rec.autos.simulators

I assuming of course that you have checked Papy's site http://www.racesimcentral.net/
They have posted information regarding the RAID boards and file name truncation.

But that would probably be like reading a manual first <VBG>

Ok Eric, I am still confused as I am *no* pc guru and I hope Sierra
{Or who'whom'ever} will have a readme.txt to walk me through the
process! It is furstrating when you already have a sim type program
working perfectly & then *poof!* nothing!! At this point I am not a
huge fan of Sierra but I understand you're taking the heat for others
within Sierra {to me} Didnt! do their jobs! Sorry but this is the way
I feel & deservedly so IMO!! -Thom_j.

| The patch uses an updated version of Sony's SecuROM protection, which
| has since been found to have problems on some systems with HTP370 RAID
| controllers.  Sony and HighPoint are both aware of the problem, and are
| working together on a solution.  Its unknown at the time whether it will
| be a driver update for the HTP370, or an update to the SecuROM
| protection, or perhaps even both.
|
| I'm not sure what address you might be using, but there is no email at
| Papy for tech support.  All such issues and concerns should be directed
| to Sierra instead.
|
| - Eric
|
|


| > I am lost then Eric?? Why Or What does Highpoint or Sony have to
| > do to make a Sierra product run correctly? It ran fine with 1.1 patch!
| > please re: & inform.. Thom_j.
| > P.S. btw: I never knew you didn't reply via your email address but
| > neither did Papy or Sierra! A bit disappointing in my opinion!!
|
|

Been here several times Bob but maybe you can help? I run an AbitSA6R
mobo, Is this considered a RAID type board? As stated in my prior post
I am *no* pc guru!! Any/All help appreciated & welcome! Tia.. Thom_j.

| I assuming of course that you have checked Papy's site
http://www.papy.com/
| They have posted information regarding the RAID boards and file name
truncation.
|
| But that would probably be like reading a manual first <VBG>
|
|
| > Since ive installed this patch ive had nothing but trouble.. I cant even
get
| > the game started anymore:(
| > its got something to do with raid boards,and lack of testing and
| > communication....after installing it 10 times and a fresh format of my
HD i
| > gave up:((
| > shame coz i liked N4 and was just getting used to it:))
| >
| > so come on Papy sort this out fast:))
| >
| > daz
| >


| > > I'm probably naive, but what's the problem?
| > >
| > > Todd
| > >


| > > > is Papy ever going to sort the patch problem out??
| > > > or do we have to look for a new game to play and stuff Papy:)
| > > >
| > > > just asking
| > > >
| > > > daz
| > > >
| > > >
| > >
| > >
|

Only thing I've noticed is it seems the AI cars crash more often.

--
-------------------------------------------
Morgan Vincent Wooten
http://personal.lig.bellsouth.net/~mvwooten
-------------------------------------------

I sympathize with you, and I understand that as a consumer you really
don't care why something doesn't work or who's to blame, just that it
doesn't work on your system.  I really wish there was something I or
Papy or even Sierra could do to fix it, but unfortunately we're in the
unenviable position of having to wait on a fix from Sony and/or
Highpoint.  You may not need to do anything other than redownload an
updated patch (that's if Sony fixes it), but it's possible you may need
to update your HTP370 drivers (that's if HighPoint fixes it).  If the
latter is the case, I'm sure HighPoint will be able to give all of the
necessary installation information.

- Eric

CART SIM PLEASE ERIC FROM PAPY!!!!

Thank you for the info Eric, I know I kinda' bit your head off but as you
state, I just want it to run ok. Luckily tho the timing wasnt too bad on my
end as I have reimmersed myself back into my music so it helps me with
my wrotten temper.. Music does soothe the "savage beast!" :)
Cheers Thom_j.

