 4 through 7. The 8-bit DMA settings are 0 through 3. Some sound devices allow you to choose the DMA setting in the Drivers section of the Windows Control Panel. Others require you to set jumper switches on the sound card itself. See the manual that came with your sound device to see which case, if any, applies to you. Note that some PCs cannot use 16-bit DMA settings properly. If yours is one of them, you will have to be content with using an 8-bit DMA.
The Windows sound driver you are using may be inadequate or outdated. Several manufacturers have issued updated Windows sound drivers. Contact the manufacturer of your device for information. You can also see if the MPC Wizard has the sound driver you need. To do so, click the Find a Driver button to the left, and click the Sound Drivers button.
PROBLEM: MIDI audio sound works fine in the MPC Wizard, but not in other programs.
Possible Causes/Solutions:
The other programs are playing wave or CD audio sounds--not MIDI sounds--and there is a problem with your setup for wave or CD audio. Run the CD Audio and Wave Audio tests to see whether this is true.
The statements mid=sequencer and rmi=sequencer are missing from the [mci extensions] section of your WIN.INI file. These statements associate all files having .mid and .rmi file extensions with the MIDI audio sound driver. Use a text editor (like Windows Notepad) to insert the statements on a new line.
To go back to the previous screen, click the return button at the bottom right of your screen.......he previous screen, click the return button at the bottom right of your screen..reen..
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CD Audio Tips
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CD Audio Tests
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C D A U D I O T R O U B L E S H O O T I N G T I P S
=e=PROBLEM: You get a message saying the CD audio track played, but you didn't hear anything.
Possible Causes/Solutions:
External speakers are not attached to your sound device's output port. Plug them in.
The volume control on your speakers is at 0. Some speakers have their own volume controls. Turn the volume up.
The volume control on your sound device is at 0. Some sound boards have a volume control next to their output ports. Find the sound card in the back of your computer, find the volume control for output, and turn it up. Note that some cards also have a volume control to adjust the microphone or other input. That's not the control you want.
The CD audio or master volume control of your sound mixer is set to 0. MPC specifications require a sound mixer, which is usually provided by the sound device manufacturer as a stand-alone Windows program. A sound mixer allows you to control the relative volume of each MPC music source (e.g., wave audio, CD audio, microphone, MIDI audio). A control is also provided to let you adjust the total volume from all sources. See if a mixer is installed on your system, or check for one on the disks that came with your sound device. Make sure that both volume controls in your mixer are set high enough.
Your CD-ROM drive is not connected to your sound device, or not connected properly. To see whether this is the case, plug a pair of headphones into the appropriate jack on the front panel of your CD-ROM drive. Then try the CD Audio Tests again. If you hear what you're supposed to hear through your headphones, but not through your speakers, you've probably found your problem. Every MPC-compatible CD-ROM drive has one or more audio output jacks in back of it. Obtain the correct cable from the manufacturer or the dealer who sold you the drive. Then plug one end of the cable into the drive's output jack, and the other end into the appropriate input jack on your sound device.
The CD-ROM driver you are using may be inadequate or outdated. A CD-ROM driver usually comes with a drive or a drive controller card. It is usually loaded automatically in the CONFIG.SYS file. Old drivers may not work with the Windows multimedia interface, or may not work properly. Several manufacturers have issued updated drivers for their CD-ROM drives. Some are contained on the Wizard CD. Click the Find a Driver button on the left, then click the CD-ROM Drivers button to see if a driver for your drive is included. If not, contact the manufacturer of your drive for information on how you can obtain one.
Your CD-ROM drive may not be fully compatible with the Windows multimedia interface.
PROBLEM: You get a message that no CD audio devices are installed.
Possible Causes/Solutions:
The CD-ROM drive that contains the MPC Wizard CD is not correctly configured to work with the Windows multimedia interface known as MCI (Media Control Interface). To correctly configure the drive, follow these directions:
1. Run the Control Panel program (probably located in the Main program group of Program Manager).
2. Double-click the Drivers icon.
3. Check the list of Installed Drivers for [MCI] CD Audio.
4. If [MCI] CD Audio is listed, click it, then click the Setup button, and go on to instruction #8. If [MCI] CD Audio is not listed, go on to instruction #5.
5. Click the Add button.
6. Scroll down the list of drivers, and click [MCI] CD Audio.
7. Click OK to install the driver.
8. If you have more than one CD-ROM drive you will be shown a dialog box that lets you choose which of the drives to configure. Drive 0 represents the first CD-ROM drive letter installed on your system, Drive 1 represents the second, and so on. Choose the appropriate drive number, then click OK. If [MCI] CD Audio is already installed on your system, skip instruction #9 and go on to #10. If it is not yet installed, continue on to instruction #9.
9. You will be asked for the appropriate Windows disk that contains the driver, so have your original Windows disks handy. Provide the disk when prompted.
10. Shut down Windows and re-start it.
11. Run the MPC Wizard again and go back to the CD Audio Test screen. The name that Windows assigned to your drive should now appear in the Information Reported by Your System box.
The CD-ROM driver you are using may be inadequate or outdated. A CD-ROM driver usually comes with a drive or a drive controller card. It is usually loaded automatically in the CONFIG.SYS file. Old drivers may not work with the Windows multimedia interface, or not work properly. Several manufacturers have issued updated drivers for their CD-ROM drives. Some are right on this disc. Click the Install Driver button on the left, then click the CD-ROM Drivers button to see if a driver for your drive is included. If not, contact the manufacturer of your drive for information on how you can obtain one.
PROBLEM: You get the message that the specified device is not open or is not recognized by MCI.
Possible Causes/Solutions:
You never configured your CD-ROM drive to work with the Windows multimedia interface known as MCI (Media Control Interface), or you didn't configure it correctly. To do so, follow the above directions for installing the [MCI] CD Audio driver.
The MCI CD Audio driver is not installed correctly. Playing CD audio through MCI requires a special statement in the [MCI] section of the Windows SYSTEM.INI file. The statement must follow the following format:
devicename=mcicda.drv int
where devicename stands for the name of the CD audio device assigned by Windows, mcicda.drv is the MCI CD Audio driver file, and int stands for an integer that appears only when a system has multiple CD-ROMs attached to it. The integer indicates the CD-ROM device to which the device name is referring. A CD audio statement that refers to the CD-ROM drive containing the MPC Wizard is missing, or not in a valid format. Re-install the [MCI] CD Audio driver as outlined above.
PROBLEM: The Left Channel and Right Channel tests come through both speakers.
Possible Causes/Solutions:
Some CD-ROM players or audio mixers, when instructed to play one channel only, will send that channel through both of your speakers. Other CD-ROM players or audio mixers will play the left channel only through the left speaker, and the right channel only through the right speaker. In the Stereo test, however, the left signal and right signal should come out of the left and right speakers, respectively.
PROBLEM: The Speaker Tests have revealed that your left and right channels are reversed.
Possible Causes/Solutions:
Try running the Speaker Tests on the Wave Audio Tests screen to see whether the channels are reversed for wave audio, too. Then go to the Wave Audio Troubleshooting Tips screen and identify your problem.
PROBLEM: Even after adjusting your volume and balance controls, the speaker's voice in the mono CD Audio Test doesn't sound like it's coming midway between your speakers, but instead sounds "dispersed."
Possible Causes/Solutions:
You have an "old" amplifier or "old" set of speakers, and your speakers are "out of phase." Two wires go to each speaker from the amplifier or sound device (though you may not be able to see this, because often the two wires are encased inside a single wrapping). Today's amplifiers are connected to today's speakers with wires that have jacks attached to both ends. These jacks prevent you from reversing the two wires that go to each speaker. Most old amplifiers and old speakers are not connected with wires that have jacks on them. This makes it easy to reverse the wires.
Reversed wires cause a set of stereo speakers to be out of phase. Speakers are out of phase when one speaker's cone is moving in at the same moment that the other speaker's cone is moving out. To correct the problem, reverse the two wires going to one of the speakers. But be sure you are reversing the wires that carry the sound! A speaker with a built-in amplifier usually also has a power cable that attaches to it. Do not reverse the speaker and power cables! SoftKey International Inc. assumes no responsibility or liability for any suggestions we make. You're on your own. If you don't know what you're doing, contact someone who does (but not us, please!).
PROBLEM: The channels are reversed when you test your speakers with the CD Audio Tests, but not when you test your speakers with the the Speaker Tests.
Possible Causes/Solutions:
The cable that sends CD audio through your sound device is reversed. This cable usually has a jack with three or four pins on both ends. One end of the cable plugs into your CD-ROM drive, and the other end plugs into your sound device. Try reversing the plug on one end of the cable. Make sure that you're working with the cable that carries the sound, because there may be other cables also going from your CD-ROM drive to your sound device.
PROBLEM: The channels are reversed when you test your speakers with the Speaker Tests, but not when you test your speakers with the the CD Audio Tests.
Possible Causes/Solutions:
You have two problems. First, the cable that sends CD audio through your sound device is reversed. This cable usually has a jack with three or four pins on both ends. One end of the cable plugs into your CD-ROM drive, and the other end plugs into your sound device. Try reversing the plug on one end of the cable. Make sure that you're working with the cable that carries the sound, because there may be other cables also going from your CD-ROM drive to your sound device.
Second, your speakers are placed incorrectly. Move the speaker currently on the left side to the right side, and move the speaker currently on the right side to the left side.
PROBLEM: You get the message The MCI CD audio driver is not installed for drive __, or is not installed correctly.
Possible Causes/Solutions:
The drive that the MPC Wizard was launched from is not configured to play CD Audio through the Windows Media Control Interface (MCI), although there is another CD-ROM drive on the system that is configured to do so. If this is the case, you have one of two choices:
1. You can run the MPC Wizard in the CD-ROM drive that is configured to play CD Audio through MCI. In this case just exit the MPC Wizard, put the CD in the configured drive, and re-run the Wizard.
2. You can configure the drive that the Wizard is in to play CD Audio. To do this, follow the instructions for installing the [MCI] CD Audio driver outlined above.
The MCI CD Audio driver is not installed correctly. The MPC Wizard looks in the [MCI] section of the Windows SYSTEM.INI file for information about the CD audio devices installed. A CD audio statement in the MCI section must follow the following format:
devicename=mcicda.drv int
where devicename stands for the name of the CD audio device assigned by Windows, mcicda.drv is the MCI CD Audio driver file, and int stands for an integer that appears only when a system has multiple CD-ROMs attached to it. The integer indicates the CD-ROM device to which the device name is referring. A CD audio statement that refers to one of your CD-ROM drives is not in a valid format. Re-install the [MCI] CD Audio driver as outlined above.
PROBLEM: You get a message that drive __ is no longer valid .
Possible Causes/Solutions:
The CD-ROM driver you are using may be inadequate or outdated. A CD-ROM driver usually comes with a drive or a drive controller card. It is usually loaded automatically in the CONFIG.SYS file. Old drivers may not work with the Windows multimedia interface, or not work properly. Several manufacturers have issued updated drivers for their CD-ROM drives. Some are right on this disc. Click the Install Driver button on the left, then click the CD-ROM Drivers button to see if a driver for your drive is included. If not, contact the manufacturer of your drive for information on how you can obtain one.
