TROUBLESHOOTING PROBLEMS

						rob.ellwood@shaw.ca
						Version:  March 3, 2003


	Don't read this unless you've hit a problem.


   o  "Configuration incompatability for file "dungeon"."
      "Program initialization has failed."
      "Dungeon description not valid."

	Cause:  the version of the levels you got doesn't match 
the version of Nethack you're running.  

	Fix:  

	*  Does your PC use Windows?  And are you using a pre-
	compiled version of 3.4.0 from nethack.org?  OK, then:
	if you downloaded the DOS precompiled levels, go back
	and get the Windows precompiled levels instead, and
	vice versa.  [The *second* program included with the 
	Windows version is not the DOS version.  It is the 
	Windows version in disguise.]

	*  Have you compiled Nethack yourself?  If so, get the 
	source code for the new levels and compile again.

	* Otherwise, e-mail me and/or RGRN with details on what 
	version of Nethack you've got, and we'll try to get you 
	rolling.


   o  "Program initialization has failed."
      "Cannot open dungeon description -"dungeon" from
          "C:/nethack/nhdat" file!"

	Cause:  you renamed the original "nhdat" file to 
"nhdat.old":  good.  But you didn't put the replacement "nhdat" 
file into your nethack folder.  

	Fix:  if you didn't download the "regular levels" zip file, 
do that now.  Next, double-click on the zip file.

	*  If a list with one or 100+ files shows up, click-and-
        drag all the files to your nethack folder.

	*  If Windows asks "which program do I use with files
	of this type?", then go here:
http://www.winzip.com/
	Download the evaluation copy of WinZip, install it, reboot, 
	and double-click again.


   o  "Couldn't load '[whatever].lev' - making a maze."
      "Program in disorder - perhaps you'd better #quit."

	Cause:  one of the .lev files is missing (if I made a 
mistake while setting things up) or misnamed (if you made a mis-
take when renaming level files to replace particular levels).

	Fix:  first, get the .lev file you're missing.  Next, use
the procedure at:
http://members.shaw.ca/rob.ellwood/votdbugfix.html
to fix the broken level.  Finally, if it's my mistake, tell me.


   o  If you're compiling in a non-Microsoft operating system, you 
may have to convert the files from MSDOS ascii mode to your native 
ascii mode.  For example, the CRLF at the end of each line in DOS 
becomes CR + EOF in Linux.  

	Fix in Linux:  your unzip utility probably has an option to 
do this for you.  ("-a", IIRC.)  Failing that, use dos2unix.


   o  Nethack locks up when you try to enter the special level.

	Cause:  Nethack bug; the trigger is unknown.  (I think
it happens when the rnd1 level has the stairs to Sokoban.  I
moved the rnd1 level away from Sokoban, and I haven't seen the 
problem.)

	Fix:  crash Nethack and use "recover".


	For any other problems, just tell me.