------------------------------------ READ ME ------------------------------------ Welcome Parents and Teachers to the I SPY Spooky Mansion CD-ROM. This Readme file contains configuration requirements, installation instructions, and troubleshooting tips that will help you resolve quickly most problems you may encounter while running the program. If you still have questions or problems after reading this, you can find additional technical support on the web at: http://scholastic.com/support. Or, you can use the phone numbers listed at the end of this file to speak with our helpful support staff. Have a great time watching your kids learn as they play I SPY Spooky Mansion! ------------------------------------ WINDOWS REQUIREMENTS ------------------------------------ To run I SPY Spooky Mansion on your Windows computer, make sure it is equipped with the following: * 486 DX 66 MHz or faster processor * Microsoft Windows 95, 98 or later * 16 MB of RAM * Minimum 10 MB hard disk space available * 640 x 480 display with 256 colors * 4X CD-ROM drive or faster * Windows-Compatible Sound Card * Microphone and Printer are optional ------------------------------------ INSTALLING I SPY Spooky Mansion ------------------------------------ 1. Insert the CD into the CD-ROM drive. 2. On most Windows 95/98 computers, the setup program will appear automatically after you put the disc in the drive. Click Install (and skip to step 5). If the start-up screen doesn't appear, click START on the task bar, then select RUN from the menu. 3. In the RUN dialog box, type in the letter corresponding to your CD-ROM followed by ":\SETUP" and click "OK." Example: if your CD-ROM is drive "D," type in "D:\SETUP." 4. Follow the on-screen instructions. ------------------------------------ UNINSTALLING I SPY Spooky Mansion ------------------------------------ Uninstalling I SPY Spooky Mansion will completely remove all I SPY Spooky Mansion files and all references to the program in the START menu and program registry, without affecting the functionality of other programs installed on your system. There are two ways to uninstall I SPY Spooky Mansion: To uninstall using the START menu: 1. Select Uninstall Scholastic's I SPY Spooky Mansion from within the Scholastic's I SPY Spooky Mansion folder within the Programs menu of the START menu. 2. When the Uninstall Scholastic's I SPY Spooky Mansion screen appears, click the "Next" button and then the "Finish" button to remove the program from your system. To uninstall using the Add/Remove Programs Control Panel: 1. Select Control Panel from the Settings menu within the START menu to open the Control Panel window. 2. Double-Click the Add/Remove Programs icon to open the Add/Remove Programs Properties sheet. 3. From the list of programs, click Scholastic's I SPY Spooky Mansion to select it, then click the Add/Remove button. 4. When the Uninstall Scholastic's I SPY Spooky Mansion screen appears, click the NEXT button and then the FINISH button to remove the program from your system. ------------------------------------ TROUBLESHOOTING QUESTIONS & ANSWERS ------------------------------------ The questions and answers below will help you solve most problems you may encounter while running I SPY Spooky Mansion. 1. When I launch I SPY Spooky Mansion, I am presented immediately with a dialog box asking me whether I want to reset the color depth of my monitor. What should I do? * For most monitor types, you have 2 options. Click "Yes" if you want the program to reset your monitor to 256 colors. The program may have to restart your computer in order for the changes to take effect. If this is the case, be patient while the program closes any open applications and your computer restarts. After your computer restarts, launch I SPY Spooky Mansion again. You will now be able to play the game with optimal performance. Note: Some newer monitors do not offer a 256 color setting. If this is the case for your monitor, select the lowest possible setting above 256 colors (usually thousands of colors). Click "No" if you want to play the game with the color palette of your monitor set to a higher than optimal number. This may slow down the program and reduce the smoothness of some animations, the magnifying glass, and the flashlight. To improve performance, you can always change your color settings manually later. To do this, just quit out of the program and follow the instructions in question 2 below. Note: If your Color Palette is set to 16 colors when you launch I SPY Spooky Mansion, the program will not give you the option of playing the game with your current monitor settings. If you choose not to have the program reset your monitor in this case, you will have to change them manually by following the instructions in question 2 below. 2. How do I set my monitor to 256 colors to optimize the performance of I SPY Spooky Mansion on my computer? 1. Click the START menu, choose Settings, and then choose Control Panel. 2. In the Control Panel, double-click the Display icon. 3. In the Display Properties window, select the SETTINGS tab. 4. Select 256 colors from the Color Palette drop down list and Click OK. Note: Some newer monitors do not offer a 256 color setting. If this is the case for your monitor, select the lowest possible setting above 256 colors (usually thousands of colors). 