DOSBox: Let's go for it!

Team, hi,

(I hope y'all don't mind me calling you that. We're in this together)

OK, got a tip from a reader last night, then did an RTFM in DOSBox. Seems that you just have to drill a bit closer down to the hardware, and then all the disk recognition problems in DOSBox 0.62 go away. Specifically, the following mount command:

mount D D:\ -t cdrom -usecd 0 -ioctl

whereas previously we had:

mount D D:\ -t cdrom

Seems to do the trick for *all* PCs. Two people who previously had problems confirm that they are now working fine. So, here's just a shortlist of great games we've got running in DOSBox 0.62 now:

Gabriel Knight: Sins of the Fathers
Under a Killing Moon
Pandora Directive
System Shock
Realms of the Haunting
Ultima VII
Space Quest 5

All the games that are working via ScummVM seem to work too! So, do we need a more compelling reason to go with this?! Yo, people, this singular solution seems to solve most problems with running old DOS games in XP, without having to treat each game as a separate case

What DOSBox does is emulate a certain amount of old PC instructions per millisecond. So, if a game is running too fast for you, you can even slow it down by adjusting its 'cycles' parameter. Once a game is up and running, you can use function keys to do the fine tuning.

DOSBox comes with a configuration file called dosbox.conf that is pretty easy to use. You can edit it with Notepad. What I do is get the dosbox.conf working for a particular game, then save that copy of it off in the game's install directory. Then when you want to run that game, just copy its dosbox.conf up into the main DOSBox directory and you're away. There are only really three areas in dosbox.conf you ever need to touch:

fullscreen=true (I always have this set)
cycles=9272 (you have to experiment. This value is for GK1 in VESA mode)

And the third area is at the very bottom of the file:

[autoexec]
# Lines in this section will be run at startup.
mount D D:\ -t cdrom
mount C C:\
C:

What's happening there? Well, we're mapping virtual drives to physical ones. You have to do all that gunk because DOSBox is so versatile that it will run on Linux, and Linux knows nothing about C:! If your CD-ROM letter was E:, that line above would look like this instead:

mount D E:\ -t cdrom

So that's it in a nutshell. I've got some pages here that cover various game set-ups in full detail:

See: Steve\'s XP Corner

Finally, a caveat:

DOSBox won't run *Windows* games, so don't expect it to solve your AMBER in XP problem But it is really good at running 'crossover' games that were made between 1995 - 1997 (like Pandora Directive) that have both DOS and Windows install options. Just install the DOS version of the game and away you go.

Well, that's about it. Hope that was helpful

------------------------

Comments? (as if... :-)

Steve

Ok, Dumb question--

I have read a lot about Dosbox--freeware-shareware--retail?????

Also, does it work only in XP--or if, like me, you have a 98 system also, would it be of benefit to install there???

And is Dosbox all you usually need to install--or is there another program you need to install with it??

Thanks

looney4labs, hi,

DOSBox is freeware!

It doesn't work on Win 98. You don't need it for Win 98 because Win 98 has a native DOS mode. The whole idea was to create a DOS environment for operating systems that don't have any, or have poor, DOS support. These are:

Windows 2000 and XP
BeOS
Linux
MacOS X

And to answer your last question... all you need is DOSBox. It only takes 10 minutes to install and configure. For instance, here are my set-up instructions for Under a Killing Moon:

-------------------------------------------------

1. Download and install DOSBox version 0.62 (or later). Get the Win32 installer version, which at the time of writing was called:

Dosbox0.62-win32-installer.exe

2. Wherever you installed DOSBox to, go there and edit the file dosbox.conf, replacing the section at the very bottom of the file with the following (Note: if your CD-ROM drive is letter 'E', then replace the 'D:' below with 'E:'):

[autoexec]
# Lines in this section will be run at startup.
mount D D:\ -t cdrom -usecd 0 -ioctl
mount C C:\
C:

Another note: you have to get that exactly right, so it's best just to copy and paste right out of this web page and into the dosbox.conf file using Notepad or a text editor. While you're in that file, you should also set: fullscreen=true (it's set to false by default) and cycles=13908. Note: you may have to experiment with the number of instruction cycles DOSBox emulates every millisecond, depending on the speed of your processor. I arrived at this figure by using multiples of 9272 (the setting which was recommend for DOSBox 0.60). I have a 2GHZ Pentium IV. Generally, the higher you can set this value to the better. You'll know you've set it too high though if the sound begins to stutter!

3. Open a Command Prompt (Start -> All Programs -> Accessories -> Command Prompt) and Install Under a Killing Moon to its default folder, C:\MOON

4. Manually copy the file: TEX197.EXE from the CD to the C:\MOON folder.

5. And now we're ready to roll! In a Command Prompt, switch to the folder where you installed DOSBox (for instance: cd \Program Files\DOSBox-0.62). Start up DOSBox by entering:

dosbox

Then enter the following 2 commands after it starts up:

cd moon
tex197

...and we're away!

6. The very first time you start the game, you are taken directly to the sound setup page. It's best to set up the sound manually. Use the following settings for the DIGITAL SOUND DEVICE:

SoundBlaster Pro, I/O Port: 220, Interrupt: 7, DMA Channel: 1

Accept the defaults for the MIDI MUSIC DEVICE: SoundBlaster, I/O Port: 388.

7. When it comes time to set up the screen and so forth, try setting the Window Size to: 640 x 480, and the Rendering Quality to: HIGH. If the in-game motion turns out to be not fluid enough for you, then you can set these parameters to lower values later.

-------------------------------------------------

So, what are you waiting for? I'm willing to help anyone who is having trouble getting a particular game running!

And one other thing. It's also a perfect tool for slowing down games that run too fast. Just keep reducing the 'cycles=' parameter until the game becomes playable

Regards,
Steve

Thanks a lot--will print this and put it in my file--so I can find it when I am ready to play all the older games I have been BAAGing

True DOS (what you find in ME and earlier versions of Windows) allows programs to directly access the hardware of the computer. With Windows NT/2K/XP/2K3 Server, you get NTVDM which is New Technology, Virtual DOS Machine. Virtual DOS does not allow programs to directly access the hardware of the computer. Old games, programmed to directly access the hardware, won't run on newer versions of windows for this reason. DOSBox is used, on games without copy protection, to bypass the NTVDM restriction.

I thought I'd clarify.


Gamehound

Thanks Gamehound!

I thought my explanation was long enough as it was, and didn't want to get too tech. I suppose I'm only willing to show so much of my 'geekness'

Hey, moderator! (I guess that's you, Inferno ) Any way we can make this thread semi-permanent? A lot of people are starting to experiment with DOSBox and it would be nice to have a place on GameBoomers to point them at.

Cheers,
Steve

Amen to that..........DOSBOX is a great little program!!

I'll "sticky" it so it will appear as "featured" thread near the top of the list.

Thanks Jenny!

On the DOSBox site I've seen references to dynamic core. Has anyone tried using that?

Using DOSBox on Mac OSX the things I can easily vary are the CPU cycles and frame skips. Has anyone found modifying frame skips useful?

Also is there much difference between DOSBox 0.61 (which I currently have) and 0.62?

Thanks Peter.

Peter, hi!

No, haven't tried it.

'frameskip' is useful if your machine can't keep up with the game, even on a high 'cycles' setting.

They are fixing bugs all the time, so I'd definitely get 0.62. It's quite possible that games that wouldn't run at all on 0.60 and 0.61 will run fine on 0.62.

BTW, I'm curently compiling a comprehensive FAQ on DOSBox that will be hosted here permanently. Give me a few days...

Cheers,
Steve

Thanks Steve! Look forward to seeing your FAQ. There is a lot of good stuff on the DOSBox site and the Wiki.

Steve...DOSBox 0.63 is available now..Glynn

Glynn, hi,

Excellent! I shall have to check it out. I believe they were trying to get this release out quickly to fix the CD-ROM reading problems they were having.

Thanks for the tip
Steve

You are welcome, Steve! I just downloaded it a couple of days ago. Thanks for all your help on the DOS games! Glynn

I hope, one day, that they get around the not being able to play games with copy protection. I don't see it happening anytime soon though.


Gamehound

Gamehound, hi,

Which games have you fell afoul of in this respect? I'd be interested to know...

TIA,
Steve

Hello Metzomagic,

It might be a dumm thing to ask
(have no techno knowledge whatsoever)
but I have windows XP and got the "7th guest"
to run. Is this already old news or is it worth
mentioning in a gameslist? I think I also had
a dos-Box (I installed everything that sounded
interesting from the internet!Have no idea what it all is though!)

I think the last time I tried DOSBox was v.57, so it is been a good while. I forgot what games I tried, but they wouldn't load because they had copy protection. I got them to load in 98 just fine though. If I remember them, I'll post.

One might have been Shadow of the Comet.


Gamehound

Was it the Windows or the DOS version of 7th Guest?

Inferno has a setup walkthrough for the DOS version here
7th Guest in DOS Mode

but the Windows version is easier to get running.

Hello Jenn,

I think it is the DOS version. My brilliant
tactic was to try out every file and every combination. Finally something happenend.
Have to start the game from an install file
though.

