Microsoft KB Archive/157909

Contents of Hellbender Readme.txt

PSS ID Number: Q157909 Article last modified on 06-02-1999

WINDOWS:1.0

WINDOWS

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The following information is contained in the Microsoft Hellbender 1.0 Readme.txt file. This file is copied to the Hellbender folder by Setup. This text has not been modified and appears as is.

README.TXT FILE

Microsoft Hellbender Readme August 1996 (c) 1996 Microsoft Corporation

This document provides late-breaking and other information that supplements the Hellbender online Help and jewel case booklet.

Notes and General Troubleshooting

You can install Internet Explorer 2.0 from the Goodies folder on the Hellbender disc. Just open the Goodies folder, double-click the Internet folder, and then double-click msie20c.exe to install Internet Explorer.

If you are playing Hellbender with a joystick and have System Agent events scheduled, or other events scheduled to run while your system is idle, these events may occur during game play because a joystick is not recognized as a standard input device, such as a keyboard or mouse. To prevent these events from occurring, disable them before you start Hellbender. Or, if one of these events occurs, move your mouse or press a key on the keyboard to return to the game screen. Retail version players can play multiplayer network games only with other players who also have the retail version of the game. Trial version players can play multiplayer network games only with other players who also have the trial version.

CONTENTS

A. Hardware and System Requirements and Recommended Features B. Installation Notes C. Audio Troubleshooting D. Video Troubleshooting E. Hardware and System Compatibility F. Setting Up Programmable Joysticks G. Setting Up and Troubleshooting Internet Games

 Hardware and System Requirements and Recommended Features

To play Microsoft Hellbender, you will need: Pentium 75 with local SVGA bus video, 256-color display. Microsoft Windows 95. 4X CD-ROM drive. 8 MB of memory (RAM). 32 MB of available hard disk space. Sound board plus speakers or headphones to hear audio. 14.4 Kbps modem for head-to-head play. DirectX 2.0.

The following features are recommended: Pentium 90 with local SVGA bus video, 256-color display. 16+ MB of memory (RAM). 77 MB of available hard disk space. 3-D accelerated graphics card. Microsoft Mouse or compatible pointing device. Microsoft SideWinder 3D Pro joystick. 28.8 Kbps modem for head-to-head play.

 Installation Notes

Important: To play Hellbender, you must have DirectX 2.0 installed on your computer. If you attempt to install Hellbender and get an error message (for example, “A required .DLL file, DDRAW.DLL, was not found”), you need to reinstall Hellbender.

Hellbender requires Microsoft Windows 95. To purchase a Windows upgrade, see your local retailer. Hellbender does not run on Windows NT.

When you remove Hellbender from your hard disk using Add/Remove Programs in Control Panel, the Hellbender folder will not be removed, although the contents of the folder will be. To remove the actual folder, drag it to the Recycle Bin.

 Audio Troubleshooting

If Hellbender does not play sound properly, please use the following list of troubleshooting steps.

Verify that your speakers and Windows 95 volume control are enabled and turned up. Also, be sure that you do not have Mute Sound checked on the Options menu.

Verify that Windows 95 can play .wav files

Click the Start button, point to Settings, and then click Control Panel. Double-click the Sounds icon. Try to play a .wav file.

If Windows 95 is not able to play a .wav file, check to see that a sound driver is enabled

Click the Start button, point to Settings, and then click Control Panel. Double-click the System icon. Click the Device Manager tab. Click the plus sign next to Sound, Video And Game Controllers. If there is no Sound, Video And Game Controllers entry or you have no sound card listed under this entry, contact the manufacturer of the computer or sound card and request help for reinstalling the sound card drivers.

If Windows 95 is able to play a .wav file, ensure that sounds are enabled and recognized in Hellbender

Start Microsoft Hellbender. On the Options menu, click Settings, and then click the Sound tab. Verify that the Play Sound Effects, Play Music, and Play E.V.E. Voice Over check boxes are checked. Verify that Hellbender recognizes a sound card by looking for a sound card entry in the Sound Card box. To see if Hellbender will play a sound file, click Test.

If sound in Hellbender seems clipped or delayed, try the following troubleshooting steps

On the Options menu, click Settings, and then click the Sound tab. To display Advanced Settings, click the Advanced Settings check box. If the sound is choppy or clipped, increase the number of buffers slightly. If there is a delay in the sound effects, decrease the number of buffers slightly. To apply the new settings and hear the results, click Test. If the sound is still clipped, increase the buffer length slightly, and then click Test. If you decrease the buffer length too much, the sound will seem choppy. Continue to experiment until the sound is smooth and timed appropriately.

You can always restore original settings by clicking the Default button.

