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DOSGAMES.TXT Release 1.10 2/24/98
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CONTENTS
1.0 FEATURES
1.1 SOUND BLASTER PRO COMPATIBILITY
1.1.1 Checking your hardware configuration
1.1.2 Changing your DOS audio hardware configuration
1.1.3 Changing the Joystick Port Address
1.2 DOS BOXES
1.2.1 Wavetable in DOS Boxes
1.3 REAL-MODE DOS
1.3.1 ASP4DOS.COM driver
1.3.2 BLASTER Environment Variable
1.3.3 DOSSTART.BAT
1.3.4 Reloading the Real-Mode DOS Drivers
2.1 Compatibility List
2.2 Information on Particular Games
2.2.1 Autodetect in DOS boxes
2.2.2 Sound Blaster/Sound Blaster Pro Selection
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1.0 FEATURES
* Sound Blaster Pro compatibility
* DOS box support
* Real-mode DOS support
* 64-voice wavetable synthesis in DOS boxes
* Audio works in multiple open DOS boxes
Version 1.10 Enhancements over Version 1.0 include:
* Wavetable expansion from 32 to 64 voices
* Enhanced wavetable MIDI support in DOS boxes via improved MIDI driver
Version 1.10 does not support OPL/3 emulation.
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1.1 SOUND BLASTER PRO COMPATIBILITY
1.1.1 Checking your hardware configuration
When running DOS games, be sure to configure the games for Sound Blaster
or Sound Blaster Pro operation. Typical settings are for I/O 220h,
IRQ 5, and DMA 1. You can verify your system is configured for these
settings in:
Control Panel->
System (Device Manager) ->
Sound Video, and Game Controllers->
Vortex Sound Blaster Emulation->Resources.
1.1.2 Changing your DOS audio hardware configuration
Generally, you should not need to change the Vortex hardware configuration.
If you do wish to change the hardware configuration, use the following
procedure:
1. Open the Vortex Sound Blaster Emulation Resources dialog box as described
in section 1.1.1 above.
2. Clear the "Use Automatic Settings" checkbox.
3. Select "Basic Configuration 0007" from the "settings based on" list box.
This will let you select all possible I/O port, DMA and IRQ settings on
your computer.
4. Move the highlight to select whether to change the I/O range, interrupt
request, or direct memory access in the resource settings window.
5. Press the "Change Setting" Button.
6. Change the I/O range, Interrupt request, and direct memory access settings
as desired, and press "OK."
Vortex supports the following legacy audio settings:
* I/O range: 220h, 240h, 260h, 280h
* Interrupt: 5, 7, 9(2), 10
* DMA: 1, 3
Not all of these settings may be available, depending on the hardware in
your computer.
When you change these settings, the drivers automatically change the BLASTER
environment variable in your AUTOEXEC.BAT and DOSSTART.BAT configuration files.
See below for more information.
1.1.3 Changing the Joystick Port Address
The joystick is installed at 201h by default. If you have multiple gameports
in your system, you can reconfigure the joystick port address by opening:
Control Panel->
System (Device Manager) ->
Sound Video, and Game Controllers->
Vortex Gameport Interface ->Resources.
Vortex supports gameport addresses at 201h, 202h, 203, 204h, 205h, 206h, and
207h. To change the setting:
1. Clear the "Use Automatic Settings" checkbox.
2. Select "Basic Configuration 0001" from the "settings based on" list box.
This will let you select all possible I/O port settings.
3. Make sure the "Input/Output Range" is highlighted in the resource
settings window.
4. Press the "Change Setting" Button.
5. Change the I/O range as desired, and select "OK".
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1.2 DOS BOXES
Windows DOS boxes are launched from the "MSDOS prompt" in the Windows 95
Start menu. DOS boxes are preferable for many games, as they are easier
to launch, and the Vortex wavetable synthesizer can be used for music.
However, some old games do not run very well in Windows boxes, and must
run in MS-DOS mode instead. From a Windows DOS box, run the game as usual.
The game still needs to be configured for the Sound Blaster Pro settings
of the Vortex board.