You have an old version of MSCDEX.EXE. MSCDEX.EXE allows the MS-DOS or PC-DOS operating systems (versions 3.1 or higher) to read CD-ROM discs, and is referred to as the MS-DOS CD-ROM Extensions. You must be using version 2.2 or greater. If you are running Windows 3.1 or greater, then you should be using MSCDEX.EXE Version 2.21 or greater. To find out the version you're running, click the MSCDEX Version button on the CD-ROM Drive Tests screen. MSCDEX.EXE files that have a file date before February, 1992 are older than version 2.21. To update your version contact your drive manufacturer. You can also purchase the latest version of MS-DOS, which comes with MSCDEX.
You are using MSCDEX.EXE version 2.2 or greater and you have the statement device=LANMAN10.386 in the [386Enh] section of your SYSTEM.INI file. Remove this statement. It is only needed with versions of MSCDEX.EXE earlier than 2.2.
The CD-ROM drive that contained the MPC Wizard disc when you opened this program has been disconnected. Exit this program, exit Windows, turn off your MPC, and reconnect the CD-ROM drive. Then re-enter Windows and run the MPC Wizard again.
Your CD-ROM drive is not installed correctly. Check the appropriate manuals that came with your system.
Your CD-ROM drive is defective. Contact the retailer who sold it to you.
PROBLEM: You get a message that the device is already open, and that you should use the
shareable
flag with each
open.'
Possible Causes/Solutions:
A CD-ROM drive serves two purposes in an MPC. It serves as a very large, read-only disk drive, and it also serves as an audio device controlled by the Windows Media Control Interface (MCI). As an audio device, it can be opened for playback by any Windows program. When a program opens a CD audio device it can, if it prefers, maintain exclusive control of the device for audio playback purposes until it decides to relinquish that control. It can also allow the device to be shared by other applications.
Another Windows program has opened the CD-ROM drive that contains the MPC Wizard for audio playback purposes, and it is controlling it exclusively. Close the other application(s), and re-try the test.
PROBLEM: The MPC Wizard is unable to complete one or more tests.
Possible Causes/Solutions:
The MPC Wizard CD is not in the same CD-ROM drive that it was in when the program was launched. Put the CD into the original drive, and re-try the test.
One or more files that the MPC Wizard needs has been removed from the program's hard disk directory. Run the MPC Wizard SETUP.EXE program again from the CD and accept the default installation.
See the causes/solutions listed under the problem "...drive __ is no longer valid."
PROBLEM: CD audio sound works fine in the MPC Wizard, but not in other programs.
Possible Causes/Solutions:
The other programs are playing MIDI or wave audio sounds--not CD audio sounds--and there is a problem with your setup for MIDI or wave audio. Run the wave and MIDI tests to see whether this is true.
PROBLEM: The quality of the sounds are poor.
Possible Causes/Solutions:
The sound will only be as good as the weakest link in your audio chain. The quality of sound reproduced by your CD-ROM drive should rival an audio-only CD player. But if your speakers are poor in quality, the sound will be poor. Poor quality amplifiers will also produce poor sound even if the rest of the system is state-of-the-art.
To go back to the previous screen, click the return button at the bottom right of your screen..... bottom right of your screen.
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Video for Windows Tests
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Motion Video Tests
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V I D E O F O R W I N D O W S T E S T S
About Video for Windows
Video for Windows (VFW) stores motion video and wave audio in a single, standard computer file. The video portion can be played back without any additional hardware under Windows 3.1 or greater, while the sound plays back through an appropriate sound device (like an MPC-compatible sound board). Playing back motion video on today's personal computers presents two technical challenges.
The first challenge is one of storage. Motion video files are huge. To decrease their size, a complex compression method is needed. To play back compressed files, an equally complex decompression method must be used. The Video for Windows standard allows third-parties to develop their own compression/decompression methods. A new method can be added to your system simply by installing a new driver. When you play back a movie, Video for Windows automatically sends the file to the appropriate driver for decompressing.
The second challenge presented by motion video is one of speed. Data in a Video for Windows file must be read and displayed at very fast rates in order to simulate motion. CD-ROM drives, with their relatively slow data transfer rates, severely limit the performance of VFW movies. The minimum data transfer rate for acceptable performance using software-only decompression is 150 kilobytes per second (kps)--the MPC Level 1 standard for CD-ROM drives.
Other components on your system also affect performance. Video for Windows demands a fast processor (CPU). The Level 2 MPC specifications call for at least a 25 MHz 486SX CPU. That CPU is probably the bare minimum required for tolerable VFW performance.
Video for Windows also requires fast bitmapped graphics display performance. The MPC Wizard Bitmap Display Speed Tests measure how fast your system can put up a series of bitmaps on your screen, using the same drawing method used by Video for Windows. These tests can be found on the Graphics Tests screen.
In addition to the Wizard Bitmap Display Tests, when you first install the Video for Windows MCI driver, or whenever you attempt to play a movie file after changing color depths, VFW performs a brief graphics display test. If your computer's graphics performance is inadequate at that color depth, a message box appears immediately after the test informing you that you may experience performance problems.
When recording a Video for Windows movie, six important variables must be set:
1. The number of frames per second.
2. The size of the video frame.
3. The sampling rate of the audio.
4. The number of colors used.
5. The target data transfer rate.
6. The type of compression used.
Increasing the quality of any one of these variables typically increases the demand on the MPC that plays back the movie. VFW movie developers must, therefore, make compromises in quality. These compromises can be severe if the movie is to be distributed on CD-ROM, since many consumers have only a single-speed unit capable of transferring data at a maximum rate of 150 kps.
The Wizard tests come in two sizes: 240 x 180 pixels and 320 x 240 pixels. As of this writing, 240 X 180 pixels is about the largest size Video for Windows movie you can play off of a single-speed CD-ROM drive at 15 frames per second without any additional hardware. Satisfactory performance from the 320 x 240 movies will probably require a Pentium
-class processor.
When Video for Windows plays a movie, it tries to keep the video images in synch with the audio. If it can't read the data from the movie file fast enough, or can't display the images fast enough, it "drops" video frames. This tends to make the video appear jerky. If the data transfer rate is too slow to play the audio without interruption, then the sound also breaks up.
About the Video for Windows Tests
Three compression methods were used to create a total of six Video for Windows test movies (two movie sizes per method). Play each of the files, and see if you can discern the differences in quality between them. After a movie plays, a dialog box containing a set of performance statistics about that movie will appear.
If your CD-ROM can't play one of the Wizard test movies very well, you can copy the movie to your hard drive and try playing it from there. Hard drives typically have a much higher data-transfer rate than CD-ROM drives. The test files are in the TESTVFW directory of the MPC Wizard, and have a .AVI extension.
The three Video for Windows-compatible compression methods used in the Wizard tests are as follows:
Microsoft Video 1. This method provides software-only decompression. The movies used for this test are in 16-bit color.
Intel Indeo. The Indeo method supports both software-only and hardware-assisted decompression. Adding additional hardware allows for a larger playback window and improves the general performance of the video. The Intel Indeo movies provided for this test are in 24-bit color. If you are running Windows in less than 24-bit color, the movies' color palettes will be automatically reduced (dithered) at runtime to match the number of available colors.
Cinepak. The Cinepak movies for this test are in 24-bit color. As with the Intel Indeo movies, the color palettes on these movies will be automatically reduced at runtime to match the number of colors available on your system.
Click the MPC Wizard Test File radio button below to choose one of the test movies provided on the MPC Wizard CD. Then click one of the Compression Method and Movie Size radio buttons below to choose the method and size of movie you want.
If you have a VFW movie other than a Wizard test file that you'd like to test your system with, click the radio button below labeled Your Own File.
Click the Play Video File button when you want to view the movie. If you chose to play your own file, clicking this button will bring up a dialog box that lets you find and load a VFW movie of your choice.
If you encounter a problem, click the troubleshooting tips button at the bottom right of your screen.
To go back to the previous screen, click the return button at the bottom right of your screen.n...e bottom right of your screen.m right of your screen. your screen.
page 11of 111
movieSizes
compressionMethods
Play Video File
playVideoFile
Play Video File...
buttonClick
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Click this radio button to choose to play a test file from the MPC Wizard CD during the Video for Windows test.
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MPC Wi&zard Test File
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Click this radio button to choose to play a file of your own during the Video for Windows test.
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Click a radio button below to choose the source of the Video for Windows test file.
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Source
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compressionMethods
MPC Wizard test file.
wizardStatusBar
This feature is available only when you've chosen to play an
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statusBarText
Click this radio button to choose an MPC Wizard test file created with the Microsoft Video 1 compression method.
statusBarText
Microsoft &Video 1
Click this radio button to choose an MPC Wizard test file created with the Intel Indeo compression method.
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Intel &Indeo
Click this radio button to choose an MPC Wizard test file created with the Cinepak compression method.
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Cine&pak
Click a radio button below to choose a Video for Windows test file created with one of three compression methods.
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Compression Method
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playVideoFile
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runVFWTest
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VFW Files (*.avi),*.avi,All Files (*.*),*.*
Choose a Video for Windows File...
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After you've chosen a source and compression method, click this button to play your choice.
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Play Video File
movieSizes
MPC Wizard test file.
wizardStatusBar
This feature is available only when you've chosen to play an
mouseEnter
statusBarText
Click this radio button to choose an MPC Wizard test file recorded at 240 x 180 pixels.
statusBarText
&240 x 180
Click this radio button to choose an MPC Wizard test file recorded at 320 x 240 pixels.
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&320 x 240
Click a radio button below to choose a Video for Windows test file recorded in one of two sizes.
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Movie Size
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Testing Intel Indeo 3.
You should be seeing and hearing a movie now!
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Video for Windows Tips
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MPC Tests
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Video for Windows Tests
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V F W T R O U B L E S H O O T I N G T I P SL E S H O O T I N G T I P S
PROBLEM: You get a message saying you should be hearing and seeing a movie, but you don't hear anything.
Possible Causes/Solutions:
External speakers are not attached to your sound device's output port. Plug them in.
The volume control on your speakers is set to 0. Some speakers have their own volume controls. Turn the volume up.
The volume control on your sound device is set to 0. Some sound boards have a volume control next to their output ports. Find the sound card in the back of your computer, find the volume control for output, and turn it up. Note that some cards also have a volume control to adjust the microphone or other input. That's not the control you want.
The wave audio or master volume control in your sound mixer is set to 0. MPC specifications require a sound mixer, which is usually provided by the sound device manufacturer as a stand-alone Windows program. A sound mixer allows you to control the relative volume of each MPC music source (e.g., wave audio, CD audio, microphone, and MIDI audio). A control is also provided to let you adjust the total volume from all sources. See if a mixer is installed on your system, or check for one on the disks that came with your sound device. Make sure that both volume controls in your mixer are set high enough.
PROBLEM: You are unable to play any videos.
Possible Causes/Solutions:
You never installed the Video for Windows drivers. Exit the MPC Wizard and go to the Windows Program Manager. Make sure that the MPC Wizard CD is in your CD-ROM drive. Choose the File menu, choose Run, then type
D:\VFWSETUP\SETUP
where D is the letter of your CD-ROM drive. This will start the Microsoft Video for Windows runtime installation program, which will load the Microsoft Video 1, Intel Indeo, and Cinepak decompressors.