I've been running games in DosBox (version 0.61) with Windows 98 and it has worked perfectly. Getting the sound to work in DOS games in Windows 98 is often very hard, especially when using the DOS mode in Windows. And using the "pure" DOS that comes with Windows 98 often requires special drivers for your CD-player, and your USB devices, such as any modern mouse, won't work. Since DosBox emulates an entire DOS computer it's much easier to get DOS games to work than if you use any of the DOS options Windows 98 provides. And you can't alter the speed in the native DOS modes either.

So, DosBox is a good thing for Windows 98 users too!

frazap, hi,

This is great news! I suppose this must have happened when they introduced protected mode support in version 0.60? Either that, or DOSBox has always worked with Win 98 and I'm confusing it with VDMSound, which I'm pretty sure does not.

In any case, I will be sure to add this information to the FAQ I'm preparing for DOSBox.

BTW, this Win 98 machine you are running on... it must be a pretty high spec to get any kind of performance out of DOSBox! Are you running dual boot Win 98/XP or something?

Thanks,
Steve

Hello Metzomagic,

I have another question,

When i

Hi Steve,
Don't know whether this is a similar way of getting round the same problem. I have a slave drive of 500mb that is only set up with Dos, for some progs. I'm TRYING to write in Dos and Pascal. If a game won't load, or run, I tell 'puter to load them on Drive G (the Dos only drive) and I've not had any problems with them either loading or running.
Dave.

I just want to thank you, Steve, for bursting my bubble. Until I read this thread, I thought I had a pretty good amount of technical computer knowledge.

I'm still trying to figure out what I just read.

But I'll keep trying. Because one day, I'd love to be able to play The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy again. I know it's available to play online -- but since you can't save your game, it's kind of pointless to play.

FlyingDutchman, hi,

[quote]When i

Actually, I think DosBox has worked with W 98 since day one. As you say, VDMSound does not.

Looking forward to reading that FAQ!

frazap, hi,

Right now I'm trying to wrap up a The Moment of Silence walkthrough and review. The DOSBox FAQ is my next project right after that. Oh joy, another article to write

Regards,
Steve

Hi Metzomagic!

Good news, I suceeded!
I Installed Dos.box 0.63 I believe and was able
to play "The riddle of master Lu".
Never knew that this was sutch a nice game.
Also My leisure suit larry improved in sound
quality.

Thanks for the help and advice!

THANK YOU, STEVE!!!! :kiss:

I am computer stupid & even I was able to install DOSBox with your copy/paste instructions & am playing (drum roll...) Quest for Glory ONE! Okay, so I have no idea WHAT I did by following your instructions, but whatever it was worked! I've been hanging on to my old computer & waiting for the day I could hook it up again in order to play the gazillion old games I've got. You've given me new hope!

Now....ya wanna tackle instructions for that sound program thingie???

Love, Jen

Jen in Chgo, hi!

Hey, thanks. And you just remminded me... I've got the original Quest for Glory I VGA on *floppies*, and also on CD as part of the Quest for Glory Collection. I'll have to resurrect it and give it a go in DOSBox... when I get some free time

Well, it's best to use DOSBox if you can. But I do have full instructions for installing VDMSound in my original article describing how to get old games running in XP:

Bring Out Your Dead!

Slan,
Steve

I'm really looking forward to your FAQ, Steve. I've played a few games in dosbox, but could definitely use some help.

Thanks for the info!

Melanie

Mel, hi,

The FAQ should be up in a day or two. I just submitted the final draft to the powers that be

Cheers,
Steve

I'm so glad you are giving us the benefit of your knowledge right here on gameboomers.

I'm learning so much & even figuring out dos, which for a person who learned on windows, is something I've wanted to do for a long time.

Melanie

Folks, hi,

Wahey! I polished off the DOSBox FAQ last night, and MaG managed to get it posted in rapid fashion

There's a permanent link to it right at the top of this forum, and in case you want to go to it from this post:

GameBoomers DOSBox FAQ

I'm sure there are questions I haven't anticipated in the FAQ. Everyone's PC is different, and exhibits different classes of problems

This is meant to be an evolving document, so feel free to e-mail me with suggestions for new question/answer pairs (ducks for cover).

Knock yourselves out,
Steve

Thanks so much, Steve!

What do you think of the frontend programs? Do you use any & if you do, will you be adding that info to your dosbox faq?

Melanie

Melanie, hi,

I don't tend go in for GUI front-ends, because I'm well used to messing with configuration files and command lines. But I'm a techie, and I could see how other people might feel differently

However... since there are only 3 or 4 simple parameters you ever need to tweak for DOSBox, I just think a front-end is overkill. It's the same with ScummVM, which, by the way, DOSBox makes effectively obsolete. DOSBox runs: Beneath a Steel Sky, DOTT, The Dig, et. al just fine

Of course, I'm definitely willing to investigate the situation if enough of you tell me that "DOSBox front-end XYZ is the bees knees!"

Cheers,
Steve

Well Done, my friend, ...Well Done!

Inferno

What makes it worthwhile, imo, is that it allows you to set up icons for shortcuts, has a graphical interface so it's like setting up a game in windows rather than dos, and allows multiple folders to organize your games & save their configuration & startup files with profiles. You can also copy & export profiles & it's wizard based.

I'm currently using dosbox without a frontend, thanks to your setups & not having a problem with it.

I'm sure I'll have plenty of questions about my next dosbox game setup though.

Thanks again for such an easy to read FAQ!

Melanie

Melanie, hi again,

OK, you've convinced me Got it running with the settings I've detailed in the FAQ, with only one addition:

ems=false

This discovery renders the Exult engine almost obsolete too. I should probably add a short list of example games that DOSBox will run to the FAQ, just to make people aware of what a powerful tool it is

Cheers,
Steve

What a great thing, metzo......I know a lot of us will be using this information!!! Hurrah!! Thanks so much!!

Steve,

Thanks for taking a look at it. If you think it's not worth the effort just let us know. I haven't done any setups yet with it, just downloaded & played with it a bit.

No rush. As you said I have plenty to keep me busy already, thanks to yours & Inferno's setups. All these oldies but goodies that I never got the opportunity to play are now doable!

Thanks again!

Melanie

hello metzomagic,

I yust wanted to tell you that while I was playing Phantasmagoria (with the newest DOSBOX)
I was(after instalation) instructed to (when
I wanted to continue the game a next time) to
type in C Directory "sierra\scarydos,
phcd and than return. I could play , but had to
run install each time. After typing "sierra\phcd
and return I could start right away without
reinstalling again. Mabye it is usefull to somebody! Greetings from Flying Dutchman 41

FlyingDutchman, hi,

Hmm. This doesn't sound like it's DOSBox related. 'phcd' is probably the .exe or .bat file that runs Phantasmagoria. There's probably a copy of it in both the 'c:\sierra' directory and in 'c:\sierra\scarydos'.

I don't think you needed to reinstall the game every time you wanted to play! After starting up DOSBox, you just need to enter the following commands:

cd \sierra\scarydos
phcd

It's always best to run the game from the directory where it's installed.

Cheers,
Steve

Steve. Once again, I've been away for awhile... and just read your reply to me from nearly a month ago.

And just like that -- I clicked and dragged the now-despised "Wace25" DOS program right into the Trash. Where blessedly, it REMAINED.

The morale of my story is... if at first you fail to delete a DOS program -- disable your antiadware/antispyware program. Apparently, it views DOS programs as part of Windows or your system and tries to protect them. At least, that's my theory. But I'm a little leery of DOS programs now. It'll take me awhile to recover from this experience, I think.

Katsmom, hi,

Sounds like a horror story alright! To get rid of adware, I occasionally use Spybot: Search & Destroy. AFAIK, that only runs when you ask it to

Cheers,
Steve

I see you are back "in town" again "metzomagic".

Sorry for the interruption folks

"See" you later metzo...

Cheers

Lagavulin!

So... we must continue our erstwhile conversation. How exactly did you wind up in Sandymount, pray tell?

Steve

Hi Steve!

I'm playing I Have No Mouth & I Must Scream in Dosbox & followed Bill's setup on Inferno's site with a few changes. (I'm not using Xkey, didn't need it.)

I had to do some speeding up of the cycles, then some slowing down, then speeding up again, etc by using the F12 & F11 keys. The game was doing great until I got to Ellen's character & all of a sudden I'm having temporary freezes & skipping sound again. Any suggestions?

I also have a question about the cycles speed. Dosbox says that one can damage the computer by speeding it up more than the computer can go. How would I know the limits of my cpu? Where would that info be? I have a 4 CPU 2 GHZ processor. Is that the info I would look at and how would it relate to say 9050 cycles?

Thanks!

Melanie

Melanie, hi,

One thing I observed about that particular I Have No Mouth setup is... that you don't need both DOSBox *and* VDMSound! They both do the same thing, which is to virtualise the old DOS sound hardware. So you could improve performance by getting rid of VDMSound for starters. It could very well be fighting against DOSBox for control of your sound card

Then, please don't believe anything you read about damaging your 'puter. Urban legend stuff.

And finally, if you have a 2GHZ processor, you should be able to run DOSBox up to cycles=15000, or even more. The trick is to find a setting that the game runs comfortably at, with the least amount of clicking/stuttering. Unfortunately, I don't have a copy of I Have No Mouth... or I would be able to advise better

Good luck with it,
Steve

Hi Steve,

Thanks for the quick answer.

