Game Killer/Game_Killer.bin/179.UHSTSR.TXT

Text File | 1993-06-19 | 15KB | 274 lines

Universal Hint System
Revision 91a
TSR Reader for MS-DOS, Version 1.00
  (June 10, 1993)


Copyright Information
=====================

This program is copyright 1992-1993 by Jason Strautman.  All rights reserved.
Portions written and copyright 1992 by Robert Norton.  This program may be
used for evaluation purposes (as described in UHS.TXT), as long as users who
have not registered UHS/TSR are not using another person's registration codes.

Although efforts were made to insure that this program is compatible with as
many hardware and software configurations as possible, there are no guarantees
that this program will be compatible.  Any damages resulting from use of this
program are solely the responsibility of the user.


System Requirements
===================

- 80386 SX-based computer or higher
- 2 MB of RAM, with 256K configured as EMS
- 640K of EMS may be required with DOS 6.0 and DBLSPACE
- DOS 5.0, QEMM, or any other expanded memory manager
- 50KB of free upper memory (UMBs) highly recommended
- VGA graphics card highly recommended

If your system does not meet these requirements, you will not be able to use
UHSTSR.EXE.  The stand-alone version of this program, UHS.EXE, should still
work on your computer.  The requirements for this program are only as high as
they are because games tend to have large memory requirements, and I had to
use EMS since most games do not leave enough conventional memory for the TSR's
needs.

I still cannot guarantee that a system meeting these requirements will be able
to run UHSTSR at the same time as any particular game.  Many new games also
require EMS or XMS; if you are trying to get UHSTSR to run with one of these
games, you may need to incease the overall RAM requirements.  If your game
also uses EMS, you will need to add 256K to the game's EMS requirement to
determine how much EMS to set your system to use.


Loading UHSTSR
==============

You will need a UHS hint file to load into the TSR reader.  I have explained
how to find such a file in the main documentation for this program, UHS.TXT.
Once you have your TSR, simply type the name of this program (UHSTSR) followed
by the name of the file.  The program will assume that the file is in the same
directory as UHSTSR.  If the UHS file is located in another directory or
drive, you will have to give the drive or directory with the filename (as in
UHSTSR \UHS\ALONE or UHSTSR C:\UHS\ALONE).  As you can see in the example, you
can leave the ".UHS" off the UHS filename.

UHSTSR will also load into any upper memory block if you have enough free
memory (approximately 50KB).  You should use the appropriate command for your
memory manager (like LH for DOS 5.0 or LOADHI for QEMM).  More details on
maximizing system resources are listed later in this text file.


Interface
=========

You can run UHSTSR from within most games.  Simply press the ALT and ? keys
simultaneously (you do not need to hold down SHIFT with the question mark, so
ALT + / also works), and the program will start itself if it can.  Please note
that some games will not allow hotkeys to activate a TSR, so you may not be
able to start the TSR under all games.  The TSR should always activate itself
at the DOS prompt, so you may want to press ALT-? at the DOS prompt to make
sure the TSR is installed correctly.  If the TSR works under DOS but not under
your game, please let me know and I'll try to work out the conflict.

It is usually a good idea to save your game before starting the TSR under a
game for the first time.  Although my beta testers and I have done extensive
testing to work out compatibility problems, conflicts are sure to arise with
some games.  If you cannot save your game, I would advise that you test the
TSR as soon as possible when starting the game.

I had to greatly simplify the interface of UHSTSR to reduce the amount of
memory that it uses.  All you need to do is select a lettered choice from the
menus by pressing the appropriate key.  The SPACE BAR will take you back one
menu, and if you're reading hints, the ENTER key will show you the next hint.
You will also be asked to confirm if you hit the SPACE BAR at the top menu;
the TSR will return control to whatever program was running once you exit this
menu.


Known Compatibility Problems
============================

EGA-based games may not have their color palettes properly restored.  A VESA
driver must be loaded for SVGA graphics to be restored, even if the game using
the SVGA graphics does not require such a driver.  Some VGA cards and VESA
drivers do not support all VGA or VESA functions, and as a result, graphics
may not be completely restored.  The TESTVGA program included in this archive
will let you know if your system might have problems running this TSR.  If you
have any problems with the TSR, especially with the display, please run
TESTVGA and report the results to me.

