Siege of Avalon - Support

<body background="images/Borders/Parch2.jpg" topmargin="0" leftmargin="0"> <blockquote> <p><b>This page uses frames, but your browser doesn't support them. The display below should give you basic access to much of the same information normally included in the Framed version of this page.</b></p> </blockquote> <table border="0" width="100%"> <tr> <td colspan="2"> <p><a href="http://www.siege-of-avalon.com" target="_top"><img border="0" src="images/Borders/Gallery/SOALogo.jpg" width="194" height="152"></a><img border="0" src="images/Borders/Support/Support_Graphic.jpg" width="434" height="152"><img border="0" src="images/Borders/Gallery/DTlogo.jpg" width="132" height="152"></p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td valign="top"> <table border="0" width="135" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0"> <tr> <td width="112" bgcolor="#330000"> <table border="0" width="75" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" height="204"> <tr> <td width="75" bgcolor="#330000" height="204"><img src="images/Borders/Gallery/Borders/ButtonBord.jpg" width="33" height="208"></td> <td width="75" bgcolor="#330000" valign="top" height="204"><a href="gallery/GalleryPage.htm" target="_top" onmouseover="window.status='Gallery of art and images' ; 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return true" onmouseout="window.status='Siege of Avalon' ; return true"><img name="Story" border="0" src="images/Nav/Story_Sm.jpg" alt="The story of Siege" width="39" height="23"></a><a href="Support.htm" target="_top" onmouseover="window.status='Support, Hints, Help' ; return true" onmouseout="window.status='Siege of Avalon' ; return true"><img name="Support" border="0" src="images/Nav/Support_Sm.jpg" alt="Support, Hints, Help" width="50" height="23"></a><a href="FAQ.htm" target="_top" onmouseover="window.status='Frequently Asked Questions' ; return true" onmouseout="window.status='Siege of Avalon' ; return true"><img name="Frequently Asked Questions" border="0" src="images/Nav/FAQ_Sm.jpg" alt="Frequently Asked Questions" width="43" height="23"></a><a href="Update.htm" target="_top" onmouseover="window.status='Get free Game Updates' ; return true" onmouseout="window.status='Siege of Avalon' ; return true"><img name="Update" border="0" src="images/Nav/Update_Sm.jpg" alt="Get free Game Updates" width="46" height="23"></a><a href="ezine/EzinePage.htm" target="_top" onmouseover="window.status='Heart of Avalon E-Zine' ; return true" onmouseout="window.status='Siege of Avalon' ; return true"><img name="E-zine" border="0" src="images/Nav/E-zine_Sm.jpg" alt="Heart of Avalon E-Zine" width="47" height="23"></a></td> </tr> </table> <table border="0" width="108" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" height="648"> <tr> <td valign="top" height="139"><img border="0" src="images/Borders/LBorder3.jpg" width="108" height="206"></td> </tr> <tr> <td width="100%" background="images/Borders/LBorder4.jpg" height="509" valign="top"> </td> </tr> </table> </td> <td width="100%" background="images/Borders/Parch.jpg"> </td> </tr> </table> </td> <td valign="top"> <div align="left"> <table width="580" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" border="0" align="left">  <tr>  <td align="left" width="600"><center><a name="top" target="_self"><b><font face="Garamond"><font size="+3">D</font><font size="+2">igital </font><font size="+3">T</font><font size="+2">ome </font><font size="+3">G</font><font size="+2">ame </font><font size="+3">S</font><font size="+2">ystem </font><font size="+3">T</font><font size="+2">echnical </font><font size="+3">S</font><font size="+2">upport </font><font size="+3">FAQ</font></font></b></a> <blockquote> <p><font face="Garamond"><a href="#Install" target="_self">Installation</a> | <a href="#Crashes" target="_self">Crash or Lockup</a> | <a href="#video" target="_self">Video Problems</a> | <a href="#noinstall" target="_self">Installation Problems</a> | <a href="#sound" target="_self">Sound Problems</a> | <a href="#directx" target="_self">DirectX & Driver Problems</a> | <a href="#standard" target="_self">Standard Troubleshooting</a> | <a href="#incompat" target="_self">Incompatibilities</a></font></center></p> </blockquote> <p><font face="Garamond">  <b>O</b>ther resources: <a href="Support.htm" target="_top">Main Support</a> and <a href="Supportframe.htm#ContactUs" target="_self">Contacts</a>, and General <a href="FAQ.htm" target="_top">FAQ</a></font></p> <table