I'm computer stupid, and need help

jonhooper · Post by **jonhooper** » Mon Jan 15, 2001 8:00 am

Okay, here's what's going on. I'm trying to play PacWar with Windows Me. The only problem I'm having is that the on-screen numerical data is scrambled and unreadable. The words are clear, just the numbers are messed up. Any ideas?

Ed Cogburn · Post by **Ed Cogburn** » Mon Jan 15, 2001 7:58 pm

Originally posted by jonhooper:
Okay, here's what's going on. I'm trying to play PacWar with Windows Me. The only problem I'm having is that the on-screen numerical data is scrambled and unreadable. The words are clear, just the numbers are messed up. Any ideas?

This has happened before. As I remember it, most thought it was a lack of RAM. How much RAM do you have available in a DOS box?

jonhooper · Post by **jonhooper** » Mon Jan 15, 2001 11:46 pm

My system has 64 MB of RAM. Is it different for DOS? I just tried to play SSI's Carrier Strike and it does the same thing. It plays great, but the numerical data is messed up.

Dave Hotchkiss · Post by **Dave Hotchkiss** » Mon Jan 15, 2001 11:54 pm

Originally posted by jonhooper:
Okay, here's what's going on. I'm trying to play PacWar with Windows Me. The only problem I'm having is that the on-screen numerical data is scrambled and unreadable. The words are clear, just the numbers are messed up. Any ideas?

Were you able to solve the problem? My computer is doing the same thing.

jonhooper · Post by **jonhooper** » Tue Jan 16, 2001 12:33 am

Nope, still having problems. I've tried everything that I know how to do, with no luck. I'm using a Compaq. What do you have?

Dave Hotchkiss · Post by **Dave Hotchkiss** » Tue Jan 16, 2001 12:51 am

Originally posted by jonhooper:
Nope, still having problems. I've tried everything that I know how to do, with no luck. I'm using a Compaq. What do you have?

I have a compaq that we bought about 3 weeks ago with windows ME. My brother has an HP with windows 98 and Pac war works fine for him?? I've tried a lot of stuff and no luck.

jonhooper · Post by **jonhooper** » Tue Jan 16, 2001 1:43 am

I checked out the archives and someone else was having problems with PacWar running on a Compaq. Maybe we're out of luck?

Ed Cogburn · Post by **Ed Cogburn** » Tue Jan 16, 2001 2:44 am

Originally posted by jonhooper:
I checked out the archives and someone else was having problems with PacWar running on a Compaq. Maybe we're out of luck?

My bet is your problem is WinME.

Click on Start->Run then type "mem /c" and see what it says is your max DOS memory? (Bottom of the screen "Largest executable program size") Anything over 600k would be ok. Below that its iffy.

Does turning off video acceleration help? (RightClick on screen then Display-> Properties->Settings->Advanced->Performance. This is for Win98, it may be different for you.)

Dave Hotchkiss · Post by **Dave Hotchkiss** » Tue Jan 16, 2001 9:32 am

Originally posted by Ed Cogburn:

My bet is your problem is WinME.

Click on Start->Run then type "mem /c" and see what it says is your max DOS memory? (Bottom of the screen "Largest executable program size") Anything over 600k would be ok. Below that its iffy.

Does turning off video acceleration help? (RightClick on screen then Display-> Properties->Settings->Advanced->Performance. This is for Win98, it may be different for you.)

I tried the video acceleration, no luck. My MS-DOS memory is 580; the game will play and it all seem to flow except there are no numbers anyplace on the screen. Does anyone else use windows ME?

jonhooper · Post by **jonhooper** » Tue Jan 16, 2001 10:56 am

Thanks for your help, Ed. My system has 592k, and turning the accelerator off didn't help. Maybe this game doesn't like Compaqs that run Win ME. Do you know of any other game which is currently available that covers the same subject?

mogami · Post by **mogami** » Tue Jan 16, 2001 11:14 am

Hi, try this extreme measure restart computer in DOS mode first load DOS driver for mouse (if you need one e-mail me and I will send you one but for trial purpose skip this step) open c:\matrixgames\pacwar directory and type PAC ( after making sure you have at least 575k of conventional mem)
This should by pass any Win-ME input that is messing you up.
(note it is most likely listed as c:matrix~1\pacific~1 or some such (windows messing with the name you enter) so you have to look and see exactly where windows put your directories
------------------
I'm not retreating, I'm attacking in a differant direction!

[This message has been edited by Mogami (edited January 16, 2001).]