You should avoid activating the TSR within any CD-ROM game while the CD drive
is being accessed.  Many CD games depend on a certain transfer rate or access
time, and starting the TSR while the drive is being activated will interfere
with the apparent transfer rate or access time.  The best solution is simply
to wait for the drive to stop or to pause your game before pressing ALT-?.

It's also a good idea not to activate the TSR when digitized sound is being
played (speech and sound effects are digitized sounds, but music generally
isn't).  The consequences vary from game to game: you may find yourself unable
to exit the TSR or experience corrupted sound if you do.  Pausing the game or
turning off the sound temporarily should prevent problems.

I have noticed problems with ATI's VESA driver version 1.2 dated 3/19/92.  An
older version such as 1.1 dated 10/17/91 will work correctly with this TSR.  I
have not seen any version newer than 1.2, so I don't know if such a version
would work properly.

Some Trident-based cards and their VESA drivers apparently do not support the
VESA functions on which this TSR relies.  The display may be corrupted or
completely blacked out if you try to use UHSTSR within any SVGA program on
these cards.  You may need to test compatibility out on a case-by-case basis
with SVGA programs, since some seem to work better than others, and be
prepared to lose any progress that you have made in your game the first time
you test the TSR from inside SVGA games.


Increasing Low Memory
=====================

Some memory managers come with their own optimization programs.  For example,
QEMM has OPTIMIZE and DOS 6.0 has MEMMAKER.  If you have such a program, just
follow the directions included with those programs and they will give you as
much free conventional memory as possible.  If you don't want to load the TSR
in your AUTOEXEC.BAT, I recommend that you temporarily place UHSTSR in your
AUTOEXEC.BAT just to run OPTIMIZE or MEMMAKER.  Then you can delete UHSTSR
from your AUTOEXEC.BAT, but a single memory block will now have enough free
for when you do decide to load the TSR.  QEMM's Stealth feature (available
in version 6.0) may interfere with UHSTSR as well as many games and should
be avoided if at all possible.

There is no elegant way to maximize conventional memory with DOS 5.0; if you
can't fit all of your TSR programs into the upper memory blocks, my best
advice is to load the largest TSRs into upper memory first.  For example, if
you have 55K in one UMB, and you load a 10K mouse driver into it, you won't
have room enough for UHSTSR and about 50K of low memory will be taken.  On the
other hand, if you load UHSTSR first (or don't try to load the mouse driver
into high memory), it will fit into the UMBs and leave only the much smaller
mouse driver in low memory.  Of course, your system probably won't have the
same memory amounts as used in the above example, but the principle should
still hold.

I've found that there's enough free upper memory on most systems for both
UHSTSR and a disk compression program, but you may have trouble getting
additional TSR programs into upper memory, depending on your system.  You may
have to remove some of these TSRs (including disk caches) to gain enough low
memory for the most demanding games.  But also remember that many games do not
work well with compression programs; you may be better off putting your game
on an uncompressed partition and avoiding the compression program altogether.

If you're trying to run UHSTSR with a CD-ROM game, you may need to use the
"/E" parameter on MSCDEX.EXE to move MSCDEX's buffers into expanded memory and
free up more memory for other TSR programs.  Please note that you will need
more than the standard 256K of EMS if you use this option on MSCDEX; the exact
amount depends on the number of buffers you select.  Other TSRs may also offer
options to use XMS or EMS instead of low memory or the UMBs.


