rec.autos.simulators

   I recently converted my N1 tracks to ICR2 again after my hard drive
crashed. All of the tracks work except for C***te. When I select the
track, an error message: "problem loading track" is the only information
I can get. I know that this problem is not the result of too many tracks,
though. Has anyone else had this problem?

Wes Dulaney
ICR2 Cars
http://www.racesimcentral.net/~wdulaney/main.htm

So, I found where I could get the ICR2 patch from Sierra to get the
Rendition version working (mostly), and was impressed with the frame
rate.  Although I still can't use the DMA version as with N2, it still
run's pretty well, MUCH better than the non-DMA N2.  So, I thought, I'll
shelve the buggy N2 until they fix some of the problems (fingers crossed
for the Rendition/Cyrix problem, but not holding my breath), and grab
some of the track converters, and run an IRL-type oval league with the
ICR2 Rendition version and my Nascar 1 tracks to pass the time.

Being from C***te, I tried this one first, and got the error loading
track.  Deleted one of the other tracks, thinking maybe it can only do a
certain number of tracks, and reapplied the patch, same error.  Haven't
tried any others yet (Taladega, Pocono, etc.)

Any info on the C***te/ICR2 problem, especially with the Rendition,
and any Cyrix/Rendition info on either sim would be appreciated.

Should I give up and just play GP2?  Itself not exactly free of bugs, of
course. :)

Thanx

Dave Bradley

On Mon, 21 Apr 1997 00:11:26 -0500, Robert Beard

   It's not specific to the Rendition version, just a bug in the
convertor.  I deleted your musing about the total number of tracks --
in ICR2 it seems like there is a limit of approximately 30 tracks.  If
you have more track directories available, it won't work.  If you have
one less than the limit, the game will work until you reach the bottom
of the track list and try to scroll back up one, then the game
crashes.  This is from hazy memory from about six months ago, but the
significant details should be correct. If you want to crank up
DejaNews, I probably posted something more coherent here in November.
Then again, if I just root about here in the bowels of Forte Free
Agent... (ick!)  Voila!...

----------
   I just upgraded my machine with a Reactor, P133 (from DX2/66) and
2.5G HD (from 540M).  With all of this CPU power and wide open (disk)
spaces, I went ahead and installed ICR2-3D and NASCAR, each with the
full compliment of converted tracks.  It *does* work, but there are a
few caveats...

NASCAR tracks --> ICR2-3D

* ICR2-3D will not allow any invalid track directories in its TRACKS
directory.  Every directory within the TRACKS directory must contain a
valid set of track files.

* ICR2-3D will not allow any more than 30 tracks in its TRACKS
directory.  (In fact, exactly 30 tracks causes a crash if you go down
to DONE in the track selection dialog, then try to up-arrow to the
last available track.)

* Either of the above errors results in the following error message at
start-up (from memory, not an exact quote):
"Cannot load TRACKS
Incomplete installation or insufficient memory"

* I used to change directory names (ie: DOVER to DOVER.NUL) to fool
the original ICR2 into ignoring invalid track directories.  That won't
work with ICR2-3D (I think).  Now I've got a NASCAR directory in the
main ICR2-3D directory for holding the converted track files, and move
the desired NASCAR track directory into TRACKS as I want to use them.

ICR2 tracks --> NASCAR

* The track files in ICR2-3D *are different* from the original ICR2.
I don't mean just the five new hi-res tracks (Elkhart, Laguna,
Michigan, Portland, and Phoenix), *even the old 8-bit tracks have been
slightly changed*.  The tracks in ICR2-3D *cannot* be used for
conversion to NASCAR (you will get "Error loading track" messages in
NASCAR).  You *must* use the original ICR2 tracks.

   BTW, the ICR1 Indianapolis track conversion to ICR2-3D went without
a hitch.  Hope this helps some people (and you don't waste a couple of
hours like I did).  And in another month we can start it all over
again with NASCAR2... ;)
----------

   Anything but that!  :)

Before you send me UCE, I know what you're thinking...  Did he complain
to five or six postmasters last month?  Now, you must ask yourself one
question: "Do I feel lucky?"  Well, do you, punk?

Hi Wes,

The problem may be (if I remember right) that the default.st1 file was
not copied.  Just grab a copy of it from another track and all should be
ok.

Hope this helps.
-------
Chasman

Simulator ***world
http://www.racesimcentral.net/