

-- Activision Studios' MechWarrior 2 -- LAST MINUTE INFORMATION --

----- BEGIN TRANSMISSION -----------------------------------------
Communique:  Monday, July 10, 1995
Subject:     MECHWARRIOR 2 -- Last Minute Info
Orders:      Read everything in this report. This information
	     is vital to your mission!  Before you embark upon
	     your career as a MechWarrior, there is much of
	     information you need to prepare you for battle. We
	     hope this information will prove helpful in your
	     quest to retake Terra. Read on MechWarrior!

TABLE OF CONTENTS
-----------------

ABOUT MECHWARRIOR 2 UPDATE
-- Customer Service --
ONLINE REGISTRATION
MEMORY
-- Memory Managers --
-- Questions and Answers --
BOOT DISKS
-- Optimum Setup --
-- Questions and Answers --
VIDEO
-- What Is A VESA Driver? --
-- ATI --
-- Diamond Video Cards --
-- Diamond Viper Cards --
-- MATROX --
-- OTHER VIDEO CARDS --
-- Questions and Answers --
SOUND
-- Miles Design Sound Drivers --
-- Questions and Answers --
INPUT DEVICES (Joysticks, Mice, VR Headsets)
-- Questions and Answers --
NETWORK AND MODEM PLAY DEMO
-- Network Play: Startup --
-- Modem Play: Startup --
-- Null Modem Play: Startup --
-- Modem Initialization Strings --
-- Questions and Answers --
PERFORMANCE (FRAMERATE)
TROUBLESHOOTING
VENDOR LIST
-- Hardware Manufacturers --
-- System Manufacturers --
-- Sound Card Manufacturers --
-- Video Card Manufacturers --
-- CD-ROM Manufacturers --

ABOUT MECHWARRIOR 2 UPDATE
--------------------------
MechWarrior 2 is a state of the art simulator.  As such it is 
subject to very specific needs in order to run on the average PC.  
In the following document, we will attempt to explain in detail 
the various tips, tricks and troubleshooting techniques we have 
learned during our rather exhaustive test period to really get 
this game to sing.

This is the MechWarrior 2 Update document discussed in the Install 
Guide. One of the first things that you should be aware of is that 
you may experience problems with the program that are not covered 
in this document.  That is why we have assigned a team of testers 
to continually update this document.  Any issues that we become 
aware of after the program is released will be covered in newer 
updates each week.  This file will be made widely available on all 
of the online services we currently support.  It will only be 
available via the online methods listed below and under Customer 
Service.

The majority of the feedback on our programs is coming from our 
Website, the Internet and information services like Microsoft 
Network, America On-Line, Prodigy, CompuServe and our Bulletin 
Board System. We felt that the easiest way to get the maximum 
amount of information to our users would be via this text file 
that can be downloaded from these services (Prodigy excluded). If 
you have a problem with MechWarrior 2, or if there is something in 
the manual that is not covered, we will try to cover it here. Keep 
those comments and suggestions coming.  We hope this will help to 
decrease the level of frustration many users feel when they 
encounter difficulties with a new program under DOS.

If you really like MechWarrior 2, we would really appreciate it if 
you would write to us, or your favorite games magazine and let 
them know. Positive and negative comments are appreciated, since 
they help us to learn what you like and don't like!

One point we want to make before we proceed -- you should read the 
Codes and Procedures manual, the Install Guide and this file to 
understand the features and usage of MechWarrior 2.  Many 
customers can save themselves some time and money by just reading 
the information provided before calling for assistance.  We love 
hearing from you and we are always happy to help, but we would 
appreciate it if you would try this before calling, as it allows 
us more time to research other issues involving MechWarrior 2 and 
to help customers who need help with issues not covered here.

-- Customer Service --
If you have any comments, questions or suggestions about 
MechWarrior 2, or any other Activision product, you can contact us 
at (310) 479-5644 between the hours of 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. 
(Pacific Time) Monday through Friday, with the exception of 
holidays, or contact a customer service representative through the 
following on-line services:

Activision BBS:  (310) 479-1335
     * Available 24 hours a day
     * Up to 14,400 baud
     * Settings: 8 bits, no parity, 1 stop bit (8, N, 1)

CompuServe:       76004,2122
		  or [GO GAMEPUB] in the Game Publishers Forum B

Prodigy:          ACTI10B

GEnie:            ACTIVISION

America on-line:  MEDIAJAKE or use keyword "ACTIVISION" to locate
		  the Activision forum.

Internet:         support@activision.com

World Wide Web:   http://www.activision.com

For information on how to use our listserver, please send email to 
CSbulletins@activision.com with the word "help" in the subject 
line. If you're already familiar with listservers, send email to 
the same address with the word "index" in the subject of your 
message for a list of files available from this service.

For customer service in Australia and the Pacific Rim, please 
refer to the following:

     ACTIVISION AUSTRALIA AND PACIFIC RIM
     P.O. Box 873
     Epping, NSW 2121
     Australia

     Phone: (61) 2 869 0955

ONLINE REGISTRATION
-------------------
MechWarrior 2 is the first Activision product to offer our new 
Online Registration program that uses your modem to call in to our 
Registration Server and register your product.  If you choose to 
use the ONLINE registration feature and cannot get it to work 
properly, please print out the registration information and mail 
it in to Activision Customer Service or use the provided 
registration card in your MechWarrior 2 package.

MEMORY
------
MechWarrior 2 requires a lot of memory to run--8 MB of system 
memory (RAM). On some machines, even if you have the required 8 
MB, MechWarrior 2 may report that you do not have enough free 
extended or conventional memory. If this is the case, your best 
alternative is to create a boot disk.  See the Boot Disk section 
of this document for more information on creating a boot disk.
 
-- Memory Managers --
We highly recommend that you load the MS-DOS 6.x memory managers 
(HIMEM.SYS and EMM386.EXE) while running MechWarrior 2.

When using MS-DOS 6.x and loading EMM386.EXE, you will need to 
have the EMS size set to NOEMS. See your DOS manual for 
information on how to do this.

If you are running QEMM in Stealth mode, MechWarrior 2 may fail to 
recognize your VESA driver built into the video card BIOS. IN 
order to correct this problem you will need to run in Frame Mode 
as opposed to Page Mode. To do this, change the "ST:M" parameter 
in your QEMM statement to "ST:F". See your QEMM manual for more 
information on how to do this. We actually recommend that you do 
not run QEMM in Stealth mode while playing MechWarrior 2.

-- Questions and Answers --
CORRECTION: The Install Guide mentions that the installer for 
mechWarrior 2 requires 500K of free memory to run.  This is 
incorrect.  The installer will work in 400K or more of memory.

Q: Is MechWarrior 2 compatible with PC-DOS?
A: MechWarrior 2 is verified compatible under MS-DOS based 
computers.  However, successful (but not extensive) testing has 
been conducted on PC-DOS 7.0 based systems, so proceed at your own 
risk.

Q: Do I need Expanded memory for MechWarrior 2?
A: No. MechWarrior 2 uses Extended memory to cache it's data.

Q: I get an out of memory error when I attempt to access one of 
the clans. -OR- I cannot launch missions from the pre-mission 
launch area ("shell") portion of the game.
A: This problem occurs most often in computers with 8 MB of RAM.  
MechWarrior 2 will run properly in machines with 8 MB of RAM.  
However, this RAM must be configured to allow MechWarrior 2 enough 
room.  In most cases, the conflict is with SMARTDRV.  SMARTDRV, by 
default, will occupy 2 MB of RAM in machines with more than 6 MB 
of extended memory.  By placing "REM" and a space in front of your 
SMARTDRV statement in your AUTOEXEC.BAT and rebooting, you should 
be able to solve the problem.  However, if this does not work, you 
must remove drivers or other TSR's which are occupying memory.  A 
better solution is the creation of a boot disk that you can use to 
run the program under optimum memory conditions.

BOOT DISKS
----------
If you experience problems playing MechWarrior 2 or receive 
messages that you do not have enough memory to play, you will 
probably need to create a boot disk. A boot disk lets your machine 
boot from a floppy disk and will not load memory-eating programs, 
freeing more memory up for MechWarrior 2. 

We have included an option that will automatically create boot 
disks for you in this package. To create a boot disk, first go to 
the \MECH2 directory. For example if you installed MechWarrior 2 
to C:\MECH2, you would type 'CD MECH2' and press [ENTER]. Then 
type MW2SETUP and press [ENTER]. Select "Make a Boot Disk".  
Follow the on-screen prompts, and the program will create a boot 
disk for you. 

