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           This page lists questions and
          links to solutions for various problems we've encountered for both of
          our Blake Stone games (Aliens of Gold & Planet Strike).
           Click on the question you wish to see the
          answer for.    If you don't see your answer on this
          page, please check out our Email Support Page. 
            
          
          
            
          $81-03 Error Code 
          The problem you are having concerning
          $81-03 errors in Blake Stone is an easy one to fix. You will need to
          examine your CONFIG.SYS file, and look for 4 lines. These lines need
          to be in the file. If they are not in the file, please add them. If
          they are in the file, but he values are less than what I say, increase
          them to these values. If they are in the file, but the values are
          greater than what I say, that's fine, leave them alone. The lines
          are... 
          STACKS=9,256 
          FILES=40 
          BUFFERS=40 
          FCBS=16,0 
          Once you have made these changes,
          please save this new CONFIG.SYS file to disk, and reboot. This should
          alleviate the problem you are having, and by all means, contact us if
          you have further problems. 
            
          Problems running
          with an Acer Computer
           Apogee has recently solved the problem with Acer computers not being
          able to run Blake Stone.  It has to do with the code that Blake Stone has for checking for joysticks on laptops.
          Apparently, Acers are doing something really weird hardware wise, and it's getting in the
          way of the Blake Stone laptop joystick checking code.  To solve the problem, you'll need to start Blake Stone like this EVERY TIME. 
           
          BSTONE NONG 
           
          I strongly suggest modifying your BSTONE.BAT file that came with the game to look like this, so you don't have to worry about forgetting
          the NONG thing. 
          @echo off
bs_aog nong %1 %2 %3 %4 %5 %6 %7
if not errorlevel == 1 goto exit
jamerr -fbs_aog.err
:exit 
            
          $90-02 Error Code 
          $90-02 is an error that existed in the
          original version of Blake Stone, which was released early in December
          1993.  If you got this error, you cannot resolve it with the
          version of the game that you have. Apogee has issued 3 updates to the
          program since then, and the current (and final) version is v3.0. 
          The shareware episode is downloadable
          from the master download page. If you
          have the registered version, there are patches available to take you
          to version v3.0.  Those too are available from the
          master download page. 
            
          Problems with
          DR-DOS 
          This message is for anyone who might be
          having problems with Blake Stone: Aliens of Gold and DR-DOS 6.0. 
          The two things that most commonly cause
          problems with the game, and cause it not to run are the cache Super
          PC-Kwik, and disk compression programs such as Stacker, DoubleSpace,
          and SuperStor. 
          However, if you are getting the error
          message box that says you don't have enough conventional memory in
          order to play the game, and your "MEM" command says that you
          do, here's what is most likely happening. 
          DR-DOS preallocates 64k of conventional
          memory to any .EXE file that it believes to be compressed. Since the
          Main Blake Stone executable file *IS* compressed, DR-DOS is allocating
          64k of conventional memory from whatever you have to being with,
          almost certainly leaving you with insufficient memory in order to play
          the game. 
          There is a fix for this available from
          Novell. You need to contact Novell and obtain "DR-DOS Patch
          326". This will optionally allow you to eliminate the
          preallocation that DR-DOS is doing. 
          If you're on the internet, you can mail
          [email protected] to get a copy of the patch. It is also available for
          immediate download at the Novell BBS @ 1-408-649-3443. The main menu
          has a area for patches and you'll take patch #326. File name is
          PATCH326.ZIP. 
            
          $03-02 Error Code 
          Thank you for your recent
          correspondence with Apogee Software concerning an error with Blake
          Stone. The error 03:02 is caused by a missing our corrupted file. 
          First check and see if all of Blake
          Stone is installed on your system. The shareware version should take
          up 3.3 MB (approx. 3,460,300 bytes) of hard drive space, Episodes 1-3
          should take up 7.4 MB (approx. 7,759,462 bytes) of hard drive space,
          and Episodes 1-6 should take 7.9 MB (approx. 8,283,750 bytes) of hard
          drive space. If your copy of the game does not come close to the above
          figures than you are missing a file. If the game does take up the
          amount of space that it should, then you have a corrupted file. To
          correct this problem, delete the copy of the game that you have
          installed, and reinstall the game. If after reinstalling the game, you
          still get the error, it is possible that the distributor that you got
          the game from is distributing a corrupt copy of the game. 
            