| I sympathize with you, and I understand that as a consumer you really
| don't care why something doesn't work or who's to blame, just that it
| doesn't work on your system.  I really wish there was something I or
| Papy or even Sierra could do to fix it, but unfortunately we're in the
| unenviable position of having to wait on a fix from Sony and/or
| Highpoint.  You may not need to do anything other than redownload an
| updated patch (that's if Sony fixes it), but it's possible you may need
| to update your HTP370 drivers (that's if HighPoint fixes it).  If the
| latter is the case, I'm sure HighPoint will be able to give all of the
| necessary installation information.
|
| - Eric
|
|


| > Ok Eric, I am still confused as I am *no* pc guru and I hope Sierra
| > {Or who'whom'ever} will have a readme.txt to walk me through the
| > process! It is furstrating when you already have a sim type program
| > working perfectly & then *poof!* nothing!! At this point I am not a
| > huge fan of Sierra but I understand you're taking the heat for others
| > within Sierra {to me} Didnt! do their jobs! Sorry but this is the way
| > I feel & deservedly so IMO!! -Thom_j.
|
|

Bored with lawnmovers already?

--
Cheers,

Robin Lord - Trance DJ & Sim Racer.

http://www.oppositelock.co.uk

Nrburgring and Grand Prix Legends
(yeah it needs updating I know...)

Hi Thom,

if you look at the following product description:

http://www.motherboards.com/catalog/product_info.php?category_id=4&in...
7&subcategory_id=&products_id=307&

You will see that this board has RAID support.

Have a look at the 4 IDE-Connectors on the right side of the board.
the blue ones are 2 standard ultra-ata 100 ide connectors, the orange
ones are 2 ultra-ata 100 raid connectors.

it may help to switch your cd-rom/harddisk cables to the blue ones,
because these seem to have no RAID function.

but consider this just a hint, i do not have know anything about this
board apart from the product description.

Joachim

Joachim,
I appreciate your helpful reply Joachim, but if I *have to* start ripping
my 'computer' apart for just one program out of over 200+{and many
of my programs are extremely computer taxing aka hungry} I have on
my three 30gig HDs then something must be wrong with the 1.3patch
not my system! {imo} Also I never had problems with the 1.1patch!!
Odd!!..dont you think? Again thank you, Thom_j.

| Hi Thom,
|
| if you look at the following product description:
|
|
http://www.motherboards.com/catalog/product_info.php?category_id=4&in...
| 7&subcategory_id=&products_id=307&
|
| You will see that this board has RAID support.
|
| Have a look at the 4 IDE-Connectors on the right side of the board.
| the blue ones are 2 standard ultra-ata 100 ide connectors, the orange
| ones are 2 ultra-ata 100 raid connectors.
|
| it may help to switch your cd-rom/harddisk cables to the blue ones,
| because these seem to have no RAID function.
|
| but consider this just a hint, i do not have know anything about this
| board apart from the product description.
|
| Joachim
|


| > Been here several times Bob but maybe you can help? I run an AbitSA6R
| > mobo, Is this considered a RAID type board? As stated in my prior post
| > I am *no* pc guru!! Any/All help appreciated & welcome! Tia.. Thom_j.
|
|

Thom,

off course this is odd. But so are computers... ;-)

But if you do not use the raid function of your controller, which i
assume due to your question, just what would loose? your 2 ide conrollers
should be equally fast (both ata 100), but the one you have connected your
drives to (i assume) gives you the raid option which you do not use. (i
would use the term "changing the configuration" instead of "ripping
apart" ;-).)

From what i know, the problem lies within the drivers of certain raid
controllers in conjunction with the new sony cd protection code (which
was introduced with the new patch).

changing cables to the other controller is work of about 5 minutes which
*may* solve your problem. i would say *may*, because both ide controllers
*may* use the same driver and the problem would be persistant.

the other solution would be to wait for new drivers/a new patch from either
your conroller manufacturer or papyrus respectively. but since the security
stuff is controlled and applied by sony, not by papyrus it is not the task
of papyrus to apply new code to the patch, but to ask sony: "please use your
old protection code or provide a better code, please."

Important:
If you use 3 HD's and one CD-ROM drive you are using 4 ide channels. If all
your IDE connectors are already used (1 drive per controller), then please
*don't* think of switching cables, you will definitely run into problems.
My hint only applies, if only the orange ones are used and the blue ones
are empty. You should then change the orange primary cable to the blue
primary
and secondary respectively.

Joachim.

Is your CD ROM hooked up to the RAID controller?  If so, that's
definitely not recommended by Highpoint.  Also, are you actually using a
RAID configuration for your hard drives?  If not, and you have 4 or
fewer IDE devices, there's no reason at all to use the HighPoint
controller.  You'd be better off using the board's normal ATA100
controller.

