DRAG RACE ELIMINATOR for IBM PC and compatibles
(c) 1988 Family Software
3164 Surrey Lane
Aston, PA 19014
INSTRUCTIONS FOR TANDY COMPUTERS
================================
Tandy computers (available from Radio Shack) are not 100% hardware
compatible with IBM machines, so some differences in program operation must be
observed. First, to load this program on a Tandy machine, you must run the
batch file called TANDYTX.BAT rather than the filename given in the printed
instructions. Start by loading DOS in the regular manner, then at the prompt,
type TANDYTX and press ENTER. This is necessary because the video hardware
used by Tandy will not be recognized as a true Color Graphics Adapter (CGA).
A warning message to this effect will appear on the screen and for the most
part can be ignored.
Keyboard operation is also slightly different. After shifting gears
with either the CTRL or ALT key, the throttle (controlled by the SHIFT keys)
must be released and then pressed again in order to maintain acceleration.
This extra motion can effect your Elapsed Time (ET) and beating the computer
car will be extremely difficult. For this reason, we recommend that joysticks
be used with this program on all Tandy computers.
Finally, when selecting a joystick mode of operation on Tandy 1000EX,
1000SX, and 1000TX machines, you must have a joystick attached to the
computer for each player. Then the keyboard or joystick may be used. But,
if no joysticks are attached, you MUST select a KEYBOARD ONLY mode of
operation.
ERROR MESSAGES
==============
Drag Race Eliminator must have access to several files on the game
disk, therefore, the disk must be kept in the current drive at all times.
In the case of using a hard disk, the sub-directory containing these
program files must be the current directory. If one of these files is
missing, a FATAL ERROR (1002-1008) will be reported and the program will
terminate. FATAL ERROR 1001 reports that not enough RAM exists to support
the program. In this instance, try removing any resident programs that
may exist. The program requires at least 96K of FREE RAM in order to run.
Please note that the IBM PC Jr does not have 128K of FREE RAM. Unlike other
members of the PC family of computers, the Jr sets aside 16-32K of user RAM
for the screen display and also some for the operating system.
WARNING MESSAGES
================
If you choose a mode that requires joysticks and a game adapter is
not present, you will be warned and given the chance to abort the load. If
you do not have a game adapter installed in your machine, you MUST select
a keyboard only mode of game play. This game also requires a Color Graphics
Adapter (CGA) or compatible graphics card. If a usable graphics mode can
not be set due to a missing graphics adapter you will be warned of this fact.
HARD DISK INSTALLATION
======================
The programs on this copy protected diskette may be installed onto a
hard disk drive. PROVIDED THE HARD DISK IS DRIVE C. When you run the
INSTALL program, you transfer all of the files on your program diskette
onto a sub-directory of your hard disk. Then, the protected files are
installed so that they will operate properly. The programs may only
be installed TWO (2) times, however. Each time you install the program,
a counter on the diskette keeps track of the count. If you try to
install the program more than the maximum number of times, you will
be told:
THIS PROGRAM HAS ALREADY BEEN INSTALLED THE MAXIMUM
NUMBER OF TIMES.
When this happens, it may not be installed again until you UNINSTALL the
program on one or more hard disks. Everytime you uninstall the program
on the hard disk, you reset the counter one count. You cannot use a
program once it has been uninstalled. To use the program again, you
must reinstall it.
It is important that the files be installed in a separate sub-
directory. Many programs will have one or more files of the same name,
such as "setup". Copying a file under MS or PC-DOS replaces any files
by the same name. This means that trying to install more than one program
in a directory will likely erase a file that is already there.
TO INSTALL YOUR PROGRAM:
Turn on your computer and wait for the
C>
prompt. Type "A:" and press the ENTER key. Make sure the write protect
tab has been removed from your program diskette and insert it into drive
A. Your prompt should look like this:
A>
Now type "INSTALL" then the name you want for your sub-directory (remember
it must be eight (8) characters or less) then press ENTER. For example,
if you want to call the sub-directory "DRAGS", you would type:
INSTALL DRAGS
and press the ENTER key. The INSTALL program will put some instructions
on the screen. When you have finished reading the instructions, press
any key and the program will display the second and last page of
instructions. When you have read that, press any key again and the
INSTALL program will create your sub-directory, switch to it, copy
the files on your program diskette to the sub-directory, and finally
install the protected files. To return to the main directory, type:
C:\
To return to the new sub-directory (if you named it "DRAGS" type:
CD C:\DRAGS
and press the ENTER key.
