Hi

This is one of my favourite old DOS games and I've replayed it many times but during my latest replay (despite using the patch) every time I tried to go to Easter Island the game crashed to DOS with the error message that a file couldn't be found.

I haven't changed anything about my computer since the last time I played the game and I used exactly the same game disk I always use - seeing as I only have the one - so I'm really puzzled.

I play it on my old Win98SE machine. The one that has the really good "memory tweaked" DOS set up which allows me to run many "hard to get going" oldies.

Anyone got any ideas ??

Thanks.

Mad

This game has lots of patches.
***JA+*** lists


Are you sure you're using the same patch(es) as you did before?

If that's not the problem, do you have the name of the file it says is missing?

Something could also have gone wrong with the installation, so som files are missing.
Maybe try install it again?

Hi - And thanks for replying

I had the sudden thought, after posting here, that maybe I should have installed the game to DOS with EMS instead of normal DOS, so, I uninstalled it and reinstalled it there.
[ Before I found your replies, so I can't quote the error message I was getting ]

Also, I am thinking of trying without any patches this time as Mr Bill said he didn't use any and played through successfully - but I could do with finding out (in case I do end up having to use a patch) if applying one part way through the game would make wreck any saves already made.

So I'll be having another go at it but I'll come back if I get in a mess again.
If that's OK

EDIT :
Well, I tried an install in DOS EMS both with and without the patch but the game won't even launch - so EMS isn't the problem.

Then I tried installing it without the patch back in "normal" DOS and it wouldn't launch.
Added the patch and then it launched fine.
[So I can't try playing it without any patch !! ]

The old patch I have always used is called ROMl205.exe.
I've never needed any other.
[BTW. There appears to be a difference between the ROML and ROMl patches.]

I guess I'll play through again but maybe visit places in a different order and see if that works.
If it doesn't, I'll make a note of any error message and come back again

Cheers.

Mad

By any chance did the message read: VESA driver not found, please load one and run the game again ?

Hi InlandAZ

No, I don't recall the message as being about drivers.

[I don't have a VESA driver problem though, as far as I know, because I play many really ancient games on this machine ]

What's most puzzling is that I've played the game before several times on this machine and nothing has been altered on the machine since my last play

I haven't had time since my last post to get back to it but maybe I will over the weekend.

Cheers.

Mad

See if you can get the exact error message - I assume you're playing the game from the CD, maybe it's gotten damaged or your reader is on the fritz.

If you have acccess to another PC try to make an ISO image of the CD. If it successfully copies, you should be able to burn it to a backup or play it directly from the ISO. I installed it from my own and mounted the image under DOSBox - it plays just fine (at least for the little bit of time I played it).

Hi InlandAZ

By "reader" do you mean my CD Drive ??
I know THAT is OK because I have several other old games installed and they are all working perfectly.

And, as I uninstalled the game when I couldn't make any progress because of the crash, I am having to play right from the beginning again so it's likely to be a while before I get to "that" point once more.
But when I do, if it happens again, I will be sure to make an exact note of the message and come back here

Using DOSBox, however, is not within my range of capabilities
[I've tried it more than once and failed miserably each time.]

Thanks !!

Cheers.

Mad

Hi InlandAZ

I've now replayed Riddle of Masterlu again and did try playing the game in a slightly different order BUT the crash still happened when I tried to reach Easter Island.

I see the plane going towards Easter Island on the Map feature then the game crashes.

I've copied the error message - in the exact upper and lower case as it appeared ....

Fatal Error Encountered:
File not found
Error code: 0x0800
Code found in: MASTER.M4E
Offending EXE: RIDDLE.EXE
Source code index: ..\fileio\F_SYSFIL.CPP:317
Path to EXE: D:\RIDDLE\
Description:
open_hash_file: D:\RIDDLE\RIPLEY.HAS DIG SITE.TT

Does it make any sense to you ??

I'm playing in the DOS of my Win98SE machine (Drive D) and, as per the manual, my launch command is :
D:
cd riddle
MASTERLU

Thanks.

Mad

I don't know what's causing the error unless it's due to an unreadable file. But there is a RIPLEY.HAS file on my ROML CD inside a folder called OPTION1.

