"Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary" is a spectacularly remastered version of the original "Halo" campaign, created in celebration of the 10th anniversary of one of the most beloved franchises in gaming history. With a bounty of new features including cooperative play over Xbox LIVE, a bundle of some of the most beloved multiplayer maps in "Halo" history reimagined for Xbox LIVE, new challenges and a new story to uncover.
Halo: Combat Evolved Demo for Win32.
Microsoft Halo for the PC Readme File
September 2003
© Microsoft Corporation, 2001–2003. All rights reserved.
Welcome to Halo for the PC!
This file contains information to help you troubleshoot issues with Halo® for
the PC. You can find information on Microsoft® Product Support Services in the
printed or online manual.
Note: If Halo came installed on your computer as an OEM version, contact the
manufacturer of the computer or other hardware it was bundled with for product
support. Refer to the documentation that came with your computer or hardware
for the product support telephone number.
For the latest support and troubleshooting information, please visit
Microsoft.com.
CONTENTS
A. System Requirements
B. Installation
Installing Halo
Installing DirectX 9.0b
SafeDisc Issues
C. Getting Help
Viewing the Online Print Pieces
D. Command Prompt
E. Configuration Issues
F. 3D Card Issues
G. 3D Card Drivers and Manufacturers
H. Audio Troubleshooting
I. Additional Multiplayer Information
Default Ports
Network Settings
Direct IP Connection
Checking for Updates
J. Multiplayer Troubleshooting
A. System Requirements
Halo requires a personal computer with the following minimum requirements.
* Multimedia personal computer with a 733 MHz or higher processor.
* Windows 98 Second Edition, Windows Me, Windows 2000 Service Pack 1, or
Windows XP.
* 128 Megabytes (MB) of RAM.
* 1.3 GB of available hard disk space.
* 8× CD-ROM drive.
* 32 MB 3D hardware-transform-and-lighting-capable video display.
* Keyboard and Microsoft Mouse or compatible pointing device.
* Sound card and speakers or headphones.
* DirectX 9.0b (included on CD; see below for installation instructions).
* 56 Kbps modem or LAN for online network play. Broadband required to run
a server.
B. Installation
If your computer does not automatically install Halo after the CD is inserted
into the CD-ROM drive, perform the following procedure.
To install Halo manually
1. On the Windows taskbar, click Start, and then click Run.
2. Type x:\setup, where x is the letter of your CD-ROM drive, and then
click OK.
For example, if your CD-ROM drive letter is D, type d:\setup.
3. Click Install, and then follow the instructions that appear on the
screen.
Installing DirectX 9.0b
If for some reason DirectX 9.0b was not installed with the game, use the
following procedure to install it manually.
To install DirectX 9.0b manually
1. Insert the Halo Disc in the CD-ROM drive.
2. In Windows Explorer, double-click the CD-ROM drive and then the DirectX
folder.
3. Double-click Dxsetup.exe, and then follow the instructions that appear
on the screen.
You must restart your computer when installation is complete.
If you experience video or sound problems using DirectX, always check with your
video or sound card manufacturer for the latest DirectX-compatible drivers, or
go to Support.microsoft.com for the latest
troubleshooting information.
SafeDisc Issues
The Halo copy-protection software, SafeDisc, requires that the game be
installed from the CD; you cannot copy files from the CD to the computer and
then install from the computer's hard drive.
SafeDisc with Software
SafeDisc is incompatible with some software, which includes the following.
McAfee (Network Associates) Nuts & Bolts: Nuts & Bolts causes the game to fail
if the Bomb Shelter utility is in a certain configuration. The following steps
allow SafeDisc-protected products to be used:
1. Maximize Bomb Shelter.
2. In the Bomb Shelter dialog box, click Properties.
3. In the Error Protection group, click Advanced.
4. In the Advanced Properties tab, deselect the Write Protect VMM check
box.
5. Click Apply or OK, and then click OK on all subsequent screens.
C. Getting Help
You can get help for Halo in the following ways:
* For an overview of the game as well as for information about getting
started and playing the game, see the Halo printed manual. The manual is also
available in PDF format on the Halo CD.