NOTE: YOU DO NOT HAVE TO INSTALL YOUR PROGRAM AS A SUB-DIRECTORY OF YOUR
ROOT DIRECTORY. YOU CAN INSTALL IT AS A SUB-DIRECTORY OF ANOTHER SUB-
DIRECTORY. TO DO THIS, HOWEVER, YOU MUST USE THE COMPLETE PATH NAME
LIKE THIS:
INSTALL C:\GAMES\DRAGS
Drag Race Eliminator expects all of its files to be located in the
current working directory. Therefore, in order to run the program, you
must first select the sub-directory where the program has been installed.
In the examples above, you would type:
CD C:\DRAGS or CD C:\GAMES\DRAGS
After you have selected the proper sub-directory, type DRAGS and press the
ENTER key to execute the program.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
* CAUTION! These copy protected files cannot be "backed up" from the *
* hard drive with the transient DOS BACKUP command. So, *
* prior to using BACKUP, the program MUST be UNINSTALLED. *
* Failure to do so will result in the loss of one install. *
* To UNINSTALL the program read below. *
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
TO UNINSTALL YOUR PROGRAM:
If you need to UNINSTALL your program, to put it on another hard
disk, for example, here is how to do it:
First, turn on your computer and wait until you see the
C>
prompt. Next, you will need to change to the sub-directory which contains
the program to be uninstalled. In the above example, the sub-directory
was "DRAGS". To uninstall the files in that sub-directory you would enter:
CD C:\DRAGS
Find your original program diskette and place it in drive A and type:
A:UNINSTAL
and press ENTER. Note that we entered the word "UNINSTAL" not "UNINSTALL".
The computer will now uninstall the protected files in that sub-directory.
The copyprotected files in that directory will no longer function and you
will be told how many installs you have left.
REINSTALLING YOUR FILES:
All of the program files remain in the sub-directory after being uninstalled.
You can REINSTALL them at any time. To reinstall them you must have the
sub-directory open which contains the files to be installed. To do this
enter:
CD C:\DRAGS
Then change the active drive to drive A like this:
A:
Now you are ready to actually reinstall your protected programs. All that
remains to do is to enter:
12
The computer screen will tell you that the protected files are being
installed and the number of times you can still install the program.
NOTE: SOME PEOPLE WORRY THAT INSTALLING PROGRAM FILES CAN IN SOME WAY
INJURE THEIR HARD DISK. REST ASSURED THAT AS LONG AS YOU INSTALL EACH
PROGRAM IN ITS OWN SUB-DIRECTORY IT IS NOT POSSIBLE TO HARM ANYTHING ELSE
ON YOUR HARD DISK.
PROBLEMS LOADING
================
It is possible to have a problem loading your program. If you tried
loading from drive A, try loading from drive B. If it loads from one
drive but not the other, you may have a problem with the disk drive itself.
If it still fails, first make sure nothing happened to the disk during
shipment. Take the program to your dealer and try loading it on one of
their IBM PC computers. If it loads OK you know you have a good copy
of the program. If it fails to load on your dealer's IBM PC, return
your copy of the program for an exchange.
If the program loads on your dealer's IBM PC but not on your computer,
note the brand of your computer. If it is not an IBM brand computer,
try loading IBM PC DOS (as opposed to your manufacture's brand of MS-DOS.
Then try loading the program. Although we have made every effort to
produce a product which works on all machines and versions of DOS, it
IS possible that some 'compatibles' may not be! NOTE: We know that
this program is compatible will all major 'compatibles' and versions of
DOS. If the program loads under IBM PC DOS but not under your DOS, it
will probably be necessary to use that version of DOS with your program.
If your computer is not a true 'clone' try booting the program with
MS-DOS 2.11.