Have you tried copying the contents of the CD to your hard drive to make sure everything is readable?

This may not be your problem, but I recall having Master Lu crashing to the desktop repeatedly. The fix was to amend the "files=" line in autoexec to a higher number (can't recall the exact number I used, but double the existing figure i.e. if 8 then make it 16).
You need to reboot for the amendment to be effective before trying the game.
The fail point in my game was connected with the blowing up of the baddies at the dig site. I also dimly recall a ".has" file being involved.
I presume you are using DOSBOX to run the game.

That's a really good suggestion - The FILES parameter is actually in your CONFIG.SYS.

It looks something like this -

DEVICE=C:\Windows\HIMEM.SYS
DOS=HIGH,UMB
DEVICE=C:\Windows\EMM386.EXE NOEMS
FILES=30
STACKS=0,0
BUFFERS=20

If you don't see the parameter, just add it in maunally with Notepad.

Hi

Jenny100 :

Even though I’ve been playing DOS games for more years than I care to admit to my meagre knowledge of DOS applies only to the areas of the installing and playing of these games - using the instructions given in the game manuals.
I don’t have much understanding AT ALL of how DOS itself works.
So, if I copied all the game files from the CD to a folder I'd created for that purpose, would I still then be able to just re-boot to DOS and play the game ??

Looking at the CD content via Win Explorer, there is a folder called OPTION1 showing and it does have the RIPLEY.HAS file inside.

And if I look at the already "installed" Riddle files, of my current play, the “Ripley.has” file shows - with a figure of 685KB next to it.

InlandAZ:

I have the game installed (on my old Win98SE machine) to D Drive - which is a partition of C Drive.
I can only find a CONFIG.SYS showing on the C Drive part. Is that right ??
But I don’t see a “files= number” there.
This is what CONFIG.SYS shows ….

rem device=c:\windows\himem.sys
rem device=c:\windows\emm386.exe noems
rem device=c:\atapi\oakcdrom.sys /d:mscd000
device=C:\WINDOWS\COMMAND\display.sys con=(ega,,1)
Country=044,850,C:\WINDOWS\COMMAND\country.sys

Looking at some of the other files, I did find this in a file called “1.sys”. [“files=80”]

Could this be the files number you are talking about ??

This is what “1.sys” shows ….

DOS=SINGLE
DOS=HIGH,UMB
files=80
Device=C:\WINDOWS\Himem.Sys
rem - By Windows Setup - For 1st Boot - DEVICEHIGH=C:\WINDOWS\EMM386.EXE 5120 RAM
DEVICEHIGH=C:\PROGRA~1\CREATIVE\CTSND\DRV\CTSB16.SYS /UNIT=0 /WIN95 /BLASTER=A:220 I:5 D:1 H:5
DEVICEHIGH=C:\PROGRA~1\CREATIVE\CTSND\DRV\CTMMSYS.SYS
devicehigh=C:\CDPRO\VIDE-CDD.SYS /D:MSCD001
LASTDRIVE=H
device=C:\WINDOWS\COMMAND\display.sys con=(ega,,1)
Country=044,850,C:\WINDOWS\COMMAND\country.sys

None of the other stuff I checked out with “config” or “sys” in its title showed any kind of “files=number”.

If what I'm asking either of you - Jenny and InlandAZ - is all rubbish, just please bear in mind that my "techie know-how" is very poor !!

Cheers.

Mad

That's the ticket Mad

Right click the CONFIG.SYS file and select Open With - choose Notepad (de-select Always Open With if you like).

Insert FILES=50 as the last line and save it (80 is a bit high).

Hi InlandAZ

So is the “1.sys” file acting as a "CONFIG.SYS" file then ??
Because as I explained, the "files=80" is in the separate “1.sys” and not the CONFIG.SYS file itself.

Also, if I alter 80 to 50, is it likely to affect anything else ??

I know I can always change it back but best to be forewarned

Thanks.

Mad

The reason for copying the files on the CD to the hard drive is to make sure everything on the CD is readable. If your CD has gone bad and developed sections that can't be read, you won't be able to copy the whole CD to your hard drive and you'll know where the problem is.