If you are using the Quick Res taskbar resolution utility and playing Hellbender with video hardware acceleration, resuming a game may cause you to lose sound and/or cause your computer to freeze. To avoid conflicts between Quick Res and Hellbender, remove Quick Res from your Start menu, or remove it from your computer by using Add/Remove Programs in Control Panel.

 Video Troubleshooting</ol>

In the following topics, the term “game resolution” refers to the game screen resolution that you can set in Hellbender’s Settings dialog box. The term “screen resolution” refers to the Windows 95 desktop screen resolution.

General Video Troubleshooting

If you experience display problems while playing Hellbender, you may have a problem with your video driver. You can still play Hellbender, but may not be able to play in Full Screen mode without a menu bar. To continue playing, change your game resolution in Hellbender’s Settings dialog box.

To change your game resolution

In Hellbender, click Settings on the Options menu. Click the Graphics tab. Set Game Resolution to one of the following: 640 x 480, 320 x 400, or 320 x 200. Then, contact your video card manufacturer for an updated driver.

Your computer must display at least 256 colors to run Microsoft Hellbender.

To display 256 colors in Windows 95

Click the Start button, point to Settings, and then click Control Panel. Double-click the Display icon. Click the Settings tab. Under Color Palette, click 256 Color. Click OK.

If you don’t have the necessary 256-color driver, or if you aren’t sure that your video card supports 256 colors, contact your video card manufacturer.

If you experience display problems, contact your video card manufacturer for the latest DirectX 2.0 drivers. If you continue to experience problems with DirectX 2.0 installed, please see the following procedures:

If you experience display problems after you install DirectX 2.0, try these troubleshooting steps

Click the Start button, point to Settings, and then click Control Panel. Double-click the Display icon. Click the Settings tab. Click Change Display Type to display the Advanced Display Properties dialog box. Click the Adapter tab. If there is no Adapter tab, see the next set of steps below (titled If your screen is unreadable …). In the Refresh Rate box, change the refresh rate, and then click OK.

If your screen is unreadable and you are unable to follow the preceding steps, try the following troubleshooting steps

Restart your computer in safe mode by pressing F8 when you see the message “Starting Windows 95.” Click the Start button, point to Settings, and then click Control Panel. Double-click the Display icon. Click the Settings tab. Click Change Display Type to display the Change Display Type dialog box. Under Adapter Type, click Change. In the Select Device dialog box, select the DirectX-compatible video driver suggested by your video card manufacturer. If you do not have a DirectX-compatible video driver, contact your video card manufacturer for an updated video driver. Restart your computer to apply the change you have made, and then start Hellbender.

If you are using UNIVBE 5.1, you will need to disable it before playing Hellbender or the game will not function. Be sure to re-enable UNIVBE 5.1 when you are finished playing Hellbender.

To disable UNIVBE 5.1 before playing Hellbender

Click the Start button, and then click Run. In the Open box, type sysedit Click OK. A number of windows will appear. Click the title bar of the window labeled Autoexec.bat. At the beginning of the line that lists UNIVBE 5.1, type REM followed by a space[ASCII 190]for example, “REM UNIVBE 5.1.” On the File menu, click Save. On the File menu, click Exit. Restart your computer to apply this change, and then start Hellbender.

To re-enable UNIVBE 5.1 after playing Hellbender

Click the Start button, and then click Run. In the Open box, type sysedit. Click OK. A number of windows will appear. Click the title bar of the window labeled Autoexec.bat. At the beginning of the line that lists UNIVBE 5.1, delete “REM.” On the File menu, click Save. On the File menu, click Exit. Restart your computer to apply this change.

If certain objectives in the Navigation computer are truncated and difficult to read in Full Screen mode with the menu bar, press F4 to return to Full Screen mode or to play in a window.

If you are in Cockpit view and change your screen resolution, your screen may turn black. If this occurs, press F4 repeatedly until the game screen returns.

To permanently set your display mode to Full Screen or windowed mode throughout a game, you must select or clear the Full Screen check box on the Quick Configuration screen before starting a game. You can also press F4 during a game to change your display mode, but you will need to press it each time you start a new level or reenter a game after dying to change the mode again.

If you switch to Full Screen mode and the Hellbender menu bar is still displayed at the top of your screen, reinstall DirectX 2.0. If the problem persists, contact your video card manufacturer for the latest driver.

3-D Accelerated Video Cards

If you have a 3-D accelerated video card and you receive an error message saying that your display adapter is missing features when you select Use Hardware Accelerator on the Graphics tab in the Settings dialog box, you need to obtain the latest driver from your hardware manufacturer. To continue playing without an updated driver, clear the Use Hardware Accelerator check box.