1.2.1 Wavetable in DOS Boxes
To use wavetable in a DOS box:
1. Open the Vortex Control Panel MIDI tab.
2. Ensure that "Vortex Wavetable Receives DOS Box MIDI Out" is selected.
3. Open the application in a DOS box. Configure the application's music
output to use MPU-401 output.
The Vortex drivers can also send MIDI to other software wavetable or
external MIDI devices installed or attached on your computer. You can use
the Multimedia control panel's MIDI tab to select the preferred MIDI
output device.
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1.3 REAL-MODE DOS
DOS runs in real mode when Windows 95 is not loaded, or when you restart
the computer in MSDOS mode from Windows 95
In real mode, make sure the game is configured correctly. Select Sound
Blaster or Sound Blaster Pro for both the Music and the Effects device
(unlike in DOS box where you can select MIDI for Music). You can select
MPU-401 output if you have an external synthesizer connected to the Vortex
MIDI port. Make sure the settings for I/O, IRQ, and DMA match the
configuration for the Vortex card.
When you install the Vortex drivers from CD-ROM, some lines are added to
your computer's AUTOEXEC.BAT and DOSSTART.BAT files. These lines will
be similar to:
PATH=C:/WINDOWS
ASP4DOS
SET BLASTER=A240 I5 D3 T4
1.3.1 ASP4DOS.COM driver
One line added to AUTOEXEC.BAT executes the Vortex DOS device driver,
ASP4DOS.COM, located at C:\WINDOWS by default. Your computer finds the
file by using the PATH statement, which includes a reference to your
Windows directory. Your computer executes the ASP4DOS program during
boot-up. When ASP4DOS.COM is executed, you will see text similar to:
VORTEX DOS AUDIO DRIVER (01.10). Copyright (c) 1998, Aureal Semiconductor
PCI AUDIO PRO enabled at Ports 220-22Fh, Interrupt 5, DMA 3, Joystick 201h.
If the driver software detects an upper memory manager, it may attempt
to load the device driver into upper memory, to increase the amount of
available memory below the 640KB barrier. If so, the line in AUTOEXEC.BAT
will read LOADHIGH ASP4DOS or LH ASP4DOS. If you are using another memory
manager besides Microsoft's, such as Quarterdeck QEMM, you may need to check
if the driver has loaded correctly. To do so, enter MEM/C/P at the DOS
command line and check that ASP4DOS is loaded correctly. If not, rerun the
memory optimization program supplied with your memory manager.
The real-mode DOS driver is not needed for Windows or Windows DOS box
operation. When Windows itself launches, the DOS device driver is removed
from memory, to provide optimal performance.
1.3.2 BLASTER Environment Variable
The second line added to your AUTOEXEC.BAT file sets the BLASTER environment
variable. This environment variable is required by some games to find the
sound card in your system. In the above example, the BLASTER environment
variable is set to I/O port 240h, interrupt 5, and DMA channel 3. The
"T4" parameter sets the Type of Sound Blaster to Sound Blaster Pro.
1.3.3 DOSSTART.BAT
When you start Windows, the Vortex DOS driver is unloaded. If you exit
from Windows to MS-DOS, your computer runs the DOSSTART.BAT file in the
Windows directory, in much the same way as it runs AUTOEXEC.BAT when you
boot your computer. During driver installation, Vortex places the ASP4DOS.COM
command and BLASTER environment variable in the DOSSTART.BAT file. These
command lines reinstall the Vortex DOS driver and reset the BLASTER
environment variable, so that you will still be above to access Vortex
functions in real-mode DOS.
You do not need to run DOSSTART.BAT in Windows boxes. These "boxes" are
DOS shells that are launched from the MSDOS prompt icon in the start menu,
rather than by restarting your computer in MSDOS mode. In Windows boxes,
the Vortex Windows drivers are available to provide legacy audio emulation
and modem support.
1.3.4 Reloading the Real-Mode DOS Drivers
If you attempt to reload the Vortex device driver, you will get an error
message:
VORTEX DOS AUDIO DRIVER (01.10). Copyright (c) 1998, Aureal Semiconductor
ERROR: TSR is already loaded!!