3. What can I do to get the best performance when running I SPY Spooky Mansion? * Shut down as many open programs as possible before running I SPY Spooky Mansion. * Make sure your monitor is set to 256 colors by following the instructions in question 2 above. * Make sure virtual memory is set to windows management. Here's how: 1. Click the START menu, choose Settings, and then choose Control Panel. 2. In the Control Panel, double-click the System icon. 3. In the System Properties window, select the PERFORMANCE tab. 4. Select the Virtual MEMORY BUTTON. 5. Select the LET WINDOWS MANAGE MY VIRTUAL MEMORY SETTINGS radio button. 6. Click the OK button and exit from the System Properties window. 7. Restart your computer if prompted. 4. While playing the game, I get an error message telling me that I'm out of memory. What should I do? * If you are getting an "Out of Memory" message, the system crashes a lot, or performance is sluggish, chances are your memory resources are stretched to capacity. Try following the suggestions described under question 3 above and then restart your computer to reduce memory strain and improve performance of the program. 5. My printed Secret Message, Make Your Own pictures, and Congratulations Certificate look grainy, gray, or pixelated. What can I do to improve the print quality of these images? * You can control the quality of printed images by selecting the highest possible print resolution (usually 300 dpi or 600 dpi). Higher resolution prints look better than low resolution prints or "draft" modes. To adjust your printer settings: 1. Click the START menu, select SETTINGS, and click PRINTERS 2. Select the printer you are using. 3. Click the FILE menu and choose PROPERTIES to view or change your printer settings. * If your printer is set to the highest possible resolution and your printed pictures still don't look as good as you would like, contact your printer manufacturer to get the latest "printer drivers." These software extensions are updated and improved frequently. Many older drivers do not print pictures correctly. 6. I don't hear sound through my speakers or headphones while playing I SPY Spooky Mansion. What should I do? * If you do not hear sound, make sure that your speaker or headphone cables are connected to your sound card, your speakers have power, and the volume is turned on. * Make sure your sound card is properly configured for Windows and the appropriate sound drivers are installed. To test for sound, double-click the SOUNDS icon in your Windows Control Panel. Select a sound file, then click the TEST button. You should hear a sound. If not, your sound card is not properly set up. Refer to your sound card user's manual for instructions on proper configuration and installation. 7. Audio in the game sounds scratchy, as if it's being played on an AM radio. What should I do? * Make sure that the cable that connects your speakers to your computer is plugged into the correct jack. If you have a SoundBlaster or SoundBlaster compatible sound card and your speakers are powered (i.e. you need to plug them in), then you should plug the speakers into the LINE OUT jack on the sound card -- not the SPEAKER OUT jack. The SPEAKER OUT jack is only for non-powered speakers. 8. The setup program stops part of the way through. What should I do? * Setup failures usually occur when you attempt to install a program while other applications are running. To avoid this, close ALL open applications before you launch the I SPY Spooky Mansion setup program. You may even need to close programs which start automatically when you run Windows. 9. Some of the objects the riddles ask me to find are too small to identify. * If you play I SPY Spooky Mansion while your monitor is at a high resolution setting, the game screens and the objects in them may look small. To enlarge the size of the game screens, adjust your monitor resolution to 640 x 480 and then launch the program again. Here's how: 1. Click the START menu, select SETTINGS, and click CONTROL PANEL. 2. Double-Click the Display icon and select the SETTINGS tab from the DISPLAY PROPERTIES window. 3. Change your screen and desktop resolution to 640 x 480 and click "OK." 10. I don't see my name in the PICK THE PLAYER list when I return to the game. * The first time you play I SPY Spooky Mansion, the program creates special files that allow you to continue from where you left off every time you return to the game. These files are stored in the SAVED GAMES folder within the Scholastic folder on your hard drive. If you move, delete, or rename this folder or the files in it, you may not be able to access your saved games, and your name may not appear correctly when you return to the game. 11. When I print out my Make Your Own Picture, Secret Message, or Congragulations Certificate a blank or partial page is printed. * Some Windows 95 computers running I SPY Spooky Mansion in High Color (16 bit) may have problems printing. Exit the program and follow the instructions in question 2 above to reset the color depth of your monitor to 256 colors. You should now be able to print. ------------------------------------ TECHNICAL SUPPORT ------------------------------------ For additional assistance, contact our support staff by telephone at: U.S. -- 1-800-946-0131 International callers -- 410-568-3600 Fax inquiries -- 410-891-0212 Hours of operation (excluding holidays): + 8:00 A.M. to 12:00 A.M. EST Monday through Friday + 8:00 A.M. to 8:00 P.M. EST Saturday and Sunday You can also visit the Scholastic's technical support web site at: http://scholastic.com/support ------------------------------------ Copyright 1999, Scholastic Inc. All rights reserved. ------------------------------------