Command & Conquer: Red Alert 2

LATE BREAKING NEWS FROM THE FRONT

Copyright 2000 Electronic Arts Inc. All rights reserved.
Westwood Studios is an Electronic Arts brand.
September 2! 2000
"or latest news and updates visit WWW.WES#W$$%.C$&
- - TOP SECRET - -
Commander'
#han( you! )or *oining up. +our service will not go unrecogni,ed. -lease ta(e care to read the )ollowing
bulletin )rom Command .ead/uarters so that you are )ully brie)ed on the current situation. %ue to
battle)ield conditions! certain in)ormation must be (ept classi)ied until you are ready )or action.
0ood 1uc(.
22-resident &ichael %ugan
1. WI3%$WS 4564763#6&illenium
1.1. &icroso)t %irect8
1.2. &icroso)t $))ice #oolbar
1.3. Windows 3# 9.0
1.4. Windows &E
2. #:$;<1E S.$$#I30
2.1. =nown >ideo Card Issues
2.2. =nown Sound Card Issues
2.3. =nown %irect 8 Issues
2.4. 0ateway Computer ;sers
2.5. >irtual &emory Settings
2.6. =nown :eal-layer Issues
2.7. Auto-lay
2.8. ?@ bit C%2:$& drivers
2.9. C%2Changers and &ulti2%rivers
2.10. Choppy movie per)ormance
2.11. -ower Saving &ode
2.12. -eriodic Slowdown
2.13. 0ame ;pdates and -atches
2.14. Connection Speed Slider
2.?5 %ual 3etwor( Cards and I-8 Issues'
2.?@ "irewall Issues
2.?A 3etwor( Address #ranslation B3A#C 0ames'
3. 0A&E-1A+ I3"$ D ;-%A#ES
3.1. Engineers
3.2. :an(ings )or 1adders and #ournaments over Westwood $nline
3.3. Euic( &atch over Westwood $nline
1. W!"#W$ 95%98%!&%'(llen(um
1.1. '()ro*o+t "(re)t,:
Command D Con/uer' :ed Alert 2 is a &icroso)t %irect8 application. >ersion A.0 o) &icroso)t
%irect8 is included on the C% and you have the option to install it when Command D Con/uer'
:ed Alert 2 is installed.
;nder some early versions o) Windows 45! %irect8 A.0 cannot be installed directly )rom the
Command D Con/uer' :ed Alert 2 installer. I) this occurs! please run %8Setup.eFe located on
the C% in the %8Setup )older.

All &icroso)t %irect8 drivers are located in the %8Setup )older o)) o) the root o) the C%. #o
reinstall the &icroso)t %irect8 drivers go into the %8Setup )older and run %8Setup.eFe. +ou can
eFplore the C% by choosing the GEFplore the C%G option in the Auto-lay title screen.
I) you have di))iculty running Windows 45647 a)ter these new &icroso)t %irect8 drivers have
been
installed! please contact your local &icroso)t subsidiary! or write'
&icroso)t Customer Sales and Service!
$ne &icroso)t Way!
:edmond! WA 470522@44! ;SA
;SA telephone' ?2700292@24900
International telephone' HH?220@277227070
1.2. '()ro*o+t #++()e &ool-ar:
I) you ma(e use o) this )eature o) &icroso)t $))ice and it appears over the game screen when
playing Command D Con/uer' :ed Alert 2 you will have to disable the $))ice #oolbar be)ore
playing.
1.3. W(ndo.* !& 4.0:
Command D Con/uer' :ed Alert 2 re/uires Service -ac( or later versions to be installed in
order to wor( with Windows 3# 9.0. -lease contact your computer manu)acturer i) you need to
get Service -ac( .
1.4. W(ndo.* '/:
Windows &E %irect8 appears to have hardware con)licts with some 2mb video cards. #he cards
may wor( well with Windows &E itsel)! and even other games! but with :ed Alert 2 you may
eFperience blac( screen loc(ups when loading the game. #he problem may be corrected by
updating the video card driver to Windows &E compatible drivers! updating your version o)
%irect8! or upgrading to a 9mb card or higher.
2. &R#012/ $3##&!4
2.1. 5no.n 6(deo Card **ue*:
>ideo monitor settings may need to be ad*usted a)ter installing the &icroso)t %irect8 video
drivers. I) you screen distorts! or is shi)ted hori,ontally or vertically! you can return it to normal
by ad*usting the controls on your monitor.
&ost video display problems can be corrected by installing the latest drivers )or your particular
card. -lease consult your video card documentation )or details on how to get the latest drivers
)or
your card.
