README             Links LS 1997 Edition
                Last readme update (7/11/96)
------------------------------------------------------------
Refer to the sections below for information on the following subjects:

1.    Links LS installation.
2.    Running under Win 95.
3.    Running in 'MS-DOS Mode' under Win 95.
4.    Running under DOS.
5.    Running in 'MS-DOS Mode' without a CD-ROM.
6.    Technical support for Links LS.
7.    Automatic Crash Recovery.
8.    Application startup sound (Crash).
9.    DOS Error:    "DOS 16m....Involuntary Switch To Real Mode"
10.   Network or Modem game out of sync.
11.   Video distorted - images shifted to upper right.
12.   Video distorted - partial image seen through wavy lines.
13.   STB video card problems (VESA Local Bus Version)
14.   How to force a Reconfiguration of Links LS
 

1.  LINKS LS INSTALLATION:  The following installation options are 
available with either SETUP (Win 95) or INSTALL (DOS):

Full: 	Requires 150 MB of hard drive space and includes:
	Program files-	 				33 MB
	All 3 courses copied to the HD-			35 MB
        All 4 golfer animation sets in 30fps Jumbo size-82 MB

Med:	Requires 79 MB of hard drive space and includes:
	Program files-	 				33 MB
	All 3 courses remain on the CD-			 0 MB
        3 golfer animation sets in 30fps Large size-    46 MB

Min:	Requires 40 MB of hard drive space and includes:
	Program files-	  				33 MB
	All 3 courses remain on the CD-			 0 MB
	2 golfer animation sets in 15fps minimum size-	 7 MB

If you want to CUSTOMIZE your installation, install Links LS using one of 
the options above, and then make changes within the game.  For instructions 
on how to customize, go to the On-Line Help system in Links LS and 
SEARCH for CUSTOM INSTALLATION.


2.   RUNNING UNDER WIN 95
Install Links LS by running the SETUP.EXE program on Disk 1.  After the 
program files have been installed you will enter the configuration phase of the 
setup.  Here you will can choose to try running under Win 95 or in 'MS-DOS 
mode' under Win 95.  We suggest you try Win 95 first.  This mode uses the 
Windows device drivers and operates very similar to a native Windows 
application.  If this mode works, it will provide the fastest launch of Links LS 
and the quickest return to the Windows desktop, however it does use about 2 
MB of your RAM for Windows overhead.  If the system locks up or fails to 
function correctly for some reason, you should try different video and sound 
configurations in an attempt to make it work.  The configuration phase of the 
setup will try to inform you as to which part of the system is not working 
correctly.  Be sure to read the warning and message dialogs carefully.  If you 
are unable to get the game working under Win 95, you will have to try 
entering MS-DOS mode.  See below for instructions on how to do this.


3.   RUNNING IN MS-DOS MODE UNDER WIN 95
Install Links LS as described above but choose 'MS-DOS mode' during the 
configuration phase of the setup.  This mode partially exits Windows and sets 
up DOS 7.  For Links LS to function properly in MS-DOS mode, the CD-
ROM drive and mouse will have to be operational.  Some computers set up 
these devices automatically for MS-DOS mode, while others leave this task to 
the user.  Links LS will check to see if the CD-ROM and mouse are available 
before it attempts to configure itself for play in MS-DOS mode.  If they are 
not available, you will have to set them up if you want Links LS to have full 
functionality.  There is a way to run Links LS in MS-DOS mode without a 
CD-ROM drive, although you will not have access to flybys, tours, or 
anything which requires the CD.  See RUNNING IN MS-DOS MODE 
WITHOUT A CD-ROM DRIVE below for instructions on how to do this.  
Also refer to the technical support section of the manual for help on how to 
set up your CD-ROM in MS-DOS mode.

4.   RUNNING UNDER DOS
Install Links LS by running the INSTALL.EXE program (on Disk 1) from the 
DOS prompt.  YOU CANNOT RUN LINKS LS FROM WINDOWS 3.X.    

