Hi, I've spent over 200+ hours fiddling with various things trying to get a PPC game called the Journeyman Project Pegasus Prime working perfectly on a Windows XP SP2-3/Vista Computer. Unfortunately as many of you might have noticed the cdrom driver for basilisk 2/sheepshaver is very buggy and does not always work right, causing the not so fun "Initialize Disc" prompt. I have two solutions, the latter one is the best but last one that I discovered, but the other is where I started from:
Requirements for optimial Pegasus Prime playing experience:
Latest Version of Sheepshaver for Windows NT/XP/Vista:
http://gwenole.beauchesne.info/en/projects/sheepshaver
Latest version available is 2.3 Pre 03/30/2009.
*Update now found below*
http://www.emaculation.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=5325
**Note: while this isn't required to use the latest version if you want to get the video working without any bugs use this one**
SheepShaver Settings:
Try to automaticall detect new removable media (enable polling): checked
RAM Setting: 64+ Mb (if you want to use 1GB use 1023 MB (that is 1024 setting minus 1) as the number otherwise you will probably get a Bad RAM Descriptor Error Message)
ROM FILE: New Aged PPC Rom if you want to run OS 9+ or any PPC old world Rom for 8- (not advised) if you get a Bad ROM discriptor for a rom you have used before sometimes it will work if you reboot the computer (another SheepShaver/Windows bug)
Ignore Illegal Memory Accesses: Checked
Disable Keycode file (otherwise the buttons won't work)
Enable JIT Compiler: Checked
Enable built-in 68k DR Emulator (EXPERIMENTAL): Checked
Software Side Setup:
Mac OS 9.04 Install (like the next item this is required for video to not have glitches) though remember to go to sound and select built in in order for sound to work (if that option doesn't appear, you are using an old PPC rom you'll need a newworld rom.
Quicktime 4.03 (this is Mandatory version if you want the video to run right without glitches)
Apple DrawSprockets 1.75 (another required for video to work):
http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=31236
Stuffit Expander (not free)
To install Pegasus Prime do not use the CDROM installer, although copy a few extensions found on the CD1 that you DON'T already have to the system extension folder. Instead of installing Pegaus Prime run this sit file it will install pegaus prime without overwriting your Quicktime Version with a worse even older one:
http://presto.tommyyune.com/presto/jour ... e_game.sit
Okay follow the above should get you to launch Pegaus Prime, but you'll notice something when you use the transporter, it will ask you to insert another disc, and will eject the current one, a common problem with SheepShaver cdrom driver, is if a disk isn't inserted before boot it won't recognize it, this happened to me on several differnet computers running Windows XP SP2 and SP3 (and yes i mean 3 heh). My version of Vista Premium 32 bit doesn't have this problem at all for some reason, but you might want to read on anyways as you still won't be able to run DVD games unless you do.
Okay here is my solutions for a Windows XP SP2/3 computer that does not recognize Disk Changes + DVD support in Mac OS:
Solution 1)
Using VMWARE Hardware System Virtualizer, make a linux installation that is compable with sheepshaver (prolly some dev tools, networking tools in the least) and run it like the above but NEVER in full screen (unless someone finds a different way). This will require some linux knowledge and stuff about computers in general (like networking and stuff), but it was my first fix, I used SAMBA to transfer my Mac hfv files to linux via a home network i had. The easiest linux distribution to use IMO is Mandriva, and is the one I used, you'll want to download the rpm version of the latest sheepshaver build. This worked but was a pain in the butt, took most of the time I had to learn how to use and get it playable
. And as a side effect NO FULLSCREEN or it will crash Linux (dunno if an actual linux installed would do the same but who knows).
Solution 2)
Note: This one believe it or not I discovered last night, after months (since July) of tinkering with this it works on windows XP/Vista, AND allows DVD in XP and Vista for Sheepshaver :D :
After you have a running system that requires a multiCD game you'll need a program for Mac OS:
TO FIX THE initilialize Disk Error Messages, and CD changes you'll need the Joliet File System for Mac OS7-9
Version 2.1b5 is what I tested it with but know that it is sharware, so if you use it and feel appreciative, (like I will in about a week when I next get payed), PAY FOR IT heh.
http://www.tempel.org/joliet/
You'll get a file called JVA 2.1b5 . sit you'll need to use stuffit expander or an equivalent to extract it and it will give you a folder with a Control Panel and an Extension, copy the extension to System Extensions Folder, and reboot, and you can start using it.
****IMPORTANT****
Even though it is installed as an extension, you will have to keep this program open after you click ok when you are done configuring what you want) in order for it to take over disc inserts from the Mac OS system/SheepShaver:
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CD's will be automatically detected and ejected in multidisc games, I tested this on 3 computers and 3 different operating systems heh.
DVDs:
Well this is slightly more complicated, as when you insert one when this program IS running, it will detect it, but most of the time will not auto-mount it which is what allows you to use it, so you'll have to click on the drive list IN the Joliet program to the DVD you put in, and click on Sessions and Mount, now it should show up in the system, (if it is still shareware click the X on the shareware reminder), and remember to keep this program open while you play.
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Hope this little tutorial helps someone with the same problems, save as much time wasted and less hair pulling out as I had (though I did learn a lot about linux lol)
