Simulators FastTips: General Questions & Answers
  
PSS ID Number: Q122425
Article last modified on 04-30-1999
 
MS-DOS:1.0,5.1
 
MS-DOS
 

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MS-DOS
kbother kbfasttip kbfaq
 
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The information in this article applies to:
 
 - Microsoft Space Simulator for MS-DOS, version 1.0 
 - Microsoft Flight Simulator for MS-DOS, version 5.1 
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This article contains questions and answers that are recorded on
the FastTips system and are available to customers by fax. DO NOT
MODIFY THIS INFORMATION IN ANY WAY. If this article needs to be
modified, notify your KBL. qgf1128
 
SUMMARY
=======
 
The following is the complete contents of the FastTips Questions and
Answers article titled "Q122425: Simulators FastTips: General Questions &
Answers." Q122425 is part of the FastTips Question and Answer section for
Microsoft Home Products.
 
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  Microsoft® Product Support Services Application Note (Text File)
 
Q122425: Simulators FastTips: General Questions & Answers
 
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                                                  Revision Date: 9/95
                                                      5 Pages, No Disk
 
The following information applies to the products listed at the top of this
article.
 
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    Q. During Microsoft Space Simulator setup, I chose music and sound
       effects. Why don't I get any sound when I start Space Simulator?
 
    A. If you are starting Space Simulator by typing "spacesim" (without
       the quotation marks) at the MS-DOS prompt, you will not get any
       sound in Space Simulator. To start the program, and enable the
       sound, type "ss1" (without the quotation marks) at the MS-DOS
       prompt.
 
    Q. I set up Space Simulator for the VGA display option on my Pentium
       machine, why does my screen flicker?
 
    A. On very fast machines, Space Simulator may flicker when running
       in VGA mode. To correct the problem, run Space Simulator Setup
       again, and select one of the Super VGA modes.
 
    Q. When I start Space Simulator I get the error message "Error
       Loading 2D driver." What does this mean?
 
    A. The error message "Error Loading 2D driver" may appear when
       you start Space Simulator if the video configuration information
       is incorrect.
 
       If, during Setup, you chose either of the SVGA resolutions
       (640 x 400 or 800 x 600), you are required to select from a list
       of video cards and chipsets. If the wrong chipset is selected,
       Space Simulator will not be able to communicate properly with
       your video card and will generate the error message "Error
       Loading 2D driver." To correct this problem, perform the
       following three-step procedure:
 
       1. Determine the appropriate chipset for the video card by
          consulting the manufacturer or the video card documentation.
 
       2. Once the chipset has been determined, run Setup from the
          C:\SPACESIM MS-DOS command prompt, and select the desired
          resolution.
 
       3. When prompted for the chipset information, select the
          appropriate option from the list. If the correct chipset is not
          listed, select option <0> and Space Simulator will be
          configured for VGA resolution (320 x 200).
 
    Q. I ran Setup for Space Simulator, but it just keeps asking for Disk
       2. How can install Space Simulator?
 
    A. This will occur if the Share.exe utility is loaded on the system
       and Microsoft Space Simulator Disk 1 is write protected.
 
       To correct this problem, disable the write protection on Space
       Simulator Disk 1.
 
    Q. I ran Setup for Space Simulator, but it didn't copy any files to
       my hard drive, and the program won't run.
 
    A. If the Setup.exe program for Space Simulator is run from any
       active drive other than drive A or B, Setup will not copy any
       files to the hard disk.
 
       For example, typing "a:\setup" at the C:\ MS-DOS prompt will not
       perform a complete setup because drive C is the active drive.
 
       To run Setup successfully, first change to your floppy drive, then
       run the Setup.exe utility by performing the following three-step
       procedure:
 
       1. Insert Space Simulator Disk 1 in drive A or B.
 
       2. Change to the drive in which you inserted Disk 1. For example,
          if your disk is in drive A, type "a:" (without the quotation
          marks) at the MS-DOS command prompt, and then press ENTER.
 
       3. Type Setup and then press ENTER.
 
          Space Simulator will now copy the files to the hard drive and
          complete Setup successfully.
 
    Q. I own Flight Simulator 5.0. The sound doesn't work very
       well. Does sound work correctly in version 5.1?
 
    A. In version 5.0, Flight Simulator was limited to support of 8-bit
       sound cards. Though many sound cards worked fine, several
       experienced sound problems. Flight Simulator 5.1 supports 100-
       percent Sound Blaster-compatible 16-bit sound cards.
 
    Q. Are there any sound-related issues or problems I should watch for
       with Flight Simulator?
 
    A. Flight Simulator supports all 100-percent Sound Blaster-
       compatible 8-bit and 16-bit sound cards. However, you should be
       aware of the following two issues:
 
       1.Occasionally, Flight Simulator Setup does not properly detect
          the correct IRQ and DMA settings for some Sound Blaster sound
          cards.
 
       2. On some Media Vision Pro Audio Spectrum sound cards, a
          cracking, looping sound occurs. To correct this problem,
          change the DMA channel setting from 3 to a setting of 1 or 0.
 
       To change the IRQ or DMA channel for a Sound Blaster card in
       Flight Simulator 5.1, perform the following five steps:
 
       1.Start Flight Simulator.
 
       2.Click the Options Menu. Click  Preferences. Click Sound.
 
       3.Change IRQ and DMA to desired settings
 
       4.Click OK.
 
       5.Click Exit and restart Simulator.
 
       To change the DMA channel in Media Vision Pro Audio Spectrum,
       consult your sound card documentation.
 
    Q. Will Scenery Add-ons I purchased for Flight Simulator 5.0 work
       with version 5.1?
 
    A. Yes. All Microsoft Scenery Add-ons for Flight Simulator 5.0
       work in version 5.1. For more information about configuring your
       Japan or Caribbean Scenery Add-on, see the Readme.txt file in the
       Addon directory on the Flight Simulator CD-ROM.
 
       Scenery areas created by home users may not work in version 5.1
       and are not supported. For more information, consult the creators
       of this scenery.
 
    Q. My joystick has additional function buttons. Why won't they work
       in Flight Simulator?
 
    A. Several joysticks, such as CH Products FlightStick Pro have
       switches and buttons for changing views and performing optional
       functions. To activate these features in Flight Simulator, remove
       the line "device=stik2.fso" from the Fs5.ini.
 
    Q. I had trouble getting enough free conventional memory to run
       Flight Simulator version 5.0. Can I expect this trouble with
       version 5.1?
 
    A. In Flight Simulator version 5.0, the base memory requirement was
       560K of free conventional memory. In version 5.1, that number has
       dropped closer to 500K of free conventional. This change was
       required because of the addition of a CD-ROM version.
 
       If you cannot access at least 500K of free conventional memory,
       use the Flight Simulator FSSYSTEM option to create a boot disk.
 
Additional query words: 1.00 5.10 kbhowto w_mscenes w_golf w_arcade
 
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Keywords          :  
Version           : MS-DOS:1.0,5.1
Platform          : MS-DOS
Issue type        : kbhowto
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Copyright Microsoft Corporation 1999.