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Frequently Asked Questions

This document is intended to help you with problems that can occur with most products in Windows 95/98/ME/2000/XP. Please read through these FAQ's thoroughly to find your problem before contacting eGames. All support requests can take up to 5 days for response, and most often end up being the same answers that are presented here.

Also, be sure to check our website FAQ's for the most up to date issues on your product. In addition to general FAQ's, there are product specific questions and answers, usually with more recent issues that were not known prior to this CD's manufacturing. You can visit our Online Support site by selecting the Help menu above and clicking on the "Online Help" button.

General Questions

- What are these messages that are being displayed in the lower left hand corner of this interface?
- What messages, and why can't I see them?
- When I start this game, my computer tries to connect to the internet. Why?
- When installing the cd, I get the message "Cannot find C:\EGAMES\EGAMES~1\gbrowser.exe. How do I correct this?
- Every time I start this program, my modem tries to dial to the Internet. How do I prevent this from happening?
- The game did not seem to install correctly and does not function properly. What should I do?
- My game freezes, or my screen becomes distorted or black when attempting to play a game. What causes this?
- My game played fine for along time, then one day just simply stopped working. What Happened?
- If I have difficulty downloading a game from your website, or want to redownload a game I have already paid for--who do I contact?

Error Messages

- When trying to play the game I get the message "Direct Draw initialization failed" What can I do?
- When trying to play the game I get a message "Direct Sound create failed" or "Direct Sound cannot be initialized".
- When trying to play the game I get the error message, "This Program has performed an Illegal Operation and will be shut down".
- When trying to play the game I receive an error message "Cannot locate ddraw.dll".
- When trying to play the game I receive an error message "Sound Init Error", or "Sound.rec could not be found".
- When trying to play the game I receive an error message about a missing DDRAW.DLL, D3D.DLL, or DSOUND.DLL file.
- I receive an error message stating that I do not have enough memory to run the game.

System/Video/Sound Problems

- Why doesn't my gamepad/joystick/steering wheel work in the game?
- My display settings have changed to the point where I can't make out anything---and it's impossible to get them back. How can I get my computer back to where I can reset my display settings?
- The video display shows incorrect colors or textures, black boxes on the screen, or other oddities.
- The graphics seem to be drawing very slowly, or the display is choppy.
- I can hear sounds and music with other applications, but not in this game.
- I cannot hear any sounds or music in any application at all.
- I can hear sounds or music, but not both.
- The sound effects or music in the game are distorted.
- How Can I Find My Current Sound Card Settings?
- The game's music skips a lot, or the sound overall is very choppy.

Updating Drivers/Hardware Identification

- How do I update my video or sound drivers?
- How do I determine my video/sound card manufacturer?
- How do I find out what kind of system I have?
- How do I check to see if my hardware is compatible with DirectX, i.e. how do I know if I need to update my drivers?

Answers

Q: What are these messages that are being displayed in the lower left hand corner of this interface?

A: This software can receive and display messages in its interface. These messages may include product updates, patches, special offers and new product information from our website, www.eGames.com. The online information display is a one-way website broadcast from www.eGames.com to this program.

The way it works is that this program will use your existing Internet service connection to download very small messages in html (world wide web page) format from our server onto your computer, which are then displayed in the game's interface. These messages are essentially very small web pages, such as those seen in Internet Explorer or other web browsers. This download interaction only occurs if you are connected to the Internet, and only when you start this program. This interaction only occurs when you start the program, and no interaction occurs when this program is not running (i.e. no interaction occurs when you are offline from the game). If you are not connected to the Internet when you begin playing this game, no interaction will occur, and you will simply see a picture that is a standard link to our web site. These interactions are typically very small, and should not have a significant impact on your internet connection bandwidth, even for 56k telephone modem users.

No information is collected or stored before, during or after this information display system functions.

No third party software of any kind has been installed on your computer. The system works solely through the eGames software you have purchased and are running now, in conjunction with our website, www.egames.com.

An existing Internet Service Provider (such as America Online, cable modem, DSL, etc.) is required for this service to function.

For more information about eGames Privacy Policy, please visit our website at www.eGames.com (you can use the "Web" button above to go there).

Q: What messages, and why can't I see them?

A: This software can receive and display messages in its interface. These messages may include product updates, patches, special offers and new product information from our website, www.eGames.com. The online information display is a one-way website broadcast from www.eGames.com to this program.