border="0" width="100%" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"> <tr> <td width="50%" bgcolor="#330000"><b><a name="SystemRequirements" target="_self"><font color="#EBDDA3" size="+1" face="Garamond">System Requirements</font></a></b></td> <td width="50%"></td> </tr> </table> <ul> <li> <p align="left"><font face="Garamond">Windows 95/98/ME/XP</font></li> <li> <p align="left"><font face="Garamond">Pentium-II 450MHz is MINIMUM, P3-550 or better suggested</font></li> <li> <p align="left"><font face="Garamond">64 Meg system RAM minimum, 128 Meg or more highly suggested</font></li> <li> <p align="left"><font face="Garamond">800 x 600 monitor and video card, with 16-bit (65,535) color and 4Meg Video Ram, AGP port suggested.</font></li> <li> <p align="left"><font face="Garamond"><a href="http://www.microsoft.com/directx/homeuser/downloads/default.asp" target="_blank">DirectX-8.1</a> compatible video and sound card.</font></li> <li> <p align="left"><font face="Garamond">Stereo sound card, mouse, etc...</font></li> </ul> <table border="0" width="100%" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"> <tr> <td width="50%" bgcolor="#330000"><b><a name="Install" target="_self"><font color="#EBDDA3" size="+1" face="Garamond">Installation</font></a></b></td> <td width="50%"> <p align="right"><a href="#top" target="_self"><font color="#EBDDA3" face="Garamond">Back to Top</font></a></p> </td> </tr> </table> <p align="left"><font face="Garamond">This game uses a standard Windows SETUP program. Simply follow the download instructions then execute the provided installation program. Remember these points:</font> <ol> <li><font face="Garamond">Before installing any sizable game it is a <i>very</i>  good idea to run SCANDISK (in <i>Thorough</i>  mode, with <i>Automatically Fix Errors</i>  enabled) and DEFRAG so that the game receives the best starting environment.</font> <li><font face="Garamond">Remember where your download has been installed. Some Download Managers provide a easy listing of files recently downloaded.</font></li> <li><font face="Garamond">Before starting any download PLEASE select and use a good <b>Download Manager</b>. Click <a href="FreeCH1.htm#Download Manager" target="_blank">HERE</a> for some relevant information.</font></li> <li><font face="Garamond">Be sure other Windows program are not running while the setup is active.</font> <li><font face="Garamond">Double click the <b>Setup</b> icon (the name for Chapter 1 is SoACH1b.EXE).</font> <li><font face="Garamond">Follow the on-screen instructions.</font></li> </ol> <font face="Garamond"><b>Installing DirectX:</b> This game uses Microsoft's DirectX. If you do not already have the most current version installed on your computer then you must install it now or the game will not run. The needed files are available <i>free</i>  from Microsoft here:</font> <p><font face="Garamond">  <a href="http://www.microsoft.com/directx/homeuser/downloads/default.asp" target="_blank">http://www.microsoft.com/directx/homeuser/downloads/default.asp</a></font></p> <p><font face="Garamond"><b>Uninstall</b> Should you ever need to remove <i>Siege of Avalon</i> from your computer, just follow these steps:</font></p> <ol> <li><font face="Garamond">Click on the Windows <b>Start</b> button</font> <li><font face="Garamond">Select <b>Programs</b></font> <li><font face="Garamond">Select <b>Digital Tome</b></font> <li><font face="Garamond">Select <b>Siege of Avalon</b></font></li> <li><font face="Garamond">Select <b>Uninstall Siege</b>.</font></li> <li><font face="Garamond">Use Windows Explorer to delete the base path of the game to remove any remaining files. Use <i>extreme caution</i> in this step, if done wrong you'll remove a lot you should not.</font></li> </ol> <table border="0" width="100%" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"> <tr> <td width="50%" bgcolor="#330000"><b><a name="Crashes" target="_self"><font color="#EBDDA3" size="+1" face="Garamond">Crash or Lockup</font></a></b></td> <td width="50%"> <p align="right"><a href="#top" target="_self"><font color="#EBDDA3" face="Garamond">Back to Top</font></a></p> </td> </tr> </table> <p><b><font face="Garamond">"The game locks up or crashes at the same points (usually when trying to start the game)."