- Eric

Again thank you Joachim,
I understand everything you have so concisely detailed' and well written
"but" {yes theres a but!} I firstly am not happy going into my computer
doing this,  Secondly I have my *Local Guru shop* do all my hardware
work as with all the junk I have installed {hardware&software} its better
for my peace of mind to let them do all the work so if anything does go
wrong it is their butts not mine! They also are extremely nice about any
complaints or changes/upgrades I want without any benchtime charges
either..
I have no idea 'how many or what cables' are connected to my 3 HDs
and my CD but I wont tear it down just to find out that it *may* work.
Again thank you but I guess I'll wait.. If it becomes too long of a wait
I'll just sell Nascar 4 and forget all of this mess as the aggravation isnt
worth it to me.. Cheers Thom_j.

| Thom,
|
| off course this is odd. But so are computers... ;-)
|
| But if you do not use the raid function of your controller, which i
| assume due to your question, just what would loose? your 2 ide conrollers
| should be equally fast (both ata 100), but the one you have connected your
| drives to (i assume) gives you the raid option which you do not use. (i
| would use the term "changing the configuration" instead of "ripping
| apart" ;-).)
|
| From what i know, the problem lies within the drivers of certain raid
| controllers in conjunction with the new sony cd protection code (which
| was introduced with the new patch).
|
| changing cables to the other controller is work of about 5 minutes which
| *may* solve your problem. i would say *may*, because both ide controllers
| *may* use the same driver and the problem would be persistant.
|
| the other solution would be to wait for new drivers/a new patch from
either
| your conroller manufacturer or papyrus respectively. but since the
security
| stuff is controlled and applied by sony, not by papyrus it is not the task
| of papyrus to apply new code to the patch, but to ask sony: "please use
your
| old protection code or provide a better code, please."
|
| Important:
| If you use 3 HD's and one CD-ROM drive you are using 4 ide channels. If
all
| your IDE connectors are already used (1 drive per controller), then please
| *don't* think of switching cables, you will definitely run into problems.
| My hint only applies, if only the orange ones are used and the blue ones
| are empty. You should then change the orange primary cable to the blue
| primary
| and secondary respectively.
|
|
| Joachim.
|


| > Joachim,
| > I appreciate your helpful reply Joachim, but if I *have to* start
ripping
| > my 'computer' apart for just one program out of over 200+{and many
| > of my programs are extremely computer taxing aka hungry} I have on
| > my three 30gig HDs then something must be wrong with the 1.3patch
| > not my system! {imo} Also I never had problems with the 1.1patch!!
| > Odd!!..dont you think? Again thank you, Thom_j.
|
|

As I just stated in my prior post to Joachim, Eric I have no idea what
is hooked to what? My Local Gurus' do all my hardware work! Now
to address your helpful comments, How do I find this out *Without*
tearing down my 'full' tower? If I can find this out via my bios setup
or within my Windows98SE then this is something I *can* do!! :)
Please re: & inform!! Thom_j.

| Is your CD ROM hooked up to the RAID controller?  If so, that's
| definitely not recommended by Highpoint.  Also, are you actually using a
| RAID configuration for your hard drives?  If not, and you have 4 or
| fewer IDE devices, there's no reason at all to use the HighPoint
| controller.  You'd be better off using the board's normal ATA100
| controller.
|
| - Eric
|
|


| > Joachim,
| > I appreciate your helpful reply Joachim, but if I *have to* start
| ripping
| > my 'computer' apart for just one program out of over 200+{and many
| > of my programs are extremely computer taxing aka hungry} I have on
| > my three 30gig HDs then something must be wrong with the 1.3patch
| > not my system! {imo} Also I never had problems with the 1.1patch!!
| > Odd!!..dont you think? Again thank you, Thom_j.
|
|

Thom,

i use windows 2000 german, so descriptions will differ.

go to the device manager in win98

choose "devices by connection" as view (i am not sure if this is
 available in w98, but it provides better finding only)

look for branches with IDE (or ata100, or harddisk icon) as description

open all those branches and see what devices are connected to which
 ide-controller. only harddisks and cd-roms are interesting

Joachim