I) you are using the &icroso)t #heme -ac( and have selected a custom cursor! video corruption
can occur. "or best results! please use de)ault cursors while playing Command D Con/uer' :ed
Alert 2.
;sers with integrated Intel % graphic cards B2&< A0-C may eFperience re)resh
problems at high resolutions Babove @90F970C. In order to )iF this problem! modi)y the
I>I%E$J section o) the :A2.I3I )ile located in the :A2 root directory to include'
6(deo1a)71u++er8no
B#his also includes any users with low end video cards! eFperiencing any trails or re)resh
problems at any resolutionC
2.2. 5no.n $ound Card **ue*:
$ld Sound<laster AWE @9 and AWE 2 sound card drivers can cause s(ipping and repeating
sound that may cause your computer to run Command D Con/uer' :ed Alert 2 much slower than
normal. I) you have one o) these sound cards and are eFperiencing these symptoms! please
contact your card manu)acturer )or latest drivers.
Audio may stutter on certain systems running Windows 3#. #o correct this problem you must
install the latest audio driver )or your sound card.
&ost sound card problems can be corrected by installing the latest drivers )or your particular
card.
-lease consult your sound card documentation )or details on how to get the latest drivers.
I) you are using ;S< spea(ers! do not turn o)) the spea(ers during gameplay. %oing so may
cause your system to become unstable and even crash.
2.3. 5no.n "(re)t, **ue*:
I) another application is using the sound card while trying to install or run the game! a G%8Sound
ErrorG will appear. I) this error occurs! please close all applications and run the install or game
again.
2.4. 4ate.a9 Com:uter 0*er*:
I) you are using a 0ateway computer with G0ateway 0o<ac(G so)tware by Wild"ile running in the
bac(ground! you may eFperience loc(ups in :ed Alert 2. 0o<ac( is loaded in the Windows
system tray Bby the cloc(C and represented by two yellow arrows. #o close out 0o<ac(! right clic(
on the double yellow arrows in the system tray! and select close. It is recommended that you
close all programs running in the bac(ground be)ore starting :ed Alert 2.
2.5. 6(rtual 'emor9 $ett(n;*:
Command D Con/uer' :ed Alert 2 may need to use more :A& than is present on your system.
Windows 45647 automatically ta(es care o) this by using what is (nown as G>irtual &emoryG 2
which uses space on your hard dis( to simulate the memory it needs and swaps data bac( and
)orth )rom your hard dis( as re/uired. Windows 45647 allows you to manually set the amount o)
hard drive space it uses )or >irtual &emory' WE .I0.1+ :EC$&&E3% #.A# +$; %$ 3$#
%$ #.ISK #o let Windows 45647 manage the >irtual &emory! go to the Windows 45647 start
menu! select LsettingsMcontrol panelL! then double2clic( LsystemL! clic( Lper)ormanceM)ile
systemMvirtual memoryL and then select L1et Windows manage my virtual memory settings
BrecommendedC.L
2.6. 5no.n Real<la9er **ue*:
:eal-layer seems to have a con)lict with the movie player used in :ed Alert 2. With
:eal-layerLs GStart CenterG )eature enabled Bwhich seems to (eep :eal-layer resident in
some )ormC we have )ound stability issues when eFiting :ed Alert 2 as it goes to the
des(top.
2.7. Auto<la9:
I) your C% does not Auto-lay when inserted in the drive! you may have this )eature disabled. #o
Enable Auto-lay! right clic( on L&y ComputerL and select L-ropertiesL then L%evice &anagerL.
Select your C%2:$& drive and clic( L-ropertiesL. Select LSettingsL and chec( the LAuto insert
noti)icationL boF.
2.8. 16 -(t C"-R#' dr(=er*:
Command D Con/uer' :ed Alert 2 may )ail to start i) there is a ?@ bit C%2:$& driver loaded
)rom the A;#$E8EC.<A# or C$3"I0.S+S. I) you have re)erences to &SC%E8 or e/uivalent
drivers then try removing them )rom your autoeFec.bat and con)ig.sys )iles. Windows 45647 does
not generally need these drivers to wor( and in most cases will actually per)orm better without
them.
2.9. C"-C>an;er* and 'ult(-"r(=er*:
Command D Con/uer' :ed Alert 2 does not support multiple C%2:$& drives or C%2changers
and assumes that you only have one C%2:$& drive. I) you have more than one C%2:$& drive!
you should insert the Command D Con/uer' :ed Alert 2 C% in the )irst C% drive letter. "or
eFample! i) you have C% drives E'! "' and 0'! your Command D Con/uer' :ed Alert 2 C%
should
be inserted into the E' drive.