The statement avi=AVIVideo is missing from the [mci extensions] section of your WIN.INI file. This statement associates all files having a .avi file extension with the Video for Windows driver. Use a text editor (like Windows Notepad) to insert the statement.
PROBLEM: You are unable to play the Cinepak movies, but the other movies work.
Possible Causes/Solutions:
You previously installed the Microsoft Video 1 and Intel Video for Windows drivers, but you now need to install the Cinepak driver as well. Follow the directions above for installing the Video for Windows runtime. You should run this setup program even if you already have Video for Windows installed in your system, since it installs the Cinepak driver at the same time. It will not overwrite any Video for Windows drivers on your system if those drivers are a later version than the ones on the CD.
PROBLEM: The sound played, but the video didn't.
Possible Causes/Solutions:
When you ran the MPC Wizard Setup program, you probably decided not to install the Video for Windows runtime. Even if you're already using Video for Windows version 1.1 or later, you still may be using versions of the Indeo, MS Video 1, or Cinepak decompressors that pre-date the ones on the MPC Wizard CD. Your best bet is to run the Video for Windows Runtime Setup program and let it install the necessary files. To do so, go to the Windows Program Manager, pull down the File menu, select Run, and type D:\VFWSETUP\VFWSETUP (where D is the letter of your CD-ROM drive). The VFW Setup program will not overwrite more recent versions of any files that may already exist on your hard disk.
PROBLEM: Your videos are jerky and/or the sound breaks up.
Possible Causes/Solutions:
Your CD-ROM drive might not be transferring data from the CD fast enough. The test movies on the MPC Wizard CD require that your CD-ROM drive be able to transfer 150 KB per second. If your MPC can't read the data from the Wizard CD fast enough, VFW tries to play the audio without interruption, but "drops" video frames. This makes the video appear jerky. If VFW can't keep up with the audio either, then the sound also breaks up.
While your MPC is transferring data from the CD it must simultaneously perform other tasks, like rapidly draw the video on the screen as well as play the sound. But if 100% of your computer's CPU time is required just to transfer 150 KB of data per second from the CD, there's simply not enough processing power left to perform the other tasks. To see how fast your drive can transfer data click the MPC Tests button to your left, click the CD-ROM Drive Tests button, then run the 40% Data Transfer Rate Test. Your drive should be able to transfer at least 150 KB of data per second using 40% of the CPU. See Troubleshooting Tips in the CD-ROM Drive Tests section if you want more information.
Another way to test whether your CD-ROM drive is the cause of your problem is to copy the test movies from the TESTVFW directory of the Wizard CD to your hard drive, and try playing them from there (see the Video for Windows Tests screen to learn how to do this). If the test movies play smoothly from your hard disk, then you know the problem is with your CD-ROM drive. A hard drive transfers data much faster than 150 KB per second.
A device installed on your system is using the same IRQ, DMA, or base I/O port settings in Windows as your sound device, CD controller device, or both. To investigate this possibility, try playing one of the movies from your hard disk using the instructions on the Video for Windows Tests screen. If the movies sound good when played from your hard drive, but the sound breaks up when played from the CD, look at the discussion of IRQ, DMA, and base I/O port conflicts under Wave Audio Troubleshooting Tips.
Your graphics device has a performance problem. If Windows is running in greater than 256-color mode, try changing the display driver to 256 colors (i.e., 8-bit). Most graphics devices perform faster when they have to display fewer colors.
Your computer's processor (CPU) is inadequate. Video for Windows demands a fast processor. The Level 2 MPC specifications call for at least a 25 mHz 486SX CPU. That CPU is probably the very minimum one required for tolerable VFW performance.
Your sound device has a performance problem running Video for Windows movies. Several sound device manufacturers have issued updated Windows drivers for their cards. Contact the manufacturer of your device for information. You can also see if the MPC Wizard has the sound driver you need. To do so, click the Find a Driver button to the left, and then click the Sound Drivers button.
PROBLEM: When you first installed the Video for Windows drivers, or when you tried playing a movie after changing color depths, you got a message saying that you may encounter performance problems.
Possible Causes/Solutions:
Your computer's processor (CPU) is inadequate. Video for Windows demands a fast processor. The Level 2 MPC specifications call for at least a 25 mHz 486SX CPU. That is probably the minimum CPU required for tolerable VFW performance.
The bitmap display speed of your graphics device is inadequate. If Windows is running in greater than 256-color mode, try changing the display driver to 256 colors (i.e., 8-bit). Most graphics devices perform faster when they have to display fewer colors.
PROBLEM: You get a message that the specified device is not open or is not recognized by MCI.
Possible Causes/Solutions:
The MPC Wizard CD is not in your CD-ROM drive. Put the disc in the drive.
PROBLEM: The movies are very small.
Possible Causes/Solutions:
If you are running Windows at a resolution of 800 by 600 pixels or higher, you can reduce your resolution to 640 by 480 to make the movies look larger. To do this, change your Windows graphics display driver.
To go back to the previous screen, click the return button at the bottom right of your screen.screen, click the return button at the bottom right of your screen.ight of your screen.een..
page 11of 8
MPEG Video Tips
nextPage
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MPC Tests
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MPEG Video Tests
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M P E G T R O U B L E S H O O T I N G T I P S
PROBLEM: You are unable to play the movie.
Possible Causes/Solutions:
You don't have the hardware necessary to play MPEG files. Unlike Video for Windows, MPEG movies currently need hardware in addition to what is required under MPC Level 1 or Level 2 specifications.
You never installed the MPEG driver for the Windows Media Control Interface (MCI), or you installed it incorrectly. Though you may have a Windows program that plays MPEG movies, in order for the MPC Wizard test to work you must have an MCI-compatible driver installed. You can probably get one from the dealer who sold you your MPEG device, or from the device's manufacturer.
Two or more devices installed on your system are using the same IRQ, DMA, or base I/O port settings in Windows. Peripheral devices attached to a PC (like graphics boards, sound boards, and mice) usually can't share any of these settings. Some devices allow changing these settings via software, while others require you to re-set jumpers on the board itself. Unfortunately, many programs designed to detect which of these settings are in use on your system only detect devices that are active at the time the program is running. We strongly suggest you keep a list handy of the DMA, IRQ, and base I/O settings for each device on your system, so you can avoid headaches the next time you attempt to install a new peripheral device.
You must be particularly careful if your MPEG device also supports wave or MIDI audio playback, since it may require multiple IRQ, DMA, or port I/O settings.
Your MPEG device requires that a separate sound device be installed on your system, and no such device is installed.
Your MPEG board uses the separate sound device installed on your system, and you never installed the Windows sound driver for that device, or installed it incorrectly. A sound driver specifically for Windows and specifically for your brand of sound device must be installed, apart from any other installation you may have done to use your device in DOS. Installation procedures for these drivers vary from device to device. Check the documentation that came with your device. You can also see if the MPC Wizard has the sound driver you need. To do so, click the Find a Driver button to the left, and then click the Sound Drivers button.
Your MPEG board uses the separate sound device installed on your system, and you have the wrong Windows sound driver installed, or both the right and the wrong drivers installed. Remove the incorrect driver via the Drivers section of the Windows Control Panel. Then, if need be, load the correct driver by following the documentation that came with your device. You can also see if the MPC Wizard has the sound driver you need. To do so, click the Find a Driver button to the left, and then click the Sound Drivers button.
You are running Windows in Standard Mode, and your Windows MPEG driver works only in 386 Enhanced Mode. Check your MPEG device's manual to see if this is the case with your driver. See your Windows manual for information about Standard and 386 Enhanced modes.
One or more of the files that the MPC Wizard needs is damaged, or has been removed from the program's hard disk directory. Run the MPC Wizard SETUP.EXE program again from the CD and accept the default installation.
PROBLEM: You are unable to play the full-screen movie .
Possible Causes/Solutions:
Your MPEG device may not be able to stretch a movie larger than its recorded size. Check your device's manual.
Your MPEG device driver does not understand the Windows MCI command that tells it to maximize the movie's window.
PROBLEM: You don't see anything.
Possible Causes/Solutions:
Some MPEG boards require that a cable be connected from the board to the feature connector of a separate graphics device, and that your monitor's cable be plugged into the MPEG board. Check if this is the case with your MPEG board. Also note that MPEG boards with this setup may require that a terminator be attached to video output jack of the separate graphics device.
PROBLEM: You don't hear anything.
Possible Causes/Solutions:
External speakers are not attached to your sound device's output port. Plug them in. Some MPEG devices come with their own sound output port. If this is the case with yours, make sure that speakers are plugged into this device.
The volume control on your speakers is set to 0. Some speakers have their own volume controls. Turn the volume up.
Your MPEG board uses the separate sound device installed on your system, and the volume control on your sound device is set to 0. Some sound boards have a volume control next to their output ports. Find the sound card in the back of your computer, find the volume control for output, and turn it up. Note that some cards also have a volume control to adjust the microphone or other input. That's not the control you want.
Your MPEG board uses the separate sound device installed on your system, and the wave audio or master volume control in your sound mixer is set to 0. MPC specifications require a sound mixer, which is usually provided by the sound device manufacturer as a stand-alone Windows program. A sound mixer allows you to control the relative volume of each MPC music source (i.e., wave audio, CD audio, microphone, and MIDI audio). A control is also provided to let you adjust the total volume from all sources. See if a mixer is installed on your system, or check for one on the disks that came with your sound device. Make sure that both volume controls in your mixer are set high enough.
PROBLEM: Your videos are jerky and/or the sound breaks up.
Possible Causes/Solutions:
Your computer's processor (CPU) is inadequate. Check your MPEG device's manual for the minimum CPU requirements.
The buffer for your CD-ROM drive is insufficient. When loading the file MSCDEX.EXE, increase its /M parameter to between 12 and 20. MSCDEX.EXE is probably loaded from your AUTOEXEC.BAT, so go into the latter with a text editor (like Notepad) and make the change.
There is a problem with your CD-ROM drive. Click MPC Tests, then click the CD-ROM Drive Tests button to run the CD-ROM Drive Tests. Also see Troubleshooting Tips in the CD-ROM Drive Tests section.
PROBLEM: You get the message that the specified device is not open or is not recognized by MCI.
Possible Causes/Solutions:
The MPC Wizard CD is not in your CD-ROM drive. Put the CD in the drive and try again.
To go back to the previous screen, click the return button at the bottom right of your screen.tom right of your screen.
page 1 of 9
Find a Driver
go Find a Graphics Driver
enterPage
Find a Graphics Driver"
Find a Driver
uSection
1845,1065,9300,4020
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F I N D A D R I V E R
Drivers are software programs that allow a computer peripheral--like a graphics, sound, or CD-ROM device--to communicate properly with the computer's operating system (in our case, Windows or MS-DOS). Some drivers come with the operating system (like the standard 16-color Windows VGA display driver). But more often they are provided by the manufacturer or distributor of the peripheral device, and included with the device when you purchase it.