If you do not see these messages, there are two possible reasons:

1. You selected "No" when asked if you wanted this service while you were installing this game. You can, however, turn this service on now if you like. Simply click on the "Help" menu above, then click on "Options". In the window that pops up, check the "Enable Online Information Display" box, then click OK. Restart this program, and you will see the messages. Be sure to see number 2 below.
2. You are not connected to the Internet. This service uses your existing connection to the internet to transmit the messages. You must connect to the Internet manually if you are not using a service where you are always connected (such as a local area network or cable modem). This program will not automatically connect you to the internet. If you do not have Internet access, this service will not work.

See the question above for more information on how this service works.

Q: When I start this game, my computer tries to connect to the internet. Why?

A: This is not a known problem at the time of this software's release, however it has been reported that certain internet connections on some computers will automatically start when any software attempts to connect to an internet site. For more information about why this software may connect to the internet, please the above two questions.

In the rare instance that this may happen, simply turn off the Online Information Display service by clicking on the "Help" menu above, then selecting "Options". Uncheck the box next to "Enable Online Information Display", then click OK. You will need to restart this program for the change to take effect.

Q: My game freezes, or my screen becomes distorted or black when attempting to play a game. What causes this?

A: This can be caused by several things: inaccurate video settings, uncertified video drivers, poor quality or defective video cards, underpowered CPU, a video card with insufficient memory, or your 3D capabilities are not turned on.

First, make sure your system meets all of the requirements stated on the game's package.

Next, try adjusting the Color and Resolution settings: right click on an empty area of your desktop, select PROPERTIES. Select the SETTINGS TAB, move the screen area pointer to 800x600 pixels (standard for most games). Then from the COLORS drop down menu, select HIGH COLOR (16 bit). Click the APPLY button, and accept the resizing.

If this does not help, you may not have Direct Draw and Direct 3D Acceleration enabled.

For Windows 98 users and above: Click on the START button, select RUN. Type DXDIAG in the box provided, then click OK. Click on the Display tab and enable both the Direct Draw Acceleration and Direct 3D Acceleration. Click exit and try the game again.

For Windows 95 users: You may need to go to the DirectX folder which is located under C:\program files. Double click on the DirectX folder. Double click on Setup. Find the tool named dxtool.exe and double click on it. This will bring up the DirectX DriverTool. Click on the Display tab and enable both the Direct Draw Acceleration and Direct 3D Acceleration. Click exit and try the game again.

If this does not work or if both these boxes are already checked off, they may be the cause of the problem. Your video card may not handle Direct Draw and Direct 3D Acceleration very well. Uncheck both boxes for 3D Hardware Acceleration and Direct Draw Hardware Acceleration. Click apply, then O.K. Then try accessing the game again. In the future if you encounter a game which needs these components, simply re-check the two options in DirectX Driver Tool.

And if that still fails to resolve the issue, See the questions below, "When trying to play the game I get the message 'Direct Draw initialization failed'" and "When trying to play the game I get a message 'Direct Sound create failed'". Sometimes these type of errors occur but do not actually display these messages, but the solution is the same.

Q: If I have difficulty downloading a game or want to redownload a game I have already paid for--who do I contact?

A: Please contact our OnLine Sales Partner, Digital River, by calling their Customer Service number at 1-800-656-5426 ( International Customers: 612-253-8400 ) or you can visit their website at www.digitalriver.com or email them at custserv@digitalriver.com

Q: Every time I start this program, my modem tries to dial to the Internet. How do I prevent this from happening?

A: First, close the eGames Browser. Then go into Internet Explorer (your web browser). Using the menu bar at the top of the window, select TOOLS, then select INTERNET OPTIONS. Choose the CONNECTIONS tab, then select "never dial a connection". Click OK then exit Internet Explorer. Try the eGames browser again.

Q: When installing the cd, I get the message "Cannot find C:\EGAMES\EGAMES~1\gbrowser.exe. How do I correct this?

A: The error message is telling you it cannot find a previously installed game file. Simply cancel out of that message and manually install the game:

1. Click START
2. Select RUN
3. Type D:\setup in the space provided (if "D" is not the drive letter associated with your cd-rom drive, replace it with the letter that does)
4. Follow the onscreen instructions

Q: The game did not seem to install correctly and does not function properly. What should I do?

A: It sounds like you may have an application open in the background that is preventing a successful installation, or that is keeping the game from running.

