Origin Troubleshooting Guide
Amor, David
Updated August 15, 1994
By Cheryl Russell
8
THE CARDINAL RULES
1) BOOT DISK- Make a boot disk first then check to see if
you still get the same error
2) CONFIRM INFORMATION- If they say they have 8 megs do a
MEM check to see if they only have 2. check to see if they
have enough disk space. Check to see if they are using a non-
compatible computer, sound card or Operating System.
3) CHKDSK- This is your friend. Use it before you go any
further. If anything is wrong refer them to a technician. Do
not fix it for them for any reason. DOS 6.0 and above: Use
SCANDISK. If errors are found then run SPEEDDISK, DEFRAG or
some type of Speed Optimizer.
4) REINSTALL- Don't be afraid to use this. Especially if
they have to change memory setups or managers. You can
always copy their save game out to another directory before
you delete the game.
ULTIMA VII and SERPENT ISLE:
Config.sys
DEVICE=C:\DOS\HIMEM.SYS
DOS=HIGH
FILES=25
BUFFERS=25
Autoexec.bat
PATH=C:\DOS
PROMPT $P$G
MICROSOFT MOUSE DRIVER
1) Error message "remove your memory manager" (or something
like that)
A: boot disk and reinstall.
2) Error code "Temp 003$$$ not found" when trying to
save/load a game.
A: Check version, boot disk, reinstall if it doesn't work.
3) Any error code starting "Ox..."
A: Customer is trying to load an invalid save game. Most
commonly from Forge of Virtue or Serpent Isle. Something has
corrupted the save game file. It could be lost allocation
units or CHEAT codes.
4) Items disappearing from inventory
A: upgrade patch
5) Screen is completely red
A: upgrade patch
ULTIMA VII and SERPENT ISLE:
6) Lock up at Endgame.
A: Boot disk, check mouse version use a true MS Mouse
reboot the system and go to the Ultima7 prompt.
Type - COPY CON STATIC\ENDGAME.FLG {enter}
XX (enter)
(ctrl)(z)(enter)
Run the game. At the start up menu, there should be a "view
endgame" option. Pick this option instead of Journey Onward.
They should be able to see the endgame
7) Lock-up at Journey Onward
A: check their mouse driver, use a MS Driver.
8) Lock-up at the Test of Truth
A: The customer will need to go back to a previous savegame.
If they have gone this far in the test, they passed through
a moongate that you can not come aback through then do the
following:
When you are teleported into the test of truth you walk
south down a corridor and turn east to come into a large
room. In this room is a X made out of stones and if you
don't stay on the blue carpet when walking around,,
lightning will hit you. Once here go to the west side of
this from and walk into the corridor leading off to the
west. When you are walking down this corridor, you will see
a hood laying on the floor before you get to the first door.
Wen you get to the hood, turn north and walk through the
wall. Pick up the Talisman.
Serpent Isle and Black Gate are not compatible with disk
Compression. It will not run on a compressed drive. In
addition if you have Dblspace on your system you will not be
able to free up enough memory to play Serpent Isle with
sound.
ULTIMA - VIII
CONFIG.SYS
DEVICE=C:\DOS\HIMEM.SYS
DOS=HIGH
FILES=45
BUFFERS=40
SHELL=C:DOS\COMMAND.COM /P
AUTOEXEC.BAT
PROMPT $P$G
PATH=C:\DOS
MICROSOFT MOUSE DRIVER
SET COMSPEC=C:\DOS\COMMAND.COM
C:
CD ULTIMA8
U8
ULTIMA - VIII
1.Error #001
A: Not enough memory, Boot Disk
2.Error Code #1910
A: Bad Install, Files and Buffers too low, Boot Disk
3.Error Loading Command, System halted
A: non MS Mouse driver. Expand one from Windows diskettes #3
or #4
4.Error 286.333 Program Halted by Code
A: Boot Disk, Restart, Reinstall {copy saved games}
5.Endgame Lockup ; When at the grey pentagram the lightning
strikes all five pieces
A: Go to ULTIMA8> prompt and type PATCH GAMEDAT\NPCDATA.DAT
00E9 00 69A
6. Type U8 to go into game and all you get is a blank screen
A: IRQ Conflict
7. Give dagger to Vividos and screen won't quit shaking
A; IRQ Conflict
8. Talking to Stratos "The Air Titan" she picks me up and
won't put me down
A: IRQ Conflict
ULTIMA UNDERWORLD:
CONFIG.SYS
DEVICE=C:\DOS\HIMEM.SYS
DEVICE=C:\DOS\EMM386.EXE 1024 RAM
DOS=HIGH,UMB
FILES=25
BUFFERS=25
AUTOEXEC.BAT
PATH=C:\DOS
PROMPT $P$G
MOUSE DRIVER LINE
1) Error message "not enough EMS"
A: boot disk
2) Error message "Sound initialization failed".