This ensures that you do not waste memory by loading the driver multiple
times by mistake.
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2.1 Compatibility List
Correct audio operation has been verified on the following games.
* Games that run in a DOX box are flagged with and asterisk.
* Games that run in a DOS box, whereas the original Sound Blaster Pro
card requires real-mode DOS, are flagged with two asterisks.
11th Hour* 1942 Pacific Airwar 3D Labrynth*
7th Guest* Absolute Zero* Abuse*
Aces of the Deep Across the Rhine* Aegis
Alien Legacy* Alone in the Dark* Are you Afraid of the Dark
Armored Fist Armored Fist 2* Bailey's Bookhouse*
Baseball 94 (FPS) Baseball Tonight* BattleChess
Battledrome Beast Within(Gabriel 2)* Betrayal at Krondor*
Big Red Racing* Bioforge Black Thorne *
Blake Stone* Blood* Blood Bowl
Breach 3* Brett Hull Hockey 95 Bureau 13**
Busy Town* Caesar 2* Capture the Flag*
Carmageddon* Carmen Sandiago* Castle of Dr Brain**
Castle Wolfenstein 3D* Chaos Engine* ChronoMaster*
Circle of Blood* Circuit Racer* City of Lost Children*
Civilization* Comanche Overkill Command & Conquer*
Commander Blood Commander Keen 4* Conqueror*
Conspiracy* Constructor** Corridor 7*
Creature Shock* Crusader Cyber Mage**
Cyberia** CyberWar* D*
Daggerfall Chronicles** Dark Forces Dark Light Conflict**
Dark Sun:Shttered Lnds* Day of the Tentacle* Death Gate*
DeltaV ` Descent 1* Descent 2 *
Desert Strike Dig* Doom 1*
Doom 2* Dragon Lore Dragon's Lair
Duke Nukem 2 ** Duke Nukem 3d* Earth Treks*
Ecstatica* Epic Pinball Eradicator
ESPN 2 Extreme Games* Extractors* F117a Demo*
F22-Lightning 2* Fable* Falcon 3.0
Fade to Black* Fast Attack* FIFA 97
Fleet Defender Flight Unlimited Flighter Duel
FootBall Pro 95 Football Pro 96 Full Metal Jacket*
Full Throttle* Future Shock* FX Fighter**
Gabrial Knights* Gene Wars* Global War*
Grand Prix II** Great Naval Battles* Gunship 2000
HardBall 3* Hardball 4** Hardball 5*
Harpoon 2* Harpoon 2 Deluxe Hell*
Heretic* Hexen* Hi-Octane
Hind Hocus Pocus I Have No Mouth*
Inca Incredible Machine* Indiana Jones
IndyCar Iron Assault Iron Cross*
Jack Nicklaus* Jagged Alliance* Jagged: Deadly Games*
Jane's Adv.Fighters Jane's Longbow* Jazz Jackrabbit*
Jill of the Jungle* Jumpjet* Kid Pix*
Kids Zoo* Kings Quest 5 Kings Quest 6*
Krush Kill & Destroy* LawnMower Man Leisure Suit Larry 5*
Leisure Suit Larry 6* Lemmings Chronicles Lighthouse*
Links386 Pro Lord of the Realm 2* Lord of the Rings*
Lost Eden* Machiavelli the Prince Madden 97*
MadDog McCree* MadDog McCree 2* Magic Carpet 1*
Magic Carpet 2* Master of Orion* Master of Orion 2*
Masters of Magic** Math Ace* Math Rescue*
MAX* MDK** Mech Warrier 2*
MegaRace* MegaRace II** Metaltech Earthseige*
Mickey's 123* Might and Magic II Might and Magic III
Mortal Kombat 1* Mortal Kombat 2 Mortal Kombat 3
MS Flight Sim 5* Nascar Racing Nascar Racing 2*
NBA Jam TE* NBA Live 95* NBA Live 97
Need for Speed** Nemesis** NHL Hockey 96
NHL Hockey 97** Night Trap* Noctropolis*
Orion Conspiracy* Out of this World Pandora Directive**
Panzer General* PGA Tour* Phantasmagoria*
Piranha* Police Quest 4* Populus II*
Power F1 Racing* Power Monger Prince of Persia 1*
Prince of Persia 2* Privateer 1 Privateer 2
Psychic Detective Pure War Game Quake 0.9x*