Give the following a try:

First, make sure there are no other programs running. To shut down all other applications:

- Find your Windows 95/98/ME/2000/XP taskbar. This is the gray bar where your START button is located.
- For every button on the taskbar except for the start button, right-click once and then left-click on "Close".
- Do the same for each of the icons on the opposite side of the taskbar. If there is no option to Close or Exit the application, don't worry, we'll deal with that in a moment.
- Once you have closed down all of the applications that you can using this method, press <control> <alt> <delete> (only once!) to bring up the Windows 95/98/ME/2000/XP task manager. You will see a list of programs that are still running.
- The only 2 programs that need to be there are Explorer and Systray. For everything else, click once to highlight the program you wish to close, and then click on "End Task". The task manager will close too, so you will need to press <control> <alt> <delete> again if you need to terminate any other programs.
- Once you have closed down all of the applications on your system except Explorer and Systray, try running your game again.

If that doesn't work, try uninstalling and re-installing the program. Then, before proceeding, you must CLOSE all applications running in the background such as MS Office, Anti-virus programs, Faxworks, etc. Do this by holding down the CTRL and ALT keys, then tapping DEL at the same time. This will bring up the Close Program window. Close each program listed ( EXCEPT Explorer and Systray), by highlighting it then clicking END TASK. Continue this sequence of steps until you can perform CTRL+ALT+DEL and only see Explorer and Systray in the Close Program window. ( Note: This process will only close these applications for the current session of Windows; they will be re-established when you restart Windows) Be careful NOT to press CTRL-ALT-DEL twice as this will reboot the computer.

Also, if you absolutely cannot END TASK a specific application despite repeated attempts to do so, then bypass it and go on to the next one on the list.

Then try to re-install.

** Note: when you reboot your system, all the apps you closed will be re-loaded if they are a normal part of your Startup program configuration.**

Q: My game played fine for along time, then one day just simply stopped working. What Happened?

A: This typically indicates some corruption has occurred in files that the game depends on to play correctly, or some system configuration parameter has been altered.

For example, the corruption can be:

1. In DirectX files that are part of Microsoft's DirectX implementation
2. In critical hardware driver files
3. In files installed by the game itself
4. In standard windows files

It also could mean that some crucial PC setting has been altered that the game depends on such as:

1. Color Setting
2. Resolution
3. Mouse Setting
4. Direct Draw Setting

Here are some things you can try:

Using standard Windows procedures for removing an application, select Start---Settings---Control Panel, then find and click on the icon “Add/Remove Programs”, locate the game in the application window and click the Add/Remove button and follow the on-screen instructions.

Next, before re-installing the product, you must CLOSE all applications running in the background such as MS Office, Anti-virus programs, Faxworks, etc. Do this by holding down the CTRL and ALT keys, then tapping DEL at the same time. This will bring up the Close Program window. Close each program listed ( EXCEPT Explorer and Systray), by highlighting it then clicking END TASK. Continue this sequence of steps until you can perform CTRL+ALT+DEL and only see Explorer and Systray in the Close Program window. ( Note: This process will only close these applications for the current session of Windows; they will be re-established when you restart Windows) Be careful NOT to press CTRL-ALT-DEL twice as this will reboot the computer.

Then try to re-install. ** Note: when you reboot your system, all the apps you closed will be re-loaded if they are a normal part of your Startup program configuration.**

If problems persist: First, try adjusting Color and Resolution settings:

1. Right click on any empty area of your Windows Desktop.
2. Select “Properties”
3. Select the “Settings” tab
4. Move the Screen Area pointer to 800x600 pixels.

Also, adjust the COLOR setting of your PC to High Color 16 bit.

5. Right click on any empty area of your Windows Desktop.
6. Select “Properties”
7. Select the “Settings” tab
8. Select High Color (16 bit) from the COLORS drop down menu.
9. Click the Apply button.
10.Accept the re-sizing.
( note this will change the appearance of all icons on your desktop )

If blank, fuzzy ,or black screens still manifest try 256 color next. Even 24 bit color is worth a shot if 256 doesn’t help.

If the problem persists, there may be a problem with your video card and the DirectX component installed with the game. Your video card may not handle 3-D acceleration very well.

Go to the DirectX folder which is located under C:\PROGRAM FILES. Double click on the DIRECTX folder. Double click on the SETUP folder. Find the file named DXDIAG ( large yellow fan shows as the icon) and double click on it. This will bring up the DirectX Diagnostics utility. Click on the DISPLAY tab and disable both 3D Hardware Acceleration and Direct Draw Hardware Acceleration. Click APPLY, then OK. Then try accessing the game again. In the future if you encounter a game which needs these components, get to this screen and ENABLE those two options. But if it doesn’t help, go back and re-enable both options because many games require them to be enabled.

Q: When trying to play the game I get the message "Direct Draw initialization failed" What can I do?