</font></b></p> <blockquote> <p><font face="Garamond">So far  we've traced almost <b>every</b> crash/hang to one of these causes:</font> <ol> <li><font face="Garamond">Failing to enter a valid Private Serial Number (Registration Key) for EVERY downloaded game Chapter (excluding the free Chapter 1) that you have installed on your computer (even if you are not yet playing that Chapter). The various CD versions of the game do not require a Serial Number (the one exception was the "Starter CD," but that product is now out of circulation). If you apply a Download Chapter Update to a CD product then you just broke the game, see our <a href="Update.htm" target="_top">Update</a> for more details and reinstall the game from the CD.<br> </font></li> <li><font face="Garamond">Cache dirty, use the "Configure Game" tool (in the same program group where you launch the game, see our <a href="help/ConfigGame.html" target="_self">FAQ</a> in the <a href="Support.htm" target="_top">support</a> page if you need more help) and select <b>Purge Cache</b>. On some versions of the game the "Use Cache" may already be disabled, in which case the Purge Cache is not needed.<br> </font></li> <li><font face="Garamond">Problems with Movie Player. If you have a game CD (or have downloaded the game movie add-on) then the game will try to play an opening movie. You can disable the movie player to determine if there is any conflict by using the "Configure Game" tool to disable (un-check) the "Play Intro Movie" option.<br> </font></li> <li><font face="Garamond">Video Driver settings or driver conflict, including the Windows Accelerator settings (this may be the most common source of conflict, and is very easy to resolve). Using Direct-X versions 7.0 or 8.0 instead of 7.0a or 8.0a (or better). Our <a href="help/Win95_Video.html" target="_self">FAQs</a> cover this.<br> </font></li> <li><font face="Garamond">Sound Driver setting or driver conflict, especially relating to the use of DirectSound (either in our <a href="help/ConfigGame.html" target="_self">Configure Game</a> tool or in the <a href="help/Win95_Sound.html" target="_self">DXDiag</a> DirectSound settings). Our <a href="Support.htm" target="_top">FAQs</a> go through this in detail. If you do not test the impact of changing these settings then you can not know if this is the cause of your problem. If you change any settings and it does not help then restore the settings to their prior value before proceeding.<br> </font></li> <li><font face="Garamond">Disk drive needs maintenance. Run SCANDISK (in <i>Thorough</i>  mode, with <i>Automatically Fix Errors</i>  enabled) and DEFRAG. If any errors are reported you may need to install the game again to repair damaged/missing files. Also note how much free disk space you have on the drive holding the game, you can use the "Configure Game" tool to lower how much disk space is used for the game cache.<br> </font></li>  </ol> <p><font face="Garamond">Follow this list in order, starting with the first step above. Please actually try the suggested changes before dismissing them.</font> </blockquote> <p><b><font face="Garamond">Game freezes on a Black Screen or quits back to the Windows Desktop without any error message</font></b> <ul> <font face="Garamond">There are several possible causes for this problem. For details on steps that you can take to get the game running, please see our <a href="help/Win95_Video.html" target="_self">Windows Video Troubleshooting FAQ</a>.</font> </ul> <b><font face="Garamond">"The game locks up or crashes randomly throughout the game."</font></b> <ul> <font face="Garamond">This is usually the result of other applications conflicting with the game. For details on how to fix random lockups and crashes, please see our <a href="help/Win95_Gen.html" target="_self">Windows General Troubleshooting FAQ</a>.</font> </ul> <p> </p> <table border="0" width="100%" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"> <tr> <td width="50%" bgcolor="#330000"><b><a name="Video" target="_self"><font color="#EBDDA3" size="+1" face="Garamond">Video Problems</font></a></b></td> <td width="50%"> <p align="right"><a href="#top" target="_self"><font color="#EBDDA3" face="Garamond">Back to Top</font></a></p> </td> </tr> </table> <p><b><font face="Garamond">"The colors, textures, and/or objects in the game don't display correctly."</font></b> <ul> <font face="Garamond">Make sure that you have installed DirectX version 7.0a or 8.0a or higher on your system before playing (Note: 7.0 and 8.0 will not work reliably with <i>Siege of Avalon</i>). Be sure you have read the other Video FAQs on this site (like Windows Accelerator setting). If you have already done this and the problem occurs anyway, then you'll need to update your video card drivers with the latest versions available from the manufacturer. For more information about DirectX, please see our <a href="help/directx.html" target="_self">DirectX Frequently Asked Questions</a>. To learn how to update your video card drivers, refer to our <a href="help/upddrivers.html" target="_self">How to Update your Drivers FAQ</a>.