README.TXT for Virtual Drive(tm) V3.10 for Windows 95/98         3-1-99
Release Notes
------------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------------------

The information in User's Guide is current and correct.

------------------------------------------------------------------------
www.farstone.com
info@farstone.com
(C)Copyright 1997-1999, Far Stone Technology Inc. All rights reserved.

FAQ

1. Can we use Virtual Drive on a network?
  Yes, the personal edition of Virtual Drive supports limited network 
  features. The Virtual Drive Network version supports full functions
  for corporate networking and educational networking systems. 
  It provides up to 1000 Virtual CD Jukeboxes, "click and play on 
  clients", full security control for VCD images. Easy share CDROM on 
  a network, high speed CD Jukeboxes. Auto VCD images update 
  and version  upgrades, flexible autorun features for any CDROMs, 
  and many more...

  (We are proud for the best CD Network Server Software in the world)

2. Does Virtual Drive support command interface program?
  Yes, with VDRIVE.EXE you can:
  (1) Insert a VCD file into Virtual Drive (by drive letter or 
      ordinary number 1-9).
  (2) On a networking environment, the administrator can setup each CD
      titles with a VDRIVE command batch file and double-click it from
      clients to start the CD-ROM.

3. Does Virtual Drive supports CD-titles with audio tracks?
  Yes, Virtual Drive reads data tracks but not audio tracks. You have 
  all functions and sound, but not the background music(audio) when you
  are playing the CD-title on a Virtual Drive. 
  (The CD-titles will work fine.)

4. After Virtual Drive installed, system can't find the real CD-ROM drive?
  The number of drives installed on your system is larger than the 
  available drive letters. Add next statement to the C:\CONFIG.SYS file 
  and then reboot your system.

  lastdrive=z

5. The setup program failed after I click on "Continue" for the welcome
   screen?
  You are using old MS-DOS compatible mode driver (16-bit) for CD-ROM drive.
  Remove the CD-ROM driver command from CONFIG.SYS file, and then use the 
  "Add new hardware" from the "Control Panel", let Windows find the 32-bit 
  driver for your CD-ROM drive. If you still failed to upgrade to a new 
  32-bit driver, you may need to contact your hardware dealer for the 
  Windows 95 driver.

6. My CD-ROM drive letter was changed?
  Assign a specific drive letter to a CD-ROM drive by the following steps:
  (1) Click on "System" in "Control Panel" Window.
  (2) Select "Device Manager" in "System" Window.
  (3) Click on "CD-ROM" item, then double click the physical CD-ROM drive
  (4) Select "Settings", and then set the drive letter.

  Note: Please assign drive letters for all of your CD-ROMs, include physical
        CD drive and Virtual Drive.

7. Uninstall?
  The Virtual Drive uninstallation program will purge all of the files 
  created by Virtual Drive except the .VCD files. You can "import" them into
  Virtual Drive again or delete them by using the "explorer".

8. The CD-ROM application still asks me to insert the CD-ROM into the real
   CD-ROM drive?
  You had installed the CD-ROM application from the physical drive. Some 
  CD-ROM application will run from the CD-ROM drive that it was installed.
  Please uninstall the CD-ROM application, and then install the CD-ROM 
  application from the Virtual Drive again.

9. Compression?
  Virtual Drive provides with a very good compression for the un-compressed
  CD titles(about 50% save). The compression rate will be 10%-30% (save) for
  those CD titles with compressed data.

10. Audio CD not supported?
  Most CD-ROM drives can't read Audio data into system, except SCSI and some
  advanced drives.

11. CDI/Video CD?
  We suggest that you play CDI/Video CD on the CD-ROM drive. Most Video CDs 
  are very large, we do not recommend you to use much hard drive space for 
  Video CD-ROMs. However, you can copy the VCD, MPG, or DAT Video files from
  Video CD-ROM onto you hard drive directly, and then use Video CD software 
  to open these files and play them on hard drive.

12. How much memory Virtual Drive takes?
  Virtual Drive is a new device for your system. It uses 64KB memory to cache
  the most recently used data for each Virtual Drive. 

13. Where is cache buffer allocated from by Rapid Cache? 
  Virtual memory. Rapid Cache is incorporated with dynamic memory management.
  It swaps out automatically when Windows 95 needs more memory. 

14. What is the maximum cache buffer size for Rapid Cache? 
  Unlimited. The only limitation is your physical memory. 

15 What is the maximum number of files can be cached at the same time? 
  Unlimited. 

16. Performance Tuning for Rapid Cache.
  Rapid Cache gets better performance without Windows 95 CD-ROM read-ahead 
  function. Setup program will disable it automatically. However there are
  some CD titles, which may turn it on again. In these cases, you may need
  to follow steps below to disable "read-ahead" manually. 

  (1). Select "System" icon from the Control Panel
  (2). Click performance in System Properties Window
  (3). Click File System and then Click on "CD-ROM"
  (4). Select "No read-ahead" for "Optimize access pattern for"
  (5). Click on OK
 
17. Why I can't build VCD from CDAudio?
  You must select the CDAudio on "Recording Control" windows. And check the
  "Recording Input Monitor" on "Advanced Controls for Recording Control" 
  Window. If you still having problem, try using "Sound Recorder" to recording
  from CDAudio. If it fails, the sound card is not installed properly. You may
  need to refer to your sound card installation manual. or contact the hardware
  manufacturer.

  To start "Recording Control": Click "Volume control" on Build VCD from 
  CDAudio of Virtual Drive. Click "Option", click "Properties" on the menu
  list.  On the Properties window, select "Recording", check the "CD Audio",
  and then click "OK".

  To start "Advanced Controls for Recording Control": On "Recording Control"
  window, click "Advanced".
 
  To start "Sound Recorder": Click "Start", select "Programs", select 
  "Accessories", select "Multimedia", choose "Sound Recorder".

18. Why I don't have CDPlayer on my system?
  Click "Add/Remove Programs" of "Control Panel", select "Windows Setup",
  double click "Multimedia", check "CD Player" if it exist. If it not exist,
  check the "Media Player". Click "OK, and add the player into your system.

  Note: Windows 95 ORS2 and Windows 98 provide the "CD Player" program. 
  Windows 95 doesn't have the "CD Player" program, you can use the "Media Player"
  to play CDAudio in Windows 95.