* Visit the Support Center Games Web site
(http://support.microsoft.com/?pr=gms) to view top support issues,
product-specific content, and other related resources for playing games.
Additionally, to help you troubleshoot issues associated with game setup,
performance, multiplayer networking, sound, video, or your game controller,
visit one of the Troubleshooting Resource Centers available on the site.
Viewing the Online Print Pieces
Adobe® Reader® (http://www.adobe.com/) allows you to view and print the online
versions of the Halo manual, which are located in the Manuals folder as .pdf
files.
Copyright © 2003 Adobe Systems Incorporated. All rights reserved.
Adobe, the Adobe logo, and Reader are either registered trademarks or
trademarks of Adobe Systems Incorporated in the United States and/or other
countries.
D. Command Prompt
You can run Halo from a Windows command prompt (e.g., C:\Program
Files\Microsoft Games\Halo\Halo.exe). The following is a list of arguments you
may use running Halo from a command prompt entering “halo.exe –argument.”
-?
Displays a list of all arguments.
-nosound
Disables all sound.
-novideo
Disables video playback.
-nojoystick
Disables joystick/gamepads.
-nogamma
Disables adjustment of gamma.
-useff
Forces the game to run as a fixed function card.
-use11
Forces the game to run as a shader 1.1 card.
-use20
Forces the game to run as a shader 2.0 card.
-safemode
Disables as much as possible from the game.
-window
Runs the game in a window.
-width640
Forces the game to run at 640x480.
-vidmode w,h,r
Forces the game to run at width, height, refresh rate.
-adapter x
Forces the game to run fullscreen on a multimon adaptor.
-port x
Server port address used when hosting games.
-cport x
Client port address used when joining games.
-ip x.x.x.x
Server IP address used when you have multiple IP addresses.
-screenshot
Enables the "Print Screen" key to generate screenshots
-timedemo
Runs four movies and writes out timedemo.txt.
-console
Enables the debugging console.
Notes:
? A number of these command prompt arguments are used by PSS to
troubleshoot problems.
? Many of the command prompt arguments mirror functionality available
from within the standard Halo user interface.
E. Configuration Issues
Known hardware and operating system configuration issues are listed in this
section. For issues with specific 3D cards, see section F, "3D Card Issues."
For assistance with top performance issues, visit
Support.microsoft.com.
Performance may be poor after standby or suspend mode: If you manually or
automatically put your computer on standby or suspend mode while playing the
game, performance may be poor when you come out of standby or suspend mode and
resume the game: music and sounds may not be heard, transitions may be choppy,
or the game may hang. To resolve, restart the game.
Enable direct memory access (DMA) in your IDE controller on Windows 98 Second
Edition and Windows Millennium Edition: When you enable DMA on your computer,
you improve the game performance and stability.
To enable DMA:
1. Close all programs that are running on your computer.
2. Click Start, point to Settings, and then click Control Panel.
3. Double-click System.
4. Click the Device Manager tab.
5. Click the PLUS SIGN (+) next to Disk Drives.
6. Click IDE/Disk (hard drive), and then click Properties.
7. On the Settings tab, select DMA.
8. Click OK, and then click OK again.
9. Restart the computer.
NOTE: When you enable DMA, you increase the access speed to the CD-ROM drive
and the hard disk. Some drivers do not support DMA access. If the DMA check box
remains selected after you restart your computer, DMA access is supported.
Run in server mode, rather than workstation mode in Windows 98 Second Edition
and Widows Millennium Edition: When you enable server mode, you improve game
performance.
To run in server mode:
1. Right-click on My Computer and select Properties.
2. Click the Performance tab.
3. Click File System.
4. Select Network Server as the typical role of the PC.
Make sure that your speaker mode is set to match the type of speaker output on
your computer: This situation might occur if you switch back and forth from
listening to headphones and listening to 4.1/5.1 speakers. Having the
incorrect speaker mode set will cause 3D sounds to be heard incorrectly or not
at all.
To set your speaker mode:
1. Click Start, point to Settings, and then click Control Panel.
2. Click on Sounds and Multimedia (Windows 98/Me) or Sounds and Audio
Devices (Windows 2000/XP).