A: Check setting for conflict and re-select by running
UWSOUND from UW directory. Boot disk, may be possible memory
problem.
3) Items disappearing, reduplicating in inventory, floating.
A: send patch disk. No more than 40 item in any bag. Not
even coins. Always have stats screen up when changing levels
or saving the game.
ULTIMA UNDERWORLD:
4) Disk 2 loops
A: Check for SHARE.EXE, if found delete it.
UNDERWORLD II:
ABOVE FOR UW I ALSO APPLIES
1) Error code "A003"
A: DEFRAG, CHKDSK, boot disk, reinstall. You will not be
able to use old savegames.
2) Error code "A006"
A: Boot disk
3) Error code "Can't crunch Bad Obj.List"
A: Occurs if you kill liche on level 3 of Pits of Carnage.
Try to save game in different location, Otherwise use save
game from before killing liche and don't kill the liche.
4) Servants will not end strike, Nystall to sick to warm gem
stones.
A: send out patch disk.
5) Mors Gotha does not appear at end of game.
A: Released Air Demon in the wrong way- must place bottle in
center of pentagram and be in the pentagram yourself. Use
hand or sword to attack the bottle. Do not throw against the
wall.
UNDERWORLD I & II:
Patch Disk: Local BUS Video; Funny Colors
Corrupt OBJ LIST
Wing Commander II:
CONFIG.SYS
DEVICE=C:\DOS\HIMEM.SYS
DEVICE=C:\DOS\EMM386.EXE 1024 RAM
DOS=HIGH,UMB
FILES=20
BUFFERS=20
SHELL=C:\DOS\COMMAND.COM C:\DOS /P
1) No WC.EXE file
A: Reinstall game WITHOUT boot disk - but play WITH boot
disk.
2) Game crashes after the "I Will" statement.
A: Sound card IRQ conflict. Reset and re-select in install.
3) Keyboard Lockups
A: Wing II Patch
Wing Commander II:
4) Misc. Lockups (especially Speech lockups)
A: Boot Disk
B: Check IRQ Settings
5)Error Codes #1, #13, #16
A: Diskcopy A: A: (too check for bad disk)
STRIKE COMMANDER:
CONFIG.SYS
DEVICE=C:\DOS\HIMEM.SYS
DEVICE=C:\DOS\EMM386.EXE 2592 /X=E000-EFFF /I=B000-B7FF RAM
DOS=HIGH,UMB
FILES=30
BUFFERS=30
SHELL=C:\DOS\COMMAND.COM C:\DOS /P
{IF using Dblspace add)
DEVICEHIGH=C:\DOS\DBLSPACE.SYS /MOVE
AUTOEXEC.BAT
PATH=C:\DOS
PROMPT $P$G
MOUSE DRIVER
1) Error code #1910 or #1941
A: Boot disk and reinstall. May need new disks.
2) Install hangs on disk #8.
A: Usually a hardware incompatibility with IBM PS/1 or PS/2
and some Packard Bells. Try the boot disk, but it may not
work.
3) Cannot get more than 20% thrust, wing man shoots him
down, and pressing A ejects customer from cockpit. (You have
gone to the dark side)
A: CHEATER, reinstall
4) Joystick will not calibrate
A: Delete the file JOYA.DAT and JOYB.DAT if present from the
SC directory. TURBO down for calibration and TURBO up for
play. Make sure only one Joystick port is open on the
system. They may need a speed adjustable game card.
5) Asks for second joystick to be calibrated.
A: copy JOYA.DAT to JOYB.DAT
6) Errors ending in ffff (exclusion, reinstall. bad disks)
A: /x=e000-efff /i=b000-b7ff
B: OSI TEST may be bad disks
7) DOS 6.0 with doublespace
A: Load DEVICEHIGH c:\dos\dblspace.sys /more
Speech Pac:
1) Typed SPEECH to install, but dropped back to DOS.
A: try SPEECH -A <enter>
2) Not getting when talking to guys at base.