These device providers from time to time offer new, improved versions of their drivers. Normally, you have to contact them in order to obtain these drivers. But the MPC Wizard provides you with drivers for the most popular graphics and sound devices on the market today. We also provide you with several CD-ROM drivers. Click the appropriate button below to find the driver you need...... Then
page 1 of 2
go Find a Graphics Driver
Click this button to locate a graphics device driver on the MPC Wizard disc.
statusBarText
&Graphics Drivers
go Find a Sound Driver
Click this button to locate a sound device driver on the MPC Wizard disc.
statusBarText
&Sound Drivers
go Find a CD-ROM Driver
Click this button to locate a CD-ROM device driver on the MPC Wizard disc.
statusBarText
CD-R&OM Drivers
Find a Graphics Driver
selectDriver
enterPage
sDriverText
sHasBeenClicked
leavePage
6"8v9
ahead
chips
cirrus
diamond
everex
genoa
video7
maxon
orchid
paradise
sigma
tecmar
trident
tseng
pDirs
Ahead Systems
Avance Logic
Boca Research
Cardinal Technologies (ET4000)
Cardinal Technologies
Cirrus Logic
Chips & Technologies (452)
Chips & Technologies (453)
Chips & Technologies (64200)
Chips & Technologies (655xx)
Diamond Computer (Stealth)
Diamond Computer (SpeedStar)
Diamond Computer (SpeedStar 24-bit)
Everex (EV235, Windows 3.0)
Everex (EV623, Windows 3.0)
Everex (EV629, Windows 3.0)
Everex (EV633, Windows 3.0)
Everex (EV634, Windows 3.1)
Everex (EVGA, Windows 3.0, 16-color)
Genoa (6000 Series)
Genoa (7900 Series)
Genoa (8000 Series)
Matrox (Illuminator-16)
Matrox (Impression 1024)
Matrox (Impression)
Matrox (Impression Ultra)
Oak Technologies
Orchid Technology (ProDesigner II)
Paradise
Radius SVGA MultiView
Radius MultiView 24
Sigma Designs (SigmaVGA Legend II)
SixGraph
STB (Chips 480)
STB (AVGA1)
STB (PowerGraph)
STB (Evolution VGA)
STB (AVGA2)
STB (WIND/X)
SuperMatch (Thunder/24)
Trident (TVGA)
Trident (HiColor)
Tseng Labs (ET3000)
Tseng Labs (ET4000)
Video Seven
pSelections
"Ahead Systems","1/2/93","all",std,"ahead"
"ATI","10/2/92","Wonder, Ultra","The ATI drivers can't be installed directly from the MPC Wizard CD. Instead, copy the files stored in the \WIZSETUP\ATI_W31\ directory to a floppy disk that can be read from drive A. Then read the README.TXT text file in the \WIZSETUP\ATI_W31\ directory on the MPC Wizard CD for further directions."
pDrivers
Find a Driver
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Find a Driver
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graphics
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F I N D A G R A P H I C S D R I V E R
Directions
Click the down-arrow button in the box below labeled Graphics Device or Chipset Manufacturer. It will pop down a list of all the manufacturers whose graphics drivers are on the MPC Wizard CD. Scroll through the list and click on the manufacturer and model of your graphics device. If your device's manufacturer isn't listed, click the Device Info. button below. By reading your graphics device BIOS, it should be able to report the manufacturer of the graphics chipset on your device (which may be different from the company who made your device). In most cases you can use the generic driver made for your chipset, but check with the manufacturer of your graphics device to be certain. The name of the device you select will appear in the text box.
Jot down the directory path indicated in the text box labeled Directory Path Where You Can Find the Driver(s). This directory contains a Windows 3.1 driver for your device, unless a different version of Windows is specifically mentioned in the Graphics Device or Chipset Manufacturer text box. You can also copy the path to the Windows clipboard by clicking the Copy Path to Clipboard button. Then you can paste it into a text file editor like Windows Notepad, or into any application that accepts text.
Run the Windows File Manager or an equivalent program. Locate the directory you jotted down. See if there is an informational text file such as README.TXT, README, READ.ME or the like included with your driver files. Read this text file to learn how to install your drivers. In some cases there may be multiple text files that you should read. Each driver is different.
Unless a README.TXT file tells you otherwise, copy the files stored in your driver's directory to a floppy disk. If there are directories inside of the directory, and they are labeled disk01, disk02, etc., copy the files inside each one of these directories to separate floppy disks. Some setup programs require that the setup disk be placed in your A: drive, though most do not. Therefore, unless the total size of the files you are copying exceeds your floppy disk space, it's best to copy them to a disk that can be read from drive A:.
Have the floppy disks from which you originally installed Windows handy when you install your driver, since you may be asked for one or more of them during the course of your setup.
You may be wondering why the MPC Wizard doesn't install the driver you need for you, or at least allow you to install it directly off of the CD. The reason is that, while many drivers share the same setup method, many do not. The present format allows us to frequently update the MPC Wizard's driver selection, as well as keep the price low.
Users of Quarterdeck's QEMM386.SYS, Microsoft's EMM386.EXE, or another expanded memory manager may need to add an EXCLUDE switch to the line that loads the program in order to prevent it from using an area of memory needed by your VGA device when displaying more than 16 colors. See your memory manager's documentation for details. You can accomplish the same result (effective in Windows only) by adding the following statement to the [386Enh] section of your Windows SYSTEM.INI file:
emmexclude=C400-C7FF
This statement prevents Windows from using the area of memory C400 to C7FF. C400 and C7FF are hexadecimal (base 16) numbers. To block a different area of memory, change the hexadecimal number range.
If necessary, see your Windows User's Guide for more information on installing device drivers not supplied with Windows. Windows 3.1 users can also check the section Using Specific Display Adapters with Windows Version 3.1 in the file README.WRI, located in the Windows directory.
Drivers are provided by SoftKey International as a public service. If you encounter problems with any of them, please contact the specific manufacturer. The rights to the programs on the MPC Wizard CD are owned by their respective manufacturers and are provided "AS IS" exclusively for their customers. They may not be redistributed without the express written permission of the manufacturer. SoftKey International disclaims all warranties, expressed or implied, including merchantability and fitness for a particular purpose..
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selectDriver
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Click the arrow button for a list of graphics drivers on the MPC Wizard CD. Then click the driver for your graphics device.
Actix ver. 1.33 for GraphicsEngine 32, 32VL, Ultra ISA
Actix ver. 2.21 for GraphicsEngine 32, 32VL, Ultra
Ahead Systems
ATI (Various VGA and Accelerator)
ATI 2.0 Mach Windows Driver
ATI Accelerated VGA
ATI Mach Ultra
Avance Logic GUI-Ultra
Avance Logic GUI-Ultra (Windows 3.0)
Boca Research Cirrus Super VGA
Boca Research Super X Accelerator VGA
Boca Research SuperVGA
Boca Research Vortek VL driver
Cache Computers, Inc.
Cardinal ET4000-based Cards
Cardinal S3-based Cards
Chips and Technologies 452
Chips and Technologies 453
Chips and Technologies 481 + 450 + 404A
Chips and Technologies 481 + 64200 + 404A
Chips and Technologies 64200
Chips and Technologies 655XX
Cirrus Logic 5402/5420
Cirrus Logic 5422/5424
Cirrus Logic 5426/28
Cirrus Logic 642X
Diamond SpeedSTAR 24
Diamond Speedstar 24X
Diamond SpeedStar Pro
Diamond SpeedSTAR VGA
Diamond Stealth 24
Diamond Stealth 32
Diamond Stealth Pro
Diamond Stealth VRAM
Diamond Viper VLB
Everex EV634
Genoa 1MB VGA
Genoa 6000 VGA
Genoa 7900 VGA
Genoa 8000 VGA
Genoa 8500 VGA
Genoa 8500 VL VGA
Genoa 8700 VGA
Genoa 8900 VL/PCI VGA
Genoa Multimedia VGA
Genoa Windows VGA 24
Hercules
Hercules Chrome
Hercules Dynamite
Hercules Graphite 1MB VRAM
Hercules Graphite 2MB VRAM
Hercules Superstation 3D
Hercules Superstation XP
Matrox Illuminator-16
Matrox Impression
Matrox Impression 1024
Matrox Impression Ultra
Media Vision Pro Graphics 1024
Media Vision Pro Graphics 1280
Media Vision Thunder & Lightning
NCR VGA
New Media Graphics Super VideoWindows
Oak Technology OTI-067/077
Oak Technology OTI-087 Rev. B/D Ver. 1.6
Oak Technology OTI-087 Rev. X
Oak Technology OTI-087 Windows for Pen
Orchid Fahrenheit
Orchid ProDesigner II Series
Paradise / Western Digital VGA Standard
Paradise/Western Digital Windows Accelerator Card
PC Logic V1000 (Windows 3.0)
PC Logic V2000
PC Logic VCOLOR
Radius Multiview 24
Radius SVGA MultiView
Radius XGA-2
S3 24-bit 911/928 Windows 3.1 driver
S3 805 Windows 3.1 driver
S3 911/924 Windows 3.1 driver
S3 928 Windows 3.1 driver
Sierra HiCOLOR Oak
Sierra HiCOLOR S3
Sierra HiCOLOR Trident
Sierra HiCOLOR Tseng
Sierra HiCOLOR Western Digital
Sigma Designs L-View PC Classic
Sigma Designs Legend 24LX
Sigma Designs Legend GX
Sigma Designs Multimode 120
Sigma Designs Multimode 150
Sigma Designs SigmaVGA Legend I & II
Sigma Designs WinStorm
Sixgraph P9000 driver
Sixgraph Wizard 924 driver
STB Evolution VGA
STB Horizon
STB Pegasus VL
STB PowerGraph VGA
STB PowerGraph X24
STB PowerGraph/ERGO VGA
STB Wind/X
SuperMatch Spectrum (EISA boards)
SuperMatch Spectrum (ISA boards)
SuperMatch Spectrum (VESA boards)
SuperMatch Thunder (EISA boards)
SuperMatch Thunder (ISA boards)
SuperMatch Thunder (VESA boards)
Trident TVGA
Tseng Labs ET3000
Tseng Labs ET4000
Tseng Labs ET4000/W32 and ET4000/AX
Video 7
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copyToClipBd
copyDriver
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Click this button to copy the directory path listed above to the Windows clipboard.
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Copy &Path to Clipboard
readingCD
Reading driver information from the MPC Wizard CD.
Please wait...
colorTest
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showGraphicsBiosInfo
buttonClick
If you're unsure of the driver you need, click this button to read info. from your graphics device BIOS. It may help you to decide.
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Device &Info.
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Click the arrow button below for a list of graphics drivers on the MPC Wizard CD. Then click the driver for your graphics device.
