DOCUMENT:Q114233 07-MAY-2002 [homegame] TITLE :Flight Simulator 5.0a README.DOC Contents PRODUCT :Microsoft Home Games PROD/VER:MS-DOS:5.0a OPER/SYS: KEYWORDS: ====================================================================== ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The information in this article applies to: - Microsoft Flight Simulator for MS-DOS, version 5.0a ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The following is the contents of the README.DOC located on Flight Simulator 5.00a Disk 1: SUMMARY ======= ******************************************************************** MICROSOFT FLIGHT SIMULATOR Version 5.0a R E L E A S E N O T E S ******************************************************************** This document contains important information about Microsoft Flight Simulator. For more details on how to fly, read the Microsoft Flight Simulator Pilot's Handbook. Memory Configuration: * To run Microsoft Flight Simulator 5.0, you need a computer with at least 530K of free conventional memory. If your computer does not have an expanded memory manager, you need 560K of free conventional memory. Flight Simulator informs you if your computer has insufficient conventional memory and you cannot run the program. Please refer to the troubleshooting section on the inside back cover of the Flight Simulator Pilot's Handbook for tips on optimizing your system performance. * You can significantly enhance Flight Simulator's performance if you configure your computer for expanded memory. Please refer to the troubleshooting section on the inside back cover of the Flight Simulator Pilot's Handbook or to your MS-DOS manual for instructions on how to configure your computer for expanded memory. * If you have no extended or expanded memory, or encounter out of memory errors when running Flight Simulator, you can get better performance if you turn off the sound option. To do this, choose Preferences from the Options menu, and then choose the Sound button. In the Sound Preferences dialog box, choose No Sound Device from the Sound Board list. When you turn off the sound option in the Preferences dialog box, you can save additional conventional memory and run more features. Running Flight Simulator under Microsoft Windows: * To run Flight Simulator under Windows, you must configure your system for expanded memory. If you run Flight Simulator under Windows with extended memory it can cause memory errors and Windows will terminate your Flight Simulator session. Please refer to the troubleshooting section on the inside back cover of the Flight Simulator Pilot's Handbook or to your MS-DOS manual for instructions on how to configure your computer for expanded memory. * Loading Sound into Conventional Memory. Flight Simulator loads sound files into XMS memory for storage and quick playback. Running under Windows can cause this memory to be moved, resulting in noisy sounds or system crashes. Windows informs you of any system problems. If this occurs, choose Preferences from the Options menu, and then choose the Sound button. In the Sound Preferences dialog box, change the Use XMS Memory option to No. When you choose this option, Flight Simulator uses additional conventional memory but resolves sound playback problems using XMS memory. * If the aircraft in Flight Simulator are not flying smoothly under Windows, run Flight Simulator directly from MS-DOS for a higher display rate and smoother flying. Running Flight Simulator under OS/2 2.1: * For best system performance, make sure that you have the following settings for your MS-DOS session: HW_TIMER = ON VERTICAL_RETRACE_EMULATION = OFF * If you are running SVGA graphics, switching back to the desktop may cause the screen not to refresh. Press CTRL+ESC, and then press ENTER to return to Flight Simulator. * To run Flight Simulator in a window, select VGA 320x200 256 color graphics mode. Press ALT+HOME to switch between full screen and a window. Joystick Support: * You cannot engage thrust reversers on the Learjet with the joystick. You must press F2 to decrease your thrust and engage the thrust reversers. * A Colorado Spectrum Notebook Gameport driver is included for use with the joystick. You must add the line DEVICE=CS_STIK.FSO to your FS5.INI file to use it. NOTE: You must also install the gameport driver (NG.EXE from Colorado Spectrum) for your joystick to work. For more information on installing the gameport software, see the manufacturer's instructions. SVGA Support: * Orchid Fahrenheit (S3) and Thunder & Lightning (Cirrus) cards. The monitor selection must be correct in order for SVGA mode to function on these cards. Improper monitor selection can cause the display to sync improperly resulting in an unstable picture, or a screen that looks compressed. For more information, refer to the documentation included with your video board. * VESA 1.2 Compatibility Some VESA 1.2 drivers are not fully implemented. Function 7 and modes 100h or 101h must be implemented in order for Flight Simulator to work in SVGA mode. For more information, refer to the documentation included with your video board. If Flight Simulator does not display properly when you select SVGA using a VESA driver, run Flight Simulator Setup again from the Flight Simulator directory and select the VGA display option. Contact your video board manufacturer