Newbie on Argos Game Installs

[slotjon]

Hey everyone!  I am building out a little casino room and have four different machines on order.  Two of those machines are Huff n Puff Bally 27/27 machines.  I'm excited to have that game but over time I know I'll want to have some options.  I'm a bit of a computer nerd so also will end up tinkering with these.  I don't want to accidentally mess things up and that's why I'm just proactively asking you all some questions - and I appreciate your help!

Could you all confirm the accuracy of these statements:

First it sounds like because my machine is Huff n Puff that means it would have had to already been converted to ArgOS.
Now that the conversion is complete, all games would be installed via a USB dongle (No more compact flash)
During the install I likely need the Blue Multlink dongle to setup some games & pay scales.

I have already purchased three USB games - Huff Puff (cause I'll want to be able to put this one back on if I ever take it off), Piggy Banking, and some Wonka game.  Is there any difference between the various game install files?  As long as the description shows it as working on Bally/SG it should be no issue?  I'd hate to buy the wrong software.  Is there a variation of windows versions I need to be concerned about?  Are there any other components I'm missing before I set off on the task?

Sounds like to do the change, I'd just stick the new game dongle in and restart the machine.  It would load into an ArgOS booter and let me install the game.
Once the game was installed I'd need to use the blue dongle in the settings to configure it and then boot up?  Something along those lines?  Let me know if I'm on the right track - i'd hate to brick one of these machines right after getting it, but for sure want to play around with some other stuff!

Jon

[idesign]

You are pretty much on the right track. 

Only 1 version of the Windows for that machine.  Blue dongle is a pay table dongle required to set up LAP games.  All the lock it Link games are LAP games.  Not sure what Wonka game that would be since all of them are single screen games but may play across all your screens.

[slotjon]

You are pretty much on the right track. 

Only 1 version of the Windows for that machine.  Blue dongle is a pay table dongle required to set up LAP games.  All the lock it Link games are LAP games.  Not sure what Wonka game that would be since all of them are single screen games but may play across all your screens.

Thank you!  That is good to know about the Wonka and being on the right track.  I didn't want to be buying things that would end up useless.   I'll look into other LAP games to add those are fun!

[slotjon]

Based on the other threads there are three versions of the hardware (2.1, 2.4, 4.0) - do we know which one I am and which version of Windows is needed?  I'm wondering if I shouldn't have a copy just in case of a disk failure.

[idesign]

Yours will be 2.1 or 2.4 depending  upon the CPU in the machine.  4.0 is for a different cabinet type

Also, different games will have different OS requirements too.

[slotjon]

Do you mean like one game may require ARGOS B and one may require ARGOS C?  If I buy the latest version of the ArgOS would that work for earlier versions?
Or do you somehow mean Windows?

My understanding is its a computer running argos.
You boot into argos and install games and windows.

I was going to buy a version of ARGOS and a version of Windows (you mentioned only one would run on my cabinet) and I was trying to figure out which one made sense.

[idesign]

Your machine will limit you on what you can play.  The Windows version is not compatible with the newer OS or the games require a different 4.0 version of windows. 

Some games will require a newer version of windows or OS.  There is no set rule here since the machine you have is not supported any more by SG/LNW,  It is however compatible with lots of games.  Depending on what game you buy you may run into a brick wall grey screen of death, that will report what the issue is.  Also, some incompatible games will report the incompatibility during the install process to warn you of what the specific issue is.

You should have at least 1 USB thumb drive with a working version of the OS, Windows and Jur for backup in case you have to do a factory reset which will format your drive and force you to reinstall everything.

[slotjon]

Your machine will limit you on what you can play.  The Windows version is not compatible with the newer OS or the games require a different 4.0 version of windows. 

Some games will require a newer version of windows or OS.  There is no set rule here since the machine you have is not supported any more by SG/LNW,  It is however compatible with lots of games.  Depending on what game you buy you may run into a brick wall grey screen of death, that will report what the issue is.  Also, some incompatible games will report the incompatibility during the install process to warn you of what the specific issue is.

You should have at least 1 USB thumb drive with a working version of the OS, Windows and Jur for backup in case you have to do a factory reset which will format your drive and force you to reinstall everything.

Ok well sounds like I should wait for the machine and then go buy the windows version and OS version that are known working with huff puff.
I havent seen any jurisdiction usbs on ebay... is this back on the motherboard like the bios?  I was sort of thinking jurisdiction was included with windows.

[idesign]

OS, Windows and Jur usually come together on a single USB.  I can provide you what you need when the time comes.

[slotjon]

awesome thank you so much