2.10. C>o::9 mo=(e :er+orman)e:
I) you )ind that the movie per)ormance is choppy or *er(y! try reducing the Windows 45647 C%
caching by going to the Start6Settings6Control -anel and double2clic(ing the System applet. In
the
System -roperties dialog! clic( the -er)ormance tab and then clic( the "ile System button. "rom
the "ile System -roperties dialog! clic( the C%2:$& tab and note the Supplemental Cache Si,e
setting Bso that you can reset the cache si,e i) need beC. 3ow set the Supplemental Cache Si,e
to
Small. #his should have a mar(ed e))ect on movie per)ormance.
+ou can also try ad*usting your detail settings in the $ptions &enu. 1ow %etail will remove
e))ects
li(e water wa(es behind ships! smo(e and e))ect lines. :ed Alert 2 will also dynamically remove
animations in certain situations on low spec machines to ensure a high /uality game
per)ormance.
2.11. <o.er $a=(n; 'ode*:
It is possible that your computer loses connection to your IS- due to long periods o) inactivity.
Sometimes this is caused by the sleep mode in your G-ower SavingG options. #his can cause
problems during game play or when connected to Westwood $nline. #o avoid any problems
please disable your screen saver or power2saving modes when running the game.
2.12. <er(od() $lo.do.n*:
I) periodic slowdowns occur while playing Command D Con/uer' :ed Alert 2 and the C% is not
being accessed please insure that there are no other applications running during your game
session. #his includes anti2virus so)tware.
2.13. 4ame 0:date* and <at)>e*:
Command D Con/uer' :ed Alert 2 contains an auto2updating )eature. ;pdated versions o) the
game will be announced to you when playing Command D Con/uer' :ed Alert 2 on Westwood
$nline. When an updated version o) the game is available you will be able to receive it and
automatically have it installed! i) you wish. I) you do not intend to play Command D Con/uer'
:ed
Alert 2 on Westwood $nline then please chec( www.westwood.com )or update in)ormation.
2.14. Conne)t(on $:eed $l(der:
:ed Alert 2 has a game2latency tolerance setting in the 0ame $ptions screen that allows players
to increase the tolerance o) networ( latency on laggy connections )or internet gaming. #o ad*ust!
move the slider to the appropriate setting. "or eFample! i) you are connecting over a modem! the
best setting )or you would be G3ormalG or G-oorG. I) you are connecting over a broadband
connection BCable &odem or %S1C! move the slider to G"astG. #his attempts to match your
system
with your connection )or pea( per)ormance. &oving the slider )rom -oor or 3ormal to "ast can
have an adverse e))ect on game per)ormance.
2.15. "ual !et.or7 Card* and <, **ue*:
I) you have two networ( cards in your computer and both have the I-8 protocol bound to them!
you can use the G3etwor( $ptionsG to choose the card which youLd li(e to use. 3ote' on some
Windows 45 and 47 systems and in some con)igurations! :ed Alert 2 canLt see your second
networ( card. A wor(around to this problem is to disable your primary card in Windows device
manager and reboot. :ed Alert 2 should success)ully see and utili,e your second networ( card.
-lease re)er to your Windows documentation )or more in)ormation on how to disable your
primary
networ( card.
2.16. ?(re.all **ue*:
I) you are playing :ed Alert 2 behind a )irewall and wish to host a game! you must open
the )ollowing ports' -ort ?29! ?25! ?2@! ?2A. #hese ports use the ;%- protocol. I)
you do not (now how to con)igure your )irewall consult your )irewall documentation or
contact your system administrator or Internet -rovider.
2.17. !et.or7 Addre** &ran*lat(on @!A&A 4ame*:
I) your networ( is using 3etwor( Address #ranslation! two or more users behind the
3A#Ld )irewall will be unable to play in the same game. #hey will! however! be able to
play in di))erent games.
3. 4A'/<2AB !?# & 0<"A&/$
3.1. /n;(neer*:
Engineers Band Engineers in I">sC can be placed in 0uard mode! li(e any other unit. When in
guard mode! engineers automatically heal any nearby player owned structures that are damaged
into the red or capture nearby enemy buildings.
3.2. Ran7(n;* +or 2adder* and &ournament* o=er We*t.ood #nl(ne:
Westwood o))ers many opportunities )or players to test their mettle against the best players in
the
world. Chec( out Westwood.com )or the latest brea(ing news. :an(ings )or 1adders and
#ournaments in :ed Alert to are de)aulted to GShort 0amesG
3.3. Cu()7 'at)> o=er We*t.ood #nl(ne:
:ed Alert 2 o))ers players an easy way to meet players on the battle)ield. Simply try the GEuic(
&atchG selection in Westwood $nline. #his option will try to match players o) similar ran(ing!
similar ping times BInternet connection latency to other playersC! location and system specs.