Readme The Oregon Trail CD-ROM for Windows and Macintosh v1.2 Thank you for purchasing MECC software. In the MECCDEMO directory on the CD you will find demos of MECC's award-winning products for Windows computers. Using File Manager or Windows Explorer, open MECCDEMO directory and double-click on any of the demos files (all demos have the .exe extention). For more than 20 years, MECC has set the standard for fun learning software in homes and schools across the country. At MECC, we know kids, we know learning, and we know fun. MECC products are trusted by parents, requested by teachers, and loved by kids. Please review the products on this CD. We are confident that you will join millions of people across the country in recognizing MECC software as an exceptional value for homes or schools. For more information about how to purchase these and other MECC products, call MECC Customer Services at 800/685-6322, ext. 251, or 612/569-1500, ext. 251. +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ This CD works on Windows and Macintosh computers. +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ SPECIAL BONUS!!! We are often asked if the music from our products can be played outside the programs. The answer is Yes. Songs from The Oregon Trail have been included on this CD. To listen to them, just take this CD and insert it in your music CD player and hit the play button. The index below tells which songs are on the CD. Warning: Don't play track 1. It's data and on some older CD players it might be real noisy. 2 Theme for the Oregon Trail composed by Lon Koenig and Larry Phenow. 3 Independence, MO: "Yankie Doodle" 4 Kansas River Crossing: "I Gave My Love a Cherry" 5 Big Blue River Crossing: "Oh Dear! What Can the Matter Be?" 6 Fort Kearney: "The Campbells are Coming" 7 Chimney Rock: "Auld Lang Syne" sung by Brad Shrag, Mark Durkin, and Larry Phenow 8 Fort Laramie: "Billy Boy" 9 Independence Rock: "Wayfarin' Stranger" sung by Larry Phenow 10 South Pass: "Believe Me, Of All Those Endearing Young Charms" 11 Fort Bridger: "Where Has My Laddie Gone?" Enjoy! +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ HARDWARE REQUIREMENTS You will need a minimum of the following hardware to use this CD: WINDOWS: Windows 3.1 or greater 4MB RAM (8MB RAM for Windows 95 or Windows for Workgroups 3.11) Color VGA monitor (in 256 color mode) Microsoft-compatible mouse CD-ROM drive (double-speed recommended) Ad Lib, Sound Blaster or compatible sound card recommended Macintosh: System 7.0 or later 4MB RAM 13" color monitor CD-ROM drive (double-speed recommended) +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ TROUBLESHOOTING Problem 1: Program freezes (in Windows 3.x) Program freezes when I click on the continue button. "Oregon" caused a General Protection Fault in module 256_1024.DRV. Caused By: A problem exists with Cirrus Logic video drivers prior to version 1.43 and The Oregon Trail for Windows when the computer is running in 256-color mode. The drivers are used by two different video chipsets: GD5422/24 - This conflict usually results in unexpected program behavior, GPFs, including not allowing users to enter the program. GD5426/28 - This conflict results in the program ALWAYS freezing. In the Oregon Trail it occurs when clicking on the Continue button when leaving Independence, MO (after purchasing supplies). Resolution: If you have a version of the Cirrus Logic driver with the GD5422/24/26/28 chipset prior to 1.43, you will need to update the driver. To identify the video driver on your system: 1. In the Windows "Program Manager", open the "Main" group. 2. Double-click on "Windows Setup" 3. Check the line next to the word DISPLAY: If the name of your display contains "GD54", you may have the Cirrus Logic Video driver. The version of the video driver which works with The Oregon Trail is version 1.43 or greater. Version 1.43 was released in March of 1994. The manufacturer of your computer may have modified the video driver or the version number. For this reason, we encourage you to contact your computer manufacturer for information on updating the video driver specific to your system. Other display names to look for are: Genoa CL, Ready Series, NEC Ready, or AfterBurner v1.32. These are all names for Cirrus Logic video drivers. Where to get the updated video driver: BBS Locations: Cirrus Logic BBS (510)440-9080 DELL BBS (512)728-8528 Gateway BBS (800)846-7562 Packard Bell BBS (801)250-1600 Internet Locations: MECC http://www.mecc.com (go to the