Another dumb question, how would I go about undoing the VDMsound? Would I do that in the IHNMAIMS config or the dosbox config?

Melanie

Mel, hi again,

You don't have to get 'rid' of VDMSound, just don't run it! By the way, you may find that this game runs better with VDMSound than it does in DOSBox. Either one by itself should do the trick.

Getting very late here in Ireland. Gotta get some kip!

Slan,
Steve

Hi Steve I just wanted to say a quick thanks because thanks to your xp corner on the Quandary I have been playing for a little while now Gabriel Knight one and loving it!! I have had this game for at least two years maybe three and have never been able to play it until now. I found a link somewhere on gameboomers about your page on the quandary read it followed the instructions yelled a few obscenities! pulled out a few hairs!! but then man was it worth it!! Thank you Thank you and also a big thanks to the Dosbox team!!! <img border="0" alt="[holidays]" title="" src="graemlins/holidays.gif" /> aspen

I guess I haven't been using the VDMsound then, Steve.

I've just been running the game in Dosbox. Maybe I should try it in VDMsound.

I better look at the setup & configurations again.

Clueless me.

Melanie

aspen, hi,

Thanks! It took me about 3 tries to get that setup working on everyone's machine. Since DOSBox 0.63 was released, I haven't found a single DOS game that it won't run, including some real stinkers like: System Shock, Pandora Directive, Realms of the Haunting, and Ultima VII (just set: ems=false for that one).

Happy GK'ing,
Steve


____________________________________________


Mel, hi again,

Full instructions for using VDMSound in my original article on getting old games working in XP:

Bring Out Your Dead!

Happy Xmas,
Steve

Hi Steve,

Thanks again! I have your 'Bring Our Your Dead' page saved to my hard drive. I'm going to try IHNMAIMS in VDM sound and see if it does better as soon as I get a chance to play again. I'll let you know whether it works better that way or in dosbox for me.

Your last setup for GK1 was the winner for me too, Steve! After trying to play it 6 times with other setups, it's running like a charm. I'm almost done with it but stuck at the dreaded action scene in the snake pit, so keep going back & trying again in between other games.

Have a great Xmas!

Melanie


_____________________________________________


Hi Steve,

IHNMAIMS did about the same in dosbox as in VDMsound so I solved my problem by turning the voice off & used text only in that section of the game, which allowed me to finish it without the freezes & I just put the voices back on again when I finished that section.

For some reason, so far that particular character is the only one I've had trouble with. It's playing fine again.

Thanks.

Merry Xmas!

Melanie

EDIT: I finished it! Love this game. For some reason that was the only rough spot.

I just would say metzomagic.
Thanks to DOSBox, I finally made my copy of Discworld 1 to run. No sound, but I don't complain, it is working.

Caroline.

Carolin, hi,

Aw, come on

Anyone else have any ideas?

TIA,
Steve

Hi Steve. The 'culprit' program was Spy Sweeper (by Webroot). I just had to disable certain features, to finally delete the DOS program.

Does anybody know if this "Dos" fix would help with the game "Nautilus"? My sister, Kaki and I have never been able to play it because every time the mouse cursor gets to close to any side of the computer screen the game crashes to the desk top!

Can someone tell me if this Dos fix will help or is there something else we need to do. We would really like to play the game!

Thanks!

If you're talking about the TAC game Mystery of the Nautilus, that is a Windows game and not a DOS game. So DOSBox won't help you.

Dear Steve, have printed out your instructions for Gabriel Knight Sins of the Fathers and have got to the DOS Command Prompt stage (oh that frightens me). I typed in d: and then install as per instructions but it keeps saying it is an illegal command. I tried this on both c and d.
Please help I really want to play this game and DOS really gives me the willies.
Thank You

Steve's instructions from ***here*** say

If you printed out the instructions, you might have made a mistake in those lines.

Also, is your CD drive letter D: or did you change the D: in the example to whatever your drive letter is?

Hi Jenny,
Thanks for the quick reply.
I actually copied and pasted the first lines so that i didn't make a mistake.
I can get into Dosbox thru the Command Prompt - that's no problem.
My Local Disk is C and where I put the game is D - i have tried both and they give me the illegal command.
Am I being stupid? Do I need to have the game in the D drive and then do it?
I have the Dosbox 63 version loaded.
Thanks for your time.

___________________________________________

update

I DID IT...I DID IT....
I am such a dribble - fancy that - putting the Disk in DOES help !!!!!!
Thanks Jenny - all ok and I have sound.
I have certainly learnt a thing or two and now look out all those old unplayed games....
Doh

Hi Jada,

You can make a shortcut on your desktop for dosbox.

Just go to the file where you have it installed, right-click the dosbox63.exe file & choose make shortcut. Then drag it to your desktop. It works fine for me that way. I never use the command line to get in.

Melanie

Gotcha Melanie.
Cheers for that - It works - I was trying to avoid having to type in the sierra/gkcd,
sierra code to get there.
We are nice and lazy here down-under and with a few wines a good game should be easy to get too.
Thanks a lot for the help.
Jane

Jada,
I am so happy that you got the DOSBox to work but I am still working at it. A kind Boomer set me step by step instructions for installing The Dame Was Loaded but the Boomer was using the dosbox62 and I downloaded the dosbox63 so I was unable to follow it step by step. If anyone has in fact installed the Dame using the dosbox63 version please hold my hand and walk me through it. I won't give up until I get it right.

Do y'all think DosBox might help with The Day the World Broke lockup/crashing problems? I am aware now that some of these are linearity bugs, but how about the inventory-related lockups?

<img border="0" alt="[valentines]" title="" src="graemlins/valentinesday.gif" />

Susan

I am still a little fuzzy about the short cut and I do feel stupid asking but I need to be sure. I have played Fate Of Atlantis using DosBox.0.63 but how do I make a shortcut for my desk top. Do I open the folder and then click on my dosbox.exe to make the short cut or what? I know it has been explained many times but I hope there is another gamer out there who is still as lost as I am ...I hate to be stupid alone .

Carol, the Dame was Loaded walkthrough works on .63, it's what I tested it on and did the walkthrough for not.62 (where did you see that in what I sent you?). Just follow my initial instructions I sent you as far as altering the Wintest file and then follow the Dosbox Setup I sent. For the desktop link just find the dosbox directory, right click on the exe file and choose "send to" and then desktop. That'll do it.
Any problems email me.
Bill

Folks, hi,

Jenny, Melanie, thanks very much for helping out in my absence. I've been very busy setting up the new forums over at Quandary *cough* Tough to be in two places at once...

OK, shortcuts... just follow Melanie's advice from a few posts above. Then you might want to make a batch file to save you having to type DOS commands every time you want to play a game. For example, say we want to set up a batch file to run Gabriel Knight (GK). To do this, open Notepad, and enter the two lines you would normally type to run GK from the DOSBox prompt, that is:

cd \sierra\gkcd
sierra

Then save that as:

c:\gk.bat

Then all you need to do to run GK is double-click on the DOSBox shortcut you created earlier, and then type:

gk

And you're up and running

Cheers,
metzomagic

Thanks Bill and Metzomagic for your advice. I will try the short cut later but right now I am just happy to be able to play my favorite older games.I am most happy to be able to play Fate Of Atlantis with sound. I even dug out Samnmax and Flight Of The Amazon Queen . I had almost forgotten how much fun the older games actually are. Beleive it or not I got Orion Burger to play in DosBox and that really put a smile on my face. I do have one last question concerning the removal of these games. I am planning to play Myst IV soon and that is a pretty large game and I know I will need a lot of space, can I remove these older games simply by doing a delete to the folder I installed them in?

Hi Carol,
First check to see if there's an actual uninstall for the programs. A good way to tell is there's a listing in Add/remove programs in your control panel or go to the "start menu then programs and see if they're listed. If not then there are no registry entries and you can just delete the game folders. If they're listed in add/remove get rid of them from there. If there listed in the program listings from the start button right click and see if there's an uninstall option, if so use that or as berfore if not just delete the folder. Hsve fun,
Bill

DOS game installs are tiny. I doubt you'll get enough space back by removing them to be worthwhile unless you have about a hundred DOS games installed.

Steve: I am having a lot of trouble installing the original version of Labyrinth of Time. I used Rae's setup walkthrough on Inferno's website and am having problems directing the player.exe file to my CD-Rom Drive (E). It wants to go to my zip drive (D) instead. Is it possible to use DOSBox to install this game and if so, how and where do I go to download the current version. I've also got Thief:The Dark Project on order through E-Bay and notice you're playing it now. Did you use DOSBox to install it too?

Hi Steve,

I have a question as it pertains to DosBox with Win ME. I thought Win ME didn't have the same kind of "true DOS" option that Win 98 has, yet apparently DosBox doesn't support Win ME. Does Win ME support true DOS, then? I have found Win ME to be by far the worst OS I have ever used and one of these days will get rid of it----but just thought I'd ask.

