Halo 2 for Windows Vista Readme File

May 2007
2007 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.
Welcome to Halo 2 for Windows Vista!
This Readme file contains late-breaking information as ell as tro!bleshooting information abo!t Halo 2
for "indos #ista$. %o! can find information on Microsoft c!stomer s!pport services in the printed or
online .pdf man!al.
Note: &f Halo 2 for "indos #ista came installed on 'o!r comp!ter or b!ndled ith 'o!r comp!ter or
other hardare or softare as an ()M version* contact the man!fact!rer of the comp!ter or other
hardare or softare it as b!ndled ith for prod!ct s!pport. Refer to the doc!mentation that came ith
'o!r comp!ter* hardare* or softare for the prod!ct s!pport telephone n!mber.
Contents
A. System Re!irements
". #nstallation
&nstalling Halo 2 for "indos #ista
&nstallation &ss!es
&nstallation Tips
+tarting Halo 2 for "indos #ista
C. $ettin% &el'
(vervie
#ieing the (nline ,rint ,iece
(. Confi%!ration #ss!es
). $ra'*ics #ss!es
-raphics Cards and #ideo .rivers
-raphics &ss!es
-raphics Card .rivers and Man!fact!rers
F. A!dio #ss!es
$. Ad+anced R!n Modes
A. System Re!irements
Halo 2 for "indos #ista re/!ires a personal comp!ter ith the folloing minim!m re/!irements0
* 2 -12 or faster processor
* 3 -igab'te 4-56 of RAM
* 7 -5 of available hard disk space 4the .edicated +erver and Map )ditor re/!ire additional hard drive
space6
* .#.-R(M drive
* AT& 7700 or n#idia 8300 or better displa' adapter
* 9e'board and mo!se or compatible pointing device
* +o!nd card and speakers or headphones for a!dio
* .irect:; <.0c or later 4incl!ded on the .#.6
* =etork adapter for >A= m!ltipla'er gamepla'
* 5roadband &nternet access for "indos >&#)$ m!ltipla'er gamepla'
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". #nstallation
This section describes ho to man!all' install the softare components necessar' to pla' Halo 2 for
"indos #ista in the event the' are not installed a!tomaticall'.
Note: "e recommend 'o! !ninstall an' 5eta* Trial* and ()M versions of the game before 'o! install the
Retail version.
,o !ninstall earlier +ersions of Halo 2 for Windows Vista
1. (n the "indos taskbar* click Start and then Control -anel.
2. Click .ninstall a -ro%ram !nder -ro%rams* and then select &alo 2 for Windows Vista.
#nstallin% Halo 2 for Windows Vista
"hen 'o! insert the Halo 2 for "indos #ista .#. into the .#.-R(M drive* 'o! sho!ld see the Halo 2
for "indos #ista installation screen. Click -lay &alo 2 for Windows Vista for the fastest installation.
?or additional installation options* click C!stomi/e $ame #nstall.
&f 'o!r comp!ter does not a!tomaticall' displa' the installation screen after the .#. is inserted into the
.#.-R(M drive* perform the folloing proced!re.
,o install Halo 2 for Windows Vista man!ally
3. (n the "indos taskbar* click Start* Accessories* and then R!n.
2. &n the 0'en bo7* t'pe x:1start!'* here x is the letter of 'o!r .#.-R(M drive* and then click 02.
?or e7ample* if 'o!r .#.-R(M drive letter is .* t'pe d:1start!'
@. Click #nstall &alo 2 for Windows Vista* and then follo the instr!ctions that appear on the screen.
#nstallation #ss!es
&f 'o! e7perience video* graphics* or so!nd problems !sing .irect:* ala's check ith 'o!r graphics or
so!nd card man!fact!rer for the latest .irect:-compatible drivers* or go to
http0AA.microsoft.comAindosAdirect7A for the latest tro!bleshooting information.
#nstallation ,i's
&f 'o! have problems installing Halo 2 for "indos #ista* tr' the folloing tro!bleshooting steps in the
order the' are listed0
1. 5efore installing Halo 2 for "indos #ista* make s!re all open softare applications* incl!ding
antivir!s softare* are closed.
2. Clean the Halo 2 for "indos #ista .#.. To do this* !se a .#. cleaning kit* or gentl' ipe the silver
side of the .#. ith a soft* lint-free cotton cloth. .o not !se paper cloth* hich can scratch the plastic
and leave streaks. "hen 'o! clean the .#.* ipe from the center of the disc o!tard. .o not !se a
circ!lar motion. &f the installation iss!e is not resolved* tr' cleaning the .#. ith a damp cloth or a
commercial .#.-cleaning sol!tion. .r' the .#. thoro!ghl' before 'o! insert it into the .#.-R(M
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drive.
