Links Extreme README.TXT 5/1/99
Visit our websites for further updates and information about Links Extreme
at http://www.linksextreme.com
1. PRODUCT SUPPORT FOR LINKS EXTREME
If you are having problems with Links Extreme, please use the Manual,
or the On-Line Help before calling our product support department.
We have tried to cover a broad range of potential questions and problems.
Try the HINTS and TIPS section, the FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS section,
and the TROUBLE SHOOTING and TECHNICAL SUPPORT section.
If you can't find answers to your problems in the On-Line Help you can
contact us for technical support over the web at:
http://support.microsoft.com/support/games
or by phone at:
In the U.S.: (800) 793-8324 (6:00 A.M. - 6:00 P.M. Pacific time)
In Canada: (425) 635-7178 (6:00 A.M. - 6:00 P.M. Pacific time)
Please see help for more information about our product support policies
and contact numbers outside of North America.
2. AUTOMATIC CRASH RECOVERY
To make sure that any crash is fully recoverable, Links Extreme has a built-in
Automatic (Emergency) Save feature. The last two games you were playing,
whether terminated normally or not, are saved as LASTGAME and
OLDLAST. You can resume either of these games by simply clicking on
the RESUME button in the middle of the Links Extreme main menu screen. If a
crash occurs, simply restart Links Extreme as usual. When the game starts, it
will recognize that an abnormal termination occurred and will ask you if
you want to resume the previous game. If you say YES, it will automatically
resume LASTGAME. If you say NO, you can still re-enter the game later by
clicking the RESUME button and then selecting LASTGAME from the list of
saved games. Of course, if you start a new game, it will take the place of
LASTGAME and LASTGAME will take the place of OLDLAST. The
previous version of OLDLAST will be erased.
If resuming your LASTGAME continues to crash, try restarting Windows.
3. RUNNING OTHER APPLICATIONS WITH LINKS EXTREME
Due to the requirements the Links Extreme imposes on your system, it is not
recommended that you run any applications in the background while Links
Extreme is running. This may cause the program to not run smoothly or even
cause errors.
4. MASTER VOLUME UNDER WINDOWS NT
The Direct Sound component of DirectX does not allow the setting of the
master volume for the individual games. To adjust the overall sound in
the game you must adjust it with the volume levels in the Multimedia
applet in Control Panel.
5. NOTES FROM MICROSOFT DIRECTX 6 - DXREADME.TXT DATED 7/27/98
- The latest drivers for US Robotics modems can cause problems hosting
a session. This is a bug in the drivers.
- Disconnecting the phone line while enumerating modem sessions can
result in lock ups.
6. PROBLEMS WITH IPX PLAY WITH DIRECTX THROUGH VERSION 6.1
All versions of DirectX through DX6.1 do not guarantee the delivery of
IPX data. This is a problem that may be fixed in a future version of
DirectX. We have chosen to leave in the IPX method of playing Links
Extreme for those that have no other method of network play.
7. HARDWARE/SOFTWARE CONFLICT ISSUES
Symptoms: - When I run Setup.exe on my system, which has Microsoft Outlook 98
running and is connected to a Microsoft Exchange Server, the
setup initialization reaches 100%, but then nothing happens. If
I wait a long time, the first dialog box appears and the
installation proceeds normally.
Cause : - This problem occurs due to some timing issues between Setup.exe
and the Microsoft Exchange Server.
Solution: - Close Outlook 98 before running Setup.exe. Generally, you should
not have any other applications running when you run an
installation.
Symptoms: - Washed out display
- Mouse cursor vanishing at odd times
Cause : - Incompatible or outdated video drivers.
Solution: - Update your video drivers.
Symptoms: - No MIDI music, even when enabled.
Cause : - Incorrectly configured MIDI.
Solution: - Reinstall/upgrade sound drivers.
Cause : - MIDI does not work correctly on some NT systems.
Solution: - No solution known.
Symptoms: - Desire to whack anyone playing banjo with golf ball.
- Course marshalls bar you from local course for attaching
fishing line to opponent's golf balls and attaching other
end to golf cart.
- Local butcher offers you job as meat tenderizer after seeing
you drive a ball into a cow in Links Extreme.
- You get an excessive craving for Armadillo Burgers.
Cause : - Addicted to Links Extreme.
Solution: - Try Links LS 1999 Edition.
Symptoms: - Sluggish response in driving range.
Cause : - Low memory (RAM).
Solution: - Increase memory (RAM).
Cause : - Software wavetable MIDI or other high bandwidth MIDI driver.
Solution: - Change driver to general MIDI or disable software wavetable.
- Turn MIDI off within Links Extreme.
Cause : - Extremely fragmented hard drive.
Solution: - (Windows 95/98/2000) Run supplied disk defragmenter.
- (Windows NT 4.0) Run third-party disk defragmenter.
Cause : - Low hard drive space.
Solution: - Uninstall unused programs.
Symptoms: - Visual anomalies (course graphics appearing over dialogs, etc.)
- on Multi-processor Windows NT systems.
Cause : - Video drivers receiving graphics commands in arbitrary order.
Solution: - Install newest version of video drivers.
Symptoms: - Sound stuttering, repeating, or sound contains static
Cause : - This can be caused if Power Management is enabled and "kicks in"
while Links Extreme is running.
Solution: - Disable Power Management features within the Control Panel
and/or your system BIOS.
8. MSN GAMING ZONE
If you'd like to play against opponents over the Internet, check out the
Microsoft Gaming Zone at http://www.zone.msn.com <http://www.zone.msn.com>
9. OTHER QUESTIONS
The Links Extreme CD is required to be in the CD drive to play any of the
single player components or the driving range, and is required to host a
multiplayer game. However, you can spawn copies of Links Extreme so that
your friends can play multiplayer games with you without owning a copy of
the game. The only requirement in spawning is that you copy the courses
over to the hard drive during setup.
We recommend going through the lessons included in the game. For access
to the lessons from the main menu, push the HELP button at the bottom of
the screen, then press the LESSONS button at the top. For access to the
lessons during gameplay, go down to the MENU tab, and select LESSONS.
We recommend that you do not leave Links Extreme playing unattended for an
excessive length of time. Links Extreme is designed to take full advantage
of a technique known as "multithreading," which allows for much faster
screen redraws and physics calculations. Unfortunately, multithreading is
extremely sensitive to the timing of your individual system. If extra
applications are running in the background, or power management (either in
the operating system or from your motherboard) "kicks in" during your game,
the timers that Links Extreme requires to run properly may be off, and your
game experience may not be as enjoyable as it would be otherwise.
No crocodiles or zombies were harmed in the making of Links Extreme.
We hope you enjoy playing Links Extreme as much as we enjoyed making it.