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Graphics Device or Chipset Manufacturer
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topLine
After you've chosen a graphics driver, the box below indicates the path where you can find it. Use the button to copy the path.
statusBarText
Directory Path Where You Can Find the Driver(s)
bottomLine
topLine
wizPath
This is the path where you can find the graphics driver you've chosen from the above pop-down list.
statusBarText
[no driver selected]pclv2000\actix03
bottomLine
topLine
an find the graphics driver you've chosen from the above pop-down list.
statusBarText
[no driver selected]pclv2000\actix03
bottomLine
topLine
Find a Sound Driver
selectDriver
enterPage
sDriverText
sHasBeenClicked
leavePage
= comboBox "selectDriver"
-- @ What
bug workaround?:
sendKeys("{
} 5",0)
4sDriverText, sHasBeenClicked
adgravis
atiaudio
cmpudyne
covox
sndblstr
proaudio
mediasonc
voyetra
pDirs
Aztech (Sound Galaxy)
Aztech (Sound Galaxy Pro)
Covox
Media Vision (AudioPort)
Media Vision (CDPC)
Media Vision (Pro Audio Spectrum 16)
Media Vision (Pro Audio Spectrum Plus)
Media Vision (ThunderBoard)
MediaSonic
Turtle Beach Systems (MultiSound)
pSelections
sound
driverFileName
1845,1065,9300,4250
mainTextBounds
scrollAmt
showGoBackButton
Find a Driver
parentSection
MPC Tests
uSection
F I N D A S O U N D D R I V E RE
Directions
Click the down-arrow button in the box below labeled Sound Device or Chipset Manufacturer. It will pop down a list of all the manufacturers whose sound drivers are on the MPC Wizard CD. Scroll through the list and click on the manufacturer and model of your sound device. If your device's manufacturer isn't listed, contact the manufacturer to find out if it's compatible with any of the drivers listed. The name of the device you select will appear in the text box.
Jot down the directory path indicated in the text box labeled Directory Path Where You Can Find the Driver(s). This directory contains a Windows 3.1 driver for your device, unless a different version of Windows is specifically mentioned in the Sound Device or Chipset Manufacturer text box. You can also copy the path to the Windows clipboard by clicking the Copy Path to Clipboard button. Then you can paste it into a text file editor like Windows Notepad, or into any application that accepts text.
Run the Windows File Manager or an equivalent program. Locate the directory you jotted down. See if there is an informational text file such as README.TXT, README, READ.ME or the like included with your driver files. Read this text file to learn how to install your drivers. In some cases there may be multiple text files that you should read. Each driver is different.
Unless a README.TXT file tells you otherwise, copy the files stored in your driver's directory to a floppy disk. If there are directories inside of the directory, and they are labeled disk01, disk02, etc., copy the files inside each one of these directories to separate floppy disks. Some setup programs require that the setup disk be placed in your A: drive, though most do not. Therefore, unless the total size of the files you are copying exceeds your floppy disk space, it's best to copy them to a disk that can be read from drive A:.
You may be wondering why the MPC Wizard doesn't install the driver you need for you, or at least allow you to install it directly off of the CD. The reason is that, while many drivers share the same setup method, many do not. The present format allows us to frequently update the MPC Wizard's driver selection, as well as keep the price low.
If necessary, see your Windows User's Guide for more information on installing drivers not supplied with Windows. Windows 3.1 users can also check the file README.WRI, located in the Windows directory.
Drivers are provided by SoftKey International as a public service. If you encounter problems with any of them, please contact the specific manufacturer. The rights to the programs on the MPC Wizard CD are owned by their respective manufacturers and are provided "AS IS" exclusively for their customers. They may not be redistributed without the express written permission of the manufacturer. SoftKey International disclaims all warranties, expressed or implied, including merchantability and fitness for a particular purpose.
page 1 of 100
selectDriver
sDriverText
false
sHasBeenClicked
enterDropDown
sHasBeenClicked
leaveDropDown
sDriverText
false
sHasBeenClicked
mouseLeave
following 3 handlers are needed
around a bug that
comboBox even
user moves mouse off
enterDropDown
4sDriverText, sHasBeenClicked
leaveDropDown
Click the arrow button for a list of sound drivers on the MPC Wizard CD. Then click the driver for your sound device.
statusBarText
[no driver selected] & Lightningness Audio
Advanced Gravis UltraSound
ATI Stereo F/X Sound Card
Aztech Multimedia Pro 16L
Aztech Systems Multimedia Pro 16
Aztech Systems Sound Galaxy Business Audio
Aztech Systems Sound Galaxy BX II
Aztech Systems Sound Galaxy NX Pro 16
Aztech Systems Sound Galaxy Pro
Cardinal Sound Studio
Covox
Laser Digital Media Concept 2.0
Laser Digital Media Concept Pro
Media Vision Audio Port
Media Vision Pro Audio Spectrum (Rev. C Boards)
Media Vision Pro Audio Spectrum (Rev. D Boards)
Media Vision Pro Audio Studio
Media Vision Pro Sonic 16
Media Vision Thunder & Lightning
Media Vision Thunderboard
MediaSonic
Toptek Golden Sound Pro 16
Toptek Golden Sound Pro 2
Toptek Golden Sound Pro 3
Toptek Golden Sound Pro Deluxe
Toptek Golden Sound Ver. 2.5amond Sonic Sound
Diamond Sonic Sound LX
Diamond Sonic Sound LX OP (Opti Board Only)
Diamond Sonic Sound LX Revision K
Laser Digital Media Concept 2.0
Laser Digital Media Concept Pro
Media Vision Audio Port
Media Vision Pro Audio Spectrum (Rev. C Boards)
Media Vision Pro Audio Spectrum (Rev. D Boards)
Media Vision Pro Audio Studio
Media Vision Pro Sonic 16
Media Vision Thunder & Lightning
Media Vision Thunderboard
MediaSonic
Oak Mozart Sound System Driver (B chip only) Ver. 1.06
Oak Mozart Sound System Driver (E chip only) Ver. 2.41
Orchid GameWave 32
Orchid SoundWave 32
Packard Bell Forte 16SB3
PC Logic CDROM driver for Sound Studio
PC Logic DSP16 and Sonic 16
PC Logic Sound Studio
Sigma Designs WinWave Board
Sigma Designs WinWave Board Non-SCSI CD
Sound Galaxy Basic 16 NX series
Toptek Golden Sound 3in1 CD-ROM Device Drivers
Toptek Golden Sound Pro 16
Toptek Golden Sound Pro 16 Plus
Toptek Golden Sound Pro 2
Toptek Golden Sound Pro 3
Toptek Golden Sound Pro Deluxe
Toptek Golden Sound Ver. 2.5Designer II Series
Paradise / Western Digital VGA Standard
Paradise/Western Digital Windows Accelerator Card
PC Logic V1000 (Windows 3.0)
PC Logic V2000
PC Logic VCOLOR
Radius Multiview 24
Radius SVGA MultiView
Radius XGA-2
S3 24-bit 911/928 Windows 3.1 driver
S3 805 Windows 3.1 driver
S3 911/924 Windows 3.1 driver
S3 928 Windows 3.1 driver
Sierra HiCOLOR Oak
Sierra HiCOLOR S3
Sierra HiCOLOR Trident
Sierra HiCOLOR Tseng
Sierra HiCOLOR Western Digital
Sigma Designs L-View PC Classic
Sigma Designs Legend 24LX
Sigma Designs Legend GX
Sigma Designs Multimode 120
Sigma Designs Multimode 150
Sigma Designs SigmaVGA Legend I & II
Sigma Designs WinStorm
Sixgraph P9000 driver
Sixgraph Wizard 924 driver
STB Evolution VGA
STB Horizon
STB Pegasus VL
STB PowerGraph VGA
STB PowerGraph X24
STB PowerGraph/ERGO VGA
STB Wind/X
SuperMatch Spectrum (EISA boards)
SuperMatch Spectrum (ISA boards)
SuperMatch Spectrum (VESA boards)
SuperMatch Thunder (EISA boards)
SuperMatch Thunder (ISA boards)
SuperMatch Thunder (VESA boards)
Trident TVGA
Tseng Labs ET3000
Tseng Labs ET4000
Tseng Labs ET4000/W32 and ET4000/AX
Video 7
bottomLine
topLine
copyToClipBd
copyDriver
buttonClick
nClick
copyDriver
Click this button to copy the directory path listed above to the Windows clipboard.
statusBarText
Copy &Path to Clipboard
readingCD
Reading driver information from the MPC Wizard CD.
Please wait...
If you're unsure of the driver you need, click this button to read info. from your sound device driver. It may help you to decide.
statusBarText
Driver &Info.
bottomLine
topLine
Click the arrow button below for a list of sound drivers on the MPC Wizard CD. Then click the driver for your sound device.
statusBarText
Sound Device or Chipset Manufacturerrer
bottomLine
topLine
After you've chosen a sound driver, the box below indicates the path where you can find it. Use the button to copy the path.
statusBarText
Directory Path Where You Can Find the Driver(s)
bottomLine
topLine
wizPath
This is the path where you can find the sound driver you've chosen from the above pop-down list.
statusBarText
[no driver selected]t_n_l
bottomLine
topLine
Find a CD-ROM Driver
selectDriver
enterPage
sDriverText
sHasBeenClicked
leavePage
= comboBox "selectDriver"
-- @ What
bug workaround?:
sendKeys("{
} 5",0)
4sDriverText, sHasBeenClicked
)"+X*
cdrom
driverFileName
1845,1065,9300,4250
mainTextBounds
scrollAmt
Find a Driver
parentSection
showGoBackButton
MPC Tests
uSection
F I N D A C D - R O M D R I V E R
Directions
Click the down-arrow button in the box below labeled CD-ROM Device Manufacturer. It will pop down a list of all the CD-ROM manufacturers whose drivers are on the MPC Wizard CD. Scroll through the list and click on the make and model your CD-ROM drive. The name of the drive you select will appear in the text box.
Jot down the directory path indicated in the text box labeled Directory Path Where You Can Find the Driver(s). You can also copy the path to the Windows clipboard by clicking the Copy Path to Clipboard button. Then you can paste it into a text file editor like Windows Notepad, or into any application that accepts text.
Run the Windows File Manager or an equivalent program. Locate the directory you jotted down. See if there is an informational text file such as README.TXT, README, READ.ME or the like included with your driver files. Read this text file to learn how to install your drivers. In some cases there may be multiple text files that you should read. Each driver is different.
Unless a README.TXT file tells you otherwise, copy the files stored in your driver's directory to a floppy disk. If there are directories inside of the directory, and they are labeled disk01, disk02, etc., copy the files inside each one of these directories to separate floppy disks. Some setup programs require that the setup disk be placed in your A: drive, though most do not. Therefore, unless the total size of the files you are copying exceeds your floppy disk space, it's best to copy them to a disk that can be read from drive A:.
You may be wondering why the MPC Wizard doesn't install the driver you need for you, or at least allow you to install it directly off of the CD. The reason is that, while many drivers share the same setup method, many do not. The present format allows us to frequently update the MPC Wizard's driver selection, as well as keep the price low.