for an updated VESA 1.2 compatible driver. * VGA 320x200 Mode Flight Simulator 5.0a supports certain SVGA cards in the 320x200 mode. You can choose these cards from the list of video board manufacturers when you select VGA 320x200 mode. Although selecting a specific manufacturer in this mode may increase your frame rate to 10 to 20 percent faster than the standard VGA 320x200 option, some graphics cards may not work properly. If your screen flashes or does not display at all, choose standard VGA when you select the VGA 320x200 mode. VESA support on VGA 320x200 is equivalent to standard VGA. Sound Support: * Using Flight Simulator under Microsoft Windows NT. PC Speaker sound causes problems under Windows NT. Avoid these problems by choosing No Sound Device from the Sound Board list when you install Flight Simulator. * Running Microsoft Flight Simulator under DR DOS. PC Speaker cockpit sounds cause problems under DR DOS. Avoid these problems by choosing No Sound Device from the Sound Board list when you install Flight Simulator. If you want to play sounds other than cockpit sounds (plane crashes and wheel screeches), choose Preferences from the Options menu, and then choose the Sound button. In the Sound Preferences dialog box, turn off the Cockpit Sounds check box. Then (and only then) choose PC Speaker from the Sound Board list to turn the sound back on. * The Sound Blaster Options The Sound Blaster/Sound Blaster Pro driver is designed for optimal performance on any Sound Blaster or compatible sound card. If you experience any problems with this driver, choose the Sound Blaster Universal driver from the Sound Board list. Make sure that the Sound Blaster software is properly installed on your system before selecting either of these drivers. Without the proper Sound Blaster software installation, Flight Simulator may crash when you try to access the sound card. For proper software installation instructions, refer to the documentation included with your sound card. * Media Vision Pro Audio Spectrum Sound Cards. It is very important to correctly install Media Vision's driver (MVSOUND.SYS) before running Flight Simulator 5.0 with this sound card. If the driver is not installed correctly, your system will crash. or more information on installation, refer to the documentation included with your sound card. If you get poor sound support from the Media Vision Pro Audio Spectrum Sound Card, you may need to disable DMA sharing with your card. Again, for more information, refer to the documentation included with your sound card. You should not set the Pro Audio Spectrum card to INT 1 or your system may crash. * Gravis Ultrasound Sound Card. The Gravis Ultrasound driver uses the SBOS or MEGAEM Sound Blaster emulation. Make sure that you have one of these drivers loaded before running Flight Simulator. * Loading Sound into XMS Memory. Flight Simulator loads sound files into XMS memory for storage and quick playback. Certain memory configurations can cause this memory to be moved, resulting in noisy sounds or system crashes. If this occurs, choose Preferences from the Options menu, and then choose the Sound button. In the Sound Preferences dialog box, change the Use XMS Memory option to No. When you select this option, Flight Simulator uses additional conventional memory but resolves sound playback problems using XMS memory. Undocumented Features: * ADF Radio Improvements. The ADF can be converted to a 5-digit ADF, tunable in 100 Hz increments. Choose Preferences from the Options menu, and then choose the Instrument button. In the Instrument Preferences dialog box, choose the 100 Hz ADF Frequency Adjustability option. NDBs on .1 increments are common in Europe. * Autopilot Improvement: One Keystroke Altitude Hold. Press CTRL+Z (instead of just Z) to activate the autopilot, turn on altitude hold, and set the altitude to your current flight altitude. All other autopilot settings are unaffected. * EFIS VOR Tracking Improvement. Tracking altitude is now MSL rather than AGL. This eliminates the roller coaster effects as ground altitude changes under you, and lets you find the path at the altimeter altitude you specified for the EFIS altitude. Additional query words: 5.00 5.00a flightsim fltsim dos FS5 readme read ====================================================================== Keywords : Technology : kbGamesSearch kbFlightSimSearch kbSimSearch Version : MS-DOS:5.0a Issue type : kbinfo ============================================================================= THE INFORMATION PROVIDED IN THE MICROSOFT KNOWLEDGE BASE IS PROVIDED "AS IS" WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND. MICROSOFT DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES, EITHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING THE WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. IN NO EVENT SHALL MICROSOFT CORPORATION OR ITS SUPPLIERS BE LIABLE FOR ANY DAMAGES WHATSOEVER INCLUDING DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, LOSS OF BUSINESS PROFITS OR SPECIAL DAMAGES, EVEN IF MICROSOFT CORPORATION OR ITS SUPPLIERS HAVE BEEN ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES. SOME STATES DO NOT ALLOW THE EXCLUSION OR LIMITATION OF LIABILITY FOR CONSEQUENTIAL OR INCIDENTAL DAMAGES SO THE FOREGOING LIMITATION MAY NOT APPLY. Copyright Microsoft Corporation 2002.