That sounds like it's where it's supposed to be then -- and managed to copy over OK.



That would be right as long as you're using a DOS window in Windows without rebooting, or if you're using Start\Shut Down\Reboot in MS-DOS mode.

If you're using a desktop shortcut that reboots to DOS, you'll have to see what's listed for config.sys in that shortcut. Right-click the MS-DOS shortcut, choose Properties, Program tab, Advanced button, and if MS-DOS mode is checked, you may have a custom config.sys in there with its own files= lines.


I have no idea whether the 1.sys file is used by the game. It isn't on my game CD. Did it appear in your game folder?

Hi again Jenny100

Yes, I am using a desktop shortcut that reboots to DOS and when I R Click on that shortcut, MS-DOS is ticked …. and I see three options listed above a box divided into two sections.

Options :-

1.Warn before entering MS-DOS mode
2.Use current MS-DOS configuration
3.Specify a new MS-DOS configuration

Top Section [CONFIG. SYS for MS-DOS mode]

DOS=HIGH,UMB
BUFFERS=10
FILES=10
STACKS=0,0
Device=C:\WINDOWS\Himem.Sys
DEVICEHIGH=C:\WINDOWS\EMM386.EXE NOEMS
DEVICEHIGH=C:\PROGRA~1\CREATIVE\CTSND\DRV\CTSB16.SYS /UNIT=0 /WIN95 /BLASTER=A:220 I:5 D:1 H:5
DEVICEHIGH=C:\PROGRA~1\CREATIVE\CTSND\DRV\CTMMSYS.SYS
devicehigh=c:\atapi\oakcdrom.sys /d:mscd000
devicehigh=C:\WINDOWS\COMMAND\display.sys con=(ega,,1)
LASTDRIVE=H

Bottom Section [AUTOEXEC.BAT for MS-DOS mode]

SET TMP=C:\WINDOWS\TEMP
SET TEMP=C:\WINDOWS\TEMP
SET PROMPT=$p$g
SET winbootdir=C:\WINDOWS
SET PATH=C:\WINDOWS;C:\WINDOWS\COMMAND
SET SOUND=C:\PROGRA~1\CREATIVE\CTSND
SET BLASTER=A220 I5 D1 H5 P330 E620 T6
SET MIDI=SYNTH:1 MAP:E
LH C:\WINDOWS\CTCM
rem C:\SB16\DIAGNOSE /S
rem C:\SB16\MIXERSET /P /Q
C:\PROGRA~1\CREATIVE\CTSND\AWEUTIL /S
LoadHigh C:\WINDOWS\Command\DOSKey
mode con codepage prepare=((850) C:\WINDOWS\COMMAND\ega.cpi)
mode con codepage select=850
lh keyb uk,,C:\WINDOWS\COMMAND\keyboard.sys
lh c:\windows\command\mscdex /d:mscd000
LH C:\mouse.com

Aha !! There is a “files=10” in the CONFIG bit

NO, the “1.sys” file is not in with the installed game files, it’s only amongst the files and folders for C Drive, which is why I was asking specifically about it.

[I am a nervous wreck just thinking about all this techie stuff !!!! ]

Cheers.

Mad

Try changing the files= line from files=10 to
files=30

Thanks Jenny100

I'll certainly give it a go in a little while.

[Got to get some sleep first ]

Many thanks.

Mad

If that doesn't work, try

buffers=15,0
files=40

Hi Jenny100

Happy !! Happy !! Happy !!
Changing the number of files worked and I made it to Easter Island

Thank you so much for your invaluable help AND a huge thank you also, of course, to boomerang for coming up with the idea of changing the files, and, as always, thanks to InlandAZ too

Yippee !! I'm off to explore Easter Island any minute now

Cheers.

Mad

Congratulations on getting it working.
I still wonder where that low value of files=10 got in there. It must not have been that way if you played the game before on this computer.

I'd never have managed it on my own !!

[And in my excitement to tell you, I put the capital "E" in completely the wrong place on my previous post ]

Glad you got it working -