A: This product requires that the Directx feature of DIRECT DRAW ACCELERATION must be enabled on your system and this error says yours isn’t. To enable that feature, do this:

1. Start up your Windows Explorer program.
2. Find and click on the PROGRAM FILES folder.
3. Find and click on the DIRECTX folder.
4. Find and click on the SETUP folder.
5. Double Click on the DXDIAG icon.
6. Click on the Display Tab shown on the returning screen.
7. Under the DirectX features section of the screen, you will probably see that the DIRECT DRAW ACCELERATION shows as DISABLED. Change this to ENABLED by clicking on the ENABLE button right next to it.
8. Then click OK, and it should now show as ENABLED.
9. Click on EXIT.

Try the game again. If the same failure occurs, return to the DXDIAG tool and test your Direct Draw software components by using the test procedures shown in the Display tab section. Failure at this point indicates you may have to update your video drivers for DirectX by getting in touch with your video card manufacturer.

NOTE: Windows 95 users may not have DXDIAG application. In that case, Go to the DirectX folder which is located under C:\Program Files. Click on the DirectX folder. Click on the Setup folder. Find the tool named DXTOOL and double click on it. This will bring up the DirectX Driver Tool. Check both boxes for 3D Hardware Acceleration and Direct Draw Hardware Acceleration. Click on APPLY, then Click OK. Then try playing the game again.

If that does not solve the problem:

This error can occur on some games when the color is set to 24 or 32 bit color instead of 16 bit High Color. Try adjusting the COLOR setting of your PC and see if that helps:

1. Right click on any empty area of your Windows Desktop.
2. Select “Properties”
3. Select the “Settings” tab
4. Select High Color (16 bit) from the COLORS drop down menu.
5. Click the Apply button.
6. Accept the changed color confirmation message.
( note this will change the appearance of all icons on your desktop )

It is worth mentioning that we have also seen this error manifested when the RAM of the video card did not meet game requirements. Check the system requirements on the package this product came in to see if your computer meets the requirements.

Q: When trying to play the game I get a message "Direct Sound create failed" or "Direct Sound cannot be initialized". How do I correct this problem?

A: If you don’t get any sound in a game when it is supposed to have sound effects, or if you receive an error message that says “Direct Sound Create Failed” or “Direct Sound cannot be Initialized”, or “Direct Sound doesn’t have enough memory to perform the operation”, the problem could be caused by a number of sources including but not limited to incorrect system configurations; outdated Direct X files; Video and Sound Card whose drivers are incompatible with the version of DirectX on your PC; inadequate video card memory; exhausted resources; corrupted sound drivers or associated files; or a faulty or an erratically failing sound card.

Our suggestions to remedy the problem should be executed in the following sequence:

FIRST:
The very first thing you should look at is if the game itself has a Configuration setting that allows sound to be turned OFF or ON, and at what volume. If so, you should make sure that setting is ON and the volume is turned UP to at least a mid level.

SECOND:
Make sure that the volume on both speakers is turned up high enough and that the MUTE button on either speaker, if there is one, is NOT turned “ON”.

Then re-try the game. If the problem persists:

THIRD:
Try disabling the Direct Draw features of your system:
1. Start up your Windows Explorer program.
2. Find and click on the PROGRAM FILES folder.
3. Find and click on the DIRECTX folder.
4. Find and click on the SETUP folder.
5. Double Click on the DXDIAG icon.
6. Click on the Display Tab shown on the returning screen.
7. Under the DirectX features section of the screen, you will probably see that the DIRECT DRAW ACCELERATION shows as ENABLED. Change this to DISABLED by clicking on the DISABLE button right next to it.
8. Then click OK, and it should now show as DISABLED.
9. Click on EXIT.
( **** In the future, if you encounter a game which needs these components ENABLED, as many games do, simply redo this procedure and ENABLE those features. **** )

Then try the game again.

NOTE:
Windows 95 users may not have DXDIAG application. In that case, Go to the DirectX folder which is located under C:\Program Files. Click on the DirectX folder. Click on the Setup folder. Find the tool named DXTOOL and double click on it. This will bring up the DirectX Driver Tool. UNCHECK both boxes for 3D Hardware Acceleration and Direct Draw Hardware Acceleration. Click on APPLY, then Click OK.

( **** In the future, if you encounter a game which needs these components ENABLED, as many games do, simply redo this procedure and CHECK those boxes. **** )

Then try playing the game again. If that does not solve the problem:

FOURTH:
There may be a conflict with your version of DirectX and your sound card/video card . Try installing the latest version of DirectX at http://www.microsoft.com/directx/homeuser/downloads/default.asp

Then try the game again. If your problem still persists:

FIFTH:
The next step will be to eliminate any possible competing demands on Sound resources.

