| Space
Quest 4 Fixes
Just use ScummVM?
ScummVM now supports all versions of Space Quest IV (not counting fan patches, like the NewRisingSun patch). This fixes all known timer bugs.
Problems
running SQ4 on Windows 2000, ME, NT and XP?
If you're
having problems running Space Quest 4 on a modern computer,
try DOSBox.
It's a program that emulates the DOS environment.
On modern
computers running NT-based Windows versions (2000, ME, NT and
XP), it's likely you run into many different sound problems.
A program called VDMSound
might be able to fix 99% of these problems. It emulates the
good old sound blaster card, which is perfect for the Space
Quest games. VDMSound is free to use, so download a copy and
give it a try.
If you think
your Windows version of SQ4 has messed up music, go into your
SQ4 windows directory and look for the file called "sierra.ini".
Open it with Notepad. There should be a line in there that says
"synthtype=basesynth". Change "basesynth"
to "highsynth". Save the file, and your music in SQ4
Windows will be fixed.
You'll probably
get much better sound if you change the sound driver of SQ4
to General MIDI. Make sure when you run install.exe that General
MIDI is selected.
Whatever
sound setting I use during INSTALL, the sound only works through
the internal speakers.
Apply the
GoSierra patch
and follow the instructions. You should then be able to run
SNDBLAST.DRV.
I
only see a black screen with a few pixels here and there, unless
I maximize the window! The backgrounds don't display at all, unless
an object (such as Roger) moves over it.
In Windows,
right click on the desktop and click properties. Set the screen
resolution to 640 X 480 pixels and the color settings to 256.
Click OK and run the game again. For optimal results, make sure
the refresh rate of your monitor while running 640 x 480 pixels
is at 85Hz or higher. You can change the refresh rate of your
monitor in the Monitor tab of the Display Properties.
But your computer
doesn't offer anything less than 16-bit colors! What to do? For
some reason, XP hides the older, seldom-used combinations deeply.
Go to Control Panel > Display > Settings > Advanced >
Adaptor > List All Modes. Select 640 x 480 256 colors @ 85
Hz. In Windows 2000 go to Control Panel > Display > Settings
> Advanced Settings.
992.v56
not found or 993.V56
not found Fix
The
disk version of SQ4 must be run using the SQ4.BAT
file that comes with
the game.
If you don't, the game will not find certain files, like VIEW.993 (it will
look for 993.v56 insted) or SCRIPT.541. If you want to run SCIDHUV, enter "SCIDHUV
-N" in
the DOS prompt.
Keep
in mind that running the game the correct way will invalidate
those saved games
saved when running the game the incorrect way
(which is running SCIDHUV.EXE directly
without the -N option).
Format
Countdown Fix
The
Format Countdown sequence might be impossible to finish on faster
computers while playing the disk version of Space Quest 4. However,
this is not a timer bug and can easily be fixed. As soon as you
see the Windows-like computer screen (with the brain icon and stuff),
enter the control panel of the game (move your mouse to the top
of the screen) and adjust the speed slider. The Format Countdown
runs "unthrottled" while Roger is looking at the computer
screen of the Programing Chamber. It runs normal again as soon as
you leave the computer screen. It seems that the game, for whatever
reason, temporarily sets speed to "unthrottled".
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|
General