-- Optimum Setup --
Still not enough memory? Sometimes even a boot disk creator can't 
get you past the memory limit required to run a program.  In the 
event you find our automatic boot disk creator doesn't do the job, 
we have provided the following sample CONFIG.SYS and AUTOEXEC.BAT 
files to assist you in getting MechWarrior 2 up and running 
quickly.

If you are starting from scratch to create a boot disk, start at 
Step 1.  If you have already used the automatic boot disk creation 
utility in the MechWarrior 2 installer, start at Step 3.

NOTE:
In the examples below, the text shown is exactly that, examples.  
Your system may vary as to the pathnames used in your PATH 
statement or to find files or the installed directory of a certain 
driver.  It is best to use our boot disk maker and then edit the 
resulting boot disk to your satisfaction, leaving only the bare 
minimum of TSRs needed to run MechWarrior 2.

Step 1:
Place a diskette in your A: drive.  The next step will destroy any 
data on the disk, so a brand new blank floppy disk should be used.  
Make sure that the disk is the same density as the drive (Use a 
1.44 MB disk in a High Density 3.5" drive, etc.).

Step 2:
At the C: prompt, type FORMAT A: /S and press [ENTER].  The DOS 
Format utility will format the disk and add the necessary DOS 
files required to boot from the floppy disk.

Step 3:
Change to drive A by typing A: and pressing [ENTER].  Then type 
EDIT CONFIG.SYS and press [ENTER].  The DOS Edit program will 
appear.

If you used our Boot Disk maker then just make sure these lines, 
or similar lines, in the [CONFIG.SYS] example below, are in your 
CONFIG.SYS file and type REM and a space in front of all other 
lines not listed.

If you are making your own Boot Disk manually, then type in the 
lines following [CONFIG.SYS] in the example below.  When you are 
finished typing the lines, press ALT-F to bring up the File menu, 
and then press X to Exit the DOS Edit program.  When it asks you 
if you want to save your file, choose Yes.

[CONFIG.SYS]
DEVICE=C:\DOS\HIMEM.SYS
DEVICE=C:\DOS\EMM386.EXE NOEMS
DOS=UMB
FILES=40
BUFFERS=15,0
STACKS=9,256
DOS=HIGH
DEVICEHIGH=C:\CDROMDRV\D011V109.SYS /D:MSCD000

In the CONFIG.SYS file shown above, replace the last line in the 
example with the line from your current CONFIG.SYS file on drive 
C: that runs your CD-ROM drivers.  It is important that you use 
your CD-ROM line and not our example, otherwise your CD-ROM drive 
will not function properly.  

You may also have special lines in your C:\CONFIG.SYS file that 
help your sound card to function properly.  It is very important 
that you copy those lines into this new file on A: so your sound 
card will work.  Place the appropriate lines from your CONFIG.SYS 
file at the end of the example shown above.

Step 4:
Type EDIT AUTOEXEC.BAT and press [ENTER].  The DOS Edit program 
will appear. 

If you used our Boot Disk maker then just make sure these lines, 
or similar lines, in the [AUTOEXEC.BAT] example below, are in your 
AUTOEXEC.BAT file and type REM and a space in front of all other 
lines not listed.

If you are making your own Boot Disk manually, then type in the 
lines following [AUTOEXEC.BAT] in the example below.  When you are 
finished typing the lines, press ALT-F to bring up the File menu, 
and then press X to Exit the DOS Edit program.  When it asks you 
if you want to save your file, choose Yes.

[AUTOEXEC.BAT]
@ECHO OFF
PROMPT $P$G
SET PATH=C:\DOS;C:\VIDCARD;C:\SNDCARD
LH C:\DOS\MSCDEX.EXE /D:MSCD000
SET SOUND=C:\SBPRO
SET BLASTER=A220 I7 D1 T4
C:\MOUSE\MOUSE.EXE
C:
CD\MECH2
MECH2

In the AUTOEXEC.BAT file shown above, you would replace line 4 
with the line from your current AUTOEXEC.BAT file on drive C: that 
loads your CD-ROM drivers.  It is important that you use your CD-
ROM line and not our example, otherwise your CD-ROM drive will not 
function properly.

You may also have special lines in your C:\AUTOEXEC.BAT file that 
help your sound card to function properly.  It is very important 
that you copy those lines into this new file on A: so your sound 
card will work.  Replace the examples on lines 5 and 6 with the 
appropriate lines from your AUTOEXEC.BAT file.

Additionally, if your graphics card requires a VESA driver it 
should go here as well. (See the following section on VESA video 
drivers.)

Step 5:
Reboot your system with the boot disk still in drive A. The game 
should start and everything should be working properly.  

NOTE:  Once this boot disk is finished and functioning properly,
       and if you still do not have enough memory free, use it
       to boot up your system and then run the DOS MEMMAKER
       utility with the boot disk in the drive.  MEMMAKER will
       ensure that you have squeezed every little bit of RAM out
       of the boot disk.  Run the DOS command MEM before and after
       running MEMMAKER to see what kind of memory increase you
       get from this step.

-- Questions and Answers --
Q: Why are parts of my 'Mech and other objects on the screen 
disappearing and re-appearing?
A: You are running low on memory.  Try some of the steps listed 
above in the MEMORY section to increase your available RAM.

Q: How do I create a boot disk with Stacker or DoubleSpace?
A: Before we explain the solution to this issue, we would like to 
point out that MechWarrior 2 DOES NOT support the use of disk 
compression software.  If you must run MechWarrior 2 on a 
compressed drive, you will most likely experience performance 
problems, and there are no solutions other than using a non-
compressed drive.

Stacker version 3.0 and earlier require certain drivers to be 
loaded in the CONFIG.SYS file in order to mount the compressed 
hard drive.  When creating a boot disk with Stacker 3.0 and 
earlier you must include two lines in the CONFIG.SYS file.  The 
exact path is dependent upon where you installed Stacker on your 
hard disk, but here we will provide the path for the default 
installation of Stacker.  The two lines needed in your CONFIG.SYS 
file are:

DEVICE=C:\STACKER\STACKER.COM C:\STACVOL.DSK
DEVICE=C:\STACKER\SSWAP.COM C:\STACVOL.DSK

These lines will load Stacker and mount your compressed drive when 
booting from the boot disk.

DoubleSpace/DriveSpace and Stacker 3.1 or later do not require 
that lines be added in the CONFIG.SYS file as they copy hidden 
files to the boot disk when using the "SYS A:" or "FORMAT A: /S" 
command.  Make a boot disk according to the normal instructions 
for creating a boot disk as discussed above. If you do not feel 
comfortable creating a boot disk under Stacker or DoubleSpace, 
contact STAC Electronics or Microsoft for technical support.

VIDEO
-----
MechWarrior 2 was designed to take advantage of some of the higher 
resolution video modes on your computer.  The pre-mission launch 
portion of the program (i.e. the "shell") runs in 640x480 SVGA 
mode, and the Simulation portion of the program runs by default in 
320x200 standard VGA mode.  The 3D simulation can also run in 
640x480 and 1024x768 mode using an SVGA video card (NOTE: To use 
the 640x480 and 1024x768 HiRes modes, your system should have 7 MB 
or more of free memory available before running MechWarrior 2).  
In some cases MechWarrior 2 will detect and work with your video 
card just fine.  However, some video cards may require that a VESA 
video driver be loaded in order for the video card to work 
properly with MechWarrior 2.

-- What Is A VESA Driver? --
VESA stands for Video Electronics Standards Association. It is a 
standard that allows software companies to write programs that 
work on many video cards without having to know how each card 
works. The VESA driver is the program that handles this. Almost 
every video card available today has VESA drivers available for 
it. These drivers may be stored in a chip on the video card, or 
they may be a program that the user has to load by hand (or with a 
batch file). Some cards (such as the Diamond Viper) have the 
driver on the video card, but need the user to run a special 
program to activate the driver.  If the VESA driver is an external 
program, it will probably be found on the disks that accompanied 
your video card. If you don't have a VESA driver you should 
contact your video card manufacturer. We have included a list of 
Customer Service and BBS numbers for major manufacturers at the 
end of this document. 

Using most 'external' (programs that you must run) VESA drivers is 
as easy as typing the name of the driver at the DOS prompt. For 
instance, if the driver was called VVESA.COM, you would type 
"VVESA.COM" and then press [ENTER].  If you have any difficulty 
running MechWarrior 2 at a higher resolution, contact the maker of 
your video card for the latest VESA driver for your card.

The next few sections explain some problems and solutions that we 
encountered during our testing with various video cards.