Acting from your Desktop, CLOSE all applications running in the background such as MS Office, Anti-virus programs, Faxworks, or any other program. Do this by holding down the CTRL and ALT keys, then tapping DEL at the same time. This will bring up the Close Program window. Close each program listed ( EXCEPT Explorer and Systray), by highlighting it then clicking END TASK. Continue this sequence of steps until you can perform CTRL+ALT+DEL and only see Explorer and Systray in the Close Program window. ( Note: This process will only close these applications for the current session of Windows; they will be re-established when you restart Windows) Be careful NOT to press CTRL-ALT-DEL twice as this will reboot the computer.

Also, if you absolutely cannot END TASK a specific application despite repeated attempts to do so, then bypass it and go on to the next one on the list.

Then try to play the game.

** Note: when you reboot your system, all the apps you closed will be re-loaded if they are a normal part of your Startup program configuration.**

Q: How do I find out what kind of system I am running?

A: Right click on your "My Computer" icon.
Choose "Properties". The General Tab will list:
1. operating system
2. processor type
3. amount of RAM

Q: My display settings have changed to the point where I can't make out anything---and it's impossible to get them back. How can I get my computer back to where I can reset my display settings?

A: You need to reboot your machine in “safe mode”. Restart your machine and when you start to see text on your screen, repeatedly hit the F8 key until you see a screen with options. Press the safe mode option. It will restart in safe mode. Once in safe mode, reboot the machine again. This should bring your display back to its original display settings.

Q: When I try to run the game, I receive an error message about a missing DDRAW.DLL, D3D.DLL, or DSOUND.DLL file.

A: This is an indication that DirectX was not successfully installed. You should try reinstalling DirectX by clicking on the DirectX menu above.

Q: I receive an error message stating that I do not have enough memory to run the game.

A: This will occur if the system does not have the required amount of RAM in order to run the game, or has limited memory due to an excessive amount of applications running in the background. You should ensure that all background applications are closed when you install and run the game (see above), and check the rest of the system components such as the video card to make sure they also meet the minimum requirements for the game.

Q: The video display shows incorrect colors or textures, black boxes on the screen, or other oddities.

A: Most of the games we support use Microsoft's DirectX for all video and graphics. Make sure that you have installed the latest version of DirectX. Use the DirectX menu above for more details.

If DirectX is not required for your application or if the above solution doesn't fix the problem, you may need to update your video card drivers to the latest versions available from the manufacturer.

Q: The graphics seem to be drawing very slowly, or the display is choppy.

A: Check the system requirements for the game that you are playing. If your system does not meet the minimum requirements, it may not be able to play the game at normal speed, resulting in choppiness and skipping.

Next, inspect the underside of the game CD for scratches, smudges, etc. These may cause your CD-ROM drive to have trouble reading the CD.

Also, be sure to close down all other applications when running the game. Other applications may take away valuable system resources that the game needs to run smoothly. To be sure you have shut down ALL of your applications, follow these steps:

1. Find your Windows 95/98/ME/2000/XP taskbar. This is the gray bar where your START button is located.
2. For every button on the taskbar except for the start button, right-click once and then left-click on "Close".
3. Do the same for each of the icons on the opposite side of the taskbar. If there is no option to Close or Exit the application, don't worry, we'll deal with that in a moment.
4. Once you have closed down all of the applications that you can using this method, press <control> <alt> <delete> (only once!) to bring up the Windows 95/98/ME/2000/XP task manager. You will see a list of programs that are still running.
5. The only 2 programs that need to be there are Explorer and Systray. For everything else, click once to highlight the program you wish to close, and then click on "End Task". The task manager will close too, so you will need to press <control> <alt> <delete> again if you need to terminate any other programs.
6. Once you have closed down all of the applications on your system except Explorer and Systray, try running your game again.

Q: I can hear sounds and music with other applications, but not in this game.

A: You probably just need to enable sound in the game or turn up the volume. Check your game's options for instructions on how to control sounds and music in the game. If you have already done this and still cannot get sound, you may need to update your sound card drivers.

If your game uses DirectX, make sure that you have installed the version of DirectX that is supplied with the game, or the latest version available from Microsoft. For more information on DirectX and DirectX related problems please use the DirectX button above.

Q: I cannot hear any sounds or music in any application at all.

A: First, check your computer speakers to make sure that they are turned on, that they are plugged into the computer, into an electrical power outlet and each other, and that the volume control is turned up. Also check the volume setting in Windows 95/98/ME/2000/XP by clicking on the speaker icon on your taskbar.

