Mindstorms 9732: Extreme Creatures

[SheepEater]

So I bought this way back in 2003 and managed to run and install this thing on my refurbished Windows XP. My RIS 2.0 from year 2000 came with a patch on the CDthat allowed me to run this even older piece of software from 1998.

I did figure out how to run the software. Click on the outside of the circle of the ball (not the ball itself!) of the left of the hub to move it away, otherwise it annoyingly hides the pages giving you hints.

Go ahead and ask me if you have trouble running the Extreme Creatures software in RIS 2.0 You need to

1) Install RIS 2.0

2) Install the RIS Windows XP patch and the updated USB Tower driver (It used to be found on lego.com. If you can't find it online anywhere we can work something out, send me a PM)

3) Install the Extreme Creatures CD. Its gonna complain about needing 256 colors mode, but I ignored it without any problems.

4) install the Extreme Creatures patch, found on the RIS 2.0 CD.

5) Run RIS 2.0. Click "Missions", "Challenges". The Extreme Creatures add-on is run from there.

If you have Windows Vista, 7 or 8 related questions I can't help you (but there is already a nice thread about it) . I bought a cheap, refurbished Windows XP on eBay JUST to be able to run my prized RIS 2.0 that came with an USB tower without any hassle, after my old XP PC from 2007 died.

Now moving on to the LEGO BUILDING...

The software is ... kinda crappy. I'd LOVE to build the 12 challenges but there are only very vague references to the subassembies from the instruction manual. No 3D movies or additional photos of the (very neat) completed models that show on the back of the box. The instruction manual only features small, simple assemblies. The tutorials for each mission does give you a sample program for each, though.

So. Has ANYONE here managed to build the models on the back of the box and/or the challenges from the CD?

Edited October 26, 2013 by SheepEater

[GrizzledGeezer]

Good morning! This is my first post. And I'm already annoyed, because Enter doesn't work. (How am I supposed to separate paragraphs? Oh... That's how you do it. Sheesh.)

I've finally gotten around to transferring a number of legacy applications to my HP 4530s notebook (running W7P64). These are mostly apps that require a serial connection, such as utilities for configuring the Parasound C2 controller and the Universal Remotes MX700.

Other applications required installing a virtual environment under W7 and running Microsoft's XP Mode in it. (To my surprise, the Trendnet USB-to-serial adapter's driver worked under XP.) Brother's XP serial printer driver for the PT-PC label machine also worked (as it should have), but so did the latest (v5.1) label editor. Kudos to Brother for not only continually updating their software with new features and functions, but letting it run under "obsolete" operating systems. *

(Will he ever quit yapping about the non-LEGO junk, and get to MindStorms?)

I've installed RIS 2.0 under both W7 and XP Mode -- and it works. There are three catches, though.

1. The Extreme, Sports, Mars, and UB expansion packs can only be installed in XP mode. (The Vision pack can't be installed at all.)

2. In XP mode, RIS 2.0 "crashes" if the XP Mode window's dimensions aren't exactly 600px by 800px. (This is easily fixed by dragging the window's borders. To view its current dimensions, right-click within the window, select Properties, then Settings.)

3. Only the serial IR tower works in either environment. I've tried installing the USB driver I found through the ROBOTC site, but no luck.

#3 is the reason for this post. Obviously, if the serial tower works (and requires only a $9 adapter to do so), the inability to use the USB tower is reduced to an issue of aesthetic annoyance. Nevertheless... Is there a driver that will work under at least XP Mode? (Note that the USB tower is "visible" when plugged in, and can be "attached" from the USB menu -- but the driver just doesn't see it.)

If anyone thinks this material should be posted elsewhere, let me know and I'll do it.

Thanks in advance.

* Brother charges too much for supplies, but it's one of those rare companies, from Japan or anywhere else, that actually cares about the quality of support it supplies. It earns its "at your side" slogan.

[DrJB]

I bought a cheap, refurbished Windows XP on eBay JUST to be able to run my prized RIS 2.0 that came with an USB tower without any hassle, after my old XP PC from 2007 died.

I wonder, has anyone been able to use RIS on an XP 'Virtual' Machine?

[GrizzledGeezer]

Yes! That's what I was saying.

You install the virtual space, then the XP Mode software. Unfortunately, some computers reject a virtual-space installation. ("I don't like that. Ptui!") It didn't work on my ASUS desktop -- but it worked perfectly on my HP notebook. (Both run W7P64.) Indeed, the virtual system on the notebook installed XP Mode on its own, apparently downloading it.

As there is apparently no USB driver that will work under W7/64 (or even XP Mode -- which is a 32-bit environment!) you have to use a serial tower. This requires a USH-to-serial adapter. The Trendnet can be installed under W7/64 or XP Mode.

I find it amazing the RIS 2.0 works under W7P64 -- but it does. Now all we need is a USB driver that works under XP Mode.

PS: Note that XP Mode has little protection against attack. When in it, you should probably disconnect your Internet connection.

[GrizzledGeezer]

I now have all the expansion sets -- including Vision Command -- running under virtual XP Mode. (VC was something of a surprise.)

I'd like to post comments to help others -- but can't figure out in which group I should start a "Vision Command under Virtual XP Mode -- Success!" thread.

Any suggestions?

Thanks.