

                       Privateer Classic CD Help


This help file contains:

  1. Install instructions for Privateer CD and the Adobe online reader
  2. System Requirements
  3. Configuration/Boot Disk Info.
  4. Common Error Codes/Troubleshooting 
  5. OSI Product Support Info

If the installation information given in the printed documentation is not 
working for you, this file gives some even more basic options which should 
work for most systems. If you still can't install or play the game after 
reading this file, please contact Origin Product Support.

_____________________________________________________________________________

[INSTALLATION]

To install the Adobe online reader, switch to your CD drive prompt and type
"INSTALLA". This will install about 2.5 MB of HD files to the default 
"C:\ACROBAT" directory. Type "ACROBAT" to start the reader. The files that
you'll want to read are "PRIVINST.PDF""PRIVMAN.PDF" and "PRIVREF.PDF" use the 
reader to "OPEN" these files. Keep in mind that these are the original items 
that shipped with game, but information found in the CD-ROM CLASSICS install 
guide and this help file is more up to date.

To install Privateer, switch to your CD drive prompt and type "INSTALL". 
You will then be prompted to set up your Music and Sound Cards. Choose the 
appropriate card and settings for both, and then use the "Install With 
These Options" selection. After installation, switch to the Privateer 
directory and type "PRIV" for Privateer or "RF" for Righteous Fire to start
the game. The installation will require at least 2 MB Free HD Space
(more is always better).

ex. C:
    CD PRIVATER
    PRIV

***This assumes that you installed the game to the DEFAULT directory.

_____________________________________________________________________________

[SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS]

Intel 386DX/33+ or 100% Compatible
4 MB RAM
MS DOS 5.0+
2 MB Free HD Space (2.5 MB additional for on-line reader)
CD-ROM with MS CD-ROM Extensions 2.1+
Graphics 256 Color VGA

Mouse (Optional) - Microsoft or 100% Compatible Driver

Digital Speech/SFX - Sound Blaster (R) or 100% Compatible Sound Card

Music (Optional) - Ad Lib (R), Sound Blaster (R), MPU-401 interface General
Midi, or 100% compatible soundboard. Users of cards such as the Roland
Rap-10 will need to have an additional board to play back digital sound
effects - a Sound Blaster (R) or 100% Compatible recommended.

Optimal - 

Intel 486/33+
2X+ CD-ROM Drive
1 MB+ Video Card
Joystick and/or Mouse
Sound Blaster or 100% Compatible Sound Board
_____________________________________________________________________________


[CONFIGURATION/BOOT DISK INFO]

     -- XMS --

   CONFIG.SYS:

DEVICE=C:\DOS\HIMEM.SYS
DOS=HIGH
FILES=30
BUFFERS=30
(Add your CD-ROM drivers here)
SHELL=C:\DOS\COMMAND.COM C:\DOS /P

   AUTOEXEC.BAT:

PATH=C:\DOS;C:\
PROMPT $P$G
(Add your MSCDEX.EXE driver here)
(Add your MOUSE driver here)
SET COMSPEC=C:\DOS\COMMAND.COM
C:

     -- EMS --

   CONFIG.SYS:

DEVICE=C:\DOS\HIMEM.SYS
DEVICE=C:\DOS\EMM386.EXE 2592 RAM I=B000-B7FF
DOS=HIGH,UMB
FILES=30
BUFFERS=30
(Add your CD-ROM drivers here)
SHELL=C:\DOS\COMMAND.COM C:\DOS /P

   AUTOEXEC.BAT:

PATH=C:\DOS;C:\
PROMPT $P$G
(Add your MSCDEX.EXE driver here)
(Add your MOUSE driver here)
SET COMSPEC=C:\DOS\COMMAND.COM
C:


***Users with 8 MB ram or better should increase the amount of memory to
   be used for EMS when using EMM386.EXE. Remember that numbers specified
   should be a multiple of 256.

   ex. "DEVICE=C:\DOS\EMM386.EXE 5120 RAM I=B000-B7FF"
   ex. "DEVICE=C:\DOS\EMM386.EXE 7168 RAM I=B000-B7FF"
   