-- ATI --
Usually located within the MACH32 or ATI directory on your hard 
drive (or the directory into which all of your video drivers were 
installed) should be a file called VVESA.COM.  (If it is not 
there, it should be on your ATI driver diskettes which came with 
the card.)  This file must be run prior to launching MechWarrior 
2.  There are two solutions: 

1.  Type "VVESA" prior to running MechWarrior 2, each time.

2.  Include the following statement in your AUTOEXEC.BAT:

C:\MACH32\VVESA.COM

This should allow you to run the "shell" without any video 
problems.

-- Diamond Video Cards --
Q: My screen goes blank after I have started the game.
A: If you have a Diamond Stealth 64 video card, the problem is 
probably with the Diamond Power management system that was 
installed with your video card.  In some machines, the activity of 
the MechWarrior 2 game does not register as activity with this 
power management system.  To solve this, type the following 
command before running MechWarrior 2:

     C:\>S64DDPMS U

If DOS gives you a bad command error, the Stealth 64 driver 
directory must not be located in your path.  Change to that 
directory (for Stealth 64 DRAM users, that directory is typically 
S64D), and retype the command.

If you do not have a Stealth 64 video card, determine if you have 
a DOS power saver loaded for your video card.  If you do, disable 
it prior to running MechWarrior 2

-- Diamond Viper Cards --
The Diamond Viper has its VESA driver on the card, but you need to
run an external program to activate it. This program is called
VPRMODE.EXE. To use VPRMODE to activate the VESA driver, type:

VPRMODE VESA [ENTER]

The VPRMODE program should have been installed by the software 
that came with the Diamond Viper card.

Q: I have a Diamond Stealth/Viper and I get funny lines on my 
display.  Why?
A: This is a problem with MechWarrior 2 and some early versions of 
the Diamond drivers. There are software patches available for both 
the Stealth and Viper to alleviate this problem. The Stealth patch 
is available as a software program called STLBIOS.EXE or as a 
hardware upgrade. For the Diamond Viper, a software upgrade called 
VPRM202.EXE will contain a patch. All of these are available 
directly from Diamond.

-- MATROX --
Located within the MGA or MATROX directory on your hard drive (or 
the directory into which all of your video drivers were installed) 
should be a file called MGAVESA.COM.  (If it is not there, it 
should be on your video card driver diskettes.)  This file must be 
run prior to launching MechWarrior 2.  There are two solutions:  

1.  Type "MGAVESA" prior to running MechWarrior 2, each time.

     - OR -

2.  Include the following statement in your AUTOEXEC.BAT:

     C:\MGA\MGAVESA.COM

This should allow you to run MechWarrior 2 without any problems 
with video.

-- OTHER VIDEO CARDS --
If you do not have one of the cards listed above, try to locate 
the VESA driver for your video card in your video card's directory 
on your hard drive, or on the disks supplied by the card's 
manufacturer.  Run the VESA driver as shown above each time before 
you start MechWarrior 2 or put it in your AUTOEXEC.BAT file.

-- Questions and Answers --

Q: When I try to run missions in 1024x768 mode, I get a Divide 
Overflow error and I drop back to the debriefing screen.  Why 
can't I run the missions?
A: We believe this is a problem with certain VESA video drivers.  
It occurred most frequently on ATI Mach32 video cards.  Also, some 
video cards don't support this resolution, ot they may require a 
video memory upgrade in order to display this mode.  Consult your 
video card manufacturer for newer VESA drivers.  They may correct 
this problem.

Q: My screen goes blank or is garbled after the intro movie.  Why?
A: MechWarrior 2 is designed to operate with any SVGA video card 
that supports standard VESA video modes.  Most, if not all, video 
cards support VESA, either directly in the video hardware or 
through an external driver.  Some of these cards require you to 
load a VESA driver prior to starting MechWarrior 2.  In these 
cases, the drivers will most likely be found in the directory into 
which all of the video card files were installed. If you do not 
have a VESA driver for your video card, you will not be able to 
run the game until you obtain one. 

Q: What display modes does MechWarrior 2 use?
A: 320x200, 640x480 and 1024x760 color graphics.

SOUND
-----
The MechWarrior 2 installer will attempt to automatically detect 
what kind of sound card you have in your machine and select the 
proper driver. However, on some machines you may need to pick your 
sound card out of the lists provided. The installer will then try 
to verify the presence of that sound card in your machine. If your 
sound card is not shown and is 100 percent Sound Blaster 
compatible, you should be able to install for "Creative Labs Sound 
Blaster or 100% compatible" and hear sound and music within the 
game.

-- Miles Design Sound Drivers --
MechWarrior 2 sound support is accomplished through the use of the 
John Miles Design AIL audio driver libraries. Like VESA drivers, 
these help software companies support many different sound cards 
without having to know how each card works. The Miles Design 
Drivers are automatically installed when you select which sound 
card you wish to use for digital audio and MIDI in MechWarrior 2.

-- Questions and Answers -- 
Q: Will MechWarrior 2 work with my Pro Audio Spectrum 16 Sound 
Board?
A: Yes, but Pro Audio Spectrum 16 sound cards must have the 
following settings to work with MechWarrior 2.

       Pro Audio Spectrum Side:      Sound Blaster Side:
       Port = None                   Port = 220
       Interrupt (IRQ) = 3           Interrupt (IRQ) = 5
       DMA Channel = 3               DMA Channel = 1 (Must be 1)

The PAS 16 consists of two sections, and the Sound Blaster section         
should use the settings shown above.  You may be able to use a         
different IRQ, but the DMA channel must be 1.  Problems with the 
PAS 16 card are usually due to the two sides of the card sharing a 
port, Interrupt or DMA Channel.  The two sides of the card must 
have different settings, or the card will cause the system to lock 
up.  Look at the setting in the SETUP utility for this sound card 
for more information.

Q: I have an Ad-Lib/Ad-Lib Gold card, and I can't get any digital 
Sound FX to play. How come?
A: An Ad-Lib card does not have a DAC (Digital Audio Converter) to 
play digital effects, therefore you will only hear synthesized 
musical effects.

Q: How come the music volume control does not affect the volume of 
the music I hear while playing the game?
A: Some CD-ROM drivers do not have the ability to raise or lower 
the volume.  For these drivers the sound is either on or off.  In 
these instances, the volume slider for music will be non-
functional except to turn it on and off.

Q: The volume levels of my music, sound effects and/or game voices 
are too low for me to hear.  What can I do?
A:  Check your speakers to see if the volume can be turned up.  
This is the easiest solution.  However, if this cannot solve your 
problems, try adjusting the volume sliders in the escape menus of 
the game.  Finally, your sound card may have a volume or mixer 
utility that can raise the volume of your sound output or the 
volume know on the back of some sound cards.  Consult your sound 
card manual for more information.

NOTE:
Some CD-ROM drives may have the volume level for Redbook Audio (CD 
music) set too low or off in their CONFIG.SYS or AUTOEXEC.BAT 
file.  If you are not hearing music in the game, consult your CD-
ROM driver manuals or the manufacturer of your CD-ROM drive for 
assistance.  You may simply need to make a small change to a 
command in your startup files to fix the problem.

Q: I do not have any sound in the game.  What do I do?
A: There are a number of things that may cause this problem.  
First, ensure that your speakers are properly plugged into your 
sound card and are turned on.  Second, type "MW2SETUP" in the 
C:\MECH2 directory and choose the appropriate sound card in 
"Configure Sound Devices".  Make sure that you have the 
appropriate settings.  If all else fails, the problem may be with 
your sound card.  Consult your sound card user manual and run any 
diagnostic utilities that the manufacturer supplies.

Q: Why is the sound fuzzy on my Sound Blaster Pro 2 sound card?
A: This may be due to a compatibility problem between the Sound 
Blaster Pro 2 and certain video cards.  We discovered it with an 
Orchid Kelvin card installed.  A small amount of distortion plays 
near the beginning and ends of sound effects.  We have no solution 
for this at this time.

INPUT DEVICES (Joysticks, Mice, VR Headsets)
--------------------------------------------
MechWarrior 2 supports a wide variety of input devices.  The 
following section will cover many of the most common issues 
encountered with these controllers.  We will be adding more input 
devices to the current list in the near future.  Look on our BBS 
or any of the on-line services that we currently support for 
updates which will allow you to use new devices with MechWarrior 
2.  Some future additions are the Spaceball Avenger and the CH 
Virtual Pilot Pro.

MechWarrior 2 requires a Microsoft-compatible mouse to run. Most
mice today (including Logitech, Mouse Systems, and Kensington) are
Microsoft-compatible. In order for the mouse to work properly in
MechWarrior 2, a mouse driver must be loaded before running
the game. The mouse driver must also be fairly current and VESA 
compatible. Contact the manufacturer of your mouse or the dealer 
who sold the mouse to you to see if your driver is the most 
current available.