3. Under Speaker settings, click on the Advanced.
4. Select the speaker setup that matches your current speaker setup.
5. Click OK, and then click OK again.
If your sound card also came with its own software for setting speaker
settings, ensure that these settings are also correct.
F. 3D Card Issues
Halo only supports DirectX 9.0b-compliant video cards. It is good practice to
always install the latest certified drivers for all of your hardware.
For assistance with top video issues, visit
Support.microsoft.com.
ATI Radeon 9800 PRO 128: You may experience inconsistent graphic performance
with textures if you set the Mipmap Detail Level in the ATI Direct3D Control
Panel to any setting except High Quality.
NVIDIA Video Cards and FSAA Modes: You may experience difficulties running Halo
using NVIDIA video cards in any of the FSAA modes. If you are having a problem,
you should disable the FSAA mode for the NVIDIA video card.
Via Motherboard Chipsets: If you have a Via brand motherboard, you may need to
update to the latest “4-in-1” motherboard chipset drivers to avoid crashes.
G. 3D Card Drivers and Manufacturers
Make sure that you have the latest drivers from the manufacturer of your video
card. Many video issues will be resolved if you install your video card's
latest drivers. Halo may not properly detect some older video cards because
their video drivers are not DirectX 9.0b-compliant. Contact your video card
manufacturer for updated drivers, or install the latest reference drivers for
your video board. Note that many reference drivers are not supported by the
chipset manufacturer. Listed below are some common video card manufacturers'
Web sites.
NOTE: Use Windows Update (http://windowsupdate.microsoft.com/) to ensure that
you are using the latest drivers and have the latest updates to your operating
system.
For specific video card drivers, visit the manufacturer’s web site.
H. Audio Troubleshooting
Check with your sound card manufacturer for the latest DirectX-compatible
drivers.
Following are the known audio issues and workarounds:
Users running Windows 98Second Edition and Windows Me: You should run Windows
Update to ensure that you have downloaded all critical updates as well as all
the recommended updates. Otherwise, you may have sound problems such as the
weapon volume shifting in and out.
Aureal Vortex: The audio may not function with Aureal sound cards. To resolve
this issue, turn off the hardware acceleration. From the Start menu, point to
Settings, and then choose Control Panel. Double-click Sounds and Audio Devices
and select the Audio tab. Click the Advanced button in the Sound Playback
section and then click the Performance tab. Move the Hardware Acceleration
slider to None and click Apply.
Hercules Game Theater XP sound card in Windows 98Second Edition: Stuttering and
sound distortion may occur using the Hercules Game Theater XP sound card and
Windows 98 Second Edition. See “Enable direct memory access (DMA) in your IDE
controller on Windows 98 Second Edition” in section E, “Configuration Issues.”
Hercules Game Theater XP sound card in Windows XP Professional: The audio may
not function correctly at all times with the Hercules Game Theater XP sounds
card. For example, grenade sound effects may play too low. You should make sure
you have installed the latest DirectX-compatible drivers for your sound card.
Realtek ALC650 sound card in Windows XP Home: Halo may not function correctly
using the Realtek ALC650 sound card in Windows XP if you enable EAX sound in
the game.
Montego II Quadzilla sound card in Windows 2000: The audio may not function
correctly at all times with the Montego II Quadzilla sound card. You should
make sure you have installed the Montego II Quadzilla Windows NT 4.0 drivers.
Information on installing the drivers is available from
Turtlebeach.com.
I. Additional Multiplayer Information
Network Settings
To insure the highest level of multiplayer game quality, you should specify
your connection type in Network Settings. Not only does this setting determine
the maximum number of players you can host on a game, but it also determines
the amount of data that you will receive from other servers when you are
connecting to a multiplayer game as a player.
To specify your network settings:
1. On the Halo main screen, click Settings.
2. Click Network Setup.
3. Select the appropriate connection type.
4. Click OK.
Direct IP Connection
You can join an Internet multiplayer game using a specific IP address for the
host server. The host address can be a computer name or numerical IP address.
