Microsoft Halo for the PC Readme File

September 2003
Microsoft Corporation, 20012003. All rights reserved. Welcome to Halo for the PC! This file contains information to help yo tro !leshoot iss es "ith Halo# for the PC. $o can find information on Microsoft# %rod ct & pport &ervices in the printed or online man al. Note: 'f (alo came installed on yo r comp ter as an )*M version, contact the man fact rer of the comp ter or other hard"are it "as ! ndled "ith for prod ct s pport. +efer to the doc mentation that came "ith yo r comp ter or hard"are for the prod ct s pport telephone n m!er. ,or the latest s pport and tro !leshooting information, please visit http-..""".microsoft.com.games.halo.s pport.asp.

CON !N S
"# (# S$stem Re%&ireme'ts )'stallatio' 'nstalling (alo 'nstalling /irect0 1.0! &afe/isc 'ss es *etti'+ Help 2ie"ing the )nline %rint %ieces Comma'd Prompt Co'fi+&ratio' )ss&es 3, Card )ss&es 3, Card ,ri-ers a'd Ma'&fact&rers "&dio ro&bleshooti'+ "dditio'al M&ltipla$er )'formatio' /efa lt %orts 3et"or4 &ettings /irect '% Connection Chec4ing for 5pdates M&ltipla$er ro&bleshooti'+

C# ,# !# F# *# H# )#

.#

"# S$stem Re%&ireme'ts

(alo re6 ires a personal comp ter "ith the follo"ing minim m re6 irements. M ltimedia personal comp ter "ith a 733 M(8 or higher processor. 9indo"s 1: &econd *dition, 9indo"s Me, 9indo"s 2000 &ervice %ac4 1, or 9indo"s 0%. 12: Mega!ytes ;M<= of +AM. 1.3 >< of availa!le hard dis4 space. :? C/@+)M drive. 32 M< 3/ hard"are@transform@and@lighting@capa!le video display. Aey!oard and Microsoft Mo se or compati!le pointing device. &o nd card and spea4ers or headphones.

/irect0 1.0! ;incl ded on C/B see !elo" for installation instr ctions=. CD A!ps modem or EA3 for online net"or4 play. <road!and re6 ired to r n a server.

(# )'stallatio'
'f yo r comp ter does not a tomatically install (alo after the C/ is inserted into the C/@+)M drive, perform the follo"ing proced re. o i'stall Halo ma'&all$ 1. )n the 9indo"s tas4!ar, clic4 Start, and then clic4 R&'. 2. Type x:/set&p, "here x is the letter of yo r C/@+)M drive, and then clic4 O0. ,or eFample, if yo r C/@+)M drive letter is /, type d:/set&p. 3. Clic4 )'stall, and then follo" the instr ctions that appear on the screen.

)'stalli'+ ,irect1 2#0b

'f for some reason /irect0 1.0! "as not installed "ith the game, se the follo"ing proced re to install it man ally. o i'stall ,irect1 2#0b ma'&all$ 1. 'nsert the (alo /isc in the C/@+)M drive. 2. 'n 9indo"s *Fplorer, do !le@clic4 the C/@+)M drive and then the ,irect1 folder. 3. /o !le@clic4 ,3set&p#e3e, and then follo" the instr ctions that appear on the screen. $o m st restart yo r comp ter "hen installation is complete. 'f yo eFperience video or so nd pro!lems sing /irect0, al"ays chec4 "ith yo r video or so nd card man fact rer for the latest /irect0@compati!le drivers, or go to http-..s pport.microsoft.com.s pport.directF. for the latest tro !leshooting information.

Safe,isc )ss&es
The (alo copy@protection soft"are, &afe/isc, re6 ires that the game !e installed from the C/B yo cannot copy files from the C/ to the comp ter and then install from the comp terGs hard drive. Safe,isc 4ith Soft4are &afe/isc is incompati!le "ith some soft"are, "hich incl des the follo"ing. Mc"fee 5Net4or6 "ssociates7 N&ts 8 (olts: 3 ts H <olts ca ses the game to fail if the <om! &helter tility is in a certain config ration. The follo"ing steps allo" &afe/isc@protected prod cts to !e sed-

1. MaFimi8e <om! &helter. 2. 'n the (omb Shelter dialog !oF, clic4 Properties. 3. 'n the !rror Protectio' gro p, clic4 "d-a'ced. I. 'n the "d-a'ced Properties ta!, deselect the Write Protect 9MM chec4 !oF. C. Clic4 "ppl$ or O0, and then clic4 O0 on all s !se6 ent screens.