Hi Carol,
Your not alone.
I have got the shortcut to Dosbox on my desktop and can open it from there but when i type in the prompt accoding to instructions it tells me that i shouldn't do it as Dosbox knows it Sierra.
I have tried just typing in gkcd but it doesn't like that either.
Soooo as it still opens and i can run it - i just ignore the warning.
There must be an easier way to shortcut right into the game but i'm blowed if i know how.
Sorry - but at least we have company now

_______________________________________
update

Hi Steve,
Welcome back.
I seemed to have skipped a page and just found your reply re the shortcut.
Cheers I'll give that a shot.
Thanks for helping us all, it's very much appreciated.
Cheers Jane

Has anyone played Under A Killing Moon using DosBox? I have played the game each year on my old W95 but thought I would like to play it on my new system. I can install and get everything going except the digital portion. I get ready to start the game and get this"waring the digital portion of the game has not been set return to configuration and set your sound card". I have tried all availabe possibilities and nothng. I can always return to my old system but just thought I would see if I could get it up and running on my XP.

Have you tried everything ***here*** ?

Jenny100,
Thanks for the link. If I would just remember to do a search before I post I could save a lot of time. I forget that there are gamers out there just as challenged as I am.(lol). Thanks again and I will give it one more try.

Hi There,
Me again - am finding Dosbox easier to get my head around but (of course there has to be one of those) am still playing Gabriel Knight 1 and getting nearer the end where I need Gab to RUN - but I cannot seem to do this - he just saunters merrily on his way and gets slaughtered in the process - is this caused by the age of the game? Can I alter something in Dosbox to get him to move faster?
This guy needs to get a wiggle on otherwise I will never be able to finish the game !!!
Thanks Guys

Look in the game's control panel (there's an icon for control panel that should be visible while you're playing). There's a speed control in there that controls Gabriel's walk speed.

Bill,
I have a question concerning The Dame was Loaded . Is it required to play Day 1 all the way before you can save? The reason I ask this is because I had played a lot of the events of Day 1 and attempted to save but my save slot froze and I had to abort. Could it be that the problem is with my computer? I wonder what adjustments, if I any, I need to make to save my games.

Hi Jenny,
Yup - got that have Gab going flat-nanna (fast) most of the time but in the caves he will not more faster than a snail no matter what speed he's on.
This means i will never be able to get past the boogie men and win - very frustrating to have to end it here.
Cheers

Jada,
I haven't heard of a problem with Gabriel's speed in the cave when playing on DOSBox. But there is a new GK1 installer for XP that can be downloaded here
http://www.gabrielknight2k.tk/

You might try that and see if you have the same problems. If you try it, and want to move your saved games, be sure to move the gksg.cat file along with the numbered gksg saves.

I have a 1.2 MB archive of saves from GK1 which includes a "got through mummies" save as well as some others. Let me know if you want it.

Oh Jenny,
Wonderful - yes please !!!
I have tried downloading the patch and am in touch with the author - i have a problem with it and it keeps hanging on me and will not open.
I would love your 'got thru mummies' save game - that is of course if u have done as well as me so far...ha ha ha (kiwi humour) let me know what i have to do - do you need my email address??
Cheers and thanks so much for your help.

Yes I need your email address in order to send you the saves.

Great,

Thank You so much.
Cheers Jane

The zip file I'm sending is saves from the GK1 that came in the GK Mysteries box. They may not work with earlier versions of GK1. In fact, chances are that they will not work with earlier versions.

So be sure to back up your own GK save files as well as your gksg.cat file before using these saves. Copy your own gksg saves to a folder outside the GK folder for safekeeping.

__________________________________________
update

By the way, in the future don't post your email address in the forum where anyone can see it. Either email it directly to me or set your GB settings to allow your email to be visible to members. Then only GB members who are logged in will be able to view it.

You can change this setting by clicking the my profile link at the top of the page under the TOPIC and REPLY buttons. Then choose the Edit Preferences link. Then put the dot next to "Yes, keep my address visible to anyone." It won't really be visible to anyone - only to GB members who are logged in, who will be able to see it if they click the PROFILE button in your post.

Jenny100,
Would it be too much trouble for you to send me the same save file? I have played this game several times and always get stopped at Zombieville . I am determined that this year I will finish this game.

Sent.
Note that it's a large file - about 1.2 MB.
And the saves will only work with the GK Mysteries version of the game. If you have an earlier version, they probably won't work. Back up your current saves before unzipping the save file into your GK folder.

I'm giving this a try. Thanks for all of the help!

My first question is this: on the first page, you have this:
[autoexec]
# Lines in this section will be run at startup.
mount D D:\ -t cdrom
mount C C:\
C:

and you say that if your CD-ROM drive is not D, substitute that letter (like F) for the D. However, in your example, you only changed the second D, so that it looked like this:
[autoexec]
# Lines in this section will be run at startup.
mount D F:\ -t cdrom
mount C C:\
C:

Do you change both D's, or just the second one?

Thanks,
Beth

_______________________________________

update

I experimented a little since asking my last question, and found that you do, indeed, have to change both D's in the command line above to mount the CD-ROM drive if it is not named D. Therefore, the command would be:

[autoexec]
# Lines in this section will be run at startup.
mount F F:\ -t cdrom
mount C C:\
C:

If you do not change both of the D's, Dosbox will say that you do not have your F drive mounted. It might be a good idea to correct this in the instructions, as it must be a typo.

Thanks!

________________________________________

update

I tried to install Return of the Phantom, an old DOS game, and I did get the install screen, but when I tried to install I got the message that the game requires 0 disk space and I have 0 space. Any ideas on how to correct this?

Are you using a CD version or a floppy version?

I have a reissue CD version from Romzon. I tried installing it on a Win 98SE computer to see if the install was something tiny that you could just copy over, but no luck with that. The install - at least with my version - contains quite a few files and seems to create some files. If you don't have the CD version, a list of files wouldn't help anyway.

It does want EMS, not XMS. At least that's what it says. It isn't telling me how big the install is or how much space is required so I think it is a different version from yours. I guess this isn't much help.

I've got a CD-ROM version of Return of the Phantom. I believe it is a reissue because it has a notation of "Player's Choice" on it. It is a dark pink colored disk (if that helps). When I get the install screen, my computer specs are checked and a note flashes up saying I have passed or exceeded all requirements. Then, I have to click the install button, and that is when I get the message about memory. I'm not sure if changing a line in the config file of DOSbox would help, or not? Maybe there is a line in there that emulates EMS memory?
Thanks,
Beth

Jenny100,
Thanks so much for the file. I lost my original copy of GK1 so a friend is providing me with her copy that did in fact come with the series box that you spoke of. I do have one question and it's sorta of dumb but here goes...with 22 files how do I identify the day 9 zombie file or am I to just install the file as sent and just use the ones that I need. I ask these dumb questions because my experience with saved games is limited.

Lexxy,
You don't. At least I didn't. And you'd need the .cat file or the save wouldn't show up in your game's save list anyway. GK1 has a complicated save system. Just put all the saves in your game folder and choose the one you want from within the game. It's a pretty linear game in the mummy area, so it's unlikely you'll miss anything or have to do anything twice by the time you reach the mummies.

_____________________________________

update

Mine says "Player's Choice" on the box, but there's nothing pink about the disk. It's silver with black and red print. Does yours say Romzon on it anywhere? Mine had a weird installer. You have to type MENU instead of INSTALL or SETUP. I never had that with a game before. Is yours like that? I know the installer on mine is not like it was in the original game.

Quote:

When I get the install screen, my computer specs are checked and a note flashes up saying I have passed or exceeded all requirements.

Mine warned me I didn't have enough EMS memory, but installed anyway.

Quote:

Then, I have to click the install button, and that is when I get the message about memory. I'm not sure if changing a line in the config file of DOSbox would help, or not? Maybe there is a line in there that emulates EMS memory?

It must be possible, but I'm not a DOSBox expert. Most of the problems I see for this game seem to have to do with the sound, not with installing. There is a discussion on sound problems with Return of the Phantom and Dragonsphere (the games both require EMS and have similar problems) at ***VOGONS*** , but they don't mention a problem with installing.

Thanks Jenny,
Sorry about the long reply that four letter word WORK is getting in the way.
I have the original GK1 not the mystery pack one or whatever it is called - so I guess I'm stumped.
Thanks for the tip on email address.
Cheers

I'm not sure. Maybe mount D F:\ -t cdrom would mount your F: drive so the game would see what's in the CD drive as being on D:? Doing it that way might be useful for any game that has trouble with a CD drive with drive letter higher than D:
Anyway, I'll let Steve edit his own post.

Hi, Jenny
I had to use the "menu" command to get to the install screen, as well! It is very odd. Luckily, it is printed right on the front of my disk, or I would have had to just use the "dir" command to try to figure out what to use.

My disk doesn't say Romzon anywhere. It does say Microprose and has the install instructions printed on it, an address for Microprose and the date 1995. So it is definitely a reissue.

Thanks for all of your help,
Beth

Yes. I think we have different reissues. But mine installed the game in a weird folder called Mpsdisc.002
That's not a file, it's a folder.

C:\Romzon\Mpsdisc.002\Menu.exe

It also created another weird folder called Mpswhere in my C: drive with a single file in it called Mpsdisc.002 Very convoluted.

And I have to start the game by running the Menu file again and clicking the option to start the game. Weird, huh? I'm quite sure the original Return of the Phantom would have used an Install.bat file to install, like most DOS games do.