If this doesn't help, you may have a problem with your sound card. To find out:

Click on Start, then on Settings, then on Control Panel.
Double click on the System icon
Click on the Device Manager tab to see a list of hardware currently installed on your computer.
Click on the plus sign next to Sound, Video, and Game controllers. You should see your sound card in the list that appears.

If there is an "!" next to your sound card, then you may have a hardware conflict.

If you don't see your sound card listed, then you will need to install your sound card.

If either of the above is true, you will need to contact your computer or sound card manufacturer for assistance.

If your sound card seems to be working properly, you may need to update the drivers for your card.

Q: I can hear sounds or music, but not both.

A: If your game was written specifically for Windows 95/98/ME/2000/XP, you probably just need to adjust the volume for sound effects or music. Check your game's options to do this.

If the game has no option for sound or music volume, you can adjust these settings in Windows 95/98/ME/2000/XP by double clicking on the speaker icon on your taskbar.

Lastly, if your game uses CD-Audio, you will need to have your game CD in the drive in order to hear music.

Q: The sound effects or music in the game are distorted.

A: First, make sure that you have no other applications running that may interfere with your sound card. Two or more programs that are trying to share a device in your system will usually cause problems.

If your game uses DirectX, make sure that you have installed the version of DirectX that is supplied with the game, or the latest version available from Microsoft. For more information on DirectX and DirectX related problems please check out our DirectX FAQ.

Next, check your sound card to see if there may me a device conflict within your system. To find out how, see the section above labeled "I cannot hear any sounds or music in any application at all".

If your sound card seems to be working properly, you may need to update the drivers for your card.

Q: How Can I Find My Current Sound Card Settings?

A:

- Click on Start, then on Settings, then on Control Panel.
- Double click on the System Icon.
- Click on the Device Manager tab to see a list of hardware currently installed on your computer.
- Click on the Plus sign next to "Sound, Video, and Game controllers". You should see your sound card in the list that appears.
- Click on your sound card (only once!)
- Click on the Properties tab.
- In the window that appears, click on the Resources tab. You should now see a listing of your sound card's settings.
- Write down the number in the first column of the first entry in the list. This is your sound card's port address.
- Scroll down and find the Interrupt request and Direct Memory Access. Write these settings down as well.

Q: The game's music skips a lot, or the sound overall is very choppy.

A: Check the system requirements for the game that you are playing. If your system does not meet the minimum requirements, it may not be able to play the game at normal speed, resulting in choppiness and skipping.

Next, inspect the underside of the game CD for scratches, smudges, etc. These may cause your CD-ROM drive to have trouble reading the CD.

Also, be sure to close down all other applications when running the game. Other applications may take away valuable system resources that the game needs to run smoothly. To be sure you have shut down ALL of your applications, follow these steps:

1. Find your Windows 95/98/ME/2000/XP taskbar. This is the gray bar where your START button is located.
2. For every button on the taskbar except for the start button, right-click once and then left-click on "Close".
3. Do the same for each of the icons on the opposite side of the taskbar. If there is no option to Close or Exit the application, don't worry, we'll deal with that in a moment.
4. Once you have closed down all of the applications that you can using this method, press <control> <alt> <delete> (only once!) to bring up the Windows 95/98/ME/2000/XP task manager. You will see a list of programs that are still running.
5. The only 2 programs that need to be there are Explorer and Systray. For everything else, click once to highlight the program you wish to close, and then click on "End Task". The task manager will close too, so you will need to press <control> <alt> <delete> again if you need to terminate any other programs.
6. Once you have closed down all of the applications on your system except Explorer and Systray, try running your game again.

Q: I get the error message, "This Program has performed an Illegal Operation and will be shut down".

A: These errors most frequently occur when Windows encounters a conflict with a driver in use in your system. Click on the "Details" button for more information about the error message. If the error is an invalid page fault in module kernel32.dll or module GAMENAME.exe, it is indicative of a driver that is not functioning correctly. Generally, the driver in question will be either the one used by the video or sound card. Since hardware manufacturers update their drivers frequently, the problem is resolved by visiting the manufacturer's website, then downloading and installing the updated drivers.

Please note: If you have a name-brand system, that company's website is the best source for drivers. If your system has been upgraded over time, and several of the components have been replaced, it may be necessary to visit the individual manufacturers instead to update these drivers.

To do this, it is necessary to know what the hardware in your computer actually is. Here's an easy way to do it:

1. Click the Windows Start button
2. Select Settings, then Control Panel.
3. Double-click the System icon
4. Click the Device Manager tab. This will show you a list of devices attached to your computer.
5. Click on the Plus Sign (+) next to the categories labeled "Display Adapter" and "Sound, video and game controllers". This will show you the type of hardware in your particular computer.