-- Questions and Answers --

Q: Which Thrustmaster products are supported by MechWarrior 2?
A: MechWarrior 2 supports several configurations of the following 
Thrustmaster input devices:

  Flight Control Systems Mark I & II
  Weapons Control Systems Mark II vrs. 5.08
  Rudder Control Systems
  F-16 Flight Control Systems

Q: My computer freezes when calibrating or does not calibrate the 
CH Flightstick Pro properly.
A: We believe the problem results from conflicts in some sound 
card game-ports.  One possible solution to this problem is to plug 
the joystick cable into a Y-adapter plugged into your sound card 
game port.  The best alternative is to install and use a dedicated 
game port on a separate I/O card and disable the game port on your 
sound card.

Q: I am having problems calibrating my joystick to work with 
MechWarrior 2.  What should I do?
A: MechWarrior 2 is designed to be very sensitive to joystick 
controls to allow for more precision.  The trade-off is that you 
must be delicate in configuring your joystick.  Please follow the 
screen directions very closely and slowly.  The most common 
problem encountered by MechWarrior 2 players is caused by rushing 
through the joystick configuration screens.  As anxious as you may 
be to play MechWarrior 2, take your time to configure properly.  
Remember to wait until the dot appears to move your joystick and 
follow the stick movement and button click sequence precisely.

Q: How do I select the input device I want to use in the NetMech 
DEMO?
A: You can select the input device you wish to use in MechWarrior 
2 by pressing [ESC] and selecting your preferred device under 
Cockpit Controls.  These settings will be used in the NetMech DEMO 
as well.

Q: How come my Thrustmaster Mark I Weapons Control System (WCS) 
will not work with MechWarrior 2?
A: MechWarrior 2 is designed to be fully functional with 
Thrustmaster's Mark II Weapons Control Systems.  The Mark I WCS 
should function with MechWarrior 2, but it will not be 
programmable.  However, compatibility is ensured for Mark II users 
and an .ADV file has been provided for your use. 

To use the .ADV file that will set up your WCS Mark 2 to run with 
MechWarrior 2 you must perform the following steps:  First type 
CD\Mark2 to enter the WCS Mark2 directory.  Type M2 and press 
Enter to load the WCS Mark 2 Command and Control Center.  Next 
press Enter and choose option B (Download file).  At the Directory 
prompt, type D:\CFGS (where D is your CD-ROM drive letter) and 
then press Enter.  Next, select MW2.ADV, press Enter and follow 
the on-screen instructions.  Congratulations, your WCS Mark2 is 
now fully configured for MechWarrior 2 action! 

Q: I have a Honeywell mouse and it does not work with MechWarrior 
2.  Why?
A: The Honeywell Mouse is not compatible with Microsoft standards 
and does not work with MechWarrior 2.

Q: Why do I get an "Error: Mouse Not Found" message?
A: This message is usually the result of one of two problems. Most 
likely, a mouse driver has not been loaded. MechWarrior 2 needs a 
DOS mouse driver to run (as opposed to a Microsoft Windows mouse 
driver). This driver along with instructions on how to load it 
should have been included with your mouse. The less likely problem 
is that the mouse driver is being correctly loaded, but it is an 
older version that is not supported. You should contact the 
manufacturer (or dealer) of your mouse to get a more up-to-date 
mouse driver.

Q: I have an IBM Aptiva computer and I can't get my Virtual I/O i-
glasses headset to work.  What's the problem?
A: During our testing process, we discovered that the Virtual I/O 
i-glasses headset does not function with the IBM Aptiva systems.  
We do not have a solution for this at this time, however Virtual 
I/O may be able to assist you with a solution.  We'll keep you 
update in future versions of this file as we receive more 
information.

NETWORK AND MODEM PLAY DEMO
---------------------------

-- Network Play: Startup --
To participate in head-to-head play over an IPX or Netbios 
compatible network, you must first make sure you have all the 
proper network cards and software installed on the computers you 
will be using.

First, go to the directory that contains your network files. Type 
NETBIOS and press [ENTER].  If everything is working correctly, 
you will get the message that Netbios has been installed 
successfully.  You must then go to the MechWarrior 2 directory and 
type NETB2 and press [ENTER].  You will then be taken to the 
network communications screen.  Type a message to your opponent to 
ensure you are properly connected.

Once both opponents see their messages, press [ESC] and you will 
be returned to the DOS prompt.  At the DOS prompt, type NETDEMO 
and press [ENTER]. You will be taken to the MechWarrior 2 combat 
screen.  Type in your name and press Enter until you see a picture 
of a 'Mech appear in the lower left window.  Choose your 'Mech by 
selecting the right or left arrow.  You can choose different 
variations of 'Mechs by pressing the first four function keys (F1, 
F2, F3, or F4).  Please keep in mind that not all Mechs have four 
variations.

The next step is to select the type of terrain in which you will 
be fighting.  Your current choices include desert mesas, ice flats  
and a battle arena.  You can type messages to your opponent by 
clicking your mouse in the small black window below the different 
terrains.  Simply right click in the window, type your message and 
press [ENTER].   Now you're ready to fight!  Just click on the 
LAUNCH button and prepare for battle!   

-- Modem Play: Startup --
To play MechWarrior 2 against an opponent via modem, make sure 
your modem is ON and switch to the C:\MECH2 directory, type MS and 
press [ENTER].  You will see the modem control window.  

Select a slot and choose E for Edit and type in your name or the 
name of the person you’re going to call.  Then choose the COM port 
your where your modem is installed, usually COM 2.  Next, select a 
baud rate of 9600 and keep pressing [ENTER] until all menu items 
are chosen.  

If you are dialing your opponent, type in the phone number.  If 
you are going to answer, press [ENTER] when you are asked for a 
phone number.  

After completing these steps, select C for connect and you will be 
dropped to a DOS prompt.  At the DOS prompt, type in MODEM and 
press [ENTER]. The modem will either dial your opponents phone 
number for you or answer their incoming call depending on which 
mode you have chosen.  

Once the two modems connect, you will see the chat/communication 
screen.  Type a message to your friend to verify your connection 
and then press ESC.  At the DOS prompt type NETDEMO and press 
[ENTER].  You will see the MechWarrior 2 communications screen.  
Select a slot and type in your name.  Afterwards press ENTER twice 
and the two machines will connect.  Simply choose your 'Mech and 
your playing field and press Launch.  You will then meet in your 
chosen machine at your selected battlefield ready for intense head 
to head combat.

TECHNICAL NOTE: To play, you must have a 16550A UART chip on the 
COM port you are using to play.  You can use the Microsoft 
Diagnostic (MSD.EXE) utility provided with Windows 3.1 and later 
to determine if you have this chip on your COM ports.

-- Null Modem Play: Startup --
To play MechWarrior 2 in Null Modem Mode, connect two computers 
via their serial ports with a null modem cable.  Switch to the 
C:\MECH2 directory and type COMIO 2 and press [ENTER].  

You will be taken to a null modem communications screen, when both 
parties appear in the screen, press [ESC] and you will be returned 
to the DOS prompt.  

Type in NETDEMO and press [ENTER] You will see the MechWarrior 2 
communications screen.  Follow the directions below and you will 
soon be playing one-on-one MechWarrior 2, head to head!

Once the two machines connect, you will see the chat/communication 
screen.  Type a message to your friend to verify your connection 
and then press ESC.  At the DOS prompt type NETDEMO and press 
[ENTER].  You will see the MechWarrior 2 communications screen.  
Select a slot and type in your name.  Afterwards press ENTER twice 
and the two machines will connect again.  Simply choose your 'Mech 
and your playing field and press Launch.  You will then meet in 
your chosen machine at your chosen battlefield ready for intense 
head to head battle.

-- Modem Initialization Strings --
==========================================
TECHNICAL NOTE: Certain modems may not want to work properly with 
NetMech DEMO. Here is a list of initialization strings that may 
help you to get the Modem portion of the program working with your 
modem.  There may be several strings in this list for your modem, 
so if one does not work, try another.