Gavin · Post by **Gavin** » Tue Jan 16, 2001 1:34 pm

I have this same problem from day one. Never had in with win 95 so it is almost certainly a winme memory problem. What I cant work out is there doesnt appear to be a conventional config.sys/autoexec.bat file to edit. (One of these two I recollect I use to edit daily to solve various memory problems in DOS). Does anyone no if something like memmaker exists for winme?. In any event my computer aint compaq and it still has a mild form of the problem ie cant interigate air groups for detail data goes haywire. I am going to put this question to the computer nerds at work and approach my supplier and demand an answer.

I bought a game called accros the rhine a few years ago and this is my third computer I cant get it to run on so the PACwar probs shouldnt be as big a challenge.

regards

GD

mogami · Post by **mogami** » Tue Jan 16, 2001 3:29 pm

Hi, windows does not use config.sys or autoexe.bat in its normal routine. When you right click properties on an exe file you can set up DOS memerory requirments. The default setting is auto. If you select run in dos as needed you can select a conventional memory above 570 If you select run in DOS it will ask if you want to use a different config.sys and give a window you can write it in. (speaking of win98 (I have never seen win-me) So there are 2 choices DOS as needed or straight DOS. I always start with as needed and go to straight if that does not solve the problem.
All of these win-me compaq problems sound to me like a vid/sound conflict. I would have to see the hardware set ups to tell for sure
(the vid or sound card is occuping a memory page that Pac War wants) Windows programs are able to use the memory above the 1st 1 meg while dos programs must reside in the 640k only. Using the edit config.sys option after right clicking rewrite it to load dos ect High DOS=High,umb
If I remember correctly all GG's old dos games wanted at least 20 files exe files=20
I don't think the buffer line was important (except that the lower it was the more free conventional mem. Try the below simple config.sys (we will add a mouse later)If possible put this on a floppy and boot your machine from there. (or use the window after right clicking Pac.exe file and selecting DOS mode only) and edit the config.sys right there.
Device=C:\win\Himem.sys

Device=C:\win\Emm386.exe Noems

Buffers=15,0

Files=30

DOS=UMB

------------------
I'm not retreating, I'm attacking in a differant direction!

[This message has been edited by Mogami (edited January 16, 2001).]

Gavin · Post by **Gavin** » Tue Jan 16, 2001 5:50 pm

I used the right click memory technique to edit the pacwar application (no exe files in winme)and set it at 600 which hopefully would have been enough. Unfortunately no dice as it doesnt change the executible programme size. Found the application file that checks memory (old dos mem/c) by another name and note that in bottom 640K the only sizable file is DOS loaded low at 60 odd k. Of course this is more than enough to cripple winme below 600k which I believe is the cause of all these problems. Unfortunately no recognisable editable config.sys file exists in winme as far as I can tell. Found what pupports to be it, file size zero K totally blank when opened using word pad (wrong editor?? maybee)I believe the solution to all this is to find a way to load dos high in winme but I have no idea how to do it notwithstanding having done it hundreds of times before on older PC's. Interestingly in my shutdown menu restarting in DOS is also NOT an option. As I said above time to ask some questions to the supplier.

GD

------------------
POW & Repulse
"Great idea rotten ships"

mogami · Post by **mogami** » Tue Jan 16, 2001 6:15 pm

Hi, windows config.sys files ARE!!! always blank to start with. Windows does not use config.sys or autoexe.bat in its normal routine. (Bill Gates is an ass for not continuing to support his own product DOS) I have never seen Win-Me (and it sounds like it sux worse then the other windows) When you right click the PAc file (where you set mem to 600) their should (used to be-is on win98 still) an option for making config.sys file. You would need to type in the device's and drivers.) Short of that opening the config.sys the way you did before edit in the simple config.sys above. (lord knows what your machine is going to do. I would put it on a floppy (boot disk)
Of course these files must be on your machine in order to load them (but windows does use himem and ems386 so they usally reside somewhere in the windows folder. If you don't have them I will make a bootdisk and e-mail it to you. (download it to floppy and boot computer with it)

OK I e-mailed you a PAC.exe file where I have set config.sys ect. Install it and let me know what happens (just rename old Pac.exe file so you still have it if needed)

(a note to all interested. I am now starting to think win-me users need to put dos files into a folder (DOS) because maybe win-me does not support dos at all) As a result you get a black screen (GIGO) I am making a dos folder with all the required files in case this latest try fails

also beaware of the differant types of memory
(refering here to "Across the Rhine) there are 3 types of memory 1.conventional (the first 640k extended (XMS) early machines allowed memory chips up to 1meg then 2 then 4 ect ect then expanded came along (ems) when dealing with older programs you must make sure you are making the right kind of mem xms or ems (I have boot disks I use for each-it's easier then always editing my config.sys but in windows properties you can pick the starting envoirment needed) PAC WAR wants a 4meg machine using EMS (plus 575k of conventional)
------------------
I'm not retreating, I'm attacking in a differant direction!