Yeah, it's really odd. Probably someone thought they would do something new and innovative and it ended up just being weird and difficult to handle.

Bryansmom, hi,

Sorry for the delay in replying, but I was away from all computers for a merciful few weeks Thanks for minding this thread in the meantime, Jenny

There is an example of this usage in the README.txt file supplied with DOSBox.

Hope that clears up the confusion,
metzomagic

I understand it now. Thanks so much for explaining!!
Happy gaming,
Beth

I think this is the right forum for my question. I just downloaded DOSBox and used it for "Down in the Dumps." The game video played fine on XP, but there was no sound. I got the game to play using DOS Box, but the sound is stuttery and the picture is too small. Is there anything I can do to help these two problems?

Thank you very much for any help.

Laurette, hi,

You may just be running with:

cycles=?

set too low. If not, there are several proposed remedies for the stuttering problem in the DOSBox FAQs .

(that link is at the top of this forum)

If the picture is too small, you probably need to set:

fullscreen=true

in the 'dosbox.conf' file.

Good luck,
metzomagic

Flying Dutchman,
Would you Please tell me how you installed Riddle Of MasterLu using DosBox? I had a hard time with the installation on W95 and with DosBox I could not even get an install.

Hi Lexxy,

Check out my Dosbox setup for Master Lu on Inferno's site (install the game through Dosbox. Have to make that change in the setup). Will get you up and running
http://home.earthlink.net/~infernofilecabinet4/XpSetupsP_T/Guest/RiddleOfMasterLu.htm

Bill

lexxy, hi,

You're probably best off first reading the GameBoomers DOSBox FAQs

This shows you how to properly set up your CD-ROM drives, etc. Also, set cycles=9000 in 'dosbox.conf'.

Then just install Riddle of Master Lu *while running DOSBox*. That should do it for you

Cheers,
metzomagic

I Have all the Dosbox setup info in my Dosbox Walkthrough Steve including the cdrom config.
As a side note I just got a new motherboard and CPU (2 gig)so what would be the cycle count for the CPU now. Thanks
Bill

Llewton, hi,

[start rant]
I realise that you have the DOSBox setup in your walkthrough, but that is superfluous. The fact is that the DOSBox setup is the *same for every game* (with the exception of the cycles= parameter, which is both game and machine dependent).

We don't want to encourage people posting questions every time they want to get game 'X' working in DOSBox; rather, we want them to learn how to use DOSBox as a generic tool! That's why we're trying to get everyone to read the GameBoomers DOSBox FAQs (link at the top of this forum). Sorry, but answering the same questions over and over again is both annoying and time consuming
[end rant]

For the record, there are only 5 lines you need to change/add in 'dosbox.conf' to get any DOS game working:

fullscreen=true (set to false by default)
cycles=3000 (this is the default. Once running, use Ctrl-F12 to increase by 500, Ctrl-F11 to decrease by 20)

[autoexec]
# Lines in this section will be run at startup.
mount D D:\ -t cdrom -usecd 0 -ioctl
mount C C:\
C:

(you may have to change the 'D:\' to 'F:\' or whatever if your *physical* CD-ROM drive is other than D:)

Then some games have to be installed with DOSBox running, others may not. End of story

Regarding your original question as to which cycles= setting to use for your new PC... who knows? Just make a best guess then use Ctrl-F12/F11 to tweak it.

Regards,
metzomagic

I would like to say a BIG THANK YOU to Metzomagic and Gameboomers for the dosbox instructions.
I have tried other instructions I have found on the internet on gettting the Tex Murphy games to work in XP with no success. I had given up completely on Under A Killing Moon and Riddle of Master Lu which didn't even work on my old computer and everyone I asked said it was impossible to get them to run. I now have a pile of old games I can't wait to play and I can't believe it was so easy to get them all to run.

I echo the thanks to Steve for this excellent help to us non-computer literate folks. I am in the middle of Under A Killing Moon and enjoying it once again.

There are a couple of minor problems but nothing that I can't live with. It wouldn't recognize my disk when I had to swap disks but I went to Tex's Office and saved then exited to DOS put in the new Disk and went to the new place from the Office and it worked fine. The movement seems rather difficult, especially in the GRS, but as I recall I think it was when I originally played it as well.

Again my heart felt thanks for this excellent instruction in the use of DOSBox. I'll be playing more of the older games in the future.


Now where did I put my old copy of Riddle of Master Lu????

I have used DOSBox for the first time and I am truly awed.

I used DOSBox to play Case of the Serrated Scalpel. The game had a known problem with the first page/screen of the game. You could not control the cursor with you mouse, but had to use the arrow keys. The cursor lock feature of DOSBox completely cured this problem, and you could control the cursor with your mouse on the first page.

And last but not least. I used it to play Dark Seed. I had crash after crash when I tried to play Dark Seed on my other DOS machines. You can see my tale of woe under Glitches posting. Imagine my surprise when Dark Seed ran flawlessly.

I can't understand why these DOS games ran better on DOSbox than in their native DOS environment. All I can say is a Giant to Steve and the DOSBox team for bringing this great game playing tool into this game players life.

EDIT: Add: Are You Afraid Of the Dark to the list of games that run on DOSBox.

I found a setup from Inferno's site for Simon The Sorcerer 1 and I plan to use it IF I ever get the game. My question is this....can this game be played using DosBox?

I tried DOSbox for the 1st time this weekend! I followed the FAQ, and got it to work with Tex Murphy - Pandora Directive. (I havn't played this since it was first released).

I did have to fool with the cycles, and I'm still not sure I have it at the best setting, but the game is running. (in some conversations the voice stutters).
I have a 1.7 Ghz processor, which I guess is a bit too slow. I'm not sure I understand why you need a more powerful processor to run the game in DOSbox that you needed when the game was new , and it ran in an earlier version of Windows. (or DOS actulay).

Louis

lexxy, hi,

Yup

Cheers,
metzomagic


________________________________________

update


nolalou, hi,

From the GameBoomers DOSBox FAQ :

"What DOSBox does is emulate (he's boring me now with this word, you say) a certain amount of 286/386 processor instructions per millisecond. Because this is done in software, you need a much more powerful machine to get the same kind of performance you got with that old 386 PC."

So the answer is, in simple terms, that you are doing in software what is normally done with hardware.

Cheers,
metzomagic

Metzomagic,
Just got my copy of Simon 1 today. I went directly to DosBox and installed and it plays like I remember a few years ago on my old W95. This DosBox is great.

hi all
i have just down loaded dosbox .63 with the windows32installer - i have read most of the post on here about it - if possible could some kind person if they have got it email me a fool proof way of using it i have read the faq's on it but i have very wary of installing it as i am very unsure on how to use it

many thanks safc

folks, hi,

Am reproducing the guts of a reply to safc in another thread, so it will be preserved here. This distills most of the useful information contained in the DOSBox FAQ into a few paragraphs:

For the record, there are only 5 lines you need to change/add in 'dosbox.conf' to get any DOS game working:

fullscreen=true (set to false by default)
cycles=3000 (this is the default. Once running, use Ctrl-F12 to increase by 500 cycles, Ctrl-F11 to decrease by 20%)

[autoexec]
# Lines in this section will be run at startup.
mount D D:\ -t cdrom -usecd 0 -ioctl
mount C C:\
C:

(you may have to change the 'D:\' to 'F:\' or whatever if your *physical* CD-ROM drive is other than D:)

To start up DOSBox, bring up a Command Prompt via:

Start -> All Programs -> Accessories -> Command Prompt

Then change to the directory where you installed DOSBox, like:

cd \program files\dosbox-0.63

Then enter:

dosbox

Once DOSBox has started, switch to your CD-ROM drive by entering:

d:

By the way, that 'mount D D:\ ...' command in dosbox.conf is mapping *virtual* drive D to *physical* drive D:\. If your physical CD-ROM drive is other than D: (like E:), you may feel more comfortable altering that mount command to:

mount E E:\ -t cdrom -usecd 0 -ioctl

Then you would enter:

e:

to switch to it.

Then some games have to be installed with DOSBox running, others may not. End of story

Regards,
metzomagic

I have DoBox -.63 installed and have been able to play a lot of older games save Pandora Directive It installed w/o a problem until I attempt to play the game and them I got a error reading in which it does not recognize the CDRom. Has anyone else experinced this problem and if so how did you correct it?

lexxy, hi,

Did you read my post directly above yours? Your CD-ROM mount command should look like this, given that your drive letter is D:

mount D D:\ -t cdrom -usecd 0 -ioctl

unless you physical CD-ROM drive is not D:. That could be your problem.

metzomagic

I sought help to play Discworld 1 on XP.Jenny 100 put me on to dosbox etc.
I have read some of your instructions on this.
Most of these are way over my head (I am an old,old pensioner),
Tried to download as you suggest, but get a pay pal response -in dollars!
As I am U.K., is there a dead simple way(even for me) to get this game up & running?
I bet you wish you hadn't started all this with the response you've had?

You must have clicked on the wrong thing.
Try going ***here*** and click on one of the mirrors in the DOWNLOAD column. The download box should appear after a few seconds.

