Did you have to copy those files to your hard drive?

No Jenny, I don't remember seeing those. I only downloaded
the 01VR_PHARE file. thanks!
PS....I am getting ready to ship this game back for a refund
and buy another one somewhere else!

I noticed that I have the France import version by Microid!!
I wonder if the version by Dream catcher Interactive plays better?
Does Robert have the dreamcatcher version?
Let me know please and thanks

I think your drive is failing, or your firmware is out of date.

Download and install DISCInfo, it will identify your drive and firmware level - post the info back.

DISCInfo - DVD-IDE-SCSI-CD Information Program

Hank, you may have spotted a significant difference between our versions of the game. I have no way of telling whether the French import version is different from the American release, which by the way was not DreamCatcher but Casterman/Microids.

Jenny, the two InsertCD files are included in the normal installation. They were not a special copy from the CDs.

I agree with InlandAZ. Hank, there is definitely a problem with your CDROM drive since CD#1 could be read on your friends computer but not yours.

There were two US releases. One was from Casterman/Microids, which is the one I have. There was another one from Dreamcatcher (The Adventure Company) which was published a couple of years later. You can see box shots of both versions here
http://www.mobygames.com/game/amerzone-the-explorers-legacy/cover-art

Hi Inland,
I got an error box saying that my aspi driver was not there or not installed properly!!(recommended was an aspi vs.4.6)
I googled for aspi and found a driver vs 4.7...I downloaded it and unzipped it, but how do I install this thing?there was an install file but then this DOS system pops up, and when I clicked continue....it disappeared. I don't know hardly anything about DOS!!!
I thank you for your help!

When did you get the error? Was it when you were trying to run the DiscInfo program?

Jenny,
I looked at the url for the Amerzone versions and I'm not sure what version I have.

1) The front cover matches the French and the British jewel cases. I no longer have the box so can't tell if it matches either US version. The first US version does not show the jewel case.
2) The CDs match the first US version on that site. No pictures are given for the French version.
3) The game was bought in the US and runs in English.

It is most likely the first shown US version which is not dated nor the distributor given.

I clicked on the icon on my desktop: DISCInfo. that's when the error box came up!

Hank,
The CDROM drivers on my WinXP system are cdrom.sys, imapi.sys, redbook.sys, and storprop.dll. Aspi is not listed nor needed.

I have Vista Ultimate, does that make a difference? I can't use this utility to check my CDRom drive, maybe it is only for older versions of Windows? Thanks anyway!

Having Vista could indeed make all the difference in the world both for the CDInfo program and my technique for a no-CD Amerzone. If nothing else, I think Vista is more restrictive on directory access for programs than is WinXP.

I don't have Vista which means I can't do any testing with it. My no-CD technique should be tested by someone with Vista and Amerzone to make sure it will work. Likewise any info on Vista should be supplied by a Vista user.

I have put all the Amerzone files into the C:\ root directory, and I have seen and checked them all, they are there.

So when I clicked on the desktop amerzone icon, it started but even the opening stuff didn't come complete. The Microid thing came on and it is supposed to be followed by the Benoit Sokal stuff and then the screen to make a choice what you want to do, like new game or load or whatever.

No, right after the Microid screen the page comes on where I am asked to put the # 1 CD in the drive and of course that doesn't work. then of all things my mouse pointer has changed to that big disk, which is supposed to be put in that old basement computer slot!! REALLY WEIRD huh?

I am mailing the game back to the seller.
I am going to get the Amerzone game put out by "Dreamcatcher-Interactive", (NOT the French import Microid!!)
Maybe that will make a difference?

Robert, when I get the new game, do I have to get rid of all the old Amerzone files, I downloaded from the "Microid" game?
Please let me know and thanks again for your help!!
Take care.

Not at all. I've often seen something like that when a game is trying to access the CD drive -- especially when there's no CD in it. When the attempt times out, the pointer should go back to normal.


If you're talking about the Microids version from 1999, it is not an import and seems to be the same version Robert has. Your version may have a defective or marginal CD though. A marginal CD may read slowly or may read in one CD drive and not another, depending on how good a reader the CD drive is.


No. Just uninstall the old game. The files you copied over manually can stay.

Can you find out what type of CD drive you have?
Click the Start button, then type
device manager
into the search and Enter it.
In Device Manager click the + next to DVD/CD-ROM drives.
What does it say there?