***Some Machines may have ROM in the E000 range, so you may need to exclude
   this area when using EMM386. If you are using an SCSI adapter, you will 
   also need to exclude its BIOS area when using EMS as well - see your 
   adapter's manual for info on finding its BIOS address.
   
   ex. "DEVICE=C:\DOS\EMM386.EXE 2848 RAM X=E000-EFFF I=B000-B7FF"
   ex. "DEVICE=C:\DOS\EMM386.EXE 2848 RAM X=E000-EFFF X=C800-CBFF I=B000-B7FF"


***You may also add SMARTDRV.EXE to the above configurations to improve
   system performance, but it will generally only help those with more
   than 8 MB of RAM. EX. "C:\DOS\SMARTDRV.EXE 2048". It is also recommended
   that you DO NOT install the game with SMARTDRV.EXE active - put it in
   afterwards! See your DOS manual or help file for more info. Users with
   only 4 MB RAM should not specify more then 256K on the SMARTDRV.EXE
   driver line. Bus Mastering Hard Drive Controller users may need to load
   SMARTDRV.EXE's double buffering driver in the CONFIG.SYS if they
   encounter graphic distortion.
   
   ex."DEVICE=C:\DOS\SMARTDRV.EXE DOUBLE_BUFFER"

***Users that have more than 16 MB of RAM may have install problems due to
   DMA functions only being able to access up to 16 MB. If you have a 
   problem, try using a large SMARTDRV.EXE cache and/or RAMDRIVE.SYS ram
   drive to trick the game into thinking that you have less memory.

***If your SOUNDCARD requires drivers, make sure to include them as well!
   SB16 users should include all SB lines found in the AUTOEXEC.BAT, but
   they usually will not need to load CTSB16 or CTMMSYS in the CONFIG.SYS.

To make a BOOT DISK for the game-

1.Put a blank floppy disk in your "A" drive.

2.From the "C:\" prompt, type in "FORMAT A:/S".( "SYS A:" may be used in 
  place of this command if the disk is PRE FORMATTED)

3.After the format is complete, type in "COPY C:\CONFIG.SYS A:"

4.Type in "COPY C:\AUTOEXEC.BAT A:"

5.Type in "EDIT A:\CONFIG.SYS", then edit your file to resemble the above
  configurations as closely as possible. Put "REM" in front of any line
  that doesn't seem necessary - EX. "REM C:\WINDOWS\IFSHLP.SYS".

6.Save the modified file by using the editor's "FILE" menu to "SAVE" and
  then "EXIT" - use your mouse if present.

7.Type in "EDIT A:\AUTOEXEC.BAT" and modify this file in the same manner as
  the CONFIG.SYS. 

8.Save and exit the AUTOEXEC.BAT.

9.REBOOT your system, then try to play the game!

_____________________________________________________________________________

[COMMON ERROR CODES/TROUBLESHOOTING]

    ERROR #2 or Installation ERROR #2
    ---------------------------------
    You will want to make a boot disk and then 
    re-install the game. You need to make sure that you
    have the SHELL line in the config.sys and the SET 
    COMSPEC line in the autoexec.bat file.
    
    
    ERROR #1209
    -----------
    Memory problems that have normally been caused by
    NON-INTEL processors. Somewhere the memory has 
    been corrupted. Make sure you have a boot disk
    and add these parameters to your CONFIG.SYS 
    EMM386.exe line (for a QEMM users try excluding
    the same regions):

    device=c:\dos\emm386.exe /x=e000-efff /i=b000-b7ff
     
    CRASHES going through Jump Gates
    --------------------------------    
    The only thing that we found to cause this 
    was additional joystick ports with
    no joysticks installed or installing a joystick 
    then removing it and playing the game with keyboard
    and mouse. (See 4 and 4A section)


4.  The joystick problems can be cleared up by trying
    several different suggestions. Most of the problems
    come from having two or more joystick cards active
    at the same time and there is an address conflict. 
    But, we have been able to get most of them up and 
    going in no time at all. Just try the suggestions 
    below. 
   
    A.  Make sure that you have only one game card 
        active. If you have a Gamecard and a port on 
        your sound card then you will want to disable
        the joystick port on your sound card, because 
        it might cause a conflict. Also, another 
        common problem is that there is usually a 
        gameport on your PARALLEL/SERIEL IO card that
        is on your computer as well as the above 
        joystick ports. All, except for one should 
        be disabled. 
      
