DOS

You should have no problems at all running SWOS under DOS, as it was designed for it, all you need is the relevant amount of RAM (4mb should do, 8mb helps) a meaty enough processor (486dx2/66) and the required DOS version (5.0 or above).

If you cannot get swos to run then must not have the line "device=himem.sys" in your config.sys file (situated in the root directory of your hard drive, probably c:\).

If you know you have enough memory, then just use the utility 'memmaker' which comes with version 6 and above of DOS, this should help you.

Windows 95/98

This is very similar to DOS, you should always make sure you play SWOS in pure-dos mode for the greatest compatability (just do start, shutdown, reboot into ms-dos). Only soundcards listed in the 'install' utility of SWOS (go to your swos directory, probably c:\swos, and type 'install' (no quotes) to run it).

Make sure your soundcard drivers are loaded (see instructions on your specific soundcard for how to do this).

SWOS does not support USB joysticks/pads when run in DOS mode, for these to work on a windows 98/95 machine you must run the game from within the OS (ie open up a dos-prompt and run from there).

NOTE: SWOS DOES NOT SUPPORT MICROSOFT SIDEWINDER GAMEPADS / JOYSTICKS USB OR OTHERWISE, THEY SEEM TO USE A DIFFERENT INTERFACE TO EVERY OTHER JOYSTICK AND PAD AROUND

Windows ME

Windows ME has no DOS mode as such, so you need to run the game from the dos-prompt.

Soundcards under windows ME usually have a compatability set of drivers for use with DOS based games, these usually emulate a SOUNDBLASTER 16 or SOUNDBLASTER PRO based card, so select these from the install utility (go to your swos directory, probably c:\swos, and type 'install' (no quotes) to run it)

If you have a fairly modern soundcard or pc, for music use 'General MIDI MPU-401' option from the music menu in the install utility, this will sound best and is most likely to work.

USB Joysticks and pads are supported by SWOS EXCEPT ANY MICROSOFT SIDEWINDER products, only one can be used by the game though, unless you have 2 gameport joysticks or pads you will have to use the '1 joystick, 1 keyboard' option in the install utility.

IF THE GAME CRASHES OR FAILS TO LOAD, DISABLE DIGITAL SOUND IN THE INSTALL UTILITY.

Windows NT/2000/XP

It is more difficult to get SWOS to run under these operating systems, so be prepared for it not to work first time.

NOTE: Under WINDOWS NT SERIES OPERATING SYSTEMS (THIS INCLUDES 2000 and XP) DIGITAL SOUND SUPPORT FOR DOS GAMES IS FLAKY AT BEST, DO NOT EXPECT IT TO WORK

You can play the game with keyboard only and no digital sound by just running the game as you would any other, however to get joysticks/pads working with the game you need to run a utility called VDMSound 2.04, download it here:

VDMSound 2.04

Double click the file after it has downloaded, it should bring up the familiar install interface, and lead you thorugh any options.

Once you have the program installed all you have to do is open up your swos directory in Windows Explorer and right click on the install.exe file, then select 'Run using VDMSound' from the pop-up menu.

IF AND ONLY IF you are using the original CD version of SWOS then you need to go to the directory you installed VDMSound to (usually 'c:\program files\vdmsound') and open the autoexec.vdm file with notepad, then uncomment the line with cd extenstions on it (you should find it as the file is commented).

The Install program should run and you should select 'Configure', then 'Sound' and wait until the sound config program loads, from there select the 'General MIDI MPU-401' as the music device and the 'Soundblaster 16 or compatible' as the digital sound device.

Now if you would like joysticks, choose 'Controls' from the configure menu and select '1 Joystick and 1 Keyboard' (i'm not sure if 2 joysticks works, please let me know if you get it working). Calibrate your joystick by following the onscreen instructions, then choose the key controls.

Go back to the main menu and choose 'Save Settings', then 'Exit'. The program should exit to the Windows Desktop.

Now run the main game by right-clicking on the sws.exe file in your swos directory, and selecting 'Run with VDMSound'. If the game works and loads ok and your controller works, then cheer and start playing the game you love so much. :)

If not, then re-run the Install program as described before and select 'no digital' sound from the sound utility. Save the settings again and re-run the game, it should all work now!