          $83-09 Error Code 
          Thank you for your recent
          correspondence with Apogee Software concerning an error with Blake
          Stone. The error 83:09 is caused by a missing our corrupted file. 
          First check and see if all of Blake
          Stone is installed on your system. The shareware version should take
          up 3.3 MB (approx. 3,460,300 bytes) of hard drive space, Episodes 1-3
          should take up 7.4 MB (approx. 7,759,462 bytes) of hard drive space,
          and Episodes 1-6 should take 7.9 MB (approx. 8,283,750 bytes) of hard
          drive space. If your copy of the game does not come close to the above
          figures than you are missing a file. If the game does take up the
          amount of space that it should, then you have a corrupted file. To
          correct this problem, delete the copy of the game that you have
          installed, and reinstall the game. If after reinstalling the game, you
          still get the error, it is possible that the distributor that you got
          the game from is distributing a corrupt copy of the game. 
            
          $83-0C
          Error Code
           Thank you for your recent
          correspondence with Apogee Software concerning an error that you
          received within Blake Stone. 
          The error that you received, 83:0C, is
          caused by a conflict with your memory manager. Because of this
          conflict, information is being corrupted as it is being loaded from
          disk and into memory. When the game tries to use the information, you
          get the error. To resolve this problem, you will need to use a couple
          of command line parameters with Blake Stone. When you run the game and
          you type the command BSTONE also add NOEMS NOXMS to the end. (i.e.
          BSTONE NOEMS NOXMS). Please not that it is possible that you may have
          saved the corrupted information in one of your save games and you may
          still get the error message when using that save game. However any new
          games that you start, you should not have a problem. 
            
          $83-0D
          Error Code
           Thank you for your recent
          correspondence with Apogee Software concerning an error that you
          received within Blake Stone. 
          The error that you received, 83:0D, is
          caused by a conflict with your memory manager. Because of this
          conflict, information is being corrupted as it is being loaded from
          disk and into memory. When the game tries to use the information, you
          get the error. To resolve this problem, you will need to use a couple
          of command line parameters with Blake Stone. When you run the game and
          you type the command bstone also add noems noxms to the end. (i.e.
          bstone noems noxms). Please not that it is possible that you may have
          saved the corrupted information in one of your save games and you may
          still get the error message when using that save game. However any new
          games that you start, you should not have a problem. 
            
          $8F-04
          Error Code
           Thank you for your recent
          correspondence with Apogee Software concerning an error that you
          received within Blake Stone. 
          The error that you received, 8F:04, is
          caused by a conflict with your memory manager. Because of this
          conflict, information is being corrupted as it is being loaded from
          disk and into memory. When the game tries to use the information, you
          get the error. To resolve this problem, you will need to use a couple
          of command line parameters with Blake Stone. When you run the game and
          you type the command bstone also add noems noxms to the end. (i.e.
          bstone noems noxms). Please not that it is possible that you may have
          saved the corrupted information in one of your save games and you may
          still get the error message when using that save game. However any new
          games that you start, you should not have a problem. 
            
