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                         Screamin'3D README 
                            October 1996            
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              (c) Copyright Sierra On-Line, Inc., 1996

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TABLE OF CONTENTS
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1. THANK YOU!
2. HOW TO USE THIS DOCUMENT
3. FILE INFORMATION
4. INSTALLATION INSTRUCTIONS FOR THE BIOS UPDATE 
5. INSTALLATION INSTRUCTIONS FOR THE NEW VIDEO DRIVERS
6. NOTE ABOUT OPERATING SYSTEMS AND SCREAMIN' 3D
7. USING THE ONLINE MANUAL
8. ADDITIONAL GENERAL TROUBLESHOOTING
9. HOW TO CONTACT TECHNICAL SUPPORT

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1. THANK YOU FOR PURCHASING SCREAMIN'3D
---------------------------------------
We think you’ve made an excellent choice.   Your Screamin’3D delivers 
better 2D and 3D graphics performance than graphics adapters made less
than a year ago costing ten times as much, and better 3D game play 
performance than any other Windows95 graphics accelerator. 

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2. HOW TO USE THIS DOCUMENT
---------------------------
For the easiest viewing, we recommend that you maximize the Notepad window.

To print Readme.txt, open it in Notepad or another word processor, and
then use the Print command on the File menu.

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3. FILE INFORMATION
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This disk/archive contains both a FLASH BIOS Update and updated Windows 
Drivers for Sierra's Screamin' 3D Video Card. It should contain the following 
files:

README.TXT:    The file you are currently reading. Please read it 
               thoroughly before installing your driver and/or BIOS 
               updates.

README.BAT:    Double-clicking or executing this file will bring
               up the README.TXT file (As you may very well 
               already know!:) ) 

3DBI76R2.EXE:  This (compressed) file contains the files for the Bios Update 
               (76 revision 2).

3DDRV113.EXE:  This (compressed) file contains the files necessary to
               update the Screamin' 3D Windows Drivers. This archive also
               contains the important document files marked with an asterisk 
               (*) below.

*RELEASE.TXT:  This file contains important information regarding the
               driver update. Be sure to read it before installing the
               new drivers contained in 3DDRV113.EXE.

*SCRM3DTS.TXT: This file contains a TEXT version of the Screamin'
               3D Troubleshooting Guide. (You can use NOTEPAD or
               any other Word Processor to view it.)

*SCRM3DTS.DOC: This file contains a .DOC version of the Screamin'
               3D Troubleshooting Guide. (You can use WORDPAD to
               view it.)

*TSGUIDE.BAT:  Double-clicking or executing this file will bring
               up the Troubleshooting Guide.

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4. INSTALLATION INSTRUCTIONS FOR THE BIOS UPDATE
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4.A - Copy the file 3DBI76R2.EXE to an empty directory on your hard drive, then 
execute it by double-clicking it from the Windows Explorer. This will 
decompress the file into several files. You can also decompress it by typing
3DBI76R2.EXE and pressing Enter from your DOS prompt. (Make sure you are in the
directory to which you copied the file when you do this.) Note that you need to be in DOS
to install the BIOS update regardless of how you decompress it.

4.B - If your system is not booting with the SCREAMIN'3D, try the
steps below first. Otherwise proceed to 4.C - UPDATING THE BIOS below.

a) Turn off your computer and remove the cover. Always remember to discharge any static 
   electricity you might have by touching the case of your computer prior to touching any 
   hardware.

b) Install your old video card back into its previous slot.  

c) Now install your SCREAMIN'3D card to the right of your old video card so 
   the system will boot using the your old video card.

d) Connect the monitor to your old video card and turn on your system.
   If this still doesn't help, then we will ship a new card with the
   updated BIOS to you.

e) Send the Screamin' 3D (video card only) via certified mail to: 

Sierra On-Line
P.O. Box 85006
Bellevue, WA 98015-8506
ATTN: Screamin'3D Replacement


4.C - UPDATING THE BIOS -

To update the Video BIOS follow these instructions:

a)  If in Windows95 then shut down to MS-DOS mode.  From DOS mode go to the
    directory in which the Update is located.

b)  Enter in the following command: BIOS276.  This will find the SCREAMIN'3D
    card and update its BIOS.  
    
c)  Updating the BIOS may take up to 30 seconds so wait until your screen is 
    restored.  After the update has completed please power down your computer.

d)  With the power turned off remove your old video card (if necessary) and
    then power on the computer.


4.D - TROUBLESHOOTING FOR THE BIOS UPDATE-
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PROBLEM
  The system won't boot when I have the two video cards installed.
	
SOLUTION
  Swap the locations of the two cards.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
PROBLEM
  After powering on the computer nothing is displayed on the monitor.

SOLUTION
  Make sure the monitor is plugged into your old card, not the Screamin 3D
  card and the monitor is powered on.

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PROBLEM
  The system still hangs after updating the BIOS.