UHSTSRB
=======

Some games attempt to take total control of the keyboard, and as a result, the
standard UHSTSR program won't start when you press the ALT-? hotkey.  I have
written a different version of the TSR that will try to take control of the
keyboard back, but it does have significant drawbacks, and you should only use
this version (called UHSTSRB) if the original UHSTSR.EXE fails to activate
normally.  In most respects, the two programs are identical, but here follows
a list of requirements and important differences of UHSTSRB:

- This program *must* be loaded as the last TSR.  If you attempt to load any
  TSR after this one, there is a good chance that your keystrokes may be
  used twice.  For example, if you press "B", "BB" will appear on screen.  If
  this happens, you will need to reset your computer and make sure not to load
  any additional TSRs after UHSTSRB.
- The restriction on loading TSRB as the last TSR may also include some DOS
  shells or similar programs.  The safest way of preventing problems (the most
  common is the duplication of keystrokes mentioned above) is to load UHSTSRB
  and then immediately start your game.
- UHSTSRB cannot uninstall completely.  Several hundred bytes (368 bytes from
  my experience) will still be held by the program after it is uninstalled,
  and the only way to free this memory is to reboot your computer.
- You should always try the standard UHSTSR first, because some programs that
  work with it will *not* work with UHSTSRB.  The opposite is also true, but
  since UHSTSR is the more compatible TSR, and since you can easily unload it
  from memory, it's safer to start with UHSTSR.
- And now, the good news.  Any TSR that is loaded before UHSTSRB has a chance
  of running better under uncooperative games than it did before.  For
  example, the volume controls of the PAS-16 (CONTROL+ALT+D/U/M) will now work
  with games, as long as UHSTSRB is loaded after it.


Reporting Problems
==================

Please read this documentation to see if it can help answer any problems you
have before reporting conflicts between this TSR and any games.  I will need
the following information in order to help you solve any problems; if you
don't know the answer to the following questions, please tell me, since I will
normally ask you to fill in any missing information before investigating your
conflict reports.

- Try both UHSTSR and UHSTSRB.  If one doesn't work, the other might.
- Send me copies of your AUTOEXEC.BAT and CONFIG.SYS.  If you post a forum
  message on CompuServe, please make sure to post your message unformatted,
  or else CIS formatting may make your message unreadable.
- If you're using DOS 6 with multiple configurations, let me know which one(s)
  you tried using the TSR with.  Use the cleanest boot disk that you can --
  only a mouse driver, sound card driver, disk compression utility, or CD ROM
  drivers if necessary, and of course, the TSR.
- The manufacturer and model of your graphics card.
- And of course, the nature of the problem: what game(s) do not work with
  the TSR, symptoms (if they do not appear all the time, please tell me), the
  publisher of those game(s), and whether or not the TSR will run at the DOS
  prompt.


Shareware Notice
================

This program is shareware.  Under the shareware concept, you should register a
program after you have had a chance to evaluate it and decide that you like
it.  I do not feel, however, that much evaluation of this TSR is necessary.
It provides the same high quality of hints that the main UHS.EXE provides; the
only major difference between the pop-up and the stand-alone programs is the
way that they are started.

For this reason, I have limited the number of hints that you can view within
the TSR reader.  After you have read two hints in any single question, hint
display will be stopped and you will be forced to select another question.  I
didn't want to force people to register this program without having a chance
to test it with their favorite games.

Packaging UHSTSR in this archive gives you a chance to make sure that you will
be able to use the pop-up program.  If you need to test the quality of the UHS
hints, you can use the stand-alone program to do so.  You can combine the hint
quality from UHS.EXE with the ease of use that UHSTSR provides to determine
what the registered version of this program will give you.

In addition to the endless joy and satisfaction that you can get from knowing
that you have supported to the UHS, registered users of this program will get
a free copy of the stand-alone program (UHS.EXE), for use with those rare
programs that are not compatible with the TSR.  The stand-alone program also
offers features that wouldn't fit into the limited amount of space that the
TSR has to use.  Registration for both programs is only $20.

As is the policy for UHS.EXE, a disk with all of the latest UHS files and
readers will be provided to anyone who includes an extra $5 or more with
his/her registration.  Please see UHS.TXT for information update disks for
registered users, automatic registration for file authors, and distribution
policies.  All of these items also apply to the TSR version of the UHS reader.


Jason Strautman
239 Redwood
San Antonio, TX  78209
CIS: [72337,2611]
  (Please leave messages in The Gamers' Forum -- GO GAMERS)
AOL: JStrautman
GEnie: J.STRAUTMAN
  (Note: I cannot guarantee that I will keep my GEnie account.  If you do not
  hear from me on GEnie, you should contact me by any of the other means
  listed above.)