That is interesting - I basically have the same drivers as Robert, and receive no error message.

It sounds like a fairly new PC however, so the firmware may not be an issue. It can still be identified under device manager (right click and select Properties, and the Details Tab)

Here's one of my optical drives: (QP5A is the firmware level - from an XP rig)
IDE\CDROMATAPI_DVD_A__DH20A4H____________________QP5A____\5&1E465D31&0&0.1.0

This answer is for all you friends who are helping me (bless you!)

I have a one year old PC: HP Media center m8034n, AMD Athlon 64x2
dual core processor 5000+ with windows Vista Ultimate, 2048 MB system memory and a 400 Gig HD. AND.....Super Multi DVD burner with lightscribe technology that can laser etch silk screen quality images on the disk.

The Device mgr. says about this drive: ATAPI DVD ADH 16A1L SCSI CDrom Device.
It also says that it works properly, I also upgraded drivers, which wasn't necessary and the firmware is good too as far as I know!
Again many thanks for your support!!

btw....I forgot to ask..how do I check the firmware on this computer? Since it's only 1 year old it should be ok right? but it would be nice to know how to upgrade it?

Should be the same way as XP (see my previous post). Firmware is an ongoing project at times - I purchased a new OEM drive several months ago, and it had 2 updates available for it.

I did a search for that model and it seems to be prone to reading problems. I've found more than one thread like this one --> ATAPI DVD A DH16A1L Stopped recognizing cds and dvds, where the drive had to be replaced. I don't think this is a very reliable model.


It lies.

Thank you Jenny...it seems that my drive is bad and yesterday the warranty ran out although the drive has been bad for several weeks!!
Talk to you all later.

Does anyone have knowledge about the CONNECTION to this lousy
(Super) CDrom drive? It has no ribbon cables like my previous computer, only some wire connections. Would this be hard to swap out? Can it be disconnected from the back of the CDRom? Thanks.

There are manuals for the HP m8034n computer ***here*** <--.

You want the Upgrading and Servicing Guide.
http://h10032.www1.hp.com/ctg/Manual/c00841394.pdf

It should tell you how to replace an optical drive.
I'm not sure what you mean by "wire connections." Does the drive have a SATA cable instead of an IDE cable?

--> ***Here's*** a better page with pictures, however it shows the usual IDE cable and power cable.
I don't suppose your data cable could have fallen out. If it were loose or in the process of falling out, that would certainly cause read problems.

Thank you so much everyone for your wonderful support!!

I just received "Paradise" from a seller and it installed without a hitch and it plays very well! The highest WI. rating was XP!!

It seems my finnicky DVD/CDrom drive has no problems with XP games.
I know now that the trouble lies with games that were made for WI95/98. My drive doesn't like that OLD of a game.

I will get the Amerzon "Dreamcatcher" version which is a few years newer, it has 95/98/ME If that doesn't work, I will feel bad not having played this wonderful game (judging from the screenshots!)
However,I don't feel like spending the money to switch drives just to play an old game!!
Thanks again!

Jenny, I just saw your latest post! The IDE cable is called a "ribbon cable" right? Mine has the SATA set up. I explained above my DVD/CDRom player is OK except for the older games.
Thanks a lot for the guides and all the other stuff like the different versions you showed for Amerzone.
You all do a fabulous job!!!! Thanks again!

I'd still pursue the firmware path (or at least identify you current version) - It can help with media compatibility.

If it's limited to older discs - try slowing the drive down a bit:

Nero DiscSpeed 4.11.2.0

Thank you Inland, but I don't know where to find that "firmware" path or how to identify the version. I went to HP download, but couldn't locate the firmware for the optical drive! can you direct me?
Thanks for your help! (I'll try the Nero Discspeed thing)

I just got back from getting Nero speed tester etc. here is what it found: Speed:average: 31.13X end: 40.75X Type: CAV
Accesstime = 108 ms !/3 = 115 ms
then an error: L-EC uncorrectable error (031105).

You suggested to slow down the speed, how do I do that?
Thanks again!

Try using MSINFO32 (Start, Run - enter MSINFO32 and press OK) assuming you’ve added Run to the Start Menu properties.

Expand Components, and left click CD-ROM. The PNP-Device ID string will contain the information you need.