Drivers are provided by SoftKey International as a public service. If you encounter problems with any of them, please contact the specific manufacturer. The rights to the programs on the MPC Wizard CD are owned by their respective manufacturers and are provided "AS IS" exclusively for their customers. They may not be redistributed without the express written permission of the manufacturer. SoftKey International disclaims all warranties, expressed or implied, including merchantability and fitness for a particular purpose.
page 1 of 100
selectDriver
sDriverText
false
sHasBeenClicked
enterDropDown
sHasBeenClicked
leaveDropDown
sDriverText
false
sHasBeenClicked
mouseLeave
following 3 handlers are needed
around a bug that
comboBox even
user moves mouse off
enterDropDown
4sDriverText, sHasBeenClicked
leaveDropDown
Click the arrow button for a list of CD-ROM drivers on the MPC Wizard CD. Then click the driver for your CD-ROM device.
statusBarText
[no driver selected]435, and 535W
Chinon, Models 430, 435, and 535
Pioneer Multichanger
Aztech Multimedia Pro 16L
Aztech Systems Multimedia Pro 16
Aztech Systems Sound Galaxy Business Audio
Aztech Systems Sound Galaxy BX II
Aztech Systems Sound Galaxy NX Pro 16
Aztech Systems Sound Galaxy Pro
Cardinal Sound Studio
Covox
Laser Digital Media Concept 2.0
Laser Digital Media Concept Pro
Media Vision Audio Port
Media Vision Pro Audio Spectrum (Rev. C Boards)
Media Vision Pro Audio Spectrum (Rev. D Boards)
Media Vision Pro Audio Studio
Media Vision Pro Sonic 16
Media Vision Thunder & Lightning
Media Vision Thunderboard
MediaSonic
Toptek Golden Sound Pro 16
Toptek Golden Sound Pro 2
Toptek Golden Sound Pro 3
Toptek Golden Sound Pro Deluxe
Toptek Golden Sound Ver. 2.5rus Logic 5402/5420
Cirrus Logic 5422/5424
Cirrus Logic 5426/28
Cirrus Logic 642X
Diamond SpeedSTAR 24
Diamond Speedstar 24X
Diamond SpeedStar Pro
Diamond SpeedSTAR VGA
Diamond Stealth 24
Diamond Stealth 32
Diamond Stealth Pro
Diamond Stealth VRAM
Diamond Viper VLB
Everex EV634
Genoa 1MB VGA
Genoa 6000 VGA
Genoa 7900 VGA
Genoa 8000 VGA
Genoa 8500 VGA
Genoa 8500 VL VGA
Genoa 8700 VGA
Genoa 8900 VL/PCI VGA
Genoa Multimedia VGA
Genoa Windows VGA 24
Hercules
Hercules Chrome
Hercules Dynamite
Hercules Graphite 1MB VRAM
Hercules Graphite 2MB VRAM
Hercules Superstation 3D
Hercules Superstation XP
Matrox Illuminator-16
Matrox Impression
Matrox Impression 1024
Matrox Impression Ultra
Media Vision Pro Graphics 1024
Media Vision Pro Graphics 1280
Media Vision Thunder & Lightning
NCR VGA
New Media Graphics Super VideoWindows
Oak Technology OTI-067/077
Oak Technology OTI-087 Rev. B/D Ver. 1.6
Oak Technology OTI-087 Rev. X
Oak Technology OTI-087 Windows for Pen
Orchid Fahrenheit
Orchid ProDesigner II Series
Paradise / Western Digital VGA Standard
Paradise/Western Digital Windows Accelerator Card
PC Logic V1000 (Windows 3.0)
PC Logic V2000
PC Logic VCOLOR
Radius Multiview 24
Radius SVGA MultiView
Radius XGA-2
S3 24-bit 911/928 Windows 3.1 driver
S3 805 Windows 3.1 driver
S3 911/924 Windows 3.1 driver
S3 928 Windows 3.1 driver
Sierra HiCOLOR Oak
Sierra HiCOLOR S3
Sierra HiCOLOR Trident
Sierra HiCOLOR Tseng
Sierra HiCOLOR Western Digital
Sigma Designs L-View PC Classic
Sigma Designs Legend 24LX
Sigma Designs Legend GX
Sigma Designs Multimode 120
Sigma Designs Multimode 150
Sigma Designs SigmaVGA Legend I & II
Sigma Designs WinStorm
Sixgraph P9000 driver
Sixgraph Wizard 924 driver
STB Evolution VGA
STB Horizon
STB Pegasus VL
STB PowerGraph VGA
STB PowerGraph X24
STB PowerGraph/ERGO VGA
STB Wind/X
SuperMatch Spectrum (EISA boards)
SuperMatch Spectrum (ISA boards)
SuperMatch Spectrum (VESA boards)
SuperMatch Thunder (EISA boards)
SuperMatch Thunder (ISA boards)
SuperMatch Thunder (VESA boards)
Trident TVGA
Tseng Labs ET3000
Tseng Labs ET4000
Tseng Labs ET4000/W32 and ET4000/AX
Video 7
bottomLine
topLine
copyToClipBd
copyDriver
buttonClick
nClick
copyDriver
Click this button to copy the directory path listed above to the Windows clipboard.
statusBarText
Copy &Path to Clipboard
readingCD
Reading driver information from the MPC Wizard CD.
Please wait...
Click the arrow button below for a list of CD-ROM drivers on the MPC Wizard CD. Then click the driver for your CD-ROM device.
statusBarText
CD-ROM Device Manufactureranufacturerrr
bottomLine
topLine
After you've chosen a CD-ROM driver, the box below indicates the path where you can find it. Use the button to copy the path.
statusBarText
Directory Path Where You Can Find the Driver(s)
bottomLine
topLine
wizPath
This is the path where you can find the CD-ROM driver you've chosen from the above pop-down list.
statusBarText
[no driver selected]nonr
bottomLine
topLine
Multimedia Applications
Multimedia Applications
uSection
1845,1065,9300,4125
mainTextBounds
scrollAmt
M U L T I M E D I A A P P L I C A T I O N S
The MPC Wizard CD includes other multimedia applications for you to enjoy.
The Best of MediaClips
includes photos, sounds, and movies from SoftKey International's MediaClips
series of CD-ROMs. The MediaClips series offer you quality entertainment and content at affordable prices. The finest artists provide their best work for you to use in your multimedia presentations royalty-free.
The SoftKey
Product Catalog is your multimedia introduction to the SoftKey family's line of affordable software.......
page 1 of 2
Click this button to launch the Best of Media Clips application included on the MPC Wizard CD.
statusBarText
The Best of MediaClips
Click this button to launch the SoftKey Product Catalog application included on the MPC Wizard CD.
statusBarText
The SoftKey Product Catalog
minimize
When checked, this button minimizes the MPC Wizard after you launch a multimedia app, then restores it when you exit the app.
statusBarText
Minimize MPC Wizard after Launching App
statusBarText
The Best of MediaClips
-- We eliminated the Best
MediaClips, so there's no need
separate
MM apps. If we
zeventually use
, change
below
similar
that contained
SoftKey Catalog
buttonClick
"This feature
xyet implemented."
-- --@ IMPLEMENT THIS FOR RELEASED VERSION!:
-- --
runApp "catalog.tbk","The
Product
Click this button to launch the SoftKey Product Catalog application included on the MPC Wizard CD.
statusBarText
The SoftKey Product Catalog
minimize
When checked, this button minimizes the MPC Wizard after you launch a multimedia app, then restores it when you exit the app.
statusBarText
Minimize MPC Wizard after Launching App
Test Results
8<8t8
DNE`F
The color shows whether you passed or failed this test. Click it to view details of test. Right-click it to get a menu of relevant tasks.
statusBarText
Test Results
uSection
waveAudio08m11
waveAudio08m22
waveAudio08m44
waveAudio08s11
waveAudio08s22
waveAudio08s44
waveAudio16m11
waveAudio16m22
waveAudio16m44
waveAudio16s11
waveAudio16s22
waveAudio16s44
cdAudio
midiAudioMelodic
midiAudioPercussive
screenResolution
screenColorDepth
drawDib01Bit40noPalette
drawDib01Bit100noPalette
drawDib04Bit40noPalette
drawDib04Bit100noPalette
drawDib08Bit40noPalette
drawDib08Bit100noPalette
MSCDEXversion
3strokeAccessWithoutSD
tranRate100withoutSD
tranRate60withoutSD
tranRate40withoutSD
tranRate100WithSD
tranRate60withSD
tranRate40withSD
vfwMsv1
vfwIntelIndeo
vfwCinepak
mpegVideo
uaTestGroupList
T E S T R E S U L T SSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS
.&+ +E
.&+ +E
MsetAllButtonColors
false
W@buttonChosen
MPC 1
.buttonChosen
sTestRunning
MPC 2
buttonDown
buttonClick
Click this button to see at a glance whether your system meets MPC Level 1 specifications for the tests you've run so far.
statusBarText
MPC Level &1
MPC 2
MPC 1
.buttonChosen
sTestRunning
buttonDown
buttonClick
Click this button to see at a glance whether your system meets MPC Level 2 specifications for the tests you've run so far.
statusBarText
MPC Level &2
Choose an MPC level, then choose a filter for that level. The at-a-glance test result boxes below will change colors accordingly.
statusBarText
Select At-A-Glance Results to View:
.&+ +E
.&+ +E
MsetAllButtonColors
sTestRunning
buttonClick
requirements
Click this button to limit your at-a-glance view of test results to the minimum requirements for the MPC level you've chosen.
statusBarText
Requirements &Only
recommendations
Click this button to include in your at-a-glance view the requirements AND recommendations for the MPC level you've chosen.
statusBarText
Requirements && Re&commendations
runAllTests
runAllTests
sTestRunning
buttonClick
Click this button to automatically run each MPC test on this screen in succession.
statusBarText
Run &All Tests
go_detailedResults
rightButtonDown
.&+ +E
.&+ +E
.&+ +E
closeGenMsgViewer
There are no test results to view.
17,19,10
svResultsDirty
writeTestResults
Test Results List
clock
scrollingTextViewer
showGenMsgViewer
sTestRunning
Please wait...
detailedResults
Getting Test Results.
buttonClick
Click this button to view, print, or save a detailed list of the results for all the tests performed.
statusBarText
Detailed &List of All Results...
.&+ +E
.&+ +E
Are you sure you want to delete all test results?
svResultsDirty
clearAllResults
sTestRunning
There are no test results to delete.
buttonClick
Click this button to delete all test results.
statusBarText
D&elete All Test Results
testResultsHelp
.&+ +E
.&+ +E
.&+ +E
loGenViewer
scrollingTextViewer
Test Results Help
sTestRunning
helpText
testResultsHelp
buttonClick
Click this button to learn about the Test Results screen.
statusBarText
Test Results Screen &Help...