SOLUTION
  Try the update again, then if you still have trouble please contact
  Sierra Tech Support.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
PROBLEM
  After I run the BIOS276 program the "Verify Data" gives me an error.

SOLUTION
  Do not try to reboot after this happens.  Retry the BIOS276 program
  again.  If there is no change please contact Tech Support.


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5. INSTALLATION INSTRUCTIONS FOR THE NEW VIDEO DRIVERS
------------------------------------------------------
5.A Copy the file 3DDRV113.EXE to an empty directory on your hard drive, then 
execute it by double-clicking it from the Windows Explorer. This will 
decompress the file into several files.

5.B There is an important file called RELEASE.TXT included among the files 
    (it will be in the directory where you originally decompressed the 3DDRV113.EXE file). 
    You can view the RELEASE.TXT file using Windows NOTEPAD or WORDPAD. It contains 
    additional, important information regarding the new drivers and we *highly* recommend 
    that you read it *thoroughly* before continuing the next step below. We would also 
    recommend reading the VGAREAD.TXT file as well.

5.C Once you've read the RELEASE.TXT file, you can install the drivers. Locate the SETUP.EXE 
    file (again, in the directory where you decompressed the 3DDRV113.EXE file), and 
    double-click it. This will start the installation program for your new drivers. 

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6. NOTE ABOUT OPERATING SYSTEMS AND SCREAMIN'3D
-----------------------------------------------
Screamin’3D is designed for personal computer systems using the Windows95
operating system.  Screamin’3D can be used with some other operating 
systems, but Sierra may not support such use.

Included with your Screamin'3D are drivers for Windows95, Windows 3.1, 
and Speedy3D, and support for Direct Draw, Direct 3D, and Active Movie. 
We expect to offer drivers for WindowsNT 3.51, WindowsNT 4.0, OpenGL,
and Heidi.

Look for these new drivers, as well as upgrades to your existing drivers
and Screamin'3D BIOS and Vérité Microcode, on the Sierra BBS and Web site.

--------------------------
7. USING THE ONLINE MANUAL
-------------------------- 
Screamin'3D comes with an Online Manual to assist you when working in 
Windows95, and to explain the Screamin'3D Graphics Toolkit utilities.  
You can access the Online Manual once you have run the Screamin'3D Setup 
Program in three ways:

1) From the Windows95 Start button Programs menu under Screamin'3D,

2) From the Windows95 Taskbar Screamin'3D Control Menu, or

3) From the Screamin'3D Information tab in the Display Properties
   Control Panel.

-------------------------------------
8. ADDITIONAL GENERAL TROUBLESHOOTING
-------------------------------------
Information on Troubleshooting is available in your Screamin'3D Users 
Guide and in the Online Help Manual. Additionally, be sure to read the 
SCRM3DTS.TXT or SCRM3DTS.DOC file included with this update, as it contains
troubleshooting as well. These files are both part of the 3DDRV113.EXE archive.
(You must decompress it first before you can access these files -- See section 5
for more information.)

8.A - If you are experiencing trouble with a non 'Plug and Play' networking
card:

A few non-Plug and Play networking cards claim the same PCI resources as
Screamin'3D.  To resolve this conflict, try removing the networking card
from the Device Manager (in the System Properties Control Panel), then 
restarting Windows95.  Windows95 will reinstall the card on restart, and 
may reassign different PCI resources, clearing the conflict.  If this 
does not work, launch the Windows95 Hardware Conflict Troubleshooter from
Windows Help, and follow the directions to clear the conflict.

8.B - If you are able to run your games successfully within Windows, but cannot
use your mouse, joystick, soundcard, or other hardware in DOS:

Many computer systems are sold with only Windows configured.  Mice and
other pointing devices such as joysticks, soundcards, and other peripheral 
hardware can often be run by Windows without being fully installed and 
configured.  To operate in DOS, however, they must be fully installed and 
configured.  Refer to your product manual for installation and 
configuration instructions should you experience a hardware peripheral 
that functions in Windows mode but not in DOS mode. 

-----------------------------------
9. HOW TO CONTACT TECHNICAL SUPPORT
-----------------------------------
Should you continue to experience problems and require additional 
assistance from one of our Technical Support Representatives, you can
contact us through the various means below. When contacting Technical 
Support, please include as much information as possible regarding your 
computer system, and a specific description of your problem. The more 
information you can give us the better we'll be able to help you.

For further help you can reach Sierra Technical Support at:     
     
     
               PHONE:  (206)644-4343 
     
                 FAX:  (206)644-7697 
     
                 BBS:  (206)644-0112 
     
               EMAIL:  support@sierra.com 
     
                 WWW:  sierra.com
        
          CompuServe:  GO SIERRA
     
     AMERICA ON-LINE:  Keyword SIERRA 
     

And again, thanks for buying Sierra Screamin'3D!