    Speed Adjustable GameCards  
    --------------------------
    If you have a speed adjustable game card. The ones
    we tested were: CHGAMECARD III Automatic, GRAVIS 
    Eliminator, THRUSTMASTER ACM, and both KRAFT-
    High Speed and software controlled. The speed you 
    might have to change them to will vary between the
    game and your computer but we have included the 
    settings which seem to work most often. REMEMBER,
    yours might be a little different, so do not get
    discouraged, just try change the number +/- 1 at 
    a time and see what happens.  

    CHGAMECARD III Auto is software controlled. The 
    disk that came with the card has a small program
    that is named CHJOY3.exe which has to be run 
    sometimes. Make sure that you have that file 
    installed to a path in your boot up (put it in 
    your DOS directory) or in the directory you will
    run it from like the C: or game directory. The type
    following command: 

    CHJOY ##
 
    ## can be any number between 1 and 31. 150 can also
       be used but check your README.TXT on the disk
       that came with gamecard. The number 28 has
       been the setting with the most success.
       EXAMPLE:

        CHJOY 28

    
    GRAVIS ELIMINATOR has a dial connection which you 
    can vary the speed. Just make sure it is connected
    to the back and that you try the dial at the lower
    end. 1, 2, 3 have worked for most computers.

    THRUSTMASTER ACM uses a dial setting also. It has
    worked best on the lower end of the dial. Try using
    0, 1, 2.

    KRAFT HIGH SPEED GAME CARD uses adjustments through 
    dip switches on the back and the most common 
    setting was switch #2 down and the rest in up 
    position. Consult your manuals for the switch 
    settings. 

    KRAFT SOFTWARE CONTROLLED GAME CARD uses the 
    command KCARD.EXE, make sure that you have that  
    file installed to a path in your boot up (put it
    in your DOS directory) or in the directory you 
    will run it from like the C: or game directory.  
    The type following command:
    
    Kcard ##

    ## can be any number between 1 and 99. The setting
       most common was 5 to 7. Example:
 
        Kcard 6
         
    
    PROGRAM ASKS FOR JOYSTICK B    
    ---------------------------  
    There are either two joystick ports active and you
    are sharing the gamecard address or you have an
    advanced joystick with throttle or panning control
    which is being detected as the second joystick.
    You will want to make sure that you eliminate  
    any second port, (Read 4A above) and see if you 
    are prompted for a second joystick. If you are 
    positive that no other port is active on the 
    computer and you are still being prompted for a 
    second joystick then you will want move PRIVATEER
    game directory and type the following:
  
    copy joya.dat joyb.dat

    This will make a second joystick file which will 
    get you past the 'CALIBRATE JOYSTICK B' prompt.
      

***Remember that 90% of all installation problems tend to be CONFIGURATION
   problems. If you have problems running the game, try making a BOOT DISK
   FIRST, then RE-INSTALL the game (no matter how much you know about
   computers)! Simple works best with our games, so leave those unnecessary
   TSRs out!

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[Origin Product Support Information]

In the event that you need assistance with Privateer, Origin
Customer Service is open from (CST) 9am to 12pm and 1pm to 5pm Mon.
thru Thurs and 9am -12pm, 1pm-4pm on Friday. Call (512)335-0440.

BBS          (512)331-4446
FAX          (512)331-8559
INTERNET/FTP  SUPPORT@ORIGIN.EA.COM

Wait! Before you contact any of the above services, make sure to have the
following information readily available. Being at or near your machine
will also help us troubleshoot your situation more efficiently.

1.An EXACT copy of the CONFIG.SYS and AUTOEXEC.BAT that you used to
  install the game.
2.The Brand and Type of CPU that you are using.
3.Your Brand and Version of DOS
4.Your Brand and Type of Video Board(and Driver Version # if applicable)
5.Your Brand and Type of CD-ROM (and Driver Version #s)
6.A list of any Error Codes encountered.
7.A list of any other hardware devices present on your system (any device
  settings that you can find will certainly help as well!)

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Thanks for supporting Origin and EA products! 


Origin Product Support