5.   RUNNING IN MS-DOS MODE WITHOUT A CD-ROM DRIVE
If you are unable to run Links LS in Win 95 and cannot get your CD-ROM 
drive to work in MS-DOS mode, there is a way to configure Links LS to work 
without a CD.   You must still have a working mouse (in MS-DOS mode) and 
you will not be able to view the flybys, tours, or anything else which requires 
a CD.  You will have to be able to use the CD-ROM in Win 95 and certain 
files will have to be copied to your hard drive.  This will require at least 85 
MB of hard drive space.  To set up Links LS to run without a CD-ROM, do 
the following:

a)  Using SETUP.EXE, do a full installation of Links LS but EXIT as soon as 
the installation is complete, do not start the game yet. This will copy all the 
program files and the 3 courses to the hard drive using about 68 MB of hard 
drive space.  The animation files will not have been installed at this time and 
this accounts for the fact that even though a normal FULL installation 
requires 150MB you have only used 68 MB so far.

b)  While still in Win 95 (so you still have the CD-ROM drive), copy the 
animation files from the \ANI directory (folder) on the CD (Disk #1) to the 
\ANI sub-directory of the Links LS directory on the hard drive (e.g.  
\LINKSLS\ANI).  Follow the instructions below:

To get 30 frame per second animation sets in JUMBO size, copy the 
following files from \ANI on the CD to \LINKSLS\ANI on the HD.
  PALMER30.LS from the CD to PALMER.ANI on the HD. (19.4 MB)
  MALE1_30.LS from the CD to MALE1.ANI on the HD. (23.1 MB)
  MALE2_30.LS from the CD to MALE2.ANI on the HD. (26  MB)
  FEM1_30.LS from the CD to FEMALE1.ANI on the HD. (17.2 MB)

To get 15 frame per second animation sets in JUMBO size, copy the 
following files from \ANI on the CD to \LINKSLS\ANI on the HD.   
  PALMER15.LS from the CD to PALMER.ANI on the HD. (12.9 MB)
  MALE1_15.LS from the CD to MALE1.ANI on the HD. (16.2 MB)
  MALE2_15.LS from the CD to MALE2.ANI on the HD. (18.3 MB)
  FEM1_15.LS from the CD to FEMALE1.ANI on the HD. (12.6 MB)

To get 15 frame per second animation sets in MINIMUM size, copy the 
following files from \ANI on the CD to \LINKSLS\ANI on the HD.
   PALMER.ANI from the CD to PALMER.ANI on the HD. (3.3 MB)
   MALE1.ANI from the CD to MALE1.ANI on the HD. (3.8 MB) 
   MALE2.ANI from the CD to MALE2.ANI on the HD (3.6 MB) 
   FEMALE1.ANI from the CD to FEMALE1.ANI on the HD (3.0 MB)

c)  If you want to convert your old Links386 courses to LS format, you will 
also need to create a directory off the root of your hard drive called \CRH and 
copy the appropriate .CRX files into it.  These .CRX files are located on the 
CD (Disk #2) in the \CRH directory and will be needed by Links LS to 
convert your old courses.  For example, if you want to convert Pebble Beach, 
you will have to copy PEBBLE_B.CRX from the \CRH directory on the 
CD#2 to the \CRH directory on the hard drive.  Once in the game, follow the 
normal instructions for converting Links386 courses except when the game 
prompts for the CD, choose the hard drive with the \CRH directory.

d)  Now run the game in MS-DOS mode.  You will not have any players, so 
you will have to create some, but you will have everything else you need to 
play a round of golf. 

6.   TECHNICAL SUPPORT FOR LINKS LS
If you are having PROBLEMS WITH LINKS LS, please read the manual 
thoroughly    before calling our technical support department.  If you can get 
to the On-Line HELP system in the game, use the SEARCH feature to see if 
you can find additional information on your problem.  We have tried to cover 
a broad range of potential questions and problems.  Try the HINTS and TIPS 
section, the FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS section, and the 
TROUBLE SHOOTING and TECHNICAL SUPPORT section.

    Technical Support: 
       (800) 793-8324 (Mon-Fri, 7:30am to 8:30pm Mountain Time)
 
7.  AUTOMATIC CRASH RECOVERY
Links LS is designed to run with DOS and, if possible, with Windows 95.  To 
make sure that any crash is fully recoverable, Links LS has a built-in 
Automatic (Emergency) Save feature.  The last two games you were playing, 
whether terminated normally or not, are saved as LASTGAME and 
OLDLAST.  You can resume either of these games by simply    clicking on 
the RESUME button at the bottom of the Links LS main menu screen.  If a 
crash occurs, simply restart Links LS as usual.  When the game starts, it will 
recognize that an abnormal termination occurred and will ask you if you want 
to resume the previous game.  If you say YES, it will automatically resume 
LASTGAME.  If you say NO, you can   still re-enter the game later by 
clicking the RESUME button and then selecting LASTGAME from the list of 
saved games.  Of course, if you start a new game, it will take the place of 
LASTGAME and LASTGAME will take the place of OLDLAST.  The 
previous version of OLDLAST will be erased.