CD-ROMssssss
SOUND
Stereo
8-Bit
16-Bit
GRAPHICS
CD AUDIO
RESOLUTION
COLORS
SPEED
without
SmartDrivehe
SmartDriveeee
AVERAGE
ACCESS
MSCDEX
VERSION
TRANSFER RATE
MOTION
VIDEO
1-Bit
4-Bit
8-Bit
Each box in this section represents one sound test. The color of each box indicates at a glance the result of that test.
statusBarText
runWaveAudioTest
reRunTest
waveAudio08m11
Wave Audio Tests
testScreen
This box's color shows the 8-Bit, 11kHz, mono wave audio test result. Click it for test details. Right-click it for more options.
statusBarText
11.025 kHz
waveAudio08s11
BK^KN
Wave Audio Tests
testScreen
This box's color shows the 8-Bit, 11kHz, stereo wave audio test result. Click it for test details. Right-click it for more options.
statusBarText
11.025 kHz
pLjM~M
waveAudio08s44
Wave Audio Tests
testScreen
This box's color shows the 8-Bit, 44kHz, stereo wave audio test result. Click it for test details. Right-click it for more options.
statusBarText
44 kHz
waveAudio08s22
Wave Audio Tests
testScreen
This box's color shows the 8-Bit, 22kHz, stereo wave audio test result. Click it for test details. Right-click it for more options.
statusBarText
22.5 kHz
waveAudio08m44
Wave Audio Tests
testScreen
This box's color shows the 8-Bit, 44kHz, mono wave audio test result. Click it for test details. Right-click it for more options.
statusBarText
44 kHz
DS>TRT
waveAudio08m22
Wave Audio Tests
testScreen
This box's color shows the 8-Bit, 22kHz, mono wave audio test result. Click it for test details. Right-click it for more options.
statusBarText
22.5 kHz
waveAudio16m11
Wave Audio Tests
testScreen
This box's color shows the 16-Bit, 11kHz, mono wave audio test result. Click it for test details. Right-click it for more options.
statusBarText
11.025 kHz
waveAudio16s11
>YZYN
Wave Audio Tests
testScreen
This box's color shows the 16-Bit, 11kHz, stereo wave audio test result. Click it for test details. Right-click it for more options.
statusBarText
11.025 kHz
nZh[|[
waveAudio16s44
Wave Audio Tests
testScreen
This box's color shows the 16-Bit, 44kHz, stereo wave audio test result. Click it for test details. Right-click it for more options.
statusBarText
44 kHz
waveAudio16s22
Wave Audio Tests
testScreen
This box's color shows the 16-Bit, 22kHz, stereo wave audio test result. Click it for test details. Right-click it for more options.
statusBarText
22.5 kHz
4_.`B`
waveAudio16m44
Wave Audio Tests
testScreen
This box's color shows the 16-Bit, 44kHz, mono wave audio test result. Click it for test details. Right-click it for more options.
statusBarText
44 kHz
waveAudio16m22
Wave Audio Tests
testScreen
This box's color shows the 16-Bit, 22kHz, mono wave audio test result. Click it for test details. Right-click it for more options.
statusBarText
22.5 kHz
cdAudio
runCDaudioTest
stereo
getCDdevice
reRunTest
CD Audio Tests
testScreen
This box's color shows the stereo CD audio test result. Click it for test details. Right-click it for more options.
statusBarText
midiAudioMelodic
.&+ +E
.&+ +E
MIDI Audio Tests
hplayMidi
svPatchNum
midiAudioMelodic
YpLastPatchNum
reRunTest
0iLiN
MIDI Audio Tests
testScreen
This box's color shows the MIDI audio music test result. Click it for test details. Right-click it for more options.
statusBarText
Music
JjDkvl
midiAudioPercussive
.&+ +E
.&+ +E
MIDI Audio Tests
hplayMidi
pLastKeyNum
svKeyNum
midiAudioPercussive
reRunTest
MIDI Audio Tests
testScreen
This box's color shows the percussive MIDI test result. Click it for test details. Right-click it for more options.
statusBarText
Percussion
Each box in this section represents one graphics test. The color of each box indicates at a glance the result of that test.
statusBarText
.&+ +E
.&+ +E
runDrawDibTest
rerunTest
drawDib01Bit100noPalette
Graphics Tests
testScreen
This box's color shows the 1-bit, 100% CPU graphics speed test result. Click it for test details. Right-click it for more options.
statusBarText
100% CPU
4r.sJs
drawDib01Bit40noPalette
Graphics Tests
testScreen
This box's color shows the 1-bit, 40% CPU graphics speed test result. Click it for test details. Right-click it for more options.
statusBarText
40% CPU
drawDib04Bit40noPalette
Graphics Tests
testScreen
This box's color shows the 4-bit, 40% CPU graphics speed test result. Click it for test details. Right-click it for more options.
statusBarText
40% CPU
drawDib04Bit100noPalette
<xVxN
Graphics Tests
testScreen
This box's color shows the 4-bit, 100% CPU graphics speed test result. Click it for test details. Right-click it for more options.
statusBarText
100% CPU
fy`z|z
drawDib08Bit40noPalette
Graphics Tests
testScreen
This box's color shows the 8-bit, 40% CPU graphics speed test result. Click it for test details. Right-click it for more options.
statusBarText
40% CPU
drawDib08Bit100noPalette
Graphics Tests
testScreen
This box's color shows the 8-bit, 100% CPU graphics speed test result. Click it for test details. Right-click it for more options.
statusBarText
100% CPU
screenColorDepth
.&+ +E
.&+ +E
CrunColorTest
reRunTest
Graphics Tests
testScreen
This box's color shows the graphics color capability test result. Click it for test details. Right-click it for more options.
statusBarText
screenResolution
.&+ +E
.&+ +E
<runResolutionTest
reRunTest
Graphics Tests
testScreen
This box's color shows the graphics resolution test result. Click it for test details. Right-click it for more options.
statusBarText
Each box in this section represents one CD-ROM drive test. The color of each box indicates at a glance the result of that test.
statusBarText
tranRate40withSD
CD-ROM Drive Tests
testScreen
This box's color shows the 40% CPU, w/ SmartDrive transfer rate test result. Click it for test details. Right-click it for more options.
statusBarText
40% CPU
tranRate60withSD
CD-ROM Drive Tests
testScreen
This box's color shows the 60% CPU, w/ SmartDrive transfer rate test result. Click it for test details. Right-click it for more options.
statusBarText
60% CPU
tranRate100WithSD
CD-ROM Drive Tests
testScreen
This box's color shows the 100% CPU, w/ SmartDrive transfer rate test result. Click it for test details. Right-click it for more options.
statusBarText
100% CPU
.&+ +E
.&+ +E
runCDtest
rerunTest
tranRate40withoutSD
CD-ROM Drive Tests
testScreen
This box's color shows the 40% CPU, no SmartDrive transfer rate test result. Click it for test details. Right-click it for more options.
statusBarText
40% CPU
tranRate60withoutSD
CD-ROM Drive Tests
testScreen
This box's color shows the 60% CPU, no SmartDrive transfer rate test result. Click it for test details. Right-click it for more options.
statusBarText
60% CPU
tranRate100withoutSD
CD-ROM Drive Tests
testScreen
This box's color shows the 100% CPU, no SmartDrive transfer rate test result. Click it for test details. Right-click it for more options.
statusBarText
100% CPU
3strokeAccessWithoutSD
.&+ +E
.&+ +E
runCDtest
reRunTest
CD-ROM Drive Tests
testScreen
This box's color shows the average access time test result. Click it for test details. Right-click it for more options.
statusBarText
MSCDEXversion
krunMscdexTest
reRunTest
CD-ROM Drive Tests
testScreen
This box's color shows the MSCDEX version test result. Click it for test details. Right-click it for more options.
statusBarText
Each box in this section represents one motion video test. The color of each box indicates at a glance the result of that test.
statusBarText
mpegVideo
runMpegTest
fullScreen
reRunTest
MPEG Video Tests
testScreen
This box's color shows the MPEG motion video test result. Click it for test details. Right-click it for more options.
statusBarText
vfwIntelIndeo
TESTVFW\IND_240.AVI
runVFWTest
svCDdrive
reRunTest
Video for Windows Tests
testScreen
This box's color shows the Video for Windows Intel Indeo test result. Click it for test details. Right-click it for more options.
statusBarText
Intel Indeo
vfwMsv1
runVFWTest
svCDdrive
TESTVFW\MS1_240.AVI
reRunTest
Video for Windows Tests
testScreen
This box's color shows the Video for Windows MS Video 1 test result. Click it for test details. Right-click it for more options.
statusBarText
MS Video 1
vfwCinepak
TESTVFW\CIN_240.AVI
runVFWTest
svCDdrive
reRunTest
Video for Windows Tests
testScreen
This box's color shows the Video for Windows Cinepak test result. Click it for test details. Right-click it for more options.
statusBarText
Cinepak
testingWindow
testingWindow
Testing your MIDI Audio (melodic).
You should be hearing something!
Press Esc to stop test.st.cludes.ll abort testing after current test concludes.ng after current test concludes.
cover
Each box below represents one MPC Wizard test. This legend tells you the meaning of each box's color.
statusBarText
Legend:
When a test box below is green, your system meets or exceeds MPC specs for that test at the level and filter you've chosen.
statusBarText
Passed
When a test box below is mauve, you didn't run that test yet during this MPC Wizard session.
statusBarText
Test Not Run
When a test box below is gray, no MPC requirement or recommendation exists for that test at the level and filter you've chosen.
statusBarText
No MPC Spec
When a test box below is red, your system fails to meet the MPC specs for that test at the level and filter you've chosen.
statusBarText
Failed
When a test box below is yellow, that test is running.
statusBarText
Test in Progress
e level and filter you've chosen.
statusBarText
Passed
When a test box below is mauve, you didn't run that test yet during this MPC Wizard session.
statusBarText
Test Not Run
When a test box below is gray, no MPC requirement or recommendation exists for that test at the level and filter you've chosen.
statusBarText
No MPC Spec
When a test box below is red, your system fails to meet the MPC specs for that test at the level and filter you've chosen.
statusBarText
Failed
When a test box below is yellow, that test is running.
statusBarText
Test in Progress
detailedResults
close
detailedResults
keyDown
detailedResults
close
.&+ +E
buttonClick
C&lose
printResults
.&+ +E
.&+ +E
.&+ +E
Cancel
Printer Setup...
1LprintResults
Print Test Results
buttonClick
&Print...
saveResults
saveResults
buttonClick
&Save...
System's
Results
MPC Specssem's
Results
Test Performed
&Print...
saveResults
saveResults
buttonClick
buttonClick
saveResults()
ve...
System's
Results
MPC Specssem's
Results
Test Performed
C&lose
&Save...
genericMsg
genericMsgText
Reading driver information from the MPC Wizard CD.
Please wait...
Press Esc to stop test.st. duration of the test.
genericMsgIcon
graphicsBiosInfo
otherBiosInfo
U.@..#VR9...w.VIDEO .MO...(.a(IBM VGA Compatible..0.S. ..CL-GD540X/542X VGA BIOS Version 1.00d ..Copyright 1992 Cirrus Logic, Inc. All Rights Reserved...Copyright 1987-1990 Quadtel Corp. All Rights Reserved..............................................a
deviceName
Cirrus Logic GD-5422 VGA
l;l;l';ll;l
l;l;l;l';l;l;
Device Name:
Other BIOS Info:
.&+ +E
buttonClick
onClick
close targetWindow
deviceName
OTHER BIOS INFO:
GRAPHICS DEVICE NAME:
textToClipboard
otherBiosInfo
buttonClick
onClick
lsText
= "GRAPHICS DEVICE NAME:" &
"deviceName" &\
k& "OTHER BIOS INFO:" &
"otherBiosInfo"
textToClipboard(
&Copy
close
close
keyDown
buttonClick
B"close"
C&lose
speakerTest
enterPage
keyDown
Choose the audio output you wish, then click PLAY SPEAKER TEST FILE.