Double-clicking the indented line will give you more information about the hardware, such as the manufacturer's name. Write this information down, as manufacturer and model numbers may vary even within the same model of computer.

The problem may also be the result of a conflict between the game and some other program that you have running on your computer. The best solution is to shut down any other applications that you may have running before you play the game.

Q: I receive an error message "Cannot locate ddraw.dll".

A: ddraw.dll is an important DirectX file. DirectX is automatically installed to your computer when you install the game. If for any reason you chose NOT to install DirectX when you installed the program, you will need to manually install DirectX now, or the game will report this error. See the DirectX page by clicking the DirectX button above for more information and to re-install DirectX.

If you are absolutely sure that the correct version of DirectX (see your game's manual for the version number) is already installed on your computer, then you may need to update your video hardware drivers in order for the game to work.

Q: I receive an error message "Sound Init Error", or "Sound.rec could not be found".

A: DirectX has not been properly installed, or you need to update your sound card drivers. See the DirectX page by clicking the DirectX button above for more information and to re-install DirectX.

If this doesn't help, check with your computer or sound card manufacturer to see how you can get the latest DirectX compatible drivers for your card.

Q: How do I update my video or sound drivers?
This document is intended to help you determine if you need updated drivers for your computer's hardware, and if so, how to find them. If you haven't done so already, please try any available troubleshooting tips for the specific product you are having trouble with.

The compatibility issue is one of DirectX and the card’s drivers. In other words, we didn’t decide to support certain cards and not others, it’s completely 100% up to DirectX and the card’s drivers to talk to each other. If it’s a good card & driver, and it’s DirectX certified, it should work.

That being said, there are all kinds of “older” cards on people’s PC systems that are not capable of running newer games, and even more old or “buggy” Video Card drivers that need to be updated. Compounding the problem is the fact that the drivers for this old stuff is often not certified to the version of DirectX used on the machine, i.e. meaning operational problems may manifest during game play when 3D demands are made on it by a high tech game. Even if your computer is brand new, it could be using a video card that is several years old, especially if it was relatively inexpensive. That is one way PC manufacturers keep their prices so low.

Please note: Each manufacturer has a different method of updating device drivers. When contacting a manufacturer to get a driver, you must also get specific instructions for updating those drivers.

Listed below are some of the most common computer companies and their contact information. Below that are some of the most common sound or video card manufacturers. If your manufacturer is not listed, you must consult your Owner's Manual for the company's specific contact information.

Computers Manufacturers

Acer America | http://www.acer.com/ | 800-445-6495
AST Computer, Inc. | http://www.ast.com/ | N/A
Compaq | http://www.compaq.com/ | N/A
Dell Computer Corp. | http://www.dell.com/ | 800-624-9896
Gateway | http://www.gateway.com/ | 800-846-2301
Hewlett Packard | http://www.hp.com/ | N/A
IBM Corp. | http://www.ibm.com/ | 800-426-4232
Micron Technology, Inc. | http://www.micron.com/ | 800-642-7661
NEC Technologies, Inc. | http://www.nec.com/ | 800-325-5500
Packard Bell | http://www.packardbell.com/ | 800-733-4411
Sony | http://www.ita.sel.sony.com/ | N/A
Toshiba | http://www.toshiba.com/ | N/A

Sound Cards

If your computer was configured with a sound card when you purchased it, you should try to obtain the appropriate drivers from the computer manufacturer. Many of the following companies supply sound chipsets which are often customized by computer manufactures. If you purchased a separate sound card or cannot obtain the appropriate drivers through the computer manufacturer you may be able to obtain updated drivers from the following companies:

Creative Labs | http://www.creativelabs.com/ | 405-742-6655
Crystal Semiconductor | http://www.crystal.com/ | N/A
ENSONIQ Corp. | http://www.emu.com/ | 610-647-3930
ESS Technologies | http://www.esstech.com/ | N/A
Gravis, Advanced | http://www.gravis.com/ | N/A
Opti | http://www.opti.com/ | 408-486-8000
Orchid Technology | http://www.orchid.com/ | N/A
Turtle Beach | http://www.tbeach.com/ | 914-966-2150

Video Cards

If your computer was configured with a video card when you purchased it, you should try to obtain the appropriate drivers from the computer manufacturer. Many of the following companies supply video chipsets which are often customized by computer manufactures. If you purchased a separate video card or cannot obtain the appropriate drivers through the computer manufacturer you may be able to obtain updated drivers from the following companies:

3Dfx Interactive | http://www.3dfx.com/ | N/A
Alliance | http://www.alsc.com/ | N/A
ATI Technologies, Inc. | http://www.atitech.ca/ | 905-882-2626
Canopus Corp. | http://www.total3d.com/ | N/A
Chips and Technologies | http://www.chips.com/ | 800-944-6284
+ Cirrus Logic | http://www.cirrus.com/ | N/A
Creative Labs | http://www.creativelabs.com/ | 405-742-6655
Deltron Technology | http://www.deltrontech.com/ | N/A
Diamond Multimedia Sys. | http://www.diamondmm.com/ | 408-325-7100
Genoa Systems Corp. | N/A | 408-432-8324
Hercules | http://www.hercules.com/ | 800-323-0601
Interactive I/O | http://www.interactiveio.com/ | N/A
Intergraph Corp. | http://www.ingr.com/ | N/A
Matrox Electronic Systems | http://www.matrox.com/ | 514-685-2630
Miro | http://www.miro.com/ | N/A
Number Nine Visual Technology | http://www.nine.com/ | 617-674-0009
NuVision Technologies | http://www.nuvision3d.com/ | N/A
NVIDIA | http://www.nvidia.com/ | N/A
Oak | http://www.oaktech.com/ | N/A
Orchid Technology, Inc. | http://www.orchid.com/ | 510-683-0323
Paradise Multimedia | http://www.paradisemmp.com/ | 800-978-3029 x1238
Quantum 3D | http://www.quantum3d.com/ | N/A
Rendition | http://www.rendition.com/ | N/A
StereoGraphics | http://www.stereographics.com/ | N/A
Trident Microsystems | http://www.tridentmicro.com/ | N/A
Tseng Laboratories | http://www.tseng.com/ | N/A
VideoLogic | http://www.videologic.com/ | 415-875-6862

Please note: All of the above contact information is current to the best of our knowledge.

Q: How do I determine my video/sound card manufacturer?

A: In order to update your drivers for your Video and Sound cards, you need to know the manufacturer of the particular piece of hardware. Once the manufacturer is determined, you need to either go to their web site or contact them by phone to obtain up to date drivers. Here is how to determine manufacturers.

1. Click on Start.
2. Highlight Settings and click Control Panel.
3. Double-click your System icon.
4. Click Device Manager to bring up the hardware list in your computer. Your video card will be listed under Display Adapter. Your sound card will be listed under Sound, Video and Game Controllers. Write down the company and model number of those items and go to the manufacturers web site or contact their technical support to find the driver you need. If your card does not have drivers loaded that are compatible with DirectX, your game does not meet the minimum requirement to play the game.
5. The new driver should either come with documentation or FAQ's should be provided on the web site. If you cannot find information on how to install their new drivers, you need to contact the manufacturers technical support.

Q: Why doesn't my gamepad/joystick/steering wheel work in the game?

A: Before attempting to troubleshoot controller problems, make sure your joystick/gamepad/steering wheel is selected as the controller inside the game. If the game does not have an option for selecting a game controller, then the game does not support game controllers. Always make sure your game controller is plugged in all the way into the computer. If it is selected in the game and you are still encountering problems, try these solutions to make sure it is setup properly in Windows.

1. Click on Start, highlight Settings and click Control Panel.
2. Double-click your Game Controller icon.
3. Make sure your game controller is listed and shows a status of OK.
   If it is blank, click on the "Add" button to select your controller. Drivers may be required. If the controller does not have drivers available either on CD or via the web, install it based on its number of buttons and axis.
   If your controller is listed as "Not Connected," you will first want to check that the controller is physically plugged in to your machine and turned on. If so, then you need to update the drivers for both the joystick and Game Control input (usually the Sound Card).
   If your joystick/gamepad/steering wheel is listed but not functioning properly, click Properties and then follow the steps to Calibrate your controller.
4. If Force Feedback is not working. First, check to make sure that the game supports this. Most games made before 1998 do not support Force Feedback, as no peripherals (steering wheels, joysticks, etc.) were created with Force Feedback. If the game does support it, make sure that the in-game option is turned on. Also, check to see if there is a Force Feedback on/off switch on the controller to make sure it is in the on position. If it still is not working, there may be a newer set of drivers for the device. Contact your Force Feedback device manufacturer for newer drivers.

Q: How do I check to see if my hardware is compatible with DirectX, i.e. how do I know if I need to update my drivers?

A: Select the DirectX menu from the menu bar at the top of this window, then click on "About DirectX" for more information about DirectX and hardware compatibility.