To join a game using Direct IP:
1. On the Halo main screen, click Multiplayer.
2. Click Direct IP under Join.
3. Enter the IP address for the host server.
4. Enter a password (if required).
5. Click Join to join the game.
Notes:
* Halo remembers the last host address you typed in.
* If there is no game at the specified IP address, then a “Connection
Failed” dialog box is displayed. When you click OK, you are returned to the
Multiplayer screen. Try entering the IP address again, using the steps above.
If that doesn’t work, you should contact the person hosting the game to verify
the IP address for the host server.
Checking for Updates
Each time you join or create an Internet multiplayer game, Halo automatically
checks for the latest update on the Internet. A dialog box is displayed
indicating that Halo is “checking for updates.” If there is an update
available, your current game is shut down, the update is downloaded and
installed, and the game is restarted.
If you choose to cancel out of your update, then you are returned to the
Multiplayer screen. The next time you attempt to join or create an Internet
multiplayer game, the process starts all over again. If there is a Halo update
available, you must allow the update to download and install if you wish to
continue. If you wish to manually update your game, please visit
Microsoft.com.
J. Multiplayer Troubleshooting
This section describes the known multiplayer issues and workarounds.
Ports Used by the Game
Halo connects to the Internet on the following ports by default:
? 2302 (UDP)—Game host listens on this port
? 2303 (UDP)—Game client connects to host through this port
Halo will run from behind most routers and Network Address Translation (NAT)
devices. If you have difficulty connecting from behind a router, you should
consult your router documentation to ensure that the ports listed above are not
blocked for your PC.
Halo checks for updates via HTTP in the same way a Web browser would. If you
use Windows XP SP-1, Halo can use an auto-detectable proxy server on your
network, but does not currently support manually-set proxies. If your network
requires you to manually set your proxy server, please visit
www.microsoft.com/games/halo to check for updates, which you can download
manually.
To check your proxy settings:
1. Launch Internet Explorer
2. From the Tools menu, click Internet Options.
3. Click Connections.
4. If you connect to the Internet manually, double-click on the
appropriate connection in the list at the top. If you connect via a Local Area
Network (LAN), click LAN Settings.
5. Under Proxy server, verify that the settings are correct for proxy
server that you or your network administrator has set up.
If you are connected to the Internet and can reach Microsoft.com,
for example, your proxy settings are correct.
In non-team games (such as Slayer), all vehicles are spawning in front of the
Red Base: You must select two of each type of vehicle to ensure that one
vehicle gets placed in both the Red Base and Blue Base. In non-team games, the
default base is Red when vehicles are assigned. If there is only one type of
vehicle spawned, then only the Red Base will be populated with vehicles.
Damage-confirmation beep: You may want turn off the damage-confirmation beep in
multiplayer games. To do this, you must use the Debug Console. To activate the
Debug Console, run Halo with the -console command prompt (see the Command
Prompts section above), press ~ in the game to enable the Debug Console, and
then type should_play_multiplayer_hit_sound 0.
Unable to join a Direct IP multiplayer game hosted behind a NAT device or
router, or on an Internet Connection Sharing (ICS) Server in Windows 98 Second
Edition, Windows Me, and Windows 2000: You need to join multiplayer games that
are hosted behind a router or on an ICS server via the Gamespy Lobby.
Unable to join a multiplayer game with an Internet Connection Sharing (ICS)
Client on Windows 2000 or Windows XP: You may have difficulty joining a
multiplayer game if a person using a Windows 2000 or Windows XP ICS client has
joined and exited that game before you attempt to join it.
Unable to browse for games on a local area network (LAN) on a machine with two
network adaptors in Windows XP: You may not be able to browse for multiplayer
games on a LAN if the two network connections are not configured correctly. The
Internet must be configured on the first network connection, and the LAN needs
to be configured on the second internet connection. For more information on
configuring a network connection, click Start, and then click Help and Support.
Microsoft Base Station MN500: Halo does not offer automatic NAT negotiation of
UPnP devices such as the MN500. If you have difficulties connecting to games or
hosting a server behind this device, you should manually set it to forward the
required ports—2302 and 2303 (UDP) by default—to the IP address of the game
computer behind the router.