Classic Computer Magazine Archive START VOL. 3 NO. 2 / SPECIAL ISSUE #4

DISK INSTRUCTIONS


Each article in this issue with a disk icon on its first page (or next to its title on the Table of Contents) has a companion file on your START disk. These files are archive files--they've been compressed with the Archive Utilities Set, or ARC, a public domain program available for many personal computers. We use the ARC utility to squeeze the many files that may go with a particular article into one compressed file, which may be only 40% the total size of the original files. In addition to the archive files, you'll find the program steps: ARCX.TTP, which stands for ARChive eXtract, on your START disk. You'll use this program to decompress, or extract, the disk files we've shrunk down with ARC.

GETTING STARTED

To use the files and programs on your START disk, please follow these simple instructions. You'll need two blank, formatted single- or double sided disks to properly extract the files. Your START disk is not copy-protected and you should make a copy of it immediately to the first blank disk. Make sure the write protect window is open on the START disk at all times to insure that you don't accidentally erase the disk. Note: If you are unsure how to format a disk, copy a disk or copy individual files, please refer to your original Atari ST or Mega manual and study these procedures carefully before going on.

After you've copied your original START disk, store it in a safe place, and label the copy disk "START Backup."

Now, put your START Backup disk in Drive A of your computer and double-click on the Drive A icon to see the disk's contents.

UN-ARCING THE FILES

To use START's compressed disk files, please follow these steps:

1 Copy the ARCed file you wish to use and the program ARCX.TTP from your START Backup disk onto your second blank formatted disk. When you're finished, label it Un-ARC disk.

2 Now you'll extract the compressed files from the ARC file you just copied. Insert your Un-ARC disk into Drive A and press the Escape key on your ST to see the disk directory. Double-click on ARCX.TTP, then type in the name of the ARC file you just copied over to your Un-ARC disk and press Return. You do not have to type in the extender .ARC. (Note: If ARCX.TTP can't find a file, it may be because you have misspelled the name of the ARC file. You must type the filename exactly as it appears in the directory.)

3As the program runs, it will display the names of the individual files as it extracts them.

When ARC has successfully extracted all the files, it will return to the Desktop and you will see the original files within the directory window, along with the archive file and the ARCX.TTP program. You may now use any of the START files as you wish; just follow the instructions in the appropriate article.

To use any other archive files on your START disk, simply repeat the above procedures.

In addition to the runnable programs, some ARC files may also contain source code listings or an ASCII text file (called BREAKDWN.TXT, for example) which shows the program's structure. You can examine this file from the ST Desktop by double-clicking on its icon and then clicking on Show (to see it on the monitor) or Print (to print it out).

DISK CONTENTS

GAMES AND ENTERTAINMENT--ON YOUR START DISK!

this issue's START disk will help you get serious about having fun! Our feature is Naval Battle, an ST Battleship game with synthesized speech, simulated explosions and three levels of play. File NAVAL.ARC; runs in low or high resolution.

Or try Slider--it's similar to the hand-held plastic '15" puzzles, but uses your full ST screen and can load ony DEGAS or NEO format picture. File SLIDER.ARC; all resolutions.

Discovery is both a game and a geographical earning tool. Learn the names, locations, capitals and trivia information of all 50 states. File DISCOVER.ARC, low resolution only.

Guitar Solo is a digital guitar simulation that lets you play songs by clicking on guitar strings. File GUITAR.ARC; medium or high resolution.

For utilities, check out Tom Hudson's ReSTART--reboot your ST without taking your hands off the keyboard! (File RESTART.ARC.) Or look at Dave Small's disk drive speed tester (SPEED.ARC), or The Byte Mechanic which will let you examine, edit, insert or delete any byte in any of your files. (MECHANIC.ARC;medium or high resolution.)