Question: I have a new Acer computer and cannot seem toget NHL 97 working.
I have read the manuals over and over again and each time Ithink I have it right I go to run it and my computer locks up.I then have to unplug the computer and it runs scandisk toget it going. Have done this at least 10 times now and amafraid I am doing damage to it. Any ideas on what I amdoing wrong? Have had a friend or two come by and theycan't get it working either. Please advise solution or should Ijust throw this $80 game out the window?
--Frustrated
Answer: It seems that PC game players often have tobecome computer experts to indulge their hobby. Whilemost Mac games are plug and play, Windows and DOSusers still live in a netherworld between editing configurationfiles and instant rock-'em-sock-'em action.
Let's deal with your problem first and then I'll go over sometips for video game players on the PC.
Your first source for a solution should be Electronic Artstech support page on the Web. It's comprehensive, simple tonavigate and is an example of how all companies should runtech support online.
Check out www.ea.com and pick the"PC" link. If you have the DOS version of the game, find it inthe first pull-down box. If you have the Windows 95version, find NHL 97 in the second pull-down box. In eithercase click "GO!"
Both options will take you to a page that has a series oftroubleshooting links. Your first move should be todownload the NHL 97 patch and install it. Instructions onhow to do that are online.
If your Acer has a Cyrix 6x86 processor, the patch will fix aproblem with that, too.
Now here are some basic game tips for all video gameplayers on the PC platform.
Historically, game setup has been a chore because underWindows 3.1 and DOS, gamers had to configure theircomputers manually to free up enough memory so the gamewould load. The problem was that in the pre-Windows 95days, the ever-so- precious first 640K of RAM had to berationed out to programs otherwise they wouldn't run.
This meant editing configuration files on a boot floppy disk.They included both autoexec.bat and config.sys. Both ofthese files were used to put mouse drivers and memorymanagers in place before the machine booted.
If you open one up with an ASCII text editor (like notepad),you'll see a bunch of lines of "code." These lines, which mayseem nonsensical to a new user, are simply DOScommands.
Mastering DOS batch files isn't an easy thing to do, but ifyou want to become a hardcore gamer and play a lot of theold DOS titles, then a good place to start is your gamemanual.
Most DOS-based game manuals have easy-to-follow stepsand usually you can be up and running in a short time if youfollow directions carefully.
The next place to look for help is your MS-DOS manual. Itexplains the rudiments of batch file architecture. Anothergood resource is the Web page at:
www.image.dk It lists theesoteric commands you're likely to see in the start-up filesmentioned.
Among the most common problems with DOS games aremissing drivers in either your autoexec.bat or config.sys fileon your boot up floppy. Drivers are little programs that allowyour computer to access different types of hardware.Problems typically arise when the video drivers, the mousedriver sometimes a CD-ROM driver, is missing.
There's no easy way to troubleshoot these problems withoutthe help of someone who knows what they are doing. Findan expert and ask them to teach you.
Here are some quick tips for those who have a littleexperience and need a kick start:
- Video drivers: Usually the game needs a VESA driver. Youshould be able to get this from your video cardmanufacturer. Also check on the floppy disks that came withthe card.
- Mouse drivers: Most often you'll be able to fix this bylooking in your mouse directory and finding the program thatruns your mouse. Let's say you find it in the \mouse directoryand it's called "mouse.exe." Just add the line"c:\mouse\mouse.exe" to your boot floppy's autoexec.bat filewith an ASCII text editor. Don't type the quotes.
- CD-ROM: Your CD-ROM driver is a little more difficult,but you should be able to get the appropriate autoexec.batcommand from your CD-ROM manual.
If this whole column frightens you, take heart, Microsoftattempted to remedy the nasty DOS-configuration situationwith DirectX under Windows 95.
DirectX, a piece of software, allows a computer game to getdirectly at the hardware resources on a computer withouthaving to go through all kinds of behind-the-scenes softwarelayers. Before it came along, game developers complainedto Microsoft that Windows 95 slowed down gameperformance considerably. DirectX was the solution.
When you buy a game look for a Windows 95 logo, if youwant to skip the grief DOS games create. Typically a boxwill say it's Windows 95 compatible and uses DirectX.
If this is the case, when you install the game, it should alsoinstall DirectX first. To determine what version you'rerunning now, locate the file Ddraw.dll in your\windows\system directory using Windows Explorer andright click on it. Then select Properties and then the"Version" tab. Version 4.04.00.0068 means you're usingDirectX version 3 or 3a. For more info seewww.microsoft.com IfDdraw.dll is missing, DirectX is not installed in on yourmachine.
Your game should install DirectX for you, but if you want todo install DirectX 3.0a on your own.
This is recommended for those with MMX- enabledprocessors.
If all else fails or if you're looking for neat tips and tricksthere are a terrific set of resources for people with gameproblems on Windows 95 atwww.microsoft.com
Adding RAM is easy, 