Choose the type of audio output you'd like to hear by clicking one of the radio buttons below.
statusBarText
Audio Output
stereo
Click this radio button to choose a CD audio track recorded in stereo (i.e., different information sent to the left and right channels).
statusBarText
&Stereo
Click this radio button to choose a CD audio track recorded in mono (i.e., the same information sent to the left and right channels).
statusBarText
M&ono
Click this radio button to choose only the left channel of a CD audio track recorded in stereo.
statusBarText
&Left Channel Only
right
Click this radio button to choose only the right channel of a CD audio track recorded in stereo.
statusBarText
Right C&hannel Only
stereo
right
testsnd\stereo.wav
svCDdrive
testsnd\left.wav
testsnd\right.wav
runSpeakerTest
testsnd\mono.wav
buttonClick
&Play Speaker Test File
genericViewer1
uRetValue
buttonClick
&Done
akerTest
&Play Speaker Test File
genericViewer1
uRetValue
buttonClick
buttonClick
targetWindow =
"genericViewer1"
uRetValue
,"done"
&Done
copy16s44msg
continue
enterPage
cancel
keyDown
buttonClick
Playing the 16-bit, 44 kHz stereo wave audio file requires copying it to the directory that Windows uses to store temporary files (located on drive C:). This means that drive C: must have at least 3,067,076 bytes of free space.
Click COPY to copy the file to your hard disk, space permitting. The test file will remain on your C: drive until you exit this session of the MPC Wizard. Click SKIP to skip the 16-bit, 44.25 kHz stereo wave audio test, but run all the others.
What do you want to do? do?
genericViewer1
uRetValue
buttonClick
onClick
targetWindow =
"genericViewer1"
uRetValue
continue
C&opy
&Skip
cancel
&Cancel
soundInfo
versionNum
deviceName
close
C&lose
Device Name:::e Name:
Device Version #:
.&+ +E
buttonClick
onClick
close targetWindow
SOUND DEVICE NAME:
deviceName
textToClipboard
SOUND DEVICE VERSION:
versionNum
buttonClick
nClick
lsText
= "SOUND DEVICE NAME:" &
"deviceName" &\
4VERSION:" &
"versionNum"
textToClipboard(
&Copy
ReelMagic Sound 1.01
close
keyDown
buttonClick
B"close"
resultsNotSaved
enterPage
cancel
keyDown
buttonClick
The latest test results have not been printed or saved to disk, and will be lost when you exit.
What do you want to do? save them now? with "Print" or "Save" or "Exit""" or "Save" or "Exit"" or "Exit"
genericViewer1
uRetValue
buttonClick
onClick
targetWindow =
"genericViewer1"
uRetValue
E&xit Now
&Save to Text File...
print
&Print...
cancel
&Cancel
allTestsMessage
continue
enterPage
cancel
keyDown
buttonClick
Successfully running all the MPC Wizard tests will take a minimum of 15 minutes, and considerably more time if one or more components of your computer system are particularly slow. What do you want to do?
genericViewer1
uRetValue
buttonClick
onClick
targetWindow =
"genericViewer1"
uRetValue
continue
n&tinue
cancel
&Cancel
C&ontinue
File
testResultsHelp
helpText
textToClipboard
keyDown
ey,pShift,pCtrl
-- The
up key.
"helpText"
- 13 > -1
--
down
| = 0
lockScreen
focusWindow =
textToClipboard(
= keyEnter
buttonClick
B"done"
helpText
Introduction
The MPC Marketing Council issued two sets of performance guidelines for multimedia PCs--one for MPC Level 1-compatibility, and another for Level 2-compatibility. Each of these sets of guidelines includes both minimum requirements as well as recommendations. The MPC Wizard Test Results screen uses colors to indicate test results. This lets you see at a glance just how well your own system stacks up against several of the MPC Council's requirements and recommendations.
A large amount of information is packed into the Test Results screen. If you're a multimedia PC pro, you'll appreciate this. If you're not familiar with multimedia and the MPC specifications we suggest you read the information contained in the Wizard's What's an MPC section, then go through the CD-ROM, Graphics, Sound, and Motion Video parts of the MPC Tests section before using the Test Results screen.
Selecting the At-A-Glance Results to View
The buttons at the top of the Test Results screen let you toggle your at-a-glance, color-coded view of test results.
Click the MPC Level 1 button to compare your test results to the Level 1 standard, or click the MPC Level 2 button to compare your test results to the Level 2 standard. A check mark indicates the level you are viewing.
Click the Requirements Only filter to compare your test results to the MPC requirements for the level you've chosen. Click the Requirements & Recommendations filter to compare your test results to both the requirements and the recommendations for the level you've chosen.
Reading the Test Results Screen
The tests are divided into four groups: Sound, Graphics, CD-ROM, and Motion Video. Within each group is a set of colored boxes. Each box represents one test. The color of the box indicates the result of the test.
Green means that your system meets or exceeds the specifications for the MPC Level and filter you've chosen.
Red indicates that your system falls below that specification.
Gray indicates that there is no MPC requirement or recommendation for the test at the Level and filter you've chosen (though there may be at a different level or with the other filter). Note that features which the MPC Council considers "optional" or "desirable" are not included in the Wizard's definition of "recommended."
Mauve indicates that the test has not been run yet this session, or that you deleted the test using the Delete All Test Results button.
Yellow indicates that a test is in progress. You can abort some tests by pressing the Esc key on your keyboard. With others, you must wait until the test concludes. The message window that appears at the bottom right of your screen when you run a test will inform you when it is possible to abort the test.
You will probably find, when toggling between MPC levels or filters, that several of the test boxes will change color. For instance, if you are running Windows in 256-color mode you may discover that when you choose Level 1 with the Requirements Only filter, the test box representing the Colors test (in the Graphics section) is green. But when you switch to Level 2 using the Requirements Only filter, the box turns red. That's because Level 1 specifications require only 16 colors, whereas Level 2 specifications require 65,536 colors. The test result hasn't changed. What's changed is the definition of "passing" and "failing."
You will also notice a change of color in the Colors test box if your system is set to 16 colors and you toggle between Level 1 with the Requirements Only filter and Level 1 with the Requirements and Recommendations filter. In this case the test box will be green with the former set of choices, but red with the latter set of choices. That's because, though only 16 colors are required for Level 1 compatibility, 256 colors are recommended.
Please note that tests which measure performance levels are approximate. If your CD-ROM drive, for instance, measures 299 KB per second instead of 300 KB per second on the Data Transfer Rate test @ 100% of CPU time, the drive may still be MPC Level 2 compliant and, in any case, you're unlikely to notice any performance degradation.
Clicking a Test Box for More Options
To get details about the test (like the exact result, or the MPC specification for that feature), click the test box with your left mousebutton.
Clicking a test box with your right mousebutton causes a pop-up menu to appear.
Click View Test Results (available when the test has already been run) to get the details of the test. This is equivalent to clicking the test box with the left mousebutton as described above.
Click Go To _________ Screen to be brought to the place in the MPC Tests section of the Wizard that discusses the test in detail. The exact wording of this menu item will change depending upon the test.
To return to the Test Results screen, click the
button.
Click Go to _________ Troubleshooting Tips if you are experiencing difficulties with the test. You will be brought to the appropriate Troubleshooting Tips screen in the MPC Tests section of the Wizard. The exact wording of this menu item will change depending upon the test.
To return to the Test Results screen, click the
button.
Click Re-run Test to run the test again. Doing this will delete the previous result. If the test hasn't been run yet, this menu item will say Run Test.
Click Cancel if you don't want to do anything. This will dismiss the pop-up menu. You can also dismiss the pop-up menu by clicking anywhere outside of the menu (just be sure not to accidently click on any active button).
The Buttons at the Lower-Right Corner of the Screen
Click the Re-Run All Tests button to run the entire suite of tests again. Doing this will erase the previous set of test results. If the entire test suite hasn't been run before during the current MPC Wizard session, this button will say Run All Tests.
Click the Delete All Test Results button to erase the entire set of test results. Doing this will turn the color of all the buttons to mauve, as if no test had been run this MPC Wizard session.
Click the Detailed List of All Results button to view a list of all the test results for all the tests run during the current MPC Wizard session, or since you last deleted the test results. You are given options to print the list or save it to a text file.
Click the Test Results Screen Help button to bring up the help text you are now viewing.elp button to bring up the help text you are now viewing.ptions to print the list or save it to a text file.
Click the Test Results Screen Help button to bring up the help text you are now viewing.list or save it to a text file.
Click the Test Results Screen Help button to bring up the help text you are now viewing.
helpText
textToClipboard
testResultsHelp
pCtrl
keyDown
.&+ +E
buttonClick
C&lose
testResultsHelp
pCtrl
keyDown
= keyEnter
buttonClick
B"done"
= "testResultsHelp"
-- The
"helpText"
- 13 > -1
--
down
lockScreen
focusWindow =
pCtrl
textToClipboard(
C&lose
vfwStats
keyDown
= keyEnter
buttonClick
B"done"
Movie type:
Size of Movie:
Recorded Color Depth:
No. of Frames in Entire Movie:
Frame No. You Stopped At:
No. of Frames Actually Displayed:
Recorded Frame Rate:
Actual Avg. Frame Rate:
vfwStats
Intel Indeo 3
240 by 180 pixels
24-bit
15 fps
15 fpspsss
moviePlayed
The movie played. No frames were skipped by Video for Windows.60 by 120 pixels
8-bit
15 fpsps Performance Statistics
chooseSpecs
Continue
enterPage
cancel
keyDown
B"Continue"
buttonClick
continue
.&+ +E
genericViewer1
getMpcLevel
uRetValue
getRequirements
buttonClick
MPC 1
MPC 2
getMpcLevel
requirements
recommendations
getRequirements
nClick
Zstack lskRetValue
targetWindow =
"genericViewer1"
getMpcLevel()
getRequirements()
uRetValue
B"MPC 1"
B"requirements"
"recommendations"
Con&tinue
cancel
.&+ +E
cancel
genericViewer1
uRetValue
buttonClick
onClick
Zstack lskRetValue
targetWindow =
"genericViewer1"
uRetValue
&Cancel
MPC 1
Click this button to limit your at-a-glance view of test results to the minimum requirements for the MPC level you've chosen.
statusBarText
MPC Level &1
MPC 2
Click this button to include in your at-a-glance view the requirements AND recommendations for the MPC level you've chosen.
statusBarText
MPC Level &2
requirements
Click this button to limit your at-a-glance view of test results to the minimum requirements for the MPC level you've chosen.
statusBarText
Requirements &Only
recommendations
Click this button to include in your at-a-glance view the requirements AND recommendations for the MPC level you've chosen.
statusBarText
&Requirements && Recommendations
The Test Results screen will be displayed while the MPC Wizard tests are running. The Test Results screen uses colors to indicate test results. This lets you see at a glance just how well your own system stacks up against several of the MPC Council's requirements and recommendations. After each test concludes, the pass/fail result for that test will appear on the screen.
Please select below the set of MPC Council specifications you want to view while the tests are running. Regardless of which specs you choose, you can easily switch views once the tests conclude without having to re-run the tests.
(.txt)