[This message has been edited by Mogami (edited January 16, 2001).]

[This message has been edited by Mogami (edited January 16, 2001).]

Ed Cogburn · Post by **Ed Cogburn** » Wed Jan 17, 2001 12:29 pm

Originally posted by Mogami:
Hi, windows config.sys files ARE!!! always blank to start with. Windows does not use config.sys or autoexe.bat in its normal routine.

Are you talking about WinME? For Win95/98, the c:\config.sys and c:\autoexec.bat files are still used. Windows uses the bootup memory situation as the template for all DOS boxes. You can, for example, put in a device driver you normally never use in c:\config.sys and you'll see it in every DOS box under Windows. You can also disable EMS memory in the EMM386.EXE command line in c:\config.sys and you'll notice that Windows will tell you that you don't have EMS memory available.

The config.sys/autoexec.bat files available in the advanced section of a DOS box setup are for *rebooting* the machine into a setup based on what you put in those sections. This is horribly tedious, and not necessary if you can optimize your original setup in c:\config.sys and c:\autoexec.bat. If you can setup your machine in c:\config.sys to get you more than 600k in DOS memory, you'll never have to reboot in Windows 95/98 to get a good enough DOS box.

For the person who reported having 580k, I don't think that is enough. Try to get more than 600k. Turn off EMS support with EMM386.EXE. That will recover quite a bit of memory. Also, try the "highscan" option with EMM386.EXE that might get you some more. Take out any mouse driver that you are loading in DOS, you don't need it. When running PW under Windows you'll be able to use the mouse via Window's mouse driver. I have 608k free on my system (and can get more free if I needed) and have never had memory problems with PW or WiR.

This is my config.sys:

break=off
fcbs=1,0
stacks=0,0
files=50
lastdrive=Z
switches=/F
buffershigh=30,0
dos=high,umb,auto
device=C:\WINDOWS\HIMEM.SYS /testmem :off
device=C:\WINDOWS\EMM386.EXE noems ram highscan
devicehigh=(my CDROM driver)

I load a small sound driver in my autoexec.bat, and thats it.

[This message has been edited by Ed Cogburn (edited January 17, 2001).]

frank1970 · Post by **frank1970** » Wed Jan 17, 2001 1:00 pm

You may set the Z for last drive to, say H (depending what the ? (sorry, don´t know the word in the moment) of your last drive is).
This will give you some more memory (2K for each is used).

Ed Cogburn · Post by **Ed Cogburn** » Wed Jan 17, 2001 4:48 pm

Originally posted by Frank:
You may set the Z for last drive to, say H (depending what the ? (sorry, don´t know the word in the moment) of your last drive is).
This will give you some more memory (2K for each is used).

'?' == 'Drive letter' ?

Your right, I can't remember now why I set it back to Z, I had it set to something else prior to this. Don'tcha hate it when the grey matter starts to go....

[This message has been edited by Ed Cogburn (edited January 17, 2001).]

GET TRANSPT · Post by **GET TRANSPT** » Wed Jan 17, 2001 5:54 pm

I have win 98 first edition and have no problems.

However, my dad recently bought a COMPAQ win 98 SE and has all the Win ME problems mentioned above (he can't play the game).

So I called COMPAQ support, and the COMPAQ support tech BLITHELY told me that win SE and ME are "no longer" supporting DOS and DOS is less and less "viable" so tough luck. To change it would cost my old man "special" tech support call and money, not fall under warranty since DOS is no longer "part of the system" what a bunch of creeps.

I want to thank you, MOGAMI, for trying to help. I wanted to pass on that Win 98 SE (second edition, where they screw up DOS) is also useless.

Please let me/the list know about your "magic bullet" as my old man is semi retired and misses his WWII fix.

Thanks

Sergio

grumbler · Post by **grumbler** » Thu Jan 18, 2001 6:20 am

Here's a suggestion: run the computer in pure DOS 6.2. You can obtain a (German) program that sets up a boot disk specifically designed for older DOS games that require conventional memory. It is called "Boot0" and you can get a link to it in the technical discussions forum of www.underdogs.org.

I use it all the time with my Win98 and some of the older DOS games like "Clash of Steel." It should work for you as well.

Let me know if this helps. If you cannot find Boot0 at The Underdogs, let me know and I will email you the zip file (it's only 86 kb).