RE: This program won't run on my system complaints

Mike Wood · Post by **Mike Wood** » Tue Sep 26, 2000 12:09 pm

Hello...

I am posting every where I go, but to let you know, PacWar has the same problem that Wir has. It requires a lot of DOS low memory, 634k, to be exact. So, if any one complains the program will not run on their system, tell them this.

If running in Windows '95 or Windows '98, remark out the autoexc.bat and config.sys files. It will then run ok. If running from a pure DOS environment, configure the autoexec.bat and config.sys files so that 634k is available. This can be determined by running mem.exe, which will report current memory available. The DOS user may need to get QEMM, to make this much low memory available.

Thanks...

Michael Wood

Grendel · Post by **Grendel** » Tue Sep 26, 2000 12:20 pm

Refuses completely to run.

Gives following error message after the credits screen has passed:

pac
This program has performed an illegal operation and will be terminated.

Same happens through DOS and 4DOS.

War In Russia ran perfectly.
Machine is a P3 with Win98 and usually enough DOS memory free.

------------------

Drex · Post by **Drex** » Tue Sep 26, 2000 4:47 pm

Mike, that sounds like the solution but for the less computer literate (like me) how do we access the config and auto-exec files? Thanks for responding. I did read your original instructions in What's New but I didn't have problems with WiR so I figured everything would load fine.

RickyB · Post by **RickyB** » Tue Sep 26, 2000 6:48 pm

Originally posted by Drex:
Mike, that sounds like the solution but for the less computer literate (like me) how do we access the config and auto-exec files? Thanks for responding. I did read your original instructions in What's New but I didn't have problems with WiR so I figured everything would load fine.

To make the computer start without the config.sys and autoexec.bat files being loaded, rename them to config.bak and autoexec.bak (you may need them for other programs you run). To find them, they are in the root directory/folder c:\. Using Explorer, you can right click on them, choose rename and change the last three letters, or from a DOS prompt:
ren c:\config.sys config.bak
and the same for the autoexec.bat file.

Also, the Matrix version, along with WIR, both run fine on my machine with just two commands in the config.sys file:

device=c:\windows\himem.sys
dos=high,umb

This should maximize your first 640k memory.
Good luck.

------------------
Rick Bancroft
Semper Fi

KG Erwin · Post by **KG Erwin** » Tue Sep 26, 2000 8:00 pm

Thanks, Rick. I used the second solution you recommended. Now the game works. The problem was, I had never needed to change any settings in config.sys before now. For those using Windows 98, here is the exact procedure:start>programs>accessories>system tools>system information>tools>system configuration utility. Click on config.sys, hit the "new" button, and type in dos=high,umb. Make sure that this is moved to the second command line. Click "OK" and restart your PC. Start the game, and voila, it works! Note:this procedure was used on a 400mhz Pentium II system with 64MB RAM.

RickyB · Post by **RickyB** » Tue Sep 26, 2000 9:26 pm

Originally posted by KG Erwin:
Thanks, Rick. I used the second solution you recommended. Now the game works. The problem was, I had never needed to change any settings in config.sys before now. For those using Windows 98, here is the exact procedure:start>programs>accessories>system tools>system information>tools>system configuration utility. Click on config.sys, hit the "new" button, and type in dos=high,umb. Make sure that this is moved to the second command line. Click "OK" and restart your PC. Start the game, and voila, it works! Note:this procedure was used on a 400mhz Pentium II system with 64MB RAM.

Glenn,

Glad it helped. Thanks for posting how to get in there - I have always done it from DOS at a c:\ prompt and did not think about explaining it.

For everyone, you do not want to have a line saying device=emm386.exe or a variation of that. It will take you available lower memory and use it to map blocks of your upper memory, thereby reducing your lower memory. The more RAM you have, the less lower memory it will leave, so place a REM with a space before the line if you currently have one in the config file. This, by the way, is how you remark out a line - it would read:
rem device=emm386.exe.

------------------
Rick Bancroft
Semper Fi

Blackhorse · Post by **Blackhorse** » Tue Sep 26, 2000 11:10 pm

Is there any help/hope for a Windows NT user?

My logfile says "setup completed normally", but noted that two truetype fonts (arial, tahoma) failed to register.

When I execute, the opening screens come up, but after the credits all I see is a black/blank screen, and the task manager indicates that the game is frozen.

I've found the autoexec.bat and config.sys files, but I can't open them ("this is not a valid NT application") let alone edit them.

Suggestions?

Doug Olenick · Post by **Doug Olenick** » Tue Sep 26, 2000 11:11 pm

I have NT and downloaded everything with no problem. Try dumping the file and doing it again.

Drex · Post by **Drex** » Tue Sep 26, 2000 11:45 pm

Worked for me! My thanks to Mike Wood, RickyB and KG Erwin for helping this illiterate out. Now I've got that old PacWar feeling again.

Templar · Post by **Templar** » Tue Sep 26, 2000 11:56 pm

(Not much on-topic stuff in this message but what the hey)

First of all a big Thank You to Matrix for releasing and re-releasing all these wonderful wonderful pieces of gaming art (and thanks in advance for the upcoming titles too)!

I remember when Pacific War first came out but I didn't try it then so I'm a PacWar newbie - and I must say, after reading the manual and fiddling around for a while, a little scared already.. I'm afraid that if I plunge into the game I won't resurface for days.