C# *etti'+ Help
$o can get help for (alo in the follo"ing "ays ,or an overvie" of the game as "ell as for information a!o t getting started and playing the game, see the (alo printed man al. The man al is also availa!le in %/, format on the (alo C/. 2isit the & pport Center >ames 9e! site ;http-..s pport.microsoft.com.JprKgms= to vie" top s pport iss es, prod ct@specific content, and other related reso rces for playing games. Additionally, to help yo tro !leshoot iss es associated "ith game set p, performance, m ltiplayer net"or4ing, so nd, video, or yo r game controller, visit one of the Tro !leshooting +eso rce Centers availa!le on the site.

9ie4i'+ the O'li'e Pri't Pieces

Ado!e# +eader# ;http-..""".ado!e.com.= allo"s yo to vie" and print the online versions of the (alo man al, "hich are located in the Ma'&als folder as .pdf files.
Copyright 2003 Ado!e &ystems 'ncorporated. All rights reserved. Ado!e, the Ado!e logo, and +eader are either registered trademar4s or trademar4s of Ado!e &ystems 'ncorporated in the 5nited &tates and.or other co ntries.

,# Comma'd Prompt
$o can r n (alo from a 9indo"s command prompt ;e.g., C-L%rogram ,ilesLMicrosoft >amesL(aloL(alo.eFe=. The follo"ing is a list of arg ments yo may se r nning (alo from a command prompt entering Mhalo.eFe argument.N :; /isplays a list of all arg ments. :'oso&'d /isa!les all so nd. :'o-ideo /isa!les video play!ac4. :'o<o$stic6 /isa!les Ooystic4.gamepads.

:'o+amma /isa!les adO stment of gamma. :&seff ,orces the game to r n as a fiFed f nction card. :&se== ,orces the game to r n as a shader 1.1 card. :&se20 ,orces the game to r n as a shader 2.0 card. :safemode /isa!les as m ch as possi!le from the game. :4i'do4 + ns the game in a "indo". :4idth>?0 ,orces the game to r n at DI0FI:0. :-idmode 4@h@r ,orces the game to r n at "idth, height, refresh rate. :adapter x ,orces the game to r n f llscreen on a m ltimon adaptor. :port x &erver port address sed "hen hosting games. :cport x Client port address sed "hen Ooining games. :ip x.x.x.x &erver '% address sed "hen yo have m ltiple '% addresses. :scree'shot *na!les the P%rint &creenP 4ey to generate screenshots :timedemo + ns fo r movies and "rites o t timedemo.tFt. :co'sole *na!les the de! gging console. Notes: A n m!er of these command prompt arg ments are sed !y %&& to tro !leshoot pro!lems. Many of the command prompt arg ments mirror f nctionality availa!le from "ithin the standard (alo ser interface.

