posted 07-17- 03:25 PM               

This is REALLY off topic.

I recently got my hands on Aces over Europe but I can't run it because it requires EMS which my computer (Inspiron 3500 - Celeron 366/Win98) is not configured for. I clicked on properties for the program and it said that EMS wasn't available. I tried the standard trick, i.e. changing my config.sys file to include the lines,

device=c:\windows\himem.sys
device=c:\windows\emm386.exe ram

etc. but that didn't work; according to my computer, EMS just isn't available. This has already given me some grief when trying to run X-Wing (problem never resolved) and I foresee more of the same in the future when I get my hands on SWOTL.

Any suggestions from some of the more technically minded people in this forum?

posted 07-17- 05:52 PM               

When I clicked on PROPERTIES -> MEMORY for the AOE.EXE file, it said that my computer wasn't configured to use EMS in MS-DOS sessions! What the #$%@?!

Anyway, I'm scratching my head over this one.

And hoping that someone can help my untangle this Gordian knot.

posted 07-17- 06:37 PM            

Good luck!

mud

Thank You for Contacting Sierra Technical Support.

To run the Aces Collection in Windows95/98 you will need to make a system
disk that will temporarily change the memory environment to accommodate
older DOS games.

To do this, put a floppy diskette in the A: drive. Double-click on the My
Computer icon, then right-click on the icon marked 3 1/2" Floppy (A . In
the gray menu that appears, select format. In the Format window, select a
Full format, and from Other options (at the bottom of the window) choose
Copy system files and uncheck Display summary when finished. Click on the
Start button and give the formatting and file copying process a couple of
minutes to complete. When the disk is finished, close out all open windows.

At this point, go to the Start button on your taskbar, choose Programs, and
select Windows Explorer. In the View menu, go to the Options or Folder
Options selection. Click on Show All Files, and make sure any Hide File
Extensions options are not selected. Close Windows Explorer. Go again to
the Start button and go to Find, then select Files or Folders. In the Named
field of the Find All Files window, type MSDOS.SYS and make sure the Look In
field is set to the C: drive, then press Find Now. When the MSDOS.SYS file
appears, right-click on the icon for it. In the context menu, select Send
To, and then select 3 1/2" Floppy A:. Say yes to overwriting the existing
file.

Go to the Start button on your taskbar, go up to Programs, and select MS-DOS
Prompt. At the prompt, type A: and press ENTER. Then type EDIT
A:\CONFIG.SYS and press ENTER. On the blue screen type the following lines
as they appear here:
DEVICE=C:\windows\himem.sys
DEVICE=C:\windows\emm386.exe ram 3072 i=b000-b7ff
DOS=HIGH,UMB
FILES=20
BUFFERS=15
Go up to the File menu, select Save, then go again to File and select Exit.
Back at the DOS prompt, type EXIT and press ENTER to return to Windows.
Leave the disk in the floppy drive, go to Start, then Shut Down, and select
Restart the computer. When Windows95/98 comes up, it should be able to
provide a memory environment suitable for the Aces games.

If you have the two-CD Collection, follow the following steps as well.
-Right-click on Start, and choose Explore from the menu.
-Double-click on Programs on the right hand side.
-Double-click on Sierra.
-RIGHT-click on A10.
-Choose Properties from the Menu, click on Programs. In the CMD LINE change
it from:
C:\SIERRA\ACES\A10\GCD.COM #
to
C:\SIERRA\ACES\A10\A10CD.BAT
-Click on OK.

-Right-click on Aces of the Pacific
-Choose Properties from the Menu, click on Programs
-In the CMD LINE change it from:
C:\SIERRA\ACES\AOTP\GCD.COM #
to
C:\SIERRA\ACES\AOTP\AOTPCD.BAT
-Click on OK.

-Right-click on Aces Over Europe.
-Choose Properties from the Menu, click on Programs
-In the CMD LINE change it from:
C:\SIERRA\ACES\AOE\GCD.COM #
to
C:\SIERRA\ACES\AOE\AOECD.BAT
-Click on OK

-Right-click on Red Baron
-Choose Properties from the Menu, click on Programs
-In the CMD LINE change it from:
C:\SIERRA\ACES\REDBARON\GCD.COM #
to
C:\SIERRA\ACES\REDBARON\BARONCD.BAT
-Click on OK.

Close the Explorer and restart the computer.

The games should now all work from the icons.

If you require further assistance, please reply to this email and include
the entire chain of previous emails.

Dave J/Sierra Technical Support

-----Original Message-----
From: bgordon@qx.net [mailto:bgordon@qx.net]
Sent: Sunday, January 30, 2000 7:53 AM
To: simulations@sierra.com
Subject: email form:ACES OF THE PACIFIC

ACES OF THE PACIFIC
creative ensoniq audio PCI
Elsa Erazor II-TNT2 32 mb
more
custom system-AX6BC mainboard
P-II 400
Windows 98
Memory-256mb
Been trying to load this and aoe and the Baron for sometime now on this
system.Have tried everything I can think of but I don't know much about
memory management with WIN 98.I have these games on my old P-60 but I really
want them on this box.

Upon installing and trying to run the game I get "not enough available
memory" message.I've tried running from DOS,using a DOS editor to configure
Config.sys,but I don't know that much about it to be successful!

I feel there is bound to be a way to get these great classic games (which
taught everything I know about flight sims today!) to run on a WIN 98
system.

Any help you can offer would be greatly appreciated,I've enjoyed these games
for years and want to continue to do so!!

Thanks,
Bruce Gordon

posted 07-18- 08:43 AM               

Took a look at the game - it looks cool, reminded me alot of Red Baron (the first one). Saw the demo and it seems to be sort of like EAW only with less planes in the air.

However, a new problem has raised its ugly head - the joystick calibration seems to not be working! Anyone else have similar problems trying to use a joystick with AEO?