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RE: Running a DOS game in Windows XP

 
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RE: Running a DOS game in Windows XP - 3/7/2007 4:06:08 PM   
Nikademus


Posts: 25684
Joined: 5/27/2000
From: Alien spacecraft
Status: offline 		Has anyone ever had any success with XP's "Compatability" mode? I've never gotten any use out of it. (and maintain a Win98box for DOS games)

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Post #: 31
RE: Running a DOS game in Windows XP - 3/7/2007 4:09:41 PM   
Apollo11


Posts: 24082
Joined: 6/7/2001
From: Zagreb, Croatia
Status: offline 		Hi all,

quote:

ORIGINAL: Nikademus

Has anyone ever had any success with XP's "Compatability" mode? I've never gotten any use out of it. (and maintain a Win98box for DOS games)


Nope - it doesn't work.

The best way to play old DOS games is to use "DOS Box" (or similar program).

Few years ago I wrote about it here when I described how to run old classics from Avalon Hill (World at War: Operation crusader, World at War: Stalingrad and World at War: D-Day - America Invades).

Please try to search for that thread!


Leo "Apollo11"

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Post #: 32
RE: Running a DOS game in Windows XP - 3/7/2007 10:19:46 PM   
marky


Posts: 5780
Joined: 3/8/2004
From: Wisconsin
Status: offline 		aiii i tried dosbiox

i almost tosssed my computer out the frakkin window


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Post #: 33
RE: Running a DOS game in Windows XP - 3/8/2007 8:18:57 AM   
AlexCobra

 

Posts: 86
Joined: 4/1/2005
From: Russia
Status: offline
quote:

And I was a gamer in the 80s, so I had to learn how to optimize your Config.sys and autoexec.bat. The first real help was a application called memmaker, which was quite good im giving the right amount of memory for your games.Much better was Qemm.
Whoever was able to get more than 620KB was really quite good.


Hi

My God, another gamer who knows what Config.sys and Autoexec.bat are about? A really rare thing in our days. Btw, imho Memmaker was great, but QEMM was crap, and I insist on that:-). Never had a success optimizing memory with QEMM.

And I do run DOS games with DOSBOX program with no problems. Don't think it's interface can be a problem also.

Alex.

(in reply to rtrapasso)
Post #: 34
RE: Running a DOS game in Windows XP - 3/8/2007 9:51:24 AM   
m10bob


Posts: 8622
Joined: 11/3/2002
From: Dismal Seepage Indiana
Status: offline
quote:

ORIGINAL: Frank

quote:

ORIGINAL: marky