!# Co'fi+&ratio' )ss&es
Ano"n hard"are and operating system config ration iss es are listed in this section. ,or iss es "ith specific 3/ cards, see section ,, P3/ Card 'ss es.P ,or assistance "ith top performance iss es, visit http-..s pport.microsoft.com.JprKgmsperf. Performa'ce ma$ be poor after sta'db$ or s&spe'd mode: 'f yo man ally or a tomatically p t yo r comp ter on stand!y or s spend mode "hile playing the game, performance may !e poor "hen yo come o t of stand!y or s spend mode and res me the game- m sic and so nds may not !e heard, transitions may !e choppy, or the game may hang. To resolve, restart the game. !'able direct memor$ access 5,M"7 i' $o&r ),! co'troller o' Wi'do4s 2A Seco'd !ditio' a'd Wi'do4s Mille''i&m !ditio': 9hen yo ena!le /MA on yo r comp ter, yo improve the game performance and sta!ility. To ena!le /MA1. Close all programs that are r nning on yo r comp ter. 2. Clic4 Start, point to Setti'+s, and then clic4 Co'trol Pa'el. 3. /o !le@clic4 S$stem. I. Clic4 the ,e-ice Ma'a+er ta!. C. Clic4 the %E5& &'>3 5B7 neFt to ,is6 ,ri-es. D. Clic4 ),!C,is6 5hard dri-e7, and then clic4 Properties. 7. )n the Setti'+s ta!, select ,M". :. Clic4 O0, and then clic4 O0 again. 1. +estart the comp ter. NO !- 9hen yo ena!le /MA, yo increase the access speed to the C/@+)M drive and the hard dis4. &ome drivers do not s pport /MA access. 'f the /MA chec4 !oF remains selected after yo restart yo r comp ter, /MA access is s pported. R&' i' ser-er mode@ rather tha' 4or6statio' mode i' Wi'do4s 2A Seco'd !ditio' a'd Wido4s Mille''i&m !ditio': 9hen yo ena!le server mode, yo improve game performance. To r n in server mode1. +ight@clic4 on M$ Comp&ter and select Properties. 2. Clic4 the Performa'ce ta!. 3. Clic4 File S$stem. I. &elect Net4or6 Ser-er as the typical role of the %C. Ma6e s&re that $o&r spea6er mode is set to match the t$pe of spea6er o&tp&t o' $o&r comp&ter: This sit ation might occ r if yo s"itch !ac4 and forth from listening to headphones and listening to I.1.C.1 spea4ers. (aving the incorrect spea4er mode set "ill

ca se 3/ so nds to !e heard incorrectly or not at all. To set yo r spea4er mode1. 2. 3. I. C. Clic4 Start, point to Setti'+s, and then clic4 Co'trol Pa'el. Clic4 on So&'ds a'd M&ltimedia ;9indo"s 1:.Me= or So&'ds a'd "&dio ,e-ices ;9indo"s 2000.0%=. 5nder Spea6er setti'+s, clic4 on the "d-a'ced. &elect the spea4er set p that matches yo r c rrent spea4er set p. Clic4 O0, and then clic4 O0 again.

'f yo r so nd card also came "ith its o"n soft"are for setting spea4er settings, ens re that these settings are also correct.

F# 3, Card )ss&es
(alo only s pports /irect0 1.0!@compliant video cards. 't is good practice to al"ays install the latest certified drivers for all of yo r hard"are. ,or assistance "ith top video iss es, visit http-..s pport.microsoft.com.JprKgmsvideo. " ) Radeo' 2A00 PRO =2A: $o may eFperience inconsistent graphic performance "ith teFt res if yo set the Mipmap /etail Eevel in the AT' /irect3/ Control %anel to any setting eFcept (igh Q ality. N9),)" 9ideo Cards a'd FS"" Modes: $o may eFperience diffic lties r nning (alo sing 32'/'A video cards in any of the ,&AA modes. 'f yo are having a pro!lem, yo sho ld disa!le the ,&AA mode for the 32'/'A video card. 9ia Motherboard Chipsets: 'f yo have a 2ia !rand mother!oard, yo may need to pdate to the latest MI@in@1N mother!oard chipset drivers to avoid crashes.

*# 3, Card ,ri-ers a'd Ma'&fact&rers

Ma4e s re that yo have the latest drivers from the man fact rer of yo r video card. Many video iss es "ill !e resolved if yo install yo r video cardGs latest drivers. (alo may not properly detect some older video cards !eca se their video drivers are not /irect0 1.0! -compliant. Contact yo r video card man fact rer for pdated drivers, or install the latest reference drivers for yo r video !oard. 3ote that many reference drivers are not s pported !y the chipset man fact rer. Eisted !elo" are some common video card man fact rersG 9e! sites. NO !: 5se 9indo"s 5pdate ;http-.."indo"s pdate.microsoft.com.= to ens re that yo are sing the latest drivers and have the latest pdates to yo r operating system. ,or specific video card drivers, visit the man fact rerRs "e! site.

H# "&dio ro&bleshooti'+
Chec4 "ith yo r so nd card man fact rer for the latest /irect0@compati!le drivers.