A: You will only get speech during flight and a copy of the
'cinematic sequences'.
Tac Operations:
1) Game crashes with an error code when trying to load a
previous save game from Strike Commander.
A: Send 'SAVEFIX' patch
STRIKE COMMANDER CD-ROM:
CONFIG.SYS
DEVICE=C:\DOS\HIMEM.SYS
DEVICE=C:\DOS\EMM386.EXE 3072 /X=E000-EFFF /I=B000-B7FF RAM
DOS=HIGH,UMB
FILES=30
BUFFERS=30
SHELL=C:\DOS\COMMAND.COM C:\DOS /P
{IF USING DBLSPACE ADD)
DEVICEHIGH=C:\DOS\DBLSPACE.SYS /MOVE
DEVICEHIGH = CD ROM DRIVER
AUTOEXEC.BAT
PATH=C:\DOS
PROMPT $P$G
MOUSE DRIVER
CD ROM DRIVER-DO NOT LOAD HIGH. SET M: TO 5 DON'T USE THE /E
SWITCH
D:
DIR
C:
CD\SC
SCCD
1) Big.Tre not found
A: Use the above Autoexec.bat. This will take them into the
CD ROM drive and do a directory. This will turn on the CD
ROM buffers and correct the problem
All other errors are the same as the disk version
PACIFIC STRIKE
CONFIG.SYS
DEVICE=C:\DOS\HIMEM.SYS
DEVICE=C:\DOS\EMM386.EXE 3072 RAM (USE 5120 8 MEG) (MUST BE
4120 TO HAVE DOS=HIGH,UMB
ENGINE SOUND)
FILES=30
BUFFERS=30
SHELL=C:\DOS\COMMAND.COM C:\DOS /P
{IFusing Dblspace add)
DEVICEHIGH=C:\DOS\DBLSPACE.SYS /MOVE
AUTOEXEC.BAT
NOTE: Install guide says " set comspec=c:\dos\command.com /p
" DO NOT USE THIS LINE
PATH=C:\DOS
PROMPT $P$G
MOUSE DRIVER
(ONCE GAME IS INSTALLED TO THE HARD DRIVE ADD:
LH C:\DOS\SMARTDRV.EXE 1024 C (2048 IF 8 MEG))
C:
CD PS
C:
PACIFIC
Same file #'s as STRIKE
Same Error Codes as STRIKE and WING COMMANDER
If you have memory Problems use and XMS boot disk
1) Game asks for disk A: or, disk _, or disk 11
A: go to drive letter, put disk #1 in drive and type INSTALL
9, when you come back to the prompt, type INSTALL again.
2) Error Code FE36-FFFF
A: Customer has finished the game but is still choosing
journey onward.
Tell them they are finished and to stop it.
PRIVATEER:
Boot disk same as Strike Commander
1) error code D002-FFFF when starting game.
A: IRQ conflict. Check setting and choose them in the
install screen (note) be sure to choose install with these
options not exit. If it will not work re-install.
2) Error code 1303-FFFF or any FFFF error code.
A: Boot disk, reinstall.
3) Bought turrets, but not getting view from it.
A: must buy guns for turret. F5 and F6 to view.
PRIVATEER:
4) error code "80E8-ffff"
A: If you already have 2 guns on a Galaxy ship and buy a
bottom turret first the game will crash. You must buy the
top turret first.
5) Got Steltek weapon, bit now their lost. ( and this big
Lima Bean ship is trying to kill them)
A: Go to any mining base other than Rygannon and talk to
Sandra Gooden in the bar.
6) Error Code #1910.
A: Files and Buffers too low, Boot Disk
Privateer CD:
Same boot disk as Strike Commander CD-ROM
Same error codes as Privateer on Disk.
Shadowcaster:
CONFIG.SYS
DEVICE=C:\DOS\HIMEM.SYS
DOS=HIGH
FILES=15
BUFFERS=15
AUTOEXEC.BAT
PATH=C:\DOS
PROMPT $P$G
MS MOUSE DRIVER ONLY
1) Black screen with blinking cursor in upper left corner.
A: non compatible mouse driver. Must be a MS driver.
2) Error message " Could not allocate for file buffer"
A: Boot disk
3) Game crashes with Mode 40 text covering screen.
A: They have changed memory managers. Boot disk and
reinstall.
4) Divide overflow errors when loading save game or automap
A: Bios problem (known with Pheonix 0.10 GLB01. et al).
Needs Bios Upgrade