          $8F-06
          Error Code
           Thank you for your recent
          correspondence concerning the error 8F:06. The reason for this error
          can be one of two thing. First it can be caused by a corrupted game
          file, or by not having enough available memory when running the game. 
          First, try deleting all of the Blake
          Stone files you currently have installed and reinstall the game. 
          If reinstalling does not work, then the
          problem most likely is caused by not having enough memory available
          when running the game. Blake Stone requires 591KB for version 1.0 and
          540KB for version 2.0 or greater of conventional memory free in order
          to run. You can find out how much memory your current setup allow free
          by typing mem /c and checking looking for the Largest Executable
          Program Size. This number that is in parenthesis will be the amount of
          conventional memory free that Blake Stone needs in order to run. 
          By following the directions below, you
          should be able to get enough conventional memory free to run the game. 
          Create a system diskette by: 
          1. Place a blank diskette in the
          "A" drive. If you have high density disk drives, you will
          need to use a high density diskette. 
          2. At the dos prompt (c:\) type in
          format a: /s. 
          3. The computer will then say
          "Insert new disk in drive A" and "Press any key to
          continue." Verify that you do have a blank diskette in drive A,
          and hit a key. 
          4. The computer will then format the
          disk, and transfer the necessary system files over to the floppy
          diskette that will allow you to boot from that diskette. 
          5. After the disk is formatted it may
          ask you for a volume label. If it does just hit enter to continue. 
          6. When the computer asks you if you
          would like to format another diskette answer N for no. 
          If you use double space: 
          1. Change to your DOS directory, or
          wherever your DOS files are stored. (Example: cd \dos) 
          2. Type: copy himem.sys a: and hit
          enter. 
          3. Type: copy emm386.exe a: and hit
          enter. 
          4. Type: copy dblspace.sys and hit
          enter. 
          5. Change to your A drive by typing a:
          and hit enter. 
          6. Create a config.sys file by typing
          copy con config.sys and hit enter. 
          7. Enter the following lines hitting
          enter after each one: 
          dos=high,umb 
          device=himem.sys 
          device=emm386.exe ram  
          devicehigh=dblspace.sys 
          files=40 
          buffers=30 
          stacks=9.256 
          fcbs=16,0 
          8. Hit the f6 key (a ^Z should appear.)
          and then hit enter. 
          9. Leave the diskette in the drive and
          reboot your computer. 
          10. Change to the drive and directory
          that you have the game installed to. 
          11. Type bstone and hit enter to run
          the game. 
          If you do not use double space: 
          1. Change to your DOS directory, or
          wherever your DOS files are stored. (Example: cd \dos) 
          2. Type: copy himem.sys a: and hit
          enter. 
          3. Change to your A drive by typing a:
          and hit enter. 
          4. Create a config.sys file by typing
          copy con config.sys and hit enter. 
          5. Enter the following lines hitting
          enter after each one: 
          dos=high 
          device=himem.sys 
          files=40 
          buffers=30 
          stacks=9.256 
          fcbs=16,0 
          6. Hit the f6 key (a ^Z should appear.)
          and then hit enter. 
          7. Leave the diskette in the drive and
          reboot your computer. 
          8. Change to the drive and directory
          that you have the game installed to. 
          9. Type bstone and hit enter to run the
          game. 
          If you do have enough memory to run the
          game, and you are using DR-DOS, then the problem is not with the game,
          but DR-DOS. DR-DOS preallocates 64k of conventional memory to any .EXE
          file that it believes to be compressed. Since the Main Blake Stone
          executable file is compressed, DR-DOS is allocating 64k of
          conventional memory from whatever you have to begin with, almost
          certainly leaving you with insufficient memory in order to play the
          game. 
          There is a fix for this available from
          Novell. You need to contact Novell and obtain "DR-DOS Patch
          326". This will optionally allow you to eliminate the memory
          preallocation of DR-DOS. 
            
          $8F-0A
          Error Code
           The error that you received, 8F:0A, is
          caused by a conflict with your memory manager. Because of this
          conflict, information is being corrupted as it is being loaded from
          disk and into memory. When the game tries to use the information, you
          get the error. To resolve this problem, you will need to use a couple
          of command line parameters with Blake Stone. When you run the game and
          you type the command bstone also add noems noxms to the end. (i.e.
          bstone noems noxms). Please not that it is possible that you may have
          saved the corrupted information in one of your save games and you may
          still get the error message when using that save game. However any new
          games that you start, you should not have a problem. 
            