3. AdB!st the s'stem settings for 'o!r .#.-R(M drive. ?or instance* red!ce .#. Caching* disable
.MA* or t!rn off A!to-&nset notifications. ?or more information abo!t ho to adB!st these and other
settings* see Microsoft 9noledge 5ase article C23D837* E1o to Tro!bleshoot C.-R(M or .#.-
R(M Read &ss!es*F located at http0AAs!pport.microsoft.comAs!pportAkbAarticlesA/23DA8A37.asp.
4. &nspect the Halo 2 for "indos #ista .#. for visible deformation or scratches. &f the disk is
damaged* contact Microsoft +ales to obtain a replacement .#.. The phone n!mber for the sales
office in 'o!r area can be fo!nd at http0AA.microsoft.comAorldideA.
Note: &f Halo 2 for "indos #ista came installed on 'o!r comp!ter or b!ndled ith 'o!r comp!ter or
other hardare or softare as an ()M version* contact the man!fact!rer of the comp!ter or other
hardare or softare it as b!ndled ith for a replacement .#.. Refer to the doc!mentation that
came ith 'o!r comp!ter* hardare* or softare for the prod!ct s!pport telephone n!mber.
Startin% Halo 2 for Windows Vista
,o start Halo 2 for Windows Vista
(n the "indos taskbar* click Start* $ames* and then the &alo 2 for Windows Vista icon.
GorG
&f 'o! are r!nning a b!siness version of "indos #ista* on the "indos taskbar click Start* All
-ro%rams* $ames* $ame )3'lorer* and then the &alo 2 for Windows Vista icon.
C. $ettin% &el'
0+er+iew
%o! can get help for Halo 2 for "indos #ista in the folloing a's0
* #isit the official Halo 2 for "indos #ista ebsite for the latest !pdates and s!pport information at
http0AAs!pport.microsoft.comAgames A.
* ?or an overvie of the game as ell as for information abo!t getting started and pla'ing the game*
see the Halo 2 for "indos #ista printed or online .pdf man!al.
Viewin% t*e 0nline -rint -iece
Adobe Reader lets 'o! vie and print the online version of the Halo 2 for "indos #ista man!al* hich is
located in the Man!al folder on the Halo 2 for "indos #ista .#. as .pdf files.
To install Adobe Reader* visit the Adobe ebsite at
http0AA.adobe.comAprod!ctsAacrobatAreadermain.html.
Cop'right 2007 Adobe +'stems &ncorporated. All rights reserved.
Adobe and Reader are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Adobe +'stems &ncorporated in the Hnited +tates andAor other
co!ntries.
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(. Confi%!ration #ss!es
#isit the official Halo 2 for "indos #ista ebsite for the latest !pdates and s!pport information at
http0AAs!pport.microsoft.comAgamesA.
)ns!re 'o! have the latest drivers for all hardare devices.
+ome laptop !sers ma' e7perience red!ced s'stem performance hile r!nning on batteries beca!se of
variable processor speeds based on the lack of a poer s!ppl'.
). $ra'*ics #ss!es
$ra'*ics Cards and Video (ri+ers
To ens!re the best possible graphics hen pla'ing Halo 2 for "indos #ista* it is !s!all' a good idea to
!pdate 'o!r video driver from the graphics card man!fact!rer. #ideo drivers are the softare that enables
the hardare feat!res of 'o!r graphics card. "itho!t properl' !pdated video drivers* 'o! ma' not be
taking f!ll advantage of 'o!r graphics card and its feat!res. #isit 'o!r graphics card man!fact!rerIs
ebsite for the latest graphics card drivers that have been approved b' "indos 1ardare C!alit' >abs
4"1C>6.
,o install t*e latest +ideo dri+er for yo!r %ra'*ics card
%o!r graphics card ma' not be recogni2ed !ntil 'o! !pdate the drivers to the latest version. Hse the
.irect: .iagnostic Tool to determine the version n!mber of the video driver installed on 'o!r comp!ter.
3. (n the "indos taskbar* click Start* Accessories* and then R!n.
2. &n the 0'en bo7* t'pe d3dia%* and then click 02.
@. Click the (is'lay or (is'lay 4 tab.
J. Hnder (e+ice* note the Name* Man!fact!rer* and C*i' ,y'e and* !nder (ri+ers* note the version
n!mber of 'o!r driver on the Version line.
K. &f m!ltiple graphics cards are installed on 'o!r comp!ter* repeat steps @ and J to determine the name*
man!fact!rer* chip t'pe* and version n!mber of the video driver for each additional graphics card
installed on 'o!r comp!ter.