Hi, I've seem to lost the ability to play my other games since I downloaded that Service Pack 2 on my windows XP. I have even tried to download from Packard Bell the DOS Application Patch for Windows XP Service Pack 2 to no avail. Does anybody know of another patch that with fix the problem to restore file(s) needed for running DOS-based programs and processes in windows XP? Oh, when I tried to download the one from Packard Bell, a message said Protocal: hyper text transfer protocal. Type: Not available. Connection: Not encrypted.

Try downloading from ***here*** .

I got Drascula in a trade with a friend of mine. I tried to install it in Win 98 SE and kept getting "not enough memory message". Tried with the MSDos Prompt no go (with find windows and without options). I looked up today if the game can be played in Dosbox (have dual boot system 98 SE and XP), I looked at the Dosbox game compatibility list and it said the game was supported however a cue/bin image had to be created to get it to work. What is this? I never heard of it before and how is one created?
Are these equivalent to the Clonecd or Alcohol 120 image files that I'm familiar with?
http://dosbox.sourceforge.net/comp_list.php?showID=1716&letter=D

Thanks in advance

That's what it sounds like to me, Llewton.

Using Dosbox for the first time to play GK1 and it's running great!

Thank you, thank you, thank you to all the genius minds who A)wrote this program B) put it up as freeware and last but certainly not least C) wrote it up here at glitches, encouraged us all to try it and answered all the pesty questions.

:kiss: I don't say this often enough, but I love you guys.

happy trails,

Carolyn

Hi Metzomagic (and to me you truely DO sound 'magic'! If I can one day play Under a Killing Moon and Pandora Directive again...) I didn't get the beginning of you and the team's program. I have downloaded some things to play DOSbox, but you mentioned 'drilling'? How do I start to do what I need to get gaming with my older games?
Ripper...?

TopherAce, hi,

Sorry I didn't reply sooner. Been away for a week...

Just read the GameBoomers DOSBox FAQ. If you go back out of this thread, there's a link to it at the top of this forum. Everything you need to know is in there.

If you need help for specific games like UAKM and Pandora Directive, then just follow the link below in my sig!

Cheers,
metzomagic

Hi all. I was wondering if I could use DOSbox with my ME computer? If so, how would I go about doing it? I would specifically want to be able to play Pandora Directive, Under a killing Moon and Ripper. Thanks.

________________________________________
update

Thanks Metzomagic.

HI all. Sorry if this has already been brought up. I am trying to install Kings Quest Anthology (The ROberta Williams one), particularly games 5 and 6. I am able access the install file via dosbox, but when it brings the menu of which games I want to instal,l NONE of my keys work. I can type away all day and it refuses to select any of the games. I have also tried installing it via windows, and it will INSTAL, but it wont play, even if I use DosBox. I know I'm not the only person to run into this problem. Any suggestions?
-PM

PM, hi,

Oh great, and I was just looking for a sticky problem to work on

But seriously... I don't have the King's Quest Anthology, but I do have the Quest for Glory Anthology, and I'll betcha it would have similar problems. I shall investigate once I get home from work. Gimme a few hours.

metzomagic

Metzomagic, thanks a MILLION! I read through your FAQ and already have "Legend Of Kyrandia 3: Malcolms Revenge" (One of the best of the series, athough all three are amazing games. Quick note, Mark Hamil, AKA Luke Skywalker, plays Malcolm, whos character voice and image are almost identical to Mark Hamils voice of "The Joker" on batman the animated series. He also does MOST of the voices in another great DOS game, "Full Throttle" as well as play the lead character in in the last Wing COmmander game) due to your method of mapping the CD rom. I am computer literate but all the tricks up my sleave have not gotten this game to work (ANd I have been having similar problems with Quest For Glory Anthology, my favorite being QFG4...the keyboard does not work to sleect the game to instal in DOS).
I have tried multiple machines with multiple keyboards. Any help you cold provide would be greatly appreciated. I am a huge fan and collector of these games. I am anxiousley awaiting the March release of the Leisure Suit Larry, Kings QUest, and Police Quest games which are, hopefully, XP compatable.
-PM

PM, hi again,

Well, you won't believe this... but of all the games I chose to get running from the QFG Collection, I picked QFG4 too

I suspect a similar approach would work for the King's Quest games.

Good luck,
metzomagic

Metzo, I am at work now so I cant try it, but I am terribly anxious to get home. Thank you A BILLION TIMES OVER in advance if this gets working, because Ill be too darned busy in gaming mecca to thank you if it works when I get home :-D I'll let you know though how I fare. As a side note (yes, i love side notes) the QFG series is one of Sierras BEST, and 4 my favorite of all of them. The 5th was actually a decent "ending" to the series I thought too, MUCH better than the L A M E Kings Quest 8, mask of Eternity. UGH, wht an AWFUL game, what was Roberta WIlliams thinking????
THANKS!
-PM


______________________________________
update

Ok, I actualy remembered I had a copy of QFG in my office....and your method WORKED!!! Thanks a bunch man. Is there any way to make the game fit into fullscreen mode better? It is "too big" for some reason. When I get home....im testing this out on Kings Quest :-)
-PM

PM, hi again,

Glad that nailed it for you. I did notice that the sceeen was a bit big too. All you can do there is adjust your monitor. Some monitors can 'remember' that they have to switch to a certain set of saved settings when running in a specific mode.

BTW, did you try/have any success installing and running King's Quest 5?

metzomagic

Metzomagic, I havent had any sucess with Kings QUest 6. I'm about to go play around with it some more, I'll popst my progress :-)
-PM


_________________________________________

update

Well, sadly, KQ6 is still not working. I was able to install KQ5, but it keeps telling me to insert CD1 which is already mounted. On the plus side, QFG4 works beautifuly :-)
-PM

PM, hi again,

In what way is KQ6 not working? Can you install it? I'm quite sure the install process I recommended for QFG4 ought to work there. You just need to browse the CD in Windows Explorer to figure out where the DOS install for it is located.

For KQ5, you might want to try copying all the files from the CD to your hard drive, and running it from there. Just adjust all the game-related config files to point to C: instead of D:

Cheers,
metzomagic

Hi Metzomagic,
I already have copied all of the files into my hard drive. I ripped each cd (There are 3 KQ CD's) into an ISO and mounted the instal CD using Alcohol 120% onto a virtual drive. I map that virtual drive as my D drive in DosBox. This has worked for every game so far. I AM able to install the game from windows, and it installs the game into a directory. It is unable to install 3 files, although I cant remember offhand which files they are. However, hitting "OK" progresses the isntalation. WHen I try to access that directory from DSOBOX to play the game, absolutely nothing happens. This occurs with 5 and 6. On the plus side, I am able to play 1-4 perfectly.
I thought ti issue might be that the game's data is on the 2nd CD, so I ripped that, mounted it, and tried to access the game that way....no dice. Of course, while I loev the first 4 (well, 5 if you count the VGA ermake of the first game) games in the KQ series, 5 and especially 6 are my favorite games, probably beuase 6 was the first ever CD rom I bought. ANyway, I appreciate the help you'ev given me so far, it's helped to make most of my games work.
-PM


_______________________________________

update

Update: Well, still no luck getting Kings Quest 5 or 6 working. I was able to getmy hands on the original DOS version (No voices)n and I've been playing that. The game si just as fun, although I sure do miss teh repetitive "Alexander pulls out his magic map" :-)
Hopefully, with the March release date of teh Kings Quest Compilation, there will be a voice version that works (although I'm not holding my breath). Thanks for all of your help, I really appreciate it.
-PM

Btw to make dosbox easier i use D-Fend

Its a frontend (kinda like gui for dosbox). Mkaes seting up profiles easy.

Anyhow my main reason for posting here is i have indy fate of atlantis talkie version but running from hdd (dont ask why lol). Anyhow no matter what i try i cant get speech to work. I tryed dosbox and dfend using all sound options and tricks. I tryed vdmsound i tryed scummvm. None will give me speech.

Anyone help me?

Got win xp pro sp2.

UPDATE!

I got it to work using scummvm, the file monster.xxx had bad extension on or somit, it was monster.sou but works with sog.

I have voices

Hi Steve. From one who is totally un-technical I have purchased a new copy of one of our favourite games, namely Stonekeep (the other copy went missing).

I would like to know if I would be able to play this game via DOSBOX.

I have Windows XP home SP2

Many thanks

Nanjoan

Nanjoan, hi,

I happen to have Stonekeep as part of an old Interplay role-playing games collection. I'll fire it up when I get home tonight, and let you know...

Meantime, I'm quite sure it will work in DOSBox. Please read up on DOSBox by following the link in my signature. Then download DOSBox 0.65, install it, and configure dosbox.conf per the instructions in my FAQ. You should probably be able to get Stonekeep going yourself (the cycles= setting will depend on how fast your processor is, but.... try cycles=11000 for starters).