          $8F-0B
          Error Code
           The error 8F:0B is caused by a missing
          our corrupted file.  First check and see if all of Blake Stone is
          installed on your system. The shareware version should take up 3.3 MB
          (approx. 3,460,300 bytes) of hard drive space, Episodes 1-3 should
          take up 7.4 MB (approx. 7,759,462 bytes) of hard drive space, and
          Episodes 1-6 should take 7.9 MB (approx. 8,283,750 bytes) of hard
          drive space. If your copy of the game does not come close to the above
          figures than you are missing a file. If the game does take up the
          amount of space that it should, then you have a corrupted file. To
          correct this problem, delete the copy of the game that you have
          installed, and reinstall the game. If after reinstalling the game, you
          still get the error, it is possible that the distributor that you got
          the game from is distributing a corrupt copy of the game. 
            
          $8F-19
          Error Code
           The error that you received, 8F:19, is
          caused by a conflict with your memory manager. Because of this
          conflict, information is being corrupted as it is being loaded from
          disk and into memory. When the game tries to use the information, you
          get the error. To resolve this problem, you will need to use a couple
          of command line parameters with Blake Stone. When you run the game and
          you type the command bstone also add noems noxms to the end. (i.e.
          bstone noems noxms). Please not that it is possible that you may have
          saved the corrupted information in one of your save games and you may
          still get the error message when using that save game. However any new
          games that you start, you should not have a problem. 
            
          $8F-1E
          Error Code
           The error that you received, 8F:1E, is
          caused by a conflict with your memory manager. Because of this
          conflict, information is being corrupted as it is being loaded from
          disk and into memory. When the game tries to use the information, you
          get the error. To resolve this problem, you will need to use a command
          line parameters with Blake Stone. When you run the game and you type
          the command bstone also add noxms to the end. (i.e. bstone noxms).
          Please not that it is possible that you may have saved the corrupted
          information in one of your save games and you may still get the error
          message when using that save game. However any new games that you
          start, you should not have a problem. 
            
          $90-03
          Error Code (Not Enough Memory Available)
           The problem that you are having, error
          90:03, is caused by a conflict within memory with a TSR or device
          driver. 
          The easiest way to correct this problem
          is to boot your computer as "clean" as possible for running
          Blake Stone. Follow the steps below for instructions. 
          1. Place a blank diskette in the
          "A" drive. If you have high density disk drives, you will
          need to use a high density diskette. 
          2. At the dos prompt (c:\) type in
          format a: /s. 
          3. The computer will then say
          "Insert new disk in drive A" and "Press any key to
          continue." Verify that you do have a blank diskette in drive A,
          and hit a key. 
          4. The computer will then format the
          disk, and transfer the necessary system files over to the floppy
          diskette that will allow you to boot from that diskette. 
          5. After the disk is formatted it may
          ask you for a volume label. If it does just hit enter to continue. 
          6. When the computer asks you if you
          would like to format another diskette answer N for no. 
          If you use double space: 
          1. Change to your DOS directory, or
          wherever your DOS files are stored. (Example: cd \dos) 
          2. Type: copy himem.sys a: and hit
          enter. 
          3. Type: copy emm386.exe a: and hit
          enter. 
          4. Type: copy dblspace.sys and hit
          enter. 
          5. Change to your A drive by typing a:
          and hit enter. 
          6. Create a config.sys file by typing
          copy con config.sys and hit enter. 
          7. Enter the following lines hitting
          enter after each one: 
          dos=high,umb 
          device=himem.sys 
          device=emm386.exe ram  
          devicehigh=dblspace.sys 
          files=40 
          buffers=30 
          stacks=9.256 
          fcbs=16,0 
          8. Hit the f6 key (a ^Z should appear.)
          and then hit enter. 
          9. Leave the diskette in the drive and
          reboot your computer. 
          10. Change to the drive and directory
          that you have the game installed to. 
          11. Type bstone and hit enter to run
          the game. 
          If you do not use double space: 
          1. Change to your DOS directory, or
          wherever your DOS files are stored. (Example: cd \dos) 
          2. Type: copy himem.sys a: and hit
          enter. 
          3. Change to your A drive by typing a:
          and hit enter. 
          4. Create a config.sys file by typing
          copy con config.sys and hit enter. 
          5. Enter the following lines hitting
          enter after each one: 
          dos=high 
          device=himem.sys 
          files=40 
          buffers=30 
          stacks=9.256 
          fcbs=16,0 
          6. Hit the f6 key (a ^Z should appear.)
          and then hit enter. 
          7. Leave the diskette in the drive and
          reboot your computer. 
          8. Change to the drive and directory
          that you have the game installed to. 
          9. Type bstone and hit enter to run the
          game. 
            