8. "hen 'o! have noted this information for all of the video drivers installed on 'o!r comp!ter* click
)3it.
7. "ith this information at hand* contact the man!fact!rer of 'o!r graphics card to in/!ire abo!t ho to
obtain and install the latest driver for 'o!r graphics card.
$ra'*ics #ss!es
(n some graphics cards* !sers ma' e7perience a light-strobe effect hen reentering the game after
having sitched to the desktop or another application. This can be repaired b' resitching o!t and back
to the game again.
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$ra'*ics Card (ri+ers and Man!fact!rers
Make s!re 'o! have the latest drivers from the man!fact!rer of 'o!r graphics card. Man' video iss!es ill
be resolved if 'o! install 'o!r graphics cardLs latest "1C> drivers.
&f 'o! p!rchased 'o!r comp!ter from an original e/!ipment man!fact!rer 4()M6 s!ch as .ell* -atea'*
or 1elett-,ackard* and 'o! enco!nter an' graphic anomalies hen pla'ing Halo 2 for "indos #ista*
'o! sho!ld visit 'o!r comp!ter man!fact!rerIs ebsite for !pdated video drivers. &n man' cases* graphics
hardare and drivers are designed specificall' for ()M s'stems. &nstalling reference drivers or other
drivers provided b' the graphics card man!fact!rer ma' ca!se s'stem instabilit' andAor graphic
corr!ption.
A list of common ()M ebsites is incl!ded belo. #isit the appropriate ()M ebsite for !pdated video
card drivers specific to 'o!r s'stem* or contact 'o!r comp!ter man!fact!rer directl' for assistance.
$ra'*ics5A!dio Card Man!fact!rers6 We7sites
As!sMhttp0AA.as!s.comA
AT&Mhttp0AA.ati.comA
5?-Mhttp0AA.bfgtech.comA
C-MediaMhttp0AAcmedia.comA
Creative >absMhttp0AA.creative.comA
.iamondMhttp0AA.diamondmm.comA
)#-AMhttp0AAevga.comAs!pportAdriversA
?reeTech - http0AA.freetech.comA
-ainardMhttp0AA.gainard.comA
-!illemotA1erc!lesMhttp0AA.g!illemot.comA
1&+ 1ighTechMhttp0AAhightech.com.hkAhtmlAdriver.php
NatonMhttp0AA.Baton.comA
>eadtekMhttp0AA.leadtek.comA
Micro-+tar &nternational 4M+&6Mhttp0AA.msicomp!ter.comA
=#&.&AMhttp0AA.nvidia.comA
,=%Mhttp0AA.pn'.comA
RealTekMhttp0AA.realtek.com.tA
+apphireMhttp0AA.sapphiretech.comAenAprod!ctsAgraphics.php
+o!nd Ma7Mhttp0AA.so!ndma7.com
T!rtle 5eachMhttp0AA.t!rtlebeach.com
#isionTekMhttp0AA.visiontek.comA
:?:Mhttp0AA . 7f7graphics .comA
0)M Man!fact!rer6s We7sites
AlienareMhttp0AA.alienare.comA
Compa/Mhttp0AAh3D000.3.hp.comA
.ellMhttp0AA.dell.comA
-atea'Mhttp0AA.gatea'.comA
1elett-,ackardMhttp0AA.hp.comA
&5MMhttp0AA.ibm.comA
&ntelMhttp0AA.intel.comA
MicronMhttp0AA.mpccorp.comA
+on'Mhttp0AA.son'.comA
ToshibaMhttp0AA.toshiba.comA
F. A!dio #ss!es
&f 'o! e7perience popping or other lo so!nd /!alit'* !pgrade 'o!r so!nd driver or e7periment ith the
so!nd settings.
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&f 'o! are having iss!es ith voice settings* access the >&#) -!ide and check 'o!r settings.
+!boofers that do not have an >, filter in the hardare ill sometimes e7perience a!dio data above
20012.
+ome so!nd cards have driver iss!es that can pass o!tp!t data back into the microphone and res!lt in
some a!dible feedback. To repair this iss!e* access the >&#) -!ide* select -ersonal Settin%s and then
Voice* and make s!re M!te Micro'*one is selected.
$. Ad+anced R!n Modes
Advanced r!n modes have been incl!ded to allo !sers to modif' their game presentation.
8windowedM+itch for !sers ho ant to r!n in indoed mode. This can also be helpf!l if a !ser ends
!p in a bad resol!tion state hile r!nning in f!ll screen.
8no+syncMAdvanced sitch for !sers ho ant better performance.
8monitor:9M+itch to allos !sers to move the game beteen monitors hen r!nning in f!ll screen.
8noso!ndM+itch to r!n the game itho!t a!dio.

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