Wing Commander IV: The Price of Freedom t e c h n i c a l   i n f o r m a t i o n

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

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

	device=c:\windows\himem.sys
	dos=high
	files=25
	buffers=99
	lastdrive=[enter the drive letter of your CD-ROM]
	device=[CD-ROM drivers]
	device=[Sound lines (if any)]

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

Requirements & Other Useful Info

Wing Commander IV: The Price of Freedom
Common Issues

Error Messages

"A processor exception has occurred. Your system may be unstable..."

Conflicting devices are resident in memory while the game is running. Run the program 'BOOTDISK' from the Wing Commander IV CD-ROM to make a bootable floppy disk to run the game. If you have made your own boot disk, check the configuration files for the program "POWER.EXE" If you find it, remove it from the boot disk and try the game again.

"Exception 13 (during spaceflight only)"

While in-flight select VGA mode by pressing ALT-1. Go to the spaceflight options by pressing ALT-O. Turn OFF 'Frame Rate Switch.' If this does not help, create a boot disk with the automatic boot disk maker located on the Wing Commander IV CD-ROM.

"Exception 13 (or) Bad .EXP file"

As with the above, make sure that you have a good boot disk for the game. Run the automatic boot disk maker called 'BOOTDISK' located on the Wing Commander IV CD. If the automatic boot disk does not help, you may need to check the CD-ROM for scratches or marks. If the CD-ROM is clean of physical imperfections, you will probably need to get more recent CD-ROM drivers from your manufacturer.

"Bad .TRE file format (or) Bad xxxx chunk in xxxx"

From the C:\WC4 directory, type "DEL *.TRE" This will remove the offending files from your hard drive. If this does not help, run the automatic boot disk maker from the CD-ROM and boot your system with the new disk. If this does not solve the problem, put a *different* Wing Commander IV CD into your CD-ROM. Change to your CD-ROM drive letter and type "COPY *.TRE C:\WC4." Restart the game. The new .TRE files, copied from a different game disk, may allow you past the error message. If they do not, you may need to repeat the process with yet a *different* disk.

"Critical error on file:..\..\ (or) Read failed on file:..\..\"

Ensure that you are running with the appropriate boot disk for the game. Create one automatically using the 'BOOTDISK' program located on the Wing Commander IV CD-ROM. If this does not help, check the bottom of the game CD for marks and scratches. If the CD-ROM media has no visible problems, you may need to get a more recent CD-ROM device driver from your hardware manufacturer.

"CVMManager : : getPtr ( )"

This error message appears when Wing Commander IV cannot get enough memory to run. Edit the CONFIG.SYS file on your boot disk by typing EDIT A:\CONFIG.SYS. Make the 'BUFFERS=' line read: BUFFERS=25 and change the 'DOS=HIGH' line to read: DOS=LOW. Restart your system with the new configuration and try again.

"Malloc ( ) Failed"

This is, basically, the same problem as addressed above. Wing Commander IV cannot get enough memory to complete a given function. Try using a boot disk created by the Automatic boot disk maker. If this does not help, use the steps mentioned above to change the CONFIG.SYS file so that BUFFERS=25 instead of the default BUFFERS=99. This will save some memory.

"Open failed on file: ..\..\data\sound\gfmix.iff"

You may see this error message if you start the game without a game CD in the CD-ROM drive. It is also possible that the CD-ROM device drivers are not being loaded properly. Check the boot disk CONFIG.SYS file to ensure that all drivers for your CD-ROM are loading. In the process, you may also want to check your game CD to ensure that it is clean of scratches.

"Seek Failed on file:..\..\data\englmovi\(testmovi.avi (or) sc_0010.avi)"

The reason behind these messages lies with PC-DOS version 7.0.

To get around this problem, you'll need to put a line in your boot disk CONFIG.SYS file that reads: DEVICE=C:\DOS\SETVER.EXE Restart your computer with the new configuration and try again. DO NOT run a 'test movie' from the game installation program and do NOT run the game from the main installation program. Return to DOS, and from the C:\WC4 directory type: SETVER WC4.EXE 6.3 A warning message will follow, but the game will be able to run afterward.

"VESA Mode unavailable"

If you are using a video card that does not support 16-bit SVGA (such as the Diamond Edge 3D), you will need to change the game's video resolution in the INSTALL program. Type INSTALL or WC4 -I from the C:\WC4 directory and select 8-bit SVGA or regular VGA.

"Wave Header Not Found"

When the MUSIC.TRE file (first thing copied to the C:\WC4 directory) is corrupt, this error message will appear when you try to run the game. To solve the problem, change to the C:\WC4 directory and type DEL MUSIC.TRE. Try running the game again.

Copyright 1997 Origin Systems, an Electronic Arts Company