Quake 1.0x* Railroad Tycoon* RAMA*
Raptor* Ravenloff* Reading Carnival
Realms of the Haunting* Rebel Assault 1 Rebel Assault 2*
Rebel Runner* Red Baron* Redneck Rampage**
Relentless Return to Ringworld* Return to Zork*
Ripley's Believe it Rise of the Triad* Rocketeer
Savage Warrior* Scorcher* Screamer 2*
Scud Attack* SDI 2040* Seawolf*
Shadow Caster Shadows of Cairn Shadows of Riva**
Shattered Steel** Silent Hunter* Silver Pinball*
SimAnt* SimCity* SimIsle*
Simon The Sorcerer* Skunny's Back to the Forest* SlipStream 5000**
Space Quest 4* Space Quest 6* Spycraft*
Star Command* Star Control 1* Star Control 2*
Star Control 3* Star Fighter** Star Trek: 25TH**
Star Trek: Final Unity Steel Panthers* Steel Panthers 2*
Stellar 7* Stonekeep SU 27 Flanker**
Super Karts* Syndicate Wars* System Shock*
Table Sports 3D* Tank Commander TekWar**
TeraNova* Terminator 2029* Test Drive Off Road*
Theme Park* Thunder Strike Air Assault* Thunder Truck Ralley
Tie Fighter* Time Treks* Tomb Raider**
TonyLaRusa Baseball3* Top Gun* Torin's Passage*
Transport Tycoon* TreeHouse* Twinson's Odyssey*
Ultima 7 Ultima 8 Ultimate Football 95
Under a Killing Moon Unnecessary Roughness* Unnecessary Roughness 95*
USNF Vikings* Warcraft*
Warcraft 2* Wetlands* Wing Commander 2
Wing Commander 3* Wing Commander 4* Wing Commander Armada
Wings of Glory Winter Sports Witchaven*
Witchaven 2** Word City* X-Com*
XCom Terror from Deep* X-Wing* XCAR*
Z* Zephyr Zone Raiders*
Zork Nemesis
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2.2 Information on Particular Games
2.2.1 Autodetect
Some older games do not detect audio hardware automatically. You can
still use Vortex legacy audio support for these games by configuring
the hardware resources manually:
* Carmaggedon
* Castle of Doctor Brain
* Command and Conquer
* Constructor
* Cyberwar
* Fast Attack
* Grand Prix II
* Hard Ball 4
* MDK
* Witchhaven 2
2.2.2 Sound Blaster/Sound Blaster Pro Selection
If both options are available, pick "Sound Blaster Pro" for best
quality. The following games work if "Sound Blaster" is selected:
* Battlechess
* Cyberia (use DMA1)
* Death Gate
* FIFA97
* MBA Live 97
* NHL Hockey 96
* NHL Hockey 97
* Ripper
* Spycraft
Aureal is a trademark of Aureal Semiconductor, Inc.
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Copyright Aureal Semiconductor 1996-8.
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Download Driver Pack
After your driver has been downloaded, follow these simple steps to install it.
Expand the archive file (if the download file is in zip or rar format).
If the expanded file has an .exe extension, double click it and follow the installation instructions.
Otherwise, open Device Manager by right-clicking the Start menu and selecting Device Manager.
Find the device and model you want to update in the device list.
Double-click on it to open the Properties dialog box.
From the Properties dialog box, select the Driver tab.
Click the Update Driver button, then follow the instructions.
Very important: You must reboot your system to ensure that any driver updates have taken effect.
For more help, visit our Driver Support section for step-by-step videos on how to install drivers for every file type.