          $90-04 Error Code 
          We are unsure of the direct cause that
          is giving you the error 90:04, but there are a few things that you can
          try. 
          First, after deleting the version that
          you currently have installed, try reinstalling the game from the CD.
          Please note that you cannot run the game directly from the CD. If this
          does not solve the problem, try using the noems and noxms command line
          parameters (i.e. bstone noems noxms). If this does not solve the
          problem, you will need to boot your computer as clean as possible for
          running Blake Stone.  To create a boot disk: 
          1. Place a blank diskette in the
          "A" drive. If you have high density disk drives, you will
          need to use a high density diskette. 
          2. At the dos prompt (c:\) type in
          format a: /s. 
          3. The computer will then say
          "Insert new disk in drive A" and "Press any key to
          continue." Verify that you do have a blank diskette in drive A,
          and hit a key. 
          4. The computer will then format the
          disk, and transfer the necessary system files over to the floppy
          diskette that will allow you to boot from that diskette. 
          5. After the disk is formatted it may
          ask you for a volume label. If it does just hit enter to continue. 
          6. When the computer asks you if you
          would like to format another diskette answer N for no. 
          If you use double space: 
          1. Change to your DOS directory, or
          wherever your DOS files are stored. (Example: cd \dos) 
          2. Type: copy himem.sys a: and hit
          enter. 
          3. Type: copy emm386.exe a: and hit
          enter. 
          4. Type: copy dblspace.sys and hit
          enter. 
          5. Change to your A drive by typing a:
          and hit enter. 
          6. Create a config.sys file by typing
          copy con config.sys and hit enter. 
          7. Enter the following lines hitting
          enter after each one: 
          dos=high,umb 
          device=himem.sys 
          device=emm386.exe ram  
          devicehigh=dblspace.sys 
          files=40 
          buffers=30 
          stacks=9.256 
          fcbs=16,0 
          8. Hit the f6 key (a ^Z should appear.)
          and then hit enter. 
          9. Leave the diskette in the drive and
          reboot your computer. 
          10. Change to the drive and directory
          that you have the game installed to. 
          11. Type bstone and hit enter to run
          the game. 
          If you do not use double space: 
          1. Change to your DOS directory, or
          wherever your DOS files are stored. (Example: cd \dos) 
          2. Type: copy himem.sys a: and hit
          enter. 
          3. Change to your A drive by typing a:
          and hit enter. 
          4. Create a config.sys file by typing
          copy con config.sys and hit enter. 
          5. Enter the following lines hitting
          enter after each one: 
          dos=high 
          device=himem.sys 
          files=40 
          buffers=30 
          stacks=9.256 
          fcbs=16,0 
          6. Hit the f6 key (a ^Z should appear.)
          and then hit enter. 
          7. Leave the diskette in the drive and
          reboot your computer. 
          8. Change to the drive and directory
          that you have the game installed to. 
          9. Type bstone and hit enter to run the
          game. 
            
          $91-05 &
          $91-06 Error Code 
          Thank you for your recent
          correspondence to Apogee Software concerning the error 91:06 with
          Blake Stone. The problem that you are having is most likely due to not
          having the set blaster command set properly within your autoexec.bat
          file, or you have your sound card set to a setting the Blake Stone
          does not support. 
          First, if you have a sound card be sure
          that your sound card is not set at IRQ 10 (interrupt 10), the I/O
          address is either at 220h or 240h, and the DMA channel is set at
          either 0, 1, or 3. Below is a table of configuration options that
          should solve your problem. 
          SET BLASTER=Ax Iy D1 Tz 
          Where: w= Address which Card is
          configured to. Usually 220. 
          x=Interrupt #. Usually 7 or 5 
          y=DMA channel. 0,1,3 Usually 1 
          z=Type of Card.  
          1 for Sound Blaster version 1.0 or 1.5 and compatibles  
          3 for Sound Blaster version 2.0 or compatibles  
          2 for Sound Blaster Pro or Pro Compatibles with the SPC-2 chip.  
          4 for Sound Blaster Pro or Pro Compatibles with the SPC-3 chip.  
          5 for Sound Blaster 16  
          5 for Sound Blaster 16 ASP 
            