-----------------------------------------------------------------
AT&T Dataport 2001:        AT &F%VFX7S62=0%VG9\Q2\N0&W
AT&T Dataport:             AT &F X7 S62=0 \Q2 \N0 &W
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Boca                       AT &Q6 %C0 &K0
Boca 14.4 Fax/Modem        AT S46=0 S37=9 N0 &Q0 &D2 &K4
Boca 14.4k                 AT S46=0 S37=9 N0 &Q0 &D2 &K0 %C0
Boca 14.4 internal         AT &C0   S37=9 N0 &Q0 &K0 W0 S36=3 
S48=128 %C0
Boca 14.4k (external)      AT &F S0=1 S36=0 &K0 &Q6 N0 S37=9 &D2
Boca M1440i (internal)       
	     ATS48=0S37=9S46=136%C0%E0%M0&K0&Q0&R1&C1&D2\G0\N1N0
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Cardinal                   AT &F W0 &Q0 &D2
Cardinal 14.4k             AT &F N0 S37=9 &Q0 &D2 \N1
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Computer Peripherals 14.4          AT &F S37=9 S46=0 N0 &Q0 &K0
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Digicom Systems (DSI) (softmodem)  AT Z \N0 &D2 &K0 S48=48
Digicom Systems Scout Plus         ATZ*E0*N3*M0*S0*F0&D2
Digicom connection 96+Softmodem:   AT \N1 &d2 %c0 s37=9 &K0
Digicom connection 96+Softmodem:   AT Z \N0 &D2 &K0 S48=0
Digicom connection 96+Softmodem:   ATZ*E0*N3*S0*M0*F0&D2
-----------------------------------------------------------------
GVC 14.4k (internal)      AT &F B8 \Q0
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Gateway Telepath          AT &F S37=9 %C0 &K0 &Q6 \G0
Gateway Telepath 14.4k    AT S46=0 S37=9 N0 &Q0 &D2 &K0 %C0
Gateway Telepath I:       AT S0=1 &N6 &K0 &M0
Gateway Telepath I:    
		    AT &F S37=9 &K0 &Q0 %C0 N0 \G0 &D2 S46=0 S0=1
Gateway Telepath II       AT S0=1 S37=9 %C0 &Q0 &K0
Gateway Telepath II:      AT &F &K0 &M0 &N6 S0=1
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Generic 14.4k Fax/Modem   AT S46=0 S37=9 N0 &Q0 &D2 %C0 \G0 &K0
Generic v.32bis 14.4k     AT \N0 %C0 B8
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Hayes 28.8k V.FAST Modem  AT &Q6 &K S37=9 N %C0 \N0
Hayes Optima 28.8/14.4    AT &F S37=9 N0 &Q0 &K0
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Infotel 144I:             AT &Q0 S37=9 N0 &D2
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Intel 14.4k               AT \N0 %C0 \Q0 B8
Intel 14.4k (internal)    AT Z B8 Q1 \C0 \N1 %C0 \V
Intel 400/i Fax/Modem:    AT Z\N0 %C0 "H0 S31=9 &Q0 &D
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Macronix                  AT S36=3 S37=9 &K0 %C0 \G0
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Microcom QX/4232bis       AT %C0 \N0
-----------------------------------------------------------------
NOKIA ECM 4896M TRELLIS V.32.    AT Z %C0 /N0
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Netcomm M7F         
	     AT &E &K0 B0 \V0 X4 &D2 \N1 \Q0 #J0 #Q9 %C0
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Nokia ECM 4896M Trellis V.32.    AT Z %C0 /N0
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Practical Peripherals 14400FX v.32bis   AT S46=0 &Q0 &K0 &D2
Practical Peripherals 14400FX v.32bis   AT Z S46=0 &Q0 &D2
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Supra                     AT &F0 S46=136 %C0
SupraFaxModem 14.4:       AT &K0 &Q6 &D2 \N0 %C0
Supra (external)          AT &K0 &Q0 &D0 \N1
Supra 14.4k v.32bis       AT &F0 S46=136 &Q0 &D2
SupraFaxModem 14.4:       AT S37=9 &Q0 &D2 N \N1 &K
SupraFaxModem 14.4:       AT \N0 &D2 &K0 S48 = 8
SupraFaxModem:            AT &F0 N S37=9
Supra                     
			 AT N0 Q0 V1 W1 &K0 \G0 \N0 \%C0 %M0 S37=9
------------------------------------------------------------------
Telebit 3000/Worldblazer  AT S50=6 S180=0
------------------------------------------------------------------
Telepath 14.4k            AT &F &M0 &K0 &N6 &H0 S0=1
------------------------------------------------------------------
Turbo Modem Plus          AT &F B8 %C0 /N1
------------------------------------------------------------------
USR Sportster 9600        AT &M0 &K0 &N6
USR 14.4k                 AT &K0 &H0 &D0 &I0 &R1
USR 14.4k                 AT &F0 B0 S34=1 &N6 &K0 &I0
USR Sportster             AT &F0 &K0 &M0 &B1 S34=1 &N6 &I0
USR 14.4k                 AT &B1 &M0 S27=16 &H0 &I0 &K0 &N6
USR 14.4k                 AT &M0 &K0 &N8 &D0 B0
USR 14.4k       
	  AT &A0 &B0 &D0 &H1 &I0 &K0 &M0 &N6 &R1 S34=1
USR Courier 16.8:         AT &A0 &M0 &K0& N6 B0 S0=0 X7
USR Courier v.32bis
	  AT E1 Q0 V1 S7=60 &C1 &D2 &K0 &N6 &A3 &H0 &M0
USR Sportster 14.4k       AT E1 Q0 V1 S7=60 &C1 &D2 &K0 &N6 &A3
USR Sportster 14.4k:      AT &F0 &K0 &M0 &A0
USR Sportster 14.4k       AT &F0 &M0 &K0 &N6 &H0
USR Sportster 14.4k       AT &F0 &K0 &M0 &N6 &H0 &I0 &B1 &R1
USR Sportster 14.4k:      AT &K0 &M0 &N6 &H0 &I0 &B0 &R1
USR Sportster 14.4k:      AT &N6 &K0 &M0 &B1 &H0 &I0
USR Sportster 14.4k:
	 AT B0 X4 E1 Q0 V1 &M0 &K0 &R1 &N6 &A3 &H0 &I0
USR Sportster 14.4k
	 AT S7=60 E1 Q0 V1 &C1 &D2 &K0 &N6 &A3 &M0 &H0
USR Sportster 14.4k:      AT S7=60 E1 Q0 V1 &C1 &D2 &K0 &N6 &A3
USR 14.4k Dual Standard
	 AT B0 X4 Q0 &R1 &B1 &N6 &A0 &D2 &H0 &I0 &K0 &M0 M1
USR DS v.32bis v.42bis
	 AT &M0 &N6 &A0 &R1 &H0 &K0 &I0 &S0 &B1 X1
USR Courier HST/DS 16.8k  AT X4 B0 &A0 &B0 &H2 &I0 &K0 &M0 &N6
------------------------------------------------------------------
ViVa 14.4k                AT &F &Q6 \N0 %C0 &D2 N0 S37=9
Viva 14.4 Fax/Modem:
	 AT S11=50 S37=9 S95=52 L0 N0 S46=0 &Q0 &D2 \N1
------------------------------------------------------------------
Wang 14/14 modem:
	 AT S46=0 S37=9 N0 &K0 %C0 %M0 &Q0 &D2 \N1
------------------------------------------------------------------
Zoom Init                 AT &F &Q6 S37=9 N0 &K0 %C0
Zoom Init                 AT &F &Q0 S37=9 N0 &K0 S46=0
Zoom 14.4k VFX            AT &Q6 S37=9 N0 %C0 \N0
Zoom Init
	 AT &Q6 S37=9 N0 &K0 S46=136 S36=1 S48=128 %C0
Zoom OEM Modem            AT &Q6 S37=9 N0 &K0
Zoom:                     AT &Q6 S37=9 N0 &K0 %C0
Zoom:                     AT &Q0 S37=9 N0 &K0 %C0
Zoom:                     AT &Q6 &K0 &D2 \N0 %C0
------------------------------------------------------------------
Zyxel (E+):               AT &N3 &K0
Zyxel U-1496E+            AT Z &N4 &K0
------------------------------------------------------------------

-- Questions and Answers --
Q: NETB2 is not connecting the two computers running NetMech DEMO.  
What is the problem?
A: You might be networked across a router.  NETB2, and by 
necessity NetMech DEMO, will not connect across a router.  We are 
currently working on a solution to this for our full network 
version.

Q: Why won't NETB2 run?
A: Ensure that you have loaded NETBIOS or 100% NETBIOS compatible 
software.  NETB2 will not work without NETBIOS or compatible 
software loaded.

Q: I cannot get NetMech DEMO to run on my Windows network.  Why 
not?
A: NetMech DEMO does not support Windows NETBIOS.