Hellbender supports 3-D accelerated video cards via Direct 3D. However, many of these cards are still in a preproduction state, and you may experience problems when using them. For updated drivers, please contact your hardware manufacturer.

When you play Hellbender in low game resolutions (320 x 200 and 320 x 400), with the Show Sky Texture check box cleared and other features on the Graphics tab in the Settings dialog box set to low, you may experience display problems. To avoid this, play in a higher game resolution, such as 640 x 480, and/or check the Show Sky Texture check box and set other graphics features to high.

If you receive the message dialog “End without saving?” and then press F4 or your screen saver starts, the screen will turn black. If this happens, press Y to exit, or press N or ESC to continue playing.

Hellbender cinematics are best viewed if your desktop color palette is set to less than true color (24- and 32-bit color). If you are playing in either of these palettes, in either windowed mode or Full Screen mode with a menu bar, restart Hellbender, and on the Quick Configuration screen, select the Full Screen check box. Or, change your color palette to high color (16-bit) or 256 color.

Troubleshooting Specific Video Cards

If you are using any of the following cards or processors, you may experience problems when playing Hellbender. If you experience any of the following problems, please contact your hardware manufacturer for the latest DirectX 2.0 video drivers:

Weitek processor: Unexpected results. Number 9 Imagine 128 Series 2 video card: General protection fault. Diamond Speedstar Pro: Black screen/frozen screen. Matrox Impression: Display problems. Diamond Stealth VRAM: Monitor flicker; while playing in 320 x 200 game resolution and using turbo thrust, a blue and white horizontal bar appears over the hand in the cockpit.

If you are using a Diamond Video 3200 card, you may experience poor performance and receive the following error message: “Cannot go to Full Screen.” To avoid this, play Hellbender in any resolution in a window with a menu bar. In addition, there is no DirectDraw-compatible driver supplied with this card. Contact your hardware manufacturer for an updated driver.

If you are using a Diamond Stealth VRAM video card and playing Hellbender in Full Screen mode without a menu bar, in some cases exiting the game may reset your Windows desktop to 640 x 480 screen resolution.

To reset your screen resolution Click the Start button, point to Settings, and then click Control Panel. Double-click Display. Click the Settings tab. Under Desktop Area, drag the slider.

The SiS 6205 video card is not compatible with Hellbender. To play Hellbender, you will need to use a different video card.

 Hardware and System Compatibility</li></ol>

Optimizing Performance on Minimum-Configuration Machines

If you have a computer with a Pentium 75 processor and 8 MB of RAM, the following steps may improve performance:

Be sure that you are not logged on to a network. Close any open applications. Run Hellbender in Full Screen mode. Switch your Game Resolution to 320 x 200. Reduce the detail levels in the Graphics Options dialog box. When you reduce the detail levels, you also affect the appearance of Hellbender. Make the following changes only if speed is the primary concern.

To modify options in the Graphics Options dialog box On the Hellbender Options menu, click Settings, and then click the Graphics tab. In the Game Resolution box, click 320x200. In the Shadow Detail box, click None. In the Image Quality box, click Normal Quality. In the Texture Detail box, click Low Detail. In the Debris box, click None. Make sure the Show Sky Texture and Hand In Cockpit check boxes are cleared.

Other Performance Issues

Some hat switch joysticks exhibit the following behavior: When two joystick buttons are pressed simultaneously, the joystick interprets the multiple presses as a hat switch action. To prevent this, press only one joystick button at a time.

Hellbender only recognizes Joystick 1 in the Joystick Properties dialog box. If you have more than one joystick, be sure that the joystick you want to use is configured as Joystick 1.

You may receive the following error message: “Hellbender may not function correctly without 16 MB of available physical and/or virtual memory. Please close unused applications to free additional memory.” If you receive this message and already have all unused applications closed, you may need to modify your virtual memory settings in Windows 95. Please see To Reserve Disk Space for Extra Memory in the Windows 95 Help file for information on how to do this.

F. Setting Up Programmable Joysticks

Hellbender provides separate files for use with: 4 ThrustMaster joystick configurations Gravis Phoenix and Firebird CH Products Pro Throttle

Please see below for the file names and steps for setting up the joysticks.