Anyway, I too had the problem of PacWar not starting but rem:ming a couple of lines from my config.sys helped (it also helped with the memory error with air groups in War In Russia!). I still get a memory error (identical to the one in WIR) when I try to access a LCU being transported in a ship, though.

It's likely just another case of not enough memory - however I'm under the impression that the similar problem in WIR was/will be somehow fixed in the next version so maybe you can do something about this one too?

Doug Olenick · Post by **Doug Olenick** » Wed Sep 27, 2000 12:27 am

Here's something new. I am in the Jan. 4 1942 turn. I went to Columbo where the Indomitable was docked. I accessed the Fulmar sqadron to change it to Wildcats and got an out of memory message. I hit escape several times and got back to the game screen, where I found out I could not change the mission or type of any sqadron anywhere.

I quit out of the game, not shutting it down but making it "frozen", then opened it back up and found I could access any air group and make changes. However, if I went back to the Indomitable and clicked on either sqadron the memory message came back up. If I leave the air group as is, no other out of memory message is received.

Any ideas?

Doug Olenick · Post by **Doug Olenick** » Wed Sep 27, 2000 12:31 am

PS, The same thing happens on the Hermes docked at Dacca.......

Doug Olenick · Post by **Doug Olenick** » Wed Sep 27, 2000 12:35 am

PS, The same thing happens on the Hermes docked at Dacca.......

RobBrennan · Post by **RobBrennan** » Wed Sep 27, 2000 12:42 am

Hi all . just downloaded this classic and i am having a major problem. After i double click the setup download the system flickers to 'installing game' then flicks back to win98 with nothing really happening. I know this sounds like a duff download but i downloaded it 3 times , last time with get right to make sure i had the entire file. any suggestions as to what may be happening?

Doug Olenick · Post by **Doug Olenick** » Wed Sep 27, 2000 12:53 am

Sorry to be sending these questions in bits and pieces, but.... The out or memory deal also happens with US CVs. Also, I'm running the game on a Compaq Deskpro with a PII 500 and the game is managing to suck up every ounce of processor power Is this normal?

Major Tom · Post by **Major Tom** » Wed Sep 27, 2000 1:13 am

I have that problem too, but, Rich found a way to circumvent this. When you select on the airgroup and it gives you the memory error you can still see some stats (Experience, and number of planes active, along with the type). If you hit the 'C' key you can change type, if you hit the 'M' key you can change mission, etc... It may not be perfect, but, you can get around this problem.

Jeremy,

Blackhorse · Post by **Blackhorse** » Wed Sep 27, 2000 1:56 am

Windows NT user here . . . still need help.

I have no problem downloading the game, but when I run it, the game freezes right after the credit screen.

(I've downloaded twice, same problem both time).

My guess is that it is a mem problem -- my task manager shows a CPU spike -- but I have no idea how to increase memory in NT.

Any hints/suggestions?

Aragorn · Post by **Aragorn** » Wed Sep 27, 2000 3:38 am

Hi All!
I got exactly the same problem as you blackhorse, except that i run on win2000. Is it possible to run pacwar at all under win2000 or WinNT?
Grateful for any help!
//Aragorn

Jeff Norton · Post by **Jeff Norton** » Wed Sep 27, 2000 4:54 am

Originally posted by Blackhorse:
Windows NT user here . . . still need help.

I have no problem downloading the game, but when I run it, the game freezes right after the credit screen.

(I've downloaded twice, same problem both time).

My guess is that it is a mem problem -- my task manager shows a CPU spike -- but I have no idea how to increase memory in NT.

Any hints/suggestions?

Blackhorse,

Do you mean physical memory or the paging file?

Physical, just add more memory sticks.

Paging (or vurtial memory), need to access the My Computer Icon, then right click, go to Properties, and look for an area that shows your vurtial memory. You can change it to just about any size, but double what you have in physical RAM is normal (make sure you have the space on your HDD first!!!). Another good thing is to change the location of this file to another partition (or drive letter, if you partitioned your HDD). It really speeds up the paging file (where the system files don't conflict with it), and makes your NT system a touch faster.

(Just waiting for my download to finish over my 56K connection. <GROAN>)

jeff

Blackhorse · Post by **Blackhorse** » Wed Sep 27, 2000 8:12 am

Jeff,
Thanks for the suggestion, but it's still a no-go with my WinNT.

Originally posted by Jeff Norton:
Paging (or vurtial memory), need to access the My Computer Icon, then right click, go to Properties, and look for an area that shows your vurtial memory.

When I open properties, I have three options: General -- which shows I have 4.91GBs available out of 5.99GB; Tools -- which has 3 subcategories, error-checking, backup, and defrag; and security. None of the options allow me to find or fiddle with my virtual memory.

According to my task manager, I have the following stats:

Physical Memory (K)
Total 130,488
Available 77,168
File Cache 18,632

Kernel Memory (K)
Total 14,372
Paged 12,596
Non-paged 1,776

Commit Charge (K)
Total 46,544
Limit 322,284
Peak 50,256

Mem Usage
61,640k / 322,284k

I'm hoping someone can help me interpret these numbers, and tell me how I can turn them into the NT equivalent of the 634Ks of DOS low memory I need to run this game.

I've tried closing some of my programs on the NT (I'm denied access to most). But even where I do succeed in shutting down a program, the first "mem usage" number will drop, but the second "mem usage" stays fixed at 322,284k.

Thanks!