Q: When my friend and I try to launch, only one of us is 
successful.  What do we do?
A: Occasionally this will occur.  Simply click on LAUNCH again to 
attempt a connection.  It may be necessary in some cases to 
restart NETDEMO from the DOS prompt again to enable both users to 
launch properly.

Q: I selected a Firemoth but when I appeared onscreen I was in a 
Summoner.  What's wrong?
A: Occasionally an opponent will appear onscreen in a 'Mech they 
did not select.  If this occurs, press [ESC] and re-launch the 
mission.  If you attempt to play in this mode your damage and 
weapons may not work properly.

Q: When I run NETB2 I get a message stating that other players are 
already registered.  What does this mean?
A: This message indicates that other people are currently playing 
NetMech DEMO on the network.  Fortunately, NETB2 provides four 
sockets to connect through.  To use a different socket type "NETB2 
x" where "x" is the number of the socket (1 through 4).  Unless 
there are four games going on, you should be able to find an open 
socket.  Both players need to type in the same socket number to 
play against each other in NetMech DEMO.

Q: Does NetMech DEMO support Lantastic?
A: NetMech DEMO should function properly on a Lantastic network or 
any other network that supports NETBIOS or 100% NETBIOS compatible 
software.

Q: My frame rate in the NetMech DEMO is choppy and I get "memory 
low" messages on my screen.  Why is this?
A: In the heat of battle, sometimes more memory is required out of 
your computer due to the increased demands on the processor by the 
multiplayer version.  If you are running the network version on an 
8 MB machine, you may occasionally get memory low banners or 
experience choppy frame rates.  Try to free up more memory to run 
the program.  Ideally, the NetMech DEMO should be run in computer 
with more than 8MB.

Q: My modem is not connecting.  Why not?
A: NetMech DEMO requires a connection through two 100% Hayes 
compatible modems at 9600 BPS and a 16550A UART chip on the COM 
port you are using to play.  If you do not have a Hayes compatible 
modem or a 16550A UART, NetMech DEMO might not function properly, 
if at all.  You can use the Microsoft Diagnostic (MSD.EXE) utility 
provided with Windows 3.1 and later to determine if you have this 
chip on your COM ports.

Q: My joystick will not work properly in NetMech DEMO Null Modem 
games.  What's wrong?
A: We could not get joysticks working properly in the DEMO version 
of NetMech when using Null Modem.  This will be repaired in the 
full NetMech product when it becomes available.  If you are unable 
to get your joystick working properly in NetMech DEMO, we 
recommend using a combination of Keyboard and Mouse to play the 
game.  (QA Manager Note: A Suncom SFX gamepad in keyboard mode is 
an excellent solution to this dilemma.)

PERFORMANCE (FRAMERATE)
-----------------------
MechWarrior 2 has features that were designed to support a wide 
range of computers. When you initially configure MechWarrior 2 for 
play, MechWarrior 2 will make several default settings regarding 
which features should be used and which should be turned off.

The trade-offs are different for each user, so we allow any 
machine to run any options, but please keep in mind that the 
higher the level of detail, the more demanding the machine 
requirements.

We recommend that all 486 owners use low resolution.  486-66's and 
up with very fast video sub-systems can run in 640x480, but most 
of the graphic options should be turned off.  Video cards also 
vary dramatically - many cards are optimized for extremely high 
performance in Windows, but can actually be very slow for use in 
DOS.  The best way to determine this is by running MechWarrior 2.  
Start with a resolution of 320x200, and select whatever options 
best match your machine's capabilities and your desire for 
realism. Machine and graphics card allowing, move up to a higher 
resolution, and adjust graphic options until you reach a 
satisfactory balance.  You make the call.

Try making the following changes, to increase the game's 
performance:

Terrain Textures: Try turning these off.
Object Textures:  Try turning these off.
Display Detail:   Try switching to LOW.
Object Density:   Try switching to LOW.
Chunk Explosions: Try turning these off.
Resolution:       Reduce to the next lower resolution.

These changes should be sufficient to get the game running 
reasonably on any machine.  Other options can be left on, as their 
performance cost is low.

TROUBLESHOOTING
---------------
TECHNICAL NOTE: MechWarrior 2 may have trouble working with some 
1993 or earlier Matsushita CD-ROM Drives. These CD-ROM drives have 
trouble reading beyond 63 minutes on CDs. MechWarrior 2 uses the 
full CD. These drives were sold under the name of Panasonic, JVC, 
Reveal, Creative Labs, and  Plextor.  Gameplay may occasionally 
slow down and the CD-ROM drive will be accessed constantly. If 
this problem occurs, simply turning off the music in the game 
should allow you to play the game.  We highly recommend that you 
upgrade to a newer CD-ROM drive to avoid problems with other 
programs in the future.  These drives are outdated and do not meet 
the higher standards imposed by games like MechWarrior 2.

Q: I have a Sanyo 4X CD-ROM drive in my Gateway 2000 Pentium 
computer.  During the game the music plays just once and stops 
playing or doesn't play at all.  What is wrong?
A: This is caused by your CD-ROM driver.  You most likely have 
v1.2 of the Sanyo driver.  Version 1.3 is available from Gateway 
and should fix the problem.

Q: There is one mission I just can't beat.  Is there any way to go 
past it?
A: If you come across a mission that you can't beat and you are 
getting really frustrated with it, before you launch the mission 
press [ESC] and select Combat Variables.  In the Combat Variables 
menu, switch from Hard or Medium mode to Easy.  You will find 
those enemy 'Mechs a lot easier to kill now.  You can use this 
trick for specific missions or an entire career.

Q: The movies don't run very smooth on my machine.  What can I do 
to make them run better?
A: If you have the disk space available, try the Full Blown 
installation.  This will run the movies from your hard disk which 
will vastly improve their performance over running them from the 
CD-ROM drive.  This does not affect play during the 3D simulation 
however.

Q: After I complete a mission the game freezes before I get back 
to the debriefing screen.  Why?
A: We have determined that this is caused when the game is trying 
to tell the CD-ROM drive to stop the music and doesn't get a 
response.  When it freezes, don't reboot your machine.  Simply 
press the EJECT button on your CD-ROM drive, and the game should 
drop back into the debriefing screen.  Then reinsert your CD to 
continue playing.  This error occurs infrequently, and this step 
should take care of it.

Q: Why doesn't my starmate join up when I tell him to?
A: If your starmate is engaged in battle, he will not break 
combat.  He is bound by honor to finish the battle.

Q: I killed twelve 'Mechs in my last mission and the mission 
summary screen only said I killed nine.  Am I getting cheated out 
of those three kills?
A: The clans will only reward direct kills.  You must be precise 
with your shots to receive credit and honor.  'Mechs that die as a 
result of  "splash damage"  (damage resulting from nearby 
explosions of 'Mechs or weapons and overheating) will not be 
counted towards your total kills.  The clans also do not reward 
you for deaths caused by internal ammunition explosions.  So 
although it may appear that you blew that last Marauder to pieces, 
remember that his demise may not always be your doing.

Q: I have had a sudden loss of sanity and would like to erase 
MechWarrior 2 from my hard drive.  How do I do that?
A: Well, if you are really sure that's what you want to do, we'll 
tell you how to do it.  Using the "deltree" DOS command, delete 
the MechWarrior 2 directory.  For instance, if you installed 
MechWarrior 2 into your root directory using the default directory 
"MECH2", you would enter the following at the DOS prompt:

	  CD\
	  DELTREE MECH2

REMEMBER:  ALL DATA IN THIS DIRECTORY AND EVERY SUBDIRECTORY 
THEREIN WILL BE LOST FOREVER.  ANY 'MECH CONFIGURATIONS OR CAREERS 
WILL BE LOST.

NOTE:  If you want to save your pilot careers, make a copy of
       MW2REG.CFG before deleting the \MECH2 directory.  After
       installation, copy this file back into the directory where
       you installed MechWarrior 2.

Q: How come I don't see the cool introductory movie I have heard 
so much about?  The game skips straight to the choose allegiance 
screen.
A: You must have the MechWarrior 2 CD in your CD drive at ALL 
times during the game.  Certain animations and movies as well as 
other files are accessed by the program at various times 
throughout the game.

Q: The menu screens use to be animated, but now the animations are 
frozen.  How come?
A: If you take the CD out of your drive during operation of 
MechWarrior 2, the game may freeze and/or the screen animations 
will stop.  In any event, the game will not function properly, if 
at all.

Q: Occasionally during the missions, the screen freezes for a 
second without explanation.  This is sometimes a problem when in 
the heat of battle.
A: The pause is due to the CD resetting to the beginning of the 
audio track for the mission you are running.  It should last less 
than a second.  However, if you find this annoying, you can turn 
off the CD music.  Simply slide the music slider all the way to 
the lowest volume and the CD will turn off.  No more skip, but no 
more music either.