</font> </ul> <b><font face="Garamond">"There are black boxes or little horizontal lines all over the screen."</font></b> <ul> <font face="Garamond">Turn down video hardware acceleration in Windows. Windows acceleration may be conflicting with DirectX. If this doesn't work, update your video card drivers. To learn how to adjust Windows video hardware acceleration, refer to our <a href="help/Win95_Video.html" target="_self">Windows Video Troubleshooting FAQ</a>. To learn how to update your video card drivers, refer to our <a href="help/upddrivers.html" target="_self">How to Update your Drivers FAQ</a>.</font> </ul> <p><b><font face="Garamond">"The game seems too slow on my computer."</font></b></p> <blockquote> <p><font face="Garamond">There can be various causes, including: not meeting all the system requirement specifications, other applications active or in memory, need to lower Windows Video Accelerator or DirectX Sound Accelerator, or perhaps you need to tune some advanced game features. You can find detailed information on these issues in these FAQs: <a href="help/Win95_Video.html" target="_self">Windows Video Driver FAQ</a>, <a href="help/directx.html" target="_self">Direct-X FAQ</a>, and <a href="help/ConfigGame.html" target="_self">Configure Game tool</a>.</font></p> </blockquote>   <table border="0" width="100%" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"> <tr> <td width="50%" bgcolor="#330000"><b><a name="noinstall" target="_self"><font color="#EBDDA3" size="+1" face="Garamond">Installation Problems</font></a></b></td> <td width="50%"> <p align="right"><a href="#top" target="_self"><font color="#EBDDA3" face="Garamond">Back to Top</font></a></p> </td> </tr> </table> <p><b><font face="Garamond">"The game starts to install, but then stops partway through."</font></b></p> <ul> <font face="Garamond">There are several possible solutions to this problem. Please see our <a href="help/Win95_Gen.html" target="_self">Windows General Troubleshooting FAQ</a> for details.</font> </ul>   <table border="0" width="100%" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"> <tr> <td width="50%" bgcolor="#330000"><b><a name="sound" target="_self"><font color="#EBDDA3" size="+1" face="Garamond">Sound Problems</font></a></b></td> <td width="50%"> <p align="right"><a href="#top" target="_self"><font color="#EBDDA3" face="Garamond">Back to Top</font></a></p> </td> </tr> </table> <p><b><font face="Garamond">"I can't hear any sound or music in the game."</font></b> <ul> <ol> <li><font face="Garamond">Make sure that your speakers are turned on and any volume controls on them are turned up.</font> <li><font face="Garamond">Check your Windows volume settings by clicking on the small yellow speaker icon on your taskbar.</font> <li><font face="Garamond">If you are running on Windows NT or Windows 2000 then we do not guarantee the playability of this game, and sound won't work reliably.</font></li> <li><font face="Garamond">Check to make sure that the options for sound and music are not set to minimum volume in the "options" submenu of the main game menu.</font></li> </ol> <font face="Garamond">If none of the steps above work, then make sure you have installed DirectX version 7.0a or 8.0a or the latest version available from Microsoft. If you have already tried this too, then you'll need to update your sound card drivers to the latest version available from the manufacturer. For more information about DirectX, please see our <a href="help/directx.html" target="_self">DirectX Frequently Asked Questions.</a> To learn how to update your video card Drivers, refer to our <a href="help/upddrivers.html" target="_self">How to Update your Drivers FAQ</a>. For additional sound help see <a href="help/Win95_Sound.html" target="_self">Windows Sound Troubleshooting FAQ</a>.