Microsoft Golf Trial Version README File November 1996 © Copyright Microsoft Corporation, 1996 ========================================================= This document provides late-breaking information and help on how to install and play the Microsoft Golf Trial Version. This Trial Version gives you a feel for the game play of the full retail version of Microsoft Golf 3.0. The Trial Version includes: * Three holes of play at Banff Springs * The ability to create and edit players * A multitude of club and shot type selections * Shot-by-shot commentary * Several different views including Top View and Green View * Play against another computer opponent * Online Help to give you game tips and answer questions The full retail version of Golf 3.0 includes all these features plus much more. NOTE Since the Golf Trial Version represents only a portion of what’s available in the full game, you will see some features described in online Help that are not available in the Trial Version. No product support is provided with the Golf Trial Version. To get news and product updates for Golf or other Microsoft games, check out our World Wide Web sites at http://www.microsoft.com/games/ and http://www.microsoft.com/sports/golf/. For the best readability, maximize this window. ========================================================= CONTENTS ========================================================= A. Hardware and System Requirements > Requirements > Improving Performance on Machines with 8 MB of RAM B. Installation > Installing the Golf Trial Version > Starting the Golf Trial Version > Troubleshooting the Golf Trial Version Setup C. Audio Troubleshooting D. Video Troubleshooting > Displaying 256 Colors > Resolving Other Video Driver Conflicts E. Photo Credits ========================================================= A. Hardware and System Requirements ========================================================= Requirements ========================================================= To play the Golf Trial Version, you need: * A 486/66 computer (Pentium 90 computer or better recommended) * Microsoft Windows 95 or Windows NT 3.51 or later operating system (will not run on earlier versions of Windows) * 8 MB of memory (RAM) (16 MB recommended) * 20 MB of available hard disk space * A sound board plus speakers or headphones to hear audio * A Microsoft Mouse or compatible pointing device * 256-color Super VGA monitor NOTE If you need to upgrade to Microsoft Windows 95 or Windows NT 3.51, see your local retailer. Improving Performance on Machines with 8 MB of RAM ================================================== If performance is slow on your computer with 8 MB of RAM, the following tips may help: * Close some of the Golf windows (for example, if both Main View and Green View are displayed, then close Green View). * Modify options in the Preferences, Display dialog box, such as: 1. Choose No for Draw Shadows. 2. Choose No for Texture Terrain. 3. Set Terrain Detail to minimum levels. When you turn off Texture Terrain and reduce the Terrain Detail levels, you affect the appearance of the course. Do this only if speed is more important than appearance. ========================================================= B. Installation ========================================================= Installing the Golf Trial Version ===================================== The Golf Trial Version is a self-installing file that automatically installs the Trial Version to the C:\Glf_Demo directory. Starting the Golf Trial Version ===================================== To start the Golf Trial Version: 1. Click the Start button on the Windows taskbar. 2. Point to Programs. 3. Point to Microsoft Games. 4. Click Golf 3.0 Demo. Troubleshooting the Golf Trial Version Setup ===================================== Below are the three most common errors encountered with the Golf Trial Version installation. Follow the instructions for each error message you encountered while trying to install, and then run Setup again. **An Intel 486 or higher processor** You must either upgrade to an Intel 486 or higher processor or switch to a computer with an Intel 486 or higher processor. **Windows 95 or Windows NT 3.51 or later** You must install Microsoft Windows 95 or Windows NT 3.51 or later. To purchase a Windows upgrade, see your local retailer. **A 256-color video driver (minimum 640 x 480 display resolution)** Microsoft Golf high-resolution golf courses require at least a 256-color video display. In most cases you need only install a 256-color video driver to get this display. You must have Windows 95 or Windows NT 3.51 or later to install the Trial Version. If you are using Windows NT 3.5, contact your retailer for an upgrade. For more information about video issues, see the section later in this document, Video Troubleshooting. ========================================================= C. Audio Troubleshooting ========================================================= If the Golf Trial Version does not play sound properly, first verify that: * You've correctly installed the Windows 95 or Windows NT sound drivers. * Your speakers are on and turned up. * The Windows 95 volume control is enabled and turned up and the Mute check box isn't selected. If the game still doesn't play sound properly, verify that Windows 95 can play .WAV files: 1. Quit Golf as well as any other programs that use sound. 2. On the Windows taskbar, click the Start button, point to Settings, and then click Control Panel. 3. Double-click the Sounds icon. 4. Under Events, click an event that has a loudspeaker icon next to it. 5. In the Name text box, be sure that the three-letter file extension is .WAV. 6. Under Preview, click the play button. You should hear a sound. If you don't hear any sound, or if Windows 95 is not able to play a .WAV file, check to see that a sound driver is enabled: 1. On the Windows taskbar, click the Start button, point to Settings, and then click Control Panel. 2. Double-click the System icon. 3. Click the Device Manager tab. 4. Click the plus sign next to Sound, Video and Game Controllers. If you don’t see this entry, or you have no sound card listed under this entry, contact the manufacturer of the computer or sound card and request help for reinstalling the sound card drivers. Some 8-bit sound cards may have difficulty playing the advanced sound effects packaged in Golf. To eliminate periodic or random freezes, try turning off the game's Background, Commentary, or All Other Sounds options in the Preferences dialog box. To turn these off, click the Options menu, choose Preferences, and select the Sound button; or, on the Welcome screen, click the More button, click Preferences, and then click the Sound button. ========================================================= D. Video Troubleshooting ========================================================= Displaying 256 Colors ========================================================= Your computer must display at least 256 colors to run the Golf Trial Version. If you don't have the necessary 256-color driver, or if you aren't sure that your video card supports 256 colors, contact your video-card manufacturer. To display 256 colors in Windows 95: 1. On the Windows taskbar, click the Start button, point to Settings, and then click Control Panel. 2. Double-click the Display icon. 3. Click the Settings tab. 4. Under Color Palette, click 256 Color. 5. Click OK. To obtain Super VGA drivers: Download the SVGA drivers from the Microsoft Download Service (MSDL). These drivers work correctly on many video cards. The phone number for MSDL is (206) 936-6735. This service is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. The highest download speed available is 14,400 bits per second (bps). Each file is a compressed, self-extracting file. To obtain the file, download the file name SVGA.EXE. After you download the file, run it in an empty directory to extract the files it contains. Resolving Other Video Driver Conflicts ======================================= General Video Driver Notes If you install different video drivers after installing the Golf Trial Version, this may change the performance of the game. If you experience distorted colors, ghosting, or other irregular video problems, you should consult the DISPLAY.TXT or README.TXT packaged with Windows 95 or Windows NT 3.51/4.0 for hardware-specific display problems. Most video problems can be resolved by updating the operating system's display drivers. Consult your OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer) for a possible display-driver upgrade. Some systems may have display problems when using incorrect or generic Windows video drivers. Be sure you have installed the correct video driver for your video card. To determine which driver is being used, do the following: For Windows NT 3.51, double-click Windows Setup in the Main group. For Windows 95 or Windows NT 4.0: 1. Click the Start button, point to Settings, and then click Control Panel. 2. Double-click the Display icon. 3. Click the Settings tab. 4. Click Display Type, or for Windows 95 click Change Display Type, and note the Adapter Type displayed. Contact your video-card manufacturer for verification of the latest video driver and for information about obtaining the latest driver. ========================================================= E. Photo Credits ========================================================= Microsoft gratefully acknowledges the contributions of the following photographers to Microsoft Golf: Dave Cannon Sean Ellis Gary Holscher David Madison Jo McBride Lori Adamski Peek Ron Sangha Tony Stone Images Leonard Kamsler Photography