Origin - Tech - Help

Wing Commander:
Armada
t e c h n i c a l i n f o r m a t i o n

General Troubleshooting. i.e. This is way too much information.
Boot Configuration	Requirements	Controllers	Modem & Networks	Notes

DOS EMS Boot Configuration
for use only with shortcuts and boot disks.

| help on modifiying your config.sys and autoexec.bat |

CONFIG.SYS

	device=c:\windows\himem.sys
	device=c:\windows\emm386.exe 6144 RAM i=b000-b7ff
	dos=high,umb
	files=25
	buffers=25
	lastdrive=[enter the drive letter of your CD-ROM]
	devicehigh=[CD-ROM drivers]
	devicehigh=[Sound lines (if any)]

AUTOEXEC.BAT

	@echo off
	path=c:\windows;c:\windows\command;c:\dos;
	prompt $p$g
	LH c:\windows\command\mscdex.exe /m:5 /d:[CD-ROM name]
	[Microsoft Mouse driver (required)]
	[Sound lines (if any)]

Color Code:
BLACK:	Must use the exact lettering provided.
RED:	May need to be modified to reflect the wording in your C:\CONFIG.SYS or C:\AUTOEXEC.BAT, respectively.
GREEN:	Optional. These are not required to run the game. However you may like to have sound with your game, so leaving these out may not be helpful.
[ITALICIZED]:	Comments and are not to be entered as is. Upper or lower case doesn't matter.
IIf you are still looking at gibberish by the time you read this, visit our ??!! How To !!?? page which has a plethora of Boot Disk makers, Short Cut makers, and easy to read, step by step information on how to make them manually.

Requirements & Other Useful Info

Minimum Requirements

486 DX/33, 4Mb RAM (8Mb RAM if playing from CD-ROM), 2x CD-ROM

Memory Requirements

Conventional: 555K

High: 6144K of EMS

Installation Requirements:

Play from CD: ~2.6 MB

Play from Hard drive: ~13.3 MB

To Install:

EA Classics: D:\ORIGIN.BAT

CD-ROM: D:\INSTALL.EXE

To Run:

Play from Hard Drive: C:\ARMADA\ARMADA.EXE

Play from CD: C:\ARMADACD\ARMADACD.EXE

To Quit:

Alt-X

Sound Configuration File:

EA Classics: D:\ORIGIN.BAT

CD-ROM: C:\ARMADA\INSTALL.EXE

Natively Supported Soundcards:

Sound Blaster, Pro, 16

Ad Lib

General Midi MPU-401

Wave Blaster (floppy version, only)

Hey! My Sound Card isn't listed!!

Savegame File Names

C:\ARMADA\[my file].ARM, as well as: HISCORE and TIMES

Input Devices

Thrustmaster

(Install program will ask if you have a Thrustmaster joystick)

Keyboard

Joystick

Mouse

(Mouse cannot be used for flight)

Notes

Joystick Calibration at startup

If your computer system has a working joystick attached, you will see a large, silver screen when you first run ARMADA or ARMADACD. Near the very bottom of the screen, a small window will appear. In this window you will find instructions for calibrating your joystick.

Changing Sound Settings Manually

Generally, it is unnecessary to make changes to your sound card without using the INSTALL program. However, if you need to change your sound settings manually, change to the C:\ARMADA or C:\ARMADACD directory. Type "EDIT ARMADA.CFG." If you have gone through the install and have selected a sound card and sound settings you will probably see a line that reads something to the effect of: "a904 c251" The number 2 following the "c" is the second number of the sound card's port address, the 5 after the "c" is the IRQ, and the 1 after the "c" is the DMA channel. See our Sound Card Help Page for more information.

Wing Commander : ARMADA
Common Issues

Controllers

My joystick will not calibrate!
There are a number of factors that influence whether or not a given piece of software will be able to accept your system's joystick device. Check your joystick hardware to ensure that you do not have any TURBO or AUTO-FIRE fuction turned on. If your joystick has a throttle, make sure that the throttle is set to 0 before you attempt to calibrate it in the game. Finally, you may want to use a 'speed adjustable game card' to get your joystick to calibrate more reliably. A speed adjustable game card is an inexpensive piece of hardware that can be installed to your computer motherboard. Once active, a speed adjustable game card will allow you to control the speed of the joystick port and thereby ensure proper calibration with all of your software.

My mouse doesn't work on the modem screen!
This does, unfortunately, indicate a very serious problem. If your mouse does not appear to work properly while you are at the ARMADA "Modem" screen, it probably means that your computer's modem is configured to use the mouse port. You will need to delete the MODEM.CFG file from the C:\ARMADA or C:\ARMADACD directory and re-configure your modem hardware.

Modem and Network Issues

My null modem adapter is not working!
ARMADA's null modem capabilities do not support adapters or "serial/parallel" cables. Make certain that your null modem connection is actually 'null modem' and not an adapter and not a "serial/parallel" cable connection.

My modem won't ring up anyone! or I can't set up the COM port properly for COM 3 or 4!
By using either Microsoft Diagnostics (MSD) or a Windows 95 "Device Manger," you will need to certify the port address and UART being used. When you find the port address associated with your modem, use the CUSTOM settings in ARMADA's modem setup screen to enter in the IRQ number associated with your port address.

COM1 = port:3F8 and IRQ 4

COM2 = port:2F8 and IRQ 3

COM3 = port:3E8 and IRQ 4

COM4 = port:2E8 and IRQ 3

After you select the IRQ number and Baud rate for your modem, you should see "ATZ OK" at the top of the Modem configuration screen.

I can't change the COM port and IRQ settings of the modem in the game!
In the C:\ARMADA or C:\ARMADACD directory, type "DEL MODEM.CFG"

Run the game again. In the modem setup screen, click on PORT and type in the specific port address that your modem requires. (See table above)

You may need to type in the IRQ number associated with this port address. (See table above, again)

Click on the corresponding COM button.

Click the Baud Rate button and set your modem's baud rate.

If this does not work, you will need to start the process again (at the first step... deleting the MODEM.CFG file)










































Copyright 1997 Origin Systems, an Electronic Arts Company