Regards,
Steve
P.S. If you don't know how to navigate to your CD drive and launch programmes in DOS, there's also a DOS FAQ there


________________________________________
update

Nanjoan, hi again,

Yep. Stonekeep works fine in DOSBox with no tweaking required. You just:

1. Install DOSBox 0.65.
2. Use Notepad to edit the dosbox.conf file (located in the folder you installed DOSBox to).
3. Change the following in dosbox.conf:

fullscreen=true
cycles=9000
cycledown=500

And make the [autoexec] section at the end look just like this by copying the following right from this post, and pasting into the file:

[autoexec]
# Lines in this section will be run at startup.
mount D D:\ -t cdrom -usecd 0 -ioctl
mount C C:\
C:

(note: if your CD drive is letter E, replace the D's above with E's)

4. Start up a Command Prompt via:

Start -> All Programs -> Accessories -> Command Prompt

5. Change Directory to where you installed DOSBox to, like:

cd \program files\dosbox-0.65

6. Start up DOSBox via:

dosbox

7. Once DOSBox has started up, change to your CD drive via:

d:

8. Install Stonekeep via:

install

9. Do the full installation (65MB), to the default directory which is:

C:\INTRPLAY\STONKEEP

(note: it takes about 3 minutes to verify the installation. Don't panic! :-)

10. Take all the default sound and music card settings (Sound Blaster Pro, etc.). If you want that warm, fuzzy feeling, you can test the sound and music. Then just Exit the installation.

11. To run Stonekeep, just enter:

sk

12. To run any time after that, just start up DOSBox, then:

cd \intrplay\stonkeep

then:

sk

Good luck!
metzomagic

Hi Steve

Many thanks indeed for your help. We have printed off what we need and will now have a go.

It's great to think that we can play Stonekeep again.

Nanjoan


________________________________________

update

Hi Steve, our son came around tonight and had got everything up and running.

Hurray, we can now play Stonekeep again.

Many thanks indeed for your help

Nanjoan

Nanjoan, hi,

Ah, saved again by the offspring!

BTW, those DOSBox settings should do you for most DOS games.

Huge, helpful tip follows:

-----------------------------------------------
I recommend that you save a copy of the dosbox.conf for each game you get running in that game's install folder. Then whenever you want to resurrect an old game, just copy that custom dosbox.conf from there into the main DOSBox folder, and away you go!
-----------------------------------------------

Cheers,
metzomagic

Steve, you very kindly set us on the right road to playing Stonekeep.

Everything went well and the game started, but it crashes. A red cross appears in the middle of the screen and the screen goes black.

Do you have any ideas about this please.

Thanks

Nanjoan

Nanjoan, hi,

Well... there's a big difference between that and:

If I had to guess, my guess would be that you are not starting up DOSBox before you start Stonekeep. In fact, I'd put money on it

Please reference my instructions a few posts up:

12. To run any time after that, just start up DOSBox, then:

cd \intrplay\stonkeep

then:

sk

(Instructions for starting up DOSBox begin at item 4 in that post)

See how that goes...
MetzO'Magic

Hi Steve.

Many thanks, I blame Hubby this time, it's his game. Working fine and he said the only problem now is he keeps getting killed

Appreciate your help.

Nanjoan

Nanjoan, hi again,

Good guess that one, eh?

Cheers,
MetzO'Magic

Hi
Can this Dosbox program be unistalled if something goes wrong?

Also, is this program only for DOS games or it needed for older Win95/98 games like Crystal Key 1
and Shivers 1 and 2 and others that I can't think of at the present moment.

I started playing games on XP - never had DOS, Win95/98 so this is Alien talk for me.

Thanks

Retired

Retired at last, hi,

DOSBox is like a UNIX install. It deosn't take over your machine like a Windows install does. All you have to do is delete the C:\DOSBox-0.6x folder, and it is gone, gone, gone...

But, it does provide an uninstall.exe file there for the anal retentive amongst us

Cheers,
MetzO'Magic

Hi Metzomagic

Thanks for the response

One more question.
When playing older games -- do I have to launch this program before installing or playing them - i.e. Shivers 1 and 2, Crystal Key 1 and many more.

Cheers

RAL

Retired at last, hi again,

Good question. The answer is [consults the magic 8 ball] not always. Some DOS games can be installed without DOSBox running. It mostly depends on if you need to set up the sound during the installation process...

I suppose since these games were meant to be installed and run in DOS, it's always best to crank up DOSBox before you install. Of course, it goes without saying that you need to start up DOSBox before you run a game

Cheers,
MetzO'Magic

I am sorry to bother you, but I am very confused. I am trying to install Elder Scrolls: Arena for free from elderscrolls.com(10th aniversarry thing). I have it installed, and I aso have the DOSBox. But I can not get it to run. The instructions are here: http://www.elderscrolls.com/tenth_anniv/Arena106%20Setup.pdf I am typing CD\ARENA Can you walk me through this or something? I'm at the window that says: "DOSBox 0.61, CPU Cycles: 2500, Frameskip 0" What do I do from there?

morbidgamer, hi,

And welcome to GameBoomers

It's getting a bit late here in Ireland, and I shall be of more help tomorrow. But a few quick tips in the meantime:

1. You are running a very old version of DOSBox. Try downloading the latest, version 0.65.

2. Your cycles= setting (2500) is probably too low, for what I recall is a 3D game. Should be somewhere around 9000.

3. Please read the GameBoomers 'DOSBox FAQs'. There's a link to it at the top of this forum if you exit this topic. Also, the link in my sig contains much useful info pertaining to DOSBox, VDMSound, and getting old games to work in XP in general.

All for the moment,
MetzO'Magic

(happily shouting)... THANK YOU Jenny100 for keeping this thread near the top! Your foresight is to be commended

I just ordered Are You Afraid of the Dark: Orpheo's Curse, an old DOS game, and am anticipating running into possible roadblocks. I still have a '98, but also use an XP... so if one doesn't work, maybe the other will with DOSBox. I'm one of the ones who needs to be 'walked through' something like this. Having this thread handy is like holding my hand.

Hey, problems might not come up, but I'm expecting the worst, just in case. Again,

Carrie, hi,

Hmm. You might be better off using VDMSound for this one. I just had a look at Inferno's DOSBox setup for this game:
http://home.earthlink.net/~infernofilecabinet1/XpSetUpWalkthroughsA_E/Guest/AreYouAfraid.htm

and she has a 3.4GHZ processor, with cycles= cranked all the way up to 18000+. So if you don't have at least a 3GHZ processor, I'm afraid this might run quite choppily on your machine. Of course, you can always try it.

If you need info on VDMSound, just follow the link in my sig to Steve's XP Games Corner, and look for the VDMSound FAQ there.

Good luck,
MetzO'Magic

Just checked the specs on the XP... 4GB maximum so it may not be a problem. The other computer (Win98) may allow for an easy install; easy play... and all this pre-installation worry will have been for naught! Remains to be seen, but some fun may be in the offing when the game finally gets here, Metz.

I've bookmarked your link & will check at Steve's place for help (VDMSound included). Thank you for the referral.

Carrie, hi again,

Sorry, but I don't think you understood what I was saying there. I was talking about the *speed* of your processor (in gigahertz: GHZ) not about how much RAM you can *potentially* fit into your PC chassis (in gigabytes: GB).

Regards,
MetzO'Magic

Update on installation of "Are You Afraid of the Dark: Orpheo's Curse". Was able to install it on my '98 & am able to play. So far, the only minor problem is: The EXIT button doesn't exit me out of the game. Ctl-Alt-Del is my interim remedy. The game itself plays well, and is engaging and fun.

Thank you MetzO'Magic for the clarification, & I do see the difference. In an earlier response, I did ask you about gigahertz & gigabytes ("GB" was on game descrip), but I editted it out.

Again, many thanks for your help.

Sorry I'm such a dummy but Still trying to install and play "pandora" on my XP laptop. When-ever I go to my command prompt and try to do something I get a message similar to this one I get when trying to install w/ cd 1 from "Pandora". "install is not recognized as an internal or external command, operable program or batch file". I was trying to follow the insructions on Steve's XP Games Corner The Pandora Directive in VDMSound.

Ron,

You might want to post your note as a new topic in this forum; this thread, while looked at, is sometimes not looked at regularly. You might get better results if you start a new topic in this section.

Thanks for doing this tutorial, I am going to give it a try,
I use to play more games, early 90s, went away for a long time, didnt play alot of game, missed them, now want to try them, and am kicking myself, for giving my last two pcs away, that would run DOS who new, I just needed space LOL, ok, going to try this out anyway , on to download will be back, if I have questions
Joy

Hmm, am I the only one who never got ROTH running in DosBox? It just exited the game all the time.

Edit: Wow, it works on this computer....but very very stuttering...and the sound also stutters. It is pretty much unplayable...and it doesn't seem to matter what number of cycles I set it to.

Drizzt, hi,

Firstly, how fast is your processor? You really need a 3GHZ or faster processor in order to run ROTH in DOSBox without a lot of stuttering. But ROTH works so much better in VDMSound, no matter what your PC's speed is, that I usually recommend that approach.

Secondly, if you send me your dosbox.conf file, I might be able spot if you have something wrong in there.

Regards,
MetzO'Magic

Hi metzomagic.

It is a 2,66Ghz...I suppose it wasn't fast enough. I played it through using VDMSound about a year ago, but the "stuck key"-bug using that approach was so annoying I hoped I would be able to play it on DosBox...

I uninstalled DosBox yesterday as a result of a virus scare I had...Norton complained about everything, so I deleted lots of stuff.

Guessing it's the processor, then.