Technical Support area) Cirrus http://www.cirrus.com/support DELL ftp.dell.com/dellbbs/video Packard Bell http://www.packardbell.com BBS telephone numbers and internet addresses are subject to change. You may also obtain the driver by contacting MECC Technical Support at (612) 569-1678, Monday - Friday 8:00a.m. to 6:00 p.m. (CST). --------------- How to install the drivers to Windows 3.x: ------------- Cirrus Logic Video Driver Installation MECC's Oregon Trail experiences problems that have been traced to Cirrus Logic Windows video drivers installed on computers that have been purchased recently. We have contacted Cirrus Logic (maker of the video chip & Windows driver installed on your computer) and Cirrus Logic (& MECC) have successfully tested Oregon Trail Windows with their new drivers (version 1.43 and 1.50). Note: Drivers prior to version 1.43 also had problems with other Windows software from various manufacturers according to our customers. To install the new driver, perform the following: First, the Windows video driver must be changed to VGA. 1. Start Windows. 2. Open the MAIN Group. 3. Double click on the WINDOWS SETUP Icon. 4. Click on the OPTIONS menu, select CHANGE SYSTEM SETTINGS 5. Observe the line "Display:" indicates the current video driver installed. 6. Write the name of the current driver here: ______________________________. 7. Click on the DOWN ARROW to the right of the Display line. 8. Using the scroll bar if necessary, click on VGA. 9. Click on the OK button (in the Change System Settings dialog box). 10. Observe "A driver for this display is already on your system . . ." dialog box is displayed. 11. Click on the CURRENT button. NOTE: At this point it may or may not ask you for Windows 3.1 disks. Please follow on-screen instructions. 12. Observe "Exit Windows Setup" dialog box. 13. Click on the RESTART WINDOWS button. Next, the new Cirrus Logic driver will be installed 14. Insert the Cirrus Logic driver disk in drive A (or B). 15. From Program Manager, select the FILE menu and click on RUN. 16. In the Command Line box, enter: A:\INSTALL (or B:INSTALL if using the B drive). 17. Observe "VGA Windows Utility Installation" dialog box and the prompt "Copy to:". 18. Enter the location of Windows (usually C:\Windows). 19. Click on the OK button. 20. Observe "Copying files?" is displayed. 21. Observe "Install has copied the software successfully. . ." 22. Click on the OK button. 23. Observe a VGA UTILITIES group has been created. 24. Double click on the SetRES icon. 25. Set Display Resolution = 640x480x256, Font Size = Normal, Number of Colors = 256. 26. Click on the OK button. 27. Observe "For the new format to take effect, Windows must be restarted. Restart Windows now?" dialog box. 26. Click on the YES button (to restart Windows). The driver should be updated at this point. If you need further help, please call MECC Technical Support at 612-569-1678. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Problem 2: Program randomly freezes or locks up during game play. Symptom Categories: GPF errors Quits or Restarts windows Nothing happens?just wont launch Caused By: 1. Not enough memory 2. Windows for Workgroups (WFW) w/4mb of Ram Resolution: You may be experiencing a symptom we have traced to running programs in Windows for Workgroups on a machine with 4 Mb of RAM. Windows for Workgroups on a 4Mb machine may cause random freezes with programs you run on your computer. We recommend that you have at least 8 Mb of RAM to run MECC products with Windows for Workgroups. To verify the version of Windows on your computer: In the Program Manager, select the Help pull-down menu and then select About Program Manager. The dialog box will tell you what version of Windows you have. An article from the September 1994 issue of The Graunke Report explains: Users with less than 8 Mb total RAM installed are bound to discover that their PCs slow dramatically after installing Windows for Workgroups. Although the box suggests otherwise, Windows for Workgroups really requires more memory than many PCs currently have installed. Memory remains the single improvement you can make that returns the greatest increase in performance. The Graunke Report is produced by Mastering Computers, Inc.,11000 North Scottsdale Road, Suite 102, Scottsdale, AZ 85254. (C) Copyright 1995, MECC. All rights reserved. MECC and The Oregon Trail are registered trademarks of MECC. All other company names are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective owners.