If you're running under Win 95 and resuming your LASTGAME continues to 
crash, try restarting Windows.

8.  APPLICATION STARTUP SOUND CRASH with an AZTEC sound card.
Under WIN95, you can set up a .wav file to play whenever you start an 
application.  If you have assigned a long .wav file as this startup sound and 
the sound is still playing when the game starts, it can crash the program.

9. DOS ERROR:  "DOS 16M....Involuntary Switch To Real Mode" 
Some cloaked mouse drivers can cause this error.  To solve the problem you 
will have to remove the CLOAK.EXE entry in your AUTOEXEC.BAT.
    
10.  NETWORK OR MODEM GAME OUT OF SYNC
It is possible for a network or modem game to get out of sync, especially 
when using a recorded player.  If this happens, you can 're-sync' by ending the 
game, clicking on RESUME, and then selecting LASTGAME from the list of 
saved games.

11.  VIDEO DISTORTED - IMAGES SHIFTED TO UPPER RIGHT
Some Video cards with S3 chips will configure correctly during setup, but 
will later malfunction and produce distorted or shifted video.  To correct this 
problem, first delete the LINKSLS.INI file in the Links LS directory (folder).  
This will force a reconfigure of the video system.  Then run Links LS as 
usual.  You will immediately enter the Video Configuration module.  When 
you come to the screen which says TRIAL #1, press 'S' to skip to the next 
trial.  Keep skipping until you get to TRIAL #7, then press the space bar to 
perform this test.  This will use a special 'Jump mode' which should correct 
the problem.  If TRIAL #7 does not appear, it means that the mode associated 
with that trial is not available on your card.  You will have to perform the 
above procedure for each available trial number until you find one that works 
consistently.  There are 9 possible trials for both the UniVESA BIOS and the 
On-Board/TSR BIOS for a total of 18.

12.  VIDEO DISTORTED - PARTIAL IMAGE SEEN THRU WAVY LINES
If your video card frequencies and your monitor frequencies are not in sync, 
your video may be slightly to very distorted.  If your card has 2 MB or more 
of video RAM, you can try selecting different resolutions (i.e. 1024x768).
To check which resolutions are compatible with your monitor, go into the 
Windows display setup and set the resolution to match the one you are having 
problems with in Links LS.  If it works well in windows, then something else 
is causing the problem.  If the video is also distorted in Windows at the same 
resolution, then you may have to get a new video card or a new monitor. 

13.  STB VIDEO CARD PROBLEMS (VESA LOCAL BUS VERSION)
Some STB (VESA local bus) video cards in 486 or Pentium machines may 
crash during video setup in either Win 95 or MS-DOS mode. If this happens, 
try the following video configuration sequence:
  1)  Double click the RECONFIGURE icon in the Links LS program group.
  2)  Start Links LS as usual by double clicking on the LINKS LS icon.
  3)  At the 'Configuring the UniVESA BIOS' screen, press 'S' to skip.
  4)  When the screen says 'Ready to set high resolution mode', press the 'S' 
key to skip trial #1. Then read the trial number and press 'S' again. (Note: 
Some trial numbers do not exist for this card so watch the trial numbers 
carefully.) When you are ready to perform trial #9, press the space bar to 
execute this trial.  You should see the Links LS screen.  If you do, click on the 
OK button within 10 seconds to confirm the test.  You will now be able to 
finish the setup procedure and play the game in this resolution which is 
1024x768 - 65K colors - windowed mode.  If you try to switch to 800x600 
resolution, you will probably crash although you should safely return to 
1024x768 upon reboot.

14.  HOW TO FORCE A RECONFIGURATION OF LINKS LS
To force a reconfiguration of the video, sound and auxiliary systems, double 
click on the RECONFIGURE icon in the Links LS program group.  You can 
use this option if you are having problems setting up Links LS and would like 
to reset the configuration (start over) without re-installing the game.  You may 
also want to use the RECONFIGURE option to switch back and forth between 
Win 95 and MS-DOS modes to see which mode gives the best performance.
