It's 1M circuit board is not installed right?
It should not affect your game play much......... It's effects include:
1. Not being able to continue after completing the game.
2. No manual save feature.
3. Real Time clock problems.
Run a test for me Sara(I can call you that right?), Try going in the game up to the point when the game gives you control over the character and the option to SAVE. Go in the Main Menu by pressing the START button(Enter) and then highlight the SAVE option. If the game allows you to save then you are good to go. If it doesn't then I'll provide you with another solution.
Anyways, after you save, Press Ctrl and then R at the same time. It should reset the game. Then go up till the title screen. It should give you the option to continue. If it does you're still good to go.
By the way, you can also speed up game play by holding down the Space bar.