Hellbender provides separate files for use with 4 ThrustMaster joystick configurations: (a) ThrustMaster F-16 FLCS alone: Hellbend.b50 and Hellbend.m50 (b) ThrustMaster F-16 FLCS and TQS: Qhelbend.b50 and Qhelbend.m50 (c) ThrustMaster F-16 FLCS and Mark II WCS: Mhelbend.b50 and Hellbend.m50 (d) ThrustMaster (P)FCS and Mark II WCS: Hellbend.adv and Hellbend.mdf

To set up your ThrustMaster joystick From Windows 95, start an MS-DOS window. Run the ThrustMaster joystick configuration utility. Please refer to your ThrustMaster Owner’s Manual for instructions. Note: If you do not download the appropriate file (see files above) to your joystick, it will function as a 2-axis, 2-button joystick. Once your joystick is programmed, exit MS-DOS to return to Windows, and then open Control Panel and double-click the Joystick icon. In the Joystick Properties dialog box, select “2-button flight yoke w/throttle” in the Joystick Selection box if you are using joystick type (b), (c), or (d) above. If you are using (a) (ThrustMaster F- 16 FLCS alone), select “2-axis, 2-button joystick.”

Hellbender provides separate files for use with the Gravis Phoenix: Hellbend.phx and the Gravis Firebird: Hellbend.fbd

To set up your Gravis Phoenix or Firebird From Windows 95, start an MS-DOS window. Run the Phoenix/Firebird joystick configuration utility. Please refer to your Phoenix/Firebird User’s Guide for instructions. Note: If you do not download the appropriate file (see files above) to your joystick, it will function as a 2-axis, 2-button joystick. Once your joystick is programmed, exit MS-DOS to return to Windows, and then open Control Panel and double-click the Joystick icon. In the Joystick Properties dialog box, select “2-button flight yoke w/throttle” in the Joystick selection box. If you are using the Phoenix, you may also check the Rudder check box.

Hellbender provides a separate file for use with the CH Products Pro Throttle 2-button and 4-button joysticks: Hellbend.ptc

To set up your Pro Throttle From Windows 95, start an MS-DOS window. Run the Pro Throttle configuration utility. Please refer to your CH Products Pro Throttle User’s Guide for instructions. Once your throttle is programmed, exit MS-DOS to return to Windows, and then open Control Panel and double-click the Joystick icon. In the Joystick Properties dialog box, make your selection in the Joystick Selection box based on the type of joystick you are using: If you are using a 2-button joystick, select “2-button flight yoke with throttle,” and if you are using a 4-button joystick, select “4-button flight yoke w/throttle.” Note: If your joystick has an analog hat switch, the hat switch will not be used in the Pro Throttle combination.

G. Setting Up and Troubleshooting Internet Games

Due to high Internet traffic, it is recommended that you limit multiplayer Hellbender Internet games to three players. Four-player Hellbender Internet games are possible, but it is highly recommended that all four players use the same Internet service provider and 28.8 Kbps modems.

You can play Hellbender Internet games with three players, regardless of the Internet service providers the players are using, if all players are using 28.8 Kbps modems. Players with 14.4 Kbps modems may experience latency problems in three-player games.

If you access the Internet via a proxy, you will not be able to participate in a multiplayer Internet game.

To host a multiplayer Internet game, you need to tell the players joining the game what your IP address is before they can join. To join a multiplayer Internet game, you need to obtain the IP address of the player hosting the game before you can join.

To confirm your IP address Click the Start button, and then click Run. In the Open box, type winipcfg In the IP Configuration dialog box, click your server type in the drop-down list box – for example, click PPP Adapter. The number now listed in the IP Address box is your IP address. When you are hosting a Hellbender Internet game, you need to give this address to other players before they can join the game.

To start a multiplayer Internet game Start Microsoft Hellbender. On the Quick Configuration screen, click the Multiplayer button. In the Available Connections box in the Multiplayer Connection Setup dialog box, click Internet (TCP/IP) connection. In the Game Sessions dialog box, type your callsign (10-character maximum). To host a game, click Start A New Game. –or– If you want to join a game someone else is hosting, click Specify an IP Address in the Select Existing Game box, click Next, and then type the IP address of the host in the Specify Host Name or IP Address dialog box.

Internet Troubleshooting

If you are not running a double-byte character set (DBCS) supported version of Hellbender, but are playing a multiplayer game with someone who is running a DBCS supported version of the game, you will receive ASCII text from that player in the Game Sessions and Gathering Players dialog boxes. To communicate with players who are using a DBCS supported version of the game, use a different method for chatting.

If you are the host of an Internet game and you click Back at the Gathering Players dialog box, and then click Next at any time in the Game Sessions dialog box, you will receive the message “Connection failed.”

If this occurs: Click OK, and then click Back in the Game Sessions dialog box. You will return to the Multiplayer Connection Setup dialog box. Select Internet (TCP/IP) Connection again, and then click OK. Continue creating a new game.

Additional query words: 1.00 read me hell

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Version : WINDOWS:1.0 Platform : WINDOWS Issue type : kbinfo ============================================================================= Copyright Microsoft Corporation 1999.