,ollo"ing are the 4no"n a dio iss es and "or4aro ndsDsers r&''i'+ Wi'do4s 2ASeco'd !ditio' a'd Wi'do4s Me: $o sho ld r n 9indo"s 5pdate to ens re that yo have do"nloaded all critical pdates as "ell as all the recommended pdates. )ther"ise, yo may have so nd pro!lems s ch as the "eapon vol me shifting in and o t. "&real 9orte3: The a dio may not f nction "ith A real so nd cards. To resolve this iss e, t rn off the hard"are acceleration. ,rom the &tart men , point to Setti'+s, and then choose Co'trol Pa'el. /o !le@clic4 So&'ds a'd "&dio ,e-ices and select the "&dio ta!. Clic4 the "d-a'ced ! tton in the &o nd %lay!ac4 section and then clic4 the Performa'ce ta!. Move the (ard"are Acceleration slider to 3one and clic4 "ppl$. Herc&les *ame heater 1P so&'d card i' Wi'do4s 2ASeco'd !ditio': &t ttering and so nd distortion may occ r sing the (erc les >ame Theater 0% so nd card and 9indo"s 1: &econd *dition. &ee M*na!le direct memory access ;/MA= in yo r '/* controller on 9indo"s 1: &econd *ditionN in section *, MConfig ration 'ss es.N Herc&les *ame heater 1P so&'d card i' Wi'do4s 1P Professio'al: The a dio may not f nction correctly at all times "ith the (erc les >ame Theater 0% so nds card. ,or eFample, grenade so nd effects may play too lo". $o sho ld ma4e s re yo have installed the latest /irect0@compati!le drivers for yo r so nd card. Realte6 "EC>F0 so&'d card i' Wi'do4s 1P Home: (alo may not f nction correctly sing the +ealte4 AECDC0 so nd card in 9indo"s 0% if yo ena!le *A0 so nd in the game. Mo'te+o )) G&adHilla so&'d card i' Wi'do4s 2000: The a dio may not f nction correctly at all times "ith the Montego '' Q ad8illa so nd card. $o sho ld ma4e s re yo have installed the Montego '' Q ad8illa 9indo"s 3T I.0 drivers. 'nformation on installing the drivers is availa!le from http-..t rtle!each.com.

)# "dditio'al M&ltipla$er )'formatio'

Net4or6 Setti'+s
To ins re the highest level of m ltiplayer game 6 ality, yo sho ld specify yo r connection type in 3et"or4 &ettings. 3ot only does this setting determine the maFim m n m!er of players yo can host on a game, ! t it also determines the amo nt of data that yo "ill receive from other servers "hen yo are connecting to a m ltiplayer game as a player. To specify yo r net"or4 settings1. )n the (alo main screen, clic4 Setti'+s. 2. Clic4 Net4or6 Set&p. 3. &elect the appropriate connection type. I. Clic4 O0.

,irect )P Co''ectio'
$o can Ooin an 'nternet m ltiplayer game sing a specific '% address for the host server. The

host address can !e a comp ter name or n merical '% address. To Ooin a game sing /irect '%1. )n the (alo main screen, clic4 M&ltipla$er. 2. Clic4 ,irect )P nder Soin. 3. *nter the '% address for the host server. I. *nter a pass"ord ;if re6 ired=. C. Clic4 .oi' to Ooin the game. 3otes (alo remem!ers the last host address yo typed in. 'f there is no game at the specified '% address, then a MConnection ,ailedN dialog !oF is displayed. 9hen yo clic4 )A, yo are ret rned to the M ltiplayer screen. Try entering the '% address again, sing the steps a!ove. 'f that doesnRt "or4, yo sho ld contact the person hosting the game to verify the '% address for the host server.

Chec6i'+ for Dpdates

*ach time yo Ooin or create an 'nternet m ltiplayer game, (alo a tomatically chec4s for the latest pdate on the 'nternet. A dialog !oF is displayed indicating that (alo is Mchec4ing for pdates.N 'f there is an pdate availa!le, yo r c rrent game is sh t do"n, the pdate is do"nloaded and installed, and the game is restarted. 'f yo choose to cancel o t of yo r pdate, then yo are ret rned to the M ltiplayer screen. The neFt time yo attempt to Ooin or create an 'nternet m ltiplayer game, the process starts all over again. 'f there is a (alo pdate availa!le, yo m st allo" the pdate to do"nload and install if yo "ish to contin e. 'f yo "ish to man ally pdate yo r game, please visit http-..""".microsoft.com.games.halo.defa lt.asp.