          Automapping
          Problems With regards to the
          "problem" you are having, there are now two automappers
          within Blake Stone: The original can be accessed by hitting SHIFT-TAB,
          and the new one can be accessed by hitting TAB. The new automapper
          actually moves with you, and the direction that you are facing is
          always up on the map. Since diagonal lines must be drawn when you are
          not directly perpendicular to a wall, there will be times that it
          appears to be broken up depending upon where in the level you are
          located; this is normal. 
          
             
          Can't Open
          maptemp error
           The error that you are experiencing
          (Can't Open MAPTEMP.BSx) can be attributed to not having enough files
          or file control blocks defined within your config.sys file. To correct
          this problem change the parameters in your config.sys file to the
          following parameters: 
          files=50  
          buffers=30  
          fcbs=16,0  
          stacks=9,256 
          If you do not have a files and/or fcbs
          statement within your config.sys file, add the above lines to it. 
          By making the above changes you should
          be able to solve the problem that you are experiencing and save your
          games properly. You will need to save over your currently saved games,
          as they are most likely corrupted and they were not saved properly. 
            
          gamestate.health
          error 
          The error that you are experiencing (gamestate.health
          == 0 && Playstate != Ex_Died) is caused by a corrupted save
          game file. The reason that this save game was most likely corrupted
          can be attibuted to not having enough files or file control blocks
          defined within your config.sys file, and the game was not saved
          correctly. To correct this problem change the parameters in your
          config.sys file to the following parameters: 
          files=50  
          buffers=30  
          fcbs=16,0  
          stacks=9,256 
          If you do not have a files and/or fcbs
          statement within your config.sys file, add the above lines to it. 
          By making the above changes you should
          be able to solve the problem that you are experiencing and save your
          games properly. You will need to save over your currently saved games,
          as they are most likely corrupted and they were not saved properly. 
            
          Weak sound
           The problem that you are having is not
          an error within the game, but a feature of the Sound Blaster Pro,
          Sound Blaster 16, and compatibles. These sound cards are capable of
          stereo output with each sound having its own volume. As guards get
          farther away from you, it will be harder to hear them, because they
          will be far away; as they get closer, they will be louder. If you do
          not like this feature of the game, you may disable it by starting
          Blake Stone with the following parameter: 
          bstone nopro 
            
          Buffer Overrun
          error
           The error you're reporting in Blake
          Stone is almost usually attributed to your CONFIG.SYS file having
          insufficient files and buffers defined. You need to check your
          CONFIG.SYS file and alter the values for the files and buffers
          statements. If they do not exist, you should add them. 
          FILES=30  
          BUFFERS=30  
          STACKS=9,256  
          FCBS=16,0 
          If this does not solve the problem, and
          it persists, increase them to 40, and you should be ok. 
            
          Game Hint -
          Episode 2 Level 7 The problem
          that you are having with Blake Stone episode 2 level 7 is solving a
          puzzle on how to go the wrong way through the one way door in the
          upper left hand corner of the level. Behind this door there are up to
          three guards, and to get into the room, you must get there attention
          by shooting at the door. When you shoot at the door, the guards will
          come through. You must shoot on of the guards in the doorway, so that
          you may go through.
           
          
             
          Game Hint -
          Episode 6 Level 9 In Blake
          Stone episode 6 level 9, you cannot kill Dr. Goldfire (this privilege
          is reserved for Blake Stone: Planet Strike). In order to finish the
          game, you must find and locate all ten generators. The generators are
          long cylindrical objects, that when destroyed leave a burning mess on
          the floor. 
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