</font> </ul>   <table border="0" width="100%" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"> <tr> <td width="50%" bgcolor="#330000"><b><a name="directx" target="_self"><font color="#EBDDA3" size="+1" face="Garamond">DirectX & Driver Problems</font></a></b></td> <td width="50%"> <p align="right"><a href="#top" target="_self"><font color="#EBDDA3" face="Garamond">Back to Top</font></a></p> </td> </tr> </table> <ul> <font face="Garamond">This game uses Microsoft's DirectX for all graphics and sound effects. It cannot run properly unless DirectX version 7.0a or 8.0a or higher is installed on your computer. It may also exhibit problems if the video card and/or sound card in your computer are not 100% DirectX 7.0a (or DirectX 8.0a) compliant. Re-install DirectX from the Microsoft download site, then reboot your computer and try playing the game again. For instructions, see the section near the top of this document labeled "<i>DirectX Installation</i>". If the problem still occurs, then you'll need to update your video and/or sound card drivers with the latest versions available from the manufacturer. For more information on this topic and contact information on a wide variety of hardware vendors, please see our <a href="help/upddrivers.html" target="_self">How to Update your Drivers FAQ</a>.</font> </ul>   <table border="0" width="100%" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"> <tr> <td width="50%" bgcolor="#330000"><b><a name="standard" target="_self"><font color="#EBDDA3" size="+1" face="Garamond">Standard Troubleshooting</font></a></b></td> <td width="50%"> <p align="right"><a href="#top" target="_self"><font color="#EBDDA3" face="Garamond">Back to Top</font></a></p> </td> </tr> </table> <p><b><font face="Garamond">"I've encountered a problem that was not mentioned in this document."</font></b> <ul> <ol> <li><font face="Garamond">Make sure that your system meets the minimum system requirements as listed at the <a href="#SystemRequirements" target="_self">top of this document.</a> If your system does not meet or exceed the minimum requirements, it will run poorly, or not at all.</font> <li><font face="Garamond">Shut down all other programs that you may have running on your system prior to playing  Siege of Avalon. Other programs, especially music players and video/multimedia presentations can interfere with the operation of the game. For detailed instructions on shutting down all of your other applications, please see our <a href="help/Win95_Gen.html" target="_self">Windows General Troubleshooting FAQ</a>.</font> <li><font face="Garamond">Try uninstalling, and then re-installing the game.</font></li> </ol> </ul> <table border="0" width="100%" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"> <tr> <td width="50%" bgcolor="#330000"><b><a name="incompat" target="_self"><font color="#EBDDA3" size="+1" face="Garamond">Incompatibilities</font></a></b></td> <td width="50%"> <p align="right"><a href="#top" target="_self"><font color="#EBDDA3" face="Garamond">Back to Top</font></a></p> </td> </tr> </table> <p><b><font face="Garamond">"What other things on my computer might be incompatible with this game?"</font></b></p> <blockquote> <p><font face="Garamond">We have not had time yet to directly confirm these reports, but we've been told that X-Drive and the Heat NavBar may both be incompatible with our current game engine.</font></p> <p><font face="Garamond">On some computer peripherals (especially video and sound cards) it can be extremely urgent that the very most current drivers be properly installed, the most current version of Direct-X installed, and your Acceleration Settings for these items properly set. See the other questions above for links to our <a href="Supportframe.htm" target="_self">FAQ</a> pages that provide greater detail on each of these matters.</font></p> </blockquote> <p><b><font face="Garamond"><img src="images/Heds/transpot.gif" width="430" height="1" border="0"></font></b><center><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" size="-1"> <hr width="20%"> </font><font face="Garamond"><a href="Supportframe.htm#ContactUs" onmouseover="window.status='How to contact us' ; return true" onmouseout="window.status='Siege of Avalon' ; return true" target="_self"><font size="1">Contact us</font></a><font size="1">, or see <a href="javascript:open_window('http://www.siege-of-avalon.com/legal.htm')" onmouseover="window.status='Copyright and Legal notices' ; return true" onmouseout="window.status='Siege of Avalon' ; return true" target="_self">Copyright</a> and <a href="javascript:open_window('http://www.siege-of-avalon.com/privacy.htm')" onmouseover="window.status='Privacy Policy' ; return true" onmouseout="window.status='Siege of Avalon' ; return true" target="_self">Privacy</a> notices</font></font></center></td> </tr> </table> </div> </td> </tr> </table> </body>