.# M&ltipla$er ro&bleshooti'+
This section descri!es the 4no"n m ltiplayer iss es and "or4aro nds. Ports Dsed b$ the *ame (alo connects to the 'nternet on the follo"ing ports !y defa lt 2302 ;5/%=T>ame host listens on this port 2303 ;5/%=T>ame client connects to host thro gh this port

(alo "ill r n from !ehind most ro ters and 3et"or4 Address Translation ;3AT= devices. 'f yo have diffic lty connecting from !ehind a ro ter, yo sho ld cons lt yo r ro ter doc mentation to ens re that the ports listed a!ove are not !loc4ed for yo r %C. (alo chec4s for pdates via (TT% in the same "ay a 9e! !ro"ser "o ld. 'f yo se 9indo"s 0% &%@1, (alo can se an a to@detecta!le proFy server on yo r net"or4, ! t does not c rrently s pport man ally@set proFies. 'f yo r net"or4 re6 ires yo to man ally set yo r proFy server, please visit """.microsoft.com.games.halo to chec4 for pdates, "hich yo can do"nload man ally.

To chec4 yo r proFy settings1. 2. 3. I. C. Ea nch 'nternet *Fplorer ,rom the ools men , clic4 )'ter'et Optio's. Clic4 Co''ectio's. 'f yo connect to the 'nternet man ally, do !le@clic4 on the appropriate connection in the list at the top. 'f yo connect via a Eocal Area 3et"or4 ;EA3=, clic4 E"N Setti'+s. 5nder Pro3$ ser-er, verify that the settings are correct for proFy server that yo or yo r net"or4 administrator has set p.

'f yo are connected to the 'nternet and can reach http-..""".microsoft.com, for eFample, yo r proFy settings are correct. )' 'o':team +ames 5s&ch as Sla$er7@ all -ehicles are spa4'i'+ i' fro't of the Red (ase: $o m st select t"o of each type of vehicle to ens re that one vehicle gets placed in !oth the +ed <ase and <l e <ase. 'n non@team games, the defa lt !ase is +ed "hen vehicles are assigned. 'f there is only one type of vehicle spa"ned, then only the +ed <ase "ill !e pop lated "ith vehicles. ,ama+e:co'firmatio' beep: $o may "ant t rn off the damage@confirmation !eep in m ltiplayer games. To do this, yo m st se the /e! g Console. To activate the /e! g Console, r n (alo "ith the :co'sole command prompt ;see the Command %rompts section a!ove=, press I in the game to ena!le the /e! g Console, and then type sho&ldJpla$Jm&ltipla$erJhitJso&'d 0. D'able to <oi' a ,irect )P m&ltipla$er +ame hosted behi'd a N" de-ice or ro&ter@ or o' a' )'ter'et Co''ectio' Shari'+ 5)CS7 Ser-er i' Wi'do4s 2A Seco'd !ditio'@ Wi'do4s Me@ a'd Wi'do4s 2000: $o need to Ooin m ltiplayer games that are hosted !ehind a ro ter or on an 'C& server via the >amespy Eo!!y. D'able to <oi' a m&ltipla$er +ame 4ith a' )'ter'et Co''ectio' Shari'+ 5)CS7 Clie't o' Wi'do4s 2000 or Wi'do4s 1P: $o may have diffic lty Ooining a m ltiplayer game if a person sing a 9indo"s 2000 or 9indo"s 0% 'C& client has Ooined and eFited that game !efore yo attempt to Ooin it. D'able to bro4se for +ames o' a local area 'et4or6 5E"N7 o' a machi'e 4ith t4o 'et4or6 adaptors i' Wi'do4s 1P: $o may not !e a!le to !ro"se for m ltiplayer games on a EA3 if the t"o net"or4 connections are not config red correctly. The 'nternet m st !e config red on the first net"or4 connection, and the EA3 needs to !e config red on the second internet connection. ,or more information on config ring a net"or4 connection, clic4 Start, and then clic4 Help a'd S&pport. Microsoft (ase Statio' MNF00: (alo does not offer a tomatic 3AT negotiation of 5%n% devices s ch as the M3C00. 'f yo have diffic lties connecting to games or hosting a server !ehind this device, yo sho ld man ally set it to for"ard the re6 ired portsT2302 and 2303 ;5/%= !y defa lt Tto the '% address of the game comp ter !ehind the ro ter.