Q: Objects are disappearing from my screen when I run the 
missions.  What's the problem?
A: MechWarrior 2 will run on computers with 8 MB's of RAM.  
However, you will need to have about 7 MB 's of free extended 
memory.  If you have SMARTDRV loaded, or TSR's that take up 
significant amounts of memory, more than likely you will not have 
the required memory.  When MechWarrior 2 begins running out of 
memory, it will stop loading objects.  The result is that some 
objects or parts of objects may disappear from your screen.  A 
system with more than 8 MB's of memory would be optimal.  However, 
making more memory available via a boot disk should solve this 
problem.  If you still have problems, turn off some of the detail 
levels in the escape menu.

Q: Will the reported mathematical error in the Pentium chip affect 
the performance of MechWarrior 2?
A: MechWarrior 2 does not use floating point arithmetic.  The 
performance of the game will not be affected by any floating point 
arithmetic flaws that exist in the Pentium processor.

Q: Can I run MechWarrior 2 under Windows NT?
A: MechWarrior 2 has not been developed to run within Windows NT.  
It must be run under DOS.  If you have a dual boot set up, boot to 
DOS and run from the DOS prompt.

Q: Why is my frame rate choppy?
A: Frame rate is based on a number of factors.  The easiest (and 
less expensive) way to increase the frame rate during missions is 
to turn off the detail levels in the escape menu of the game.  The 
DOS performance of your video card and its bus type also affect 
your frame rate.  For this reason, MechWarrior 2 requires a VESA 
Local Bus video card.  Additionally, many of the video cards 
specifically designed as Windows accelerators neglect DOS 
performance and the performance of MechWarrior 2 will suffer 
accordingly.  Lastly, your processor will greatly affect the frame 
rate.  Upgrading a 486 to a Pentium will make a great difference 
in performance and will allow you to run in high resolution modes.

Q: My screen is really dark.  Is there something I can I do?
A: Well, first try turning on the power to your monitor.  This 
will solve most "blank screen" problems.  (Just kidding)  In the 
escape menu of the simulator, under the "Device Calibration" 
option, you can increase the brightness of the display using the 
monitor slider.  This should solve any brightness problems.  If 
not, adjust the settings on your monitor.

Q: The autopilot function runs my 'Mech into walls and buildings.  
Is this intended?
A: MechWarriors are known for their piloting and gunnery skills.  
Use of autopilot as the exclusive means of travel between 
navigational points is considered dishonorable among the ranks of 
the MechWarrior, although you will not be penalized for its use.  
Consequently, development of sophisticated  autopilot computers 
has not been a concern of the clans.  The best use of autopilot is 
as a directional aid.  Selecting a NAV point and hitting autopilot 
will turn your 'Mech in the direction of the NAV point.

Q: Why does my light amplification not function sometimes? -OR- 
Why do my satellite map and other displays flicker during the 
missions?
A: When your 'Mech takes damage from enemy fire, your systems 
began to shut down.  Eventually you will lose certain systems in 
your HUD and other displays.  Screens will begin to flicker and 
eventually go dead.  The solution is simple:  Kill or be killed.

Q: Does MechWarrior 2 function under Windows 95?
A: Windows 95 was still under development during the creation of 
MechWarrior 2 and has not been released as of the date of this 
document.  Consequently, MechWarrior 2 does not officially support 
Windows 95.  However, MechWarrior 2 has successfully run under 
some beta versions of Windows 95.  If you have any problems, 
reboot to DOS or, if you have a dual boot, bypass Windows 95 and 
run MechWarrior 2 under DOS.  Activision plans to release a 
specific Windows 95 version of MechWarrior 2 by the end of 1995.

Q: When I try to run certain missions in Windows 95 I get a Page 
Fault error message.  What's wrong?
A: We do not have a solution for this at this time.  Like we said, 
Windows 95 is not supported in this version of MechWarrior 2.

Q: The MechWarrior 2 install program crashes.  Why?
A: This is probably a conflict with a loaded memory resident 
program. Try making a boot disk as per the instructions in this 
file. Ignore the "Bad Command or Filename" message that appears 
when using the boot disk for installation. Also try running the 
INSTALL program with no mouse driver loaded. See your mouse manual 
for information on disabling the mouse.

Q: MechWarrior 2 locks up. Why?
A: This is more than likely the result of a conflict between 
MechWarrior 2 and a memory-resident program that is being loaded 
in your AUTOEXEC.BAT or CONFIG.SYS files. The best solution to 
this is to create a boot disk as outlined in the instructions in 
this file. If this does not help, try running the MW2SETUP program 
in the MechWarrior 2 directory and selecting "No MIDI Music" and 
"No Digital Audio" under Configuring Sound Devices. If this 
doesn't help, call Activision Studios Customer Support at the 
number listed in the Install Guide included in your MechWarrior 2 
box.

Q: I have a 486-66 computer with 8 MB of RAM, how will MechWarrior 
2 run on my system?
A: Your computer meets the minimum requirements for the program. 
While it will run adequately on your system, the program performs 
best on a Pentium based system.  (How's that for a pat answer?)

Q: I use STACKER on my hard drive. When I installed the program, 
it reported that I had plenty of free disk space, however, the 
install terminated before completion and I only had 84000 Bytes 
left. Is this a Bug?
A: No. STACKER reports the estimated amount of disk space free, if 
the files being copied to the hard disk can be compressed. Since 
our files come compressed already, it messes up Stacker's 
estimate. To install MechWarrior 2 on a stacked drive, we don't 
recommend installing to a drive that has less than 60 MB to 200 MB 
of free disk space depending on which installation option your 
choose, but then again, we recommend that you don't run the game 
using Stacker/Drivespace/Doublespace/etc.!

Q: I can't run WINDOWS after I am finished playing MechWarrior 2.
A: On some systems, MechWarrior 2 may create memory allocations 
that will not work with WINDOWS.  Although this problem is 
believed to be solved, if it occurs, the problem can easily be 
solved by rebooting your computer after you are out of MechWarrior 
2.  WINDOWS should run properly upon reboot.

Q: The movies have skipping audio or skip frames on my computer.
A: Due to the almost infinite combinations of computers, sound 
cards, CD-ROM drives and video cards, it was not possible to 
optimize the video for all systems.  The performance of the video 
depends on the transfer rate of your CD-ROM drive, the speed and 
type of processor, the quality of your sound card and the DOS 
performance of your video card.  Certain video cards have low DOS 
benchmark scores and will be unable to play the videos without 
some skipping (even in Pentium systems with six-speed CD-ROM 
drives).  Some MGA chipset cards (Matrox and Q-Vision) are an 
example of this.  On the other hand, even the fastest video card 
and highest quality sound card will be unable to improve the 
quality of video played off of a CD-ROM drive that cannot maintain 
a transfer rate close to 270,000 BPS.  And, of course, stuttering 
in sound and/or video in such systems is more noticeable on a 486 
based computer than a Pentium.

Q: Can MechWarrior 2 make use of a math co-processor?
A: No. All math in the program is integer based. A math co-
processor would not help.

Q: Will MechWarrior 2 work with Windows 3.1 or Windows NT?
A: You cannot install or play MechWarrior 2 from a Windows 3.1 or 
NT environment.

Q: Will MechWarrior 2 run under OS/2?
A: We have tested MechWarrior 2 under a DOS session in OS/2 but it 
did not work properly under OS/2.  OS/2 is not supported by 
Activision Studios at this time.  If you have OS/2 and are able to 
run MechWarrior 2 under MS-DOS but not under OS/2, please call IBM 
Technical Support.

**************************

MechWarrior 2 Update is written and prepared by Members of 
Activision Studio's Customer Support, Quality Assurance and 
Production Departments.

Written by:

     Dave Arnspiger
     Jack Mamais
     John Lafleur
     Jon Doellstedt
     John Spinale
     Tim Morten
     Josh Resnick

The Activison Quality Assurance Department would also like to 
thank XXCal, Inc. Testing Laboratories for their assistance in the 
testing of this project.

Thank you for purchasing MechWarrior 2.  We hope you will enjoy 
playing it as much as we enjoyed creating it! 

VENDOR LIST
-----------

-- Hardware Manufacturers --
Listings for System, Sound Card, Video Card, and CD-ROM 
manufacturers.  Wherever possible, we have tried to include the 
Technical Support and BBS numbers for each company.  Activision 
has made every effort to ensure that these numbers are correct, 
however, you may want to consult the documentation for your PC, 
video card, sound card or CD-ROM drive for more up-to-date 
information on each company.

-- System Manufacturers --

Acer
Technical Support                   (800) 733-2237
BBS                                 (408) 428-0140
BBS                                 (800) 833-8241

AST Research
Technical Support                   (800) 727-1278
BBS                                 (714) 852-1872

Compaq
Technical Support                   (800) 652-6672
BBS                                 (713) 378-1418

Dell
Technical Support                   (800) 624-9896
BBS                                 (512) 728-8528

Epson
BBS                                 (310) 782-4531

Gateway
Technical Support                   (800) 846-2301
BBS                                 (605) 323-2224 or 232-2109
Download Service                    (800) 846-7562

Hercules Computer Technology Inc.
Technical Support                   (510) 623-6050
BBS                                 (510) 623-7449 (V.32 bis)
				    (510) 623-7034 (9,600 baud)
				    (510) 623-7142 (2,400 baud)

IBM
Technical Support Multimedia        (908) 329-7131
Technical Support PS/1 PRO          (800) 765-4747
Technical Support Valuepoint        (800) 772-2227
Technical Support Valuepoint        (213) 621-5576

Intel
Technical Support                   (800) 538-3373
BBS                                 (503) 645-6275

Leading Edge
Technical Support                   (800) 225-2283
BBS                                 (503) 836-3971

Micronics
Technical Support                   (510) 651-2323
BBS                                 (510) 651-6837

Packard Bell
Hardware Support                    (800) 733-4411
Software Support                    (801) 579-0161
BBS                                 (801) 250-1600
BBS                                 (818) 773-7207
		    
Tandon
Technical Support                   (805) 523-0340

Tandy Computer
Technical Support                   (817) 878-6875

Toshiba
Technical Support                   (800) 999-4273
BBS                                 (415) 656-5159

Zenith
Technical Support                   (800) 227-3360
BBS                                 (800) 888-3058

-- Sound Card Manufacturers --

Advanced Gravis
Technical Support                   (206) 881-6945

ATI Technologies Inc.
Technical Support                   (905) 882-2626
BBS                                 (905) 764-9404

Aztech
Technical Support                   (800) 886-8879

Boca Research Inc.
Technical Support                   (407) 241-8088
BBS                                 (407) 241-1601

Cardinal
Technical Support                   (717) 293-3124
BBS                                 (717) 293-3074

Creative Labs
Technical Support                   (408) 428-6622
BBS                                 (408) 428-6660

Diamond
Technical Support                   (408) 736-2000
BBS                                 (408) 524-9301

Logitech
Technical Support                   (510) 795-8100
BBS                                 (510) 795-0408

Media Vision 
Technical Support                   (800) 638-2807
BBS                                 (510) 770-0968

Microsoft
Technical Support                   (206) 637-7096
BBS                                 (206) 936-4082
BBS                                 (206) 936-6735

Reveal
Technical Support                   (800) 473-8325

Roland US
Technical Support                   (213) 685-5141

Turtle Beach
Technical Support                   (717) 843-6916
BBS                                 (717) 845-4835

-- Video Card Manufacturers --

Actix Systems
Technical Support                   (408) 986-1625
BBS                                 (408) 970-3719

Advanced Integration Research
Technical Support                   (408) 428-0800
BBS                                 (408) 428-1735

Advanced Micro Technology
Technical Support                   (909) 598-6120
BBS                                 (909) 594-5770

Alpha Systems Lab
Technical Support                   (800) 576-4275

Altech International
Technical Support                   (800) 882-8194
BBS                                 (408) 946-2227

Artist Graphics Company
Technical Support                   (800) 627-8478
BBS                                 (612) 631-7664

ATI Technologies
Technical Support                   (905) 882-2626
BBS                                 (905) 764-9404

Atlaz Intl., Limited
Technical Support                   (516) 239-1854 

Boca
Technical Support                   (407) 241-8088
BBS                                 (407) 241-1601

Cache Computers, Inc.
Technical Support                   (510) 226-9922
BBS                                 (510) 226-7486

Cardinal
Technical Support                   (717) 293-3124
BBS                                 (717) 293-3074

Celerite Graphics, Inc.
Technical Support                   (510) 226-6390
BBS                                 (510) 226-7851

Cirrus Logic
Technical Support                   (510) 435-8808
				    (510) 623-8300 West Coast
				    (508) 470-3380 East Coast
BBS                                 (510) 440-9080

Colorgraphic Communication
Technical Support                   (404) 455-3921
BBS                                 (404) 452-8238

Cornerstone Technology
Technical Support                   (800) 562-2552 x306
BBS                                 (408) 435-8943

CSS Laboratories, Inc.
Technical Support                   (800) 966-2771
BBS                                 (714) 852-9231

Diamond Computer Systems, Inc.
Technical Support                   (408) 325-7100
BBS                                 (408) 325-7175 (14,400, 8,N,1)
				    (408) 325-7080 (2,400, 8,N,1)

Edge Technology, Inc.
Technical Support                   (800) 438-3343

ELSA America, Inc.
Technical Support                   (800) 272-3572
BBS                                 (415) 588-6286

Focus Information Systems, Inc.
Technical Support                   (510) 657-4586
BBS                                 (510) 657-9451

Genoa
Technical Support                   (408) 432-8324
BBS                                 (408) 943-1231

Headland (Video Seven)
Technical Support                   (800) 553-1850
BBS                                 (415) 656-0503

Hercules Computer Technology Inc.
Technical Support                   (510) 623-6050
BBS                                 (510) 623-7449 (V.32 bis)
				    (510) 623-7034 (9,600 baud)
				    (510) 623-7142 (2,400 baud)

Identity Systems Technology
Technical Support                   (800) 723-8324
BBS                                 (214) 705-7213

IOcomm Intl., Corp.
Technical Support                   (800) 998-8919

Liberty Electronics USA
Technical Support                   (800) 497-8324

Matrox Electronics Systems Limited
Technical Support                   (800) 462-8769
BBS                                 (514) 685-6008

Metheus Corporation
Technical Support                   (503) 690-1550
BBS                                 (503) 690-1559

MicroStep, Inc.
Technical Support                   (818) 336-8991
BBS                                 (818) 961-9992

Mirage Computer Systems
Technical Support                   (310) 440-1460

National Design, Inc.
Technical Support                   (512) 329-5055
BBS                                 (512) 329-6327

Number Nine Computer Corporation
Technical Support                   (617) 674-0009
BBS                                 (617) 862-7502

Nth Graphics
Technical Support                   (800) 624-7552
BBS                                 (512) 832-1964

Oak Technology
Technical Support                   (408) 737-0888
BBS                                 (408) 524-9014

Orchid Technology Inc.
Technical Support                   (510) 683-0323
BBS                                 (510) 683-0327

Paradise
Technical Support                   (800) 832-4778
BBS                                 (415) 968-1834

Sigma Designs
Technical Support                   (510) 770-0100
BBS                                 (510) 770-0111

SixGraph Computing, Limited
Technical Support                   (800) 561-2892
BBS                                 (514) 336-4169

STB Systems
Technical Support                   (800) 234-4334
				    (214) 234-8750
BBS Phone                           (214) 437-9615 or 237-9615

SuperMac Technology, Inc.
Technical Support                   (408) 245-0646
BBS                                 (408) 773-4500

Swan Technologies, Inc.
Technical Support                   (800) 468-7926
BBS                                 (814) 237-6143

Trident Microsystems Inc.
Phone                               (415) 691-9211
BBS                                 (415) 691-1016

Tseng Labs
Technical Support                   (215) 968-0502
BBS                                 (215) 579-7536

Video Logic, Inc.
Technical Support                   (617) 494-0530
BBS                                 (617) 494-4960

Video Seven
Technical Support                   (800) 553-1850
BBS                                 (510) 656-0503
BBS                                 (415) 656-0503

VidTech Microsystems, Inc.
Technical Support                   (800) 752-8033
BBS                                 (612) 780-3564

Willow
Technical Support                   (212) 402-9500

-- CD-ROM Manufacturers --

Hitachi
Technical Support                   (800) 241-6558

Mitsubishi
Technical Support                   (800) 344-6352
BBS                                 (714) 236-6286

Mitsumi
Technical Support                   (408) 970-9699

NEC
Technical Support                   (708) 860-0335
BBS                                 (508) 635-6328

Panasonic
Technical Support                   (800) 222-0584
BBS                                 (201) 863-7845

Sony
Technical Support West              (714) 826-6410
Technical Support East              (201) 368-3774
BBS                                 (408) 955-5107

Teac
Technical Support                   (213) 726-0303

----- END TRANSMISSION -------------------------------------------