Dizzt, hi again,

You just need to find the right cycles= setting, which can be tricky. You need to be able to sustain a setting somewhere around cycles=20000 in order to get a playable frame rate. Could be a little higher, or lower. Definitely not possible with a 2GHZ processor, but with 2.66GHZ you should be able to do it.

BTW, there is a little-known trick for getting around the "stuck key" problem in ROTH when using VDMSound. You can map the movement from the cursor keys to the ASWD keys, which is more natural anyway

Cheers,
MetzO'Magic

How do I map the movement from the cursor keys? Is it possible without using VDMsound (playing it on an old computer with Windows 98 at the moment).

Drizzt, hi,

I replied to this question in the Adventure Games Discussion forums. ROTH allows you to remap the keys, for sure.

Regards,
MetzO'Magic

Hi. I installed Pandora but when I get to the 'sound' stage, the cursor disappears (or the computer locks up, not sure which), and I can't do anything. The cursor was there as I installed the game, what gives? The exact same thing happens with 'Under a Killing Moon'. Can you help, please?

TopherAce, hi,

That's the kind of thing that happens if you don't run DOSBox before you start up the game!

You might want to run through the DOSBox setup for either Pandora Directive or UAKM in Steve's XP Games Corner. Just follow the link in my sig below.

Regards,
MetzO'Magic

Hi MetzO, I just left all that part out to not bore you. I did it all, mounted my 'F' and did install for the game. (Neither game would install before) Then I tried to set up sound using the game's setup. Nada.

You have to start the sound setup and play the game from within DOSBox. Is that what you're doing?
Also, can you navigate the screen using your keyboard arrows?

Sorry for being so long responding. I go to Dosbox where the drive is mounted, install and when the install is completed it goes directly to sound setup. When I get there I have no cursor and cannot get one no matter what I do.

So have you tried navigating the screen using your keyboard arrows? Or the tab key? I can't remember for sure whether Pandora Directive or UAKM had mouse enabled for the sound setup, but I'm suspecting they didn't.

Hi Jenny, and yes, I have tried to navigate with arrows and tabs. I'm not sure if I tried it with UAKM, though. I uninstalled that one, but Pandora is still there. I guess I can retry just for grins. Thanks for you help. BTW, I'm not sure if any of this works with Ripper, but I tried it anyway. Would LOVE to replay that one.

Ripper is supposed to be supported as of DOSBox 0.63, but so is Pandora Directive. You may want to post over on VOGONS.
http://vogons.zetafleet.com/viewforum.php?f=33

There's probably some setting in DOSBox that I don't know about. I really need to do more research on DOSBox some day. I've hardly used it at all.

TopherAce, hi,

Firstly, have you tried following my instructions in Steve's XP Games Corner for running Pandora Directive in DOSBox? It doesn't sound like you are doing the right things. For instance, you shouldn't be installing the game with DOSBox running, IIRC. You also need the TEX4.EXE patched version.

Secondly, Ripper is, like, *the hardest* game of all to get running in DOSBox. The only way to do it that I know of is described in this thread on VOGONS:

http://vogons.zetafleet.com/viewtopic.php?t=12777&highlight=ripper

The relevant details in that thread are here:

And the fact that you need to set up DOSBox to install a VESA driver at startup:

[autoexec]
# Lines in this section will be run at startup.
mount D D:\ -t cdrom -usecd 0 -ioctl
mount C C:\
C:
UNIVBE51\UNIVBE

I believe you can obtain that VESA driver via Inferno's Ripper setup.

I had exchanged something like 15 e-mails with one reader, before he eventually stumbled upon that thread and finally got it working!

Good luck,
MetzO'Magic

Thank both of you, Jenny and MetzO. I tried out VOGONS to see if anyone had the same issue I've had, but I didn't know about using Tex4 executable. I'll go check that out and thanks once again.

Sorry TopherAce, I've just realised that I confused you there with some misinformation

In fact, you only need the patched version of the TEX4.EXE file if you are using VDMSound. With DOSBox, it's fine to use the original .exe file. But I think you are still doing something wrong, so it wouldn't hurt to take a look at my setup instructions.

BTW, how fast is your processor? VDMSound might be a better bet unless it's at least 3GHZ.

Regards,
MetzO'Magic

I think I might be doing something wrong, too, but have no idea just what. I have SP2 and a bunch of updates on this PC and I'm using DOSbox 0.65 and found nothing addressing that particular one directly. I followed Inferno's general drill and got a lot of help from that and also wanted to thank her for that. I thought the help for doing DOSbox was pretty straight forward. The Tex games are my favorites, but who knew? Thank you, Jenny and Inferno for the info and cleaner running PC.

TopherAce, hi,

Send me your dosbox.conf file. I'll see if there's anything amiss in there.

Cheers,
MetzO'Magic

Thank you Steve for helping me with Dosbox. I truly appreciate all your patience and skill.

I finally loaded Dosbox in an older laptop I had sitting around with WIN ME, and started to load in "The Dame was loaded" but it said I didnt have enough memory and I know I do, can you tell me how to get more memory? Do I need to rewrite something to the file? Im not sure what to do now and would appreciate any help you might be able to give me.
I was able to load it in without Dosbox but there was some kind of terrible noise going on for music.The voices were fine, but the other noise was awful so I thought I might be able to improve it in dosbox.If I can get it loaded in that is.Ive heard its alot like Tex Murphy so Im really dying to play this one.

Thanks, Helen

According to this
http://dosbox.sourceforge.net/comp_list.php?showID=2000&letter=T

There's a sound patch for Dame Was Loaded here
http://dlh.net/cgi-bin/dlp.cgi?lang=eng&sys=pc&file=damepat.zip&ref=ps

Might make it sound better in Win ME.

Great! thanks so much Jenny, Ill give it a try this evening when I get home from work.

Hi Steve..........

I need help with Discworld 1..I got Dosbox ,but I haven't a clue how to load the game...The game is on CD...I have XP...I am LOST....

I am not very techinical......so Please help in Laymens words

Thanks

Darleen, hi,

Just exit this topic, and you will see a link to 'DOSBox FAQs' at the top of the GLITCHES, BUGS & PATCHES forum.

Have a read of that. It's really only a matter of editing a few things into the dosbox.conf file, starting up dosbox.exe, and you're away.

Regards,
Steve

Thanks Steve

Now I got it to run ...but I have no sound using VDM

EDit: Sorry Steve I didn't see you posted on my tread..

Hi Steve! I'm loving Pandora Directive and UAKM, never thought I'd be able to play them so well again. Thank you, once more.
NOW, I've done all the preliminary stuff and loaded...RIPPER. It plays beautifully, but I need to get a VESA driver. I went to H. Packard, 'splained my situation, got a Vesa download but I can't find it! I have graphics, with no sound. I loaded the game per Inferno's direction with VDMS (sans Margaritas). The 'Riper' test had sound/music. Can you help?

TopherAce, hi,

See page 12 of this thread for the instructions I gave concerning how to get Ripper working in DOSBox.

Good luck,
MetzO'Magic
P.S. Sorry for the delay in replying. Currently languishing on a beach in Goa, India

New version of DosBox is out.

Skeeter, hi,

Thanks for the heads up!

Indeed, v7.0 has been released, superseding v6.5. The link to the DOSBox news page is:

http://dosbox.sourceforge.net/news.php?show_news=1

A lot of fixes/improvements, perhaps the most notable of which are:

* Speed up the dynamic cpu core (certain games get much faster).
[metzomagic says:] I never tried using the dynamic core. Always ran with the default core=normal. Anyone else tried this?

* Better and more configurable joystick support.

* Improved CDROM detection and support.

* Speed up the screen drawing code.

* Added support for different keyboard layouts.

* Various fixes to the (C/E/V)GA emulation.

* Extended and improved all types of emulated memory. (umb/ems/xms)

* Added a few more graphic scalers.
[metzomagic says:] Will have to try some of the new scalers, as a 640 x 480 screen looks really pixelated on a 19 in. monitor! I've been usin the default scaler=normal2x. Frankly, I tried all of them and that was the best.

Cheers,
MetzO'Magic

Just downloaded it --- looks nice.

I agree with the 2x scaler (I got a 20in flatscreen)

inferno

does anyone know if DOSBox 7.0 works wth Vista???

inferno

I use the Normal 2X as well -- however... I specify Render Method: Surface, with a Full Screen Size of 800*600 -- it looks perfect on my 19" LCD.

InlandAZ, hi,

That's a good tip, thanks! Will try it the next time I run DOSBox.

MetzO'Magic

Hi Steve..

I just downloaded the New Dosbox...When I got to the DOSBox.conf file. I right click on it,But there is no Edit in the file...How can I edit this file if there is no edit option..
Thanks

Right-click it, choose Open With, and look for Notepad as an option.
I assume you're getting to dosbox.conf through My Computer or Windows Explorer.
You could also open Notepad and then browse to dosbox.conf (might have to choose "all files" instead of just txt files).

Thanks Jenny

I will try that

EDIT: Oh WOW That worked..

Thanks :kiss:

Hi, hope I'm in the right place, it's just I had a problem yesterday and Mag replied. It was a watched topic as I always do. The only problem is I'm getting all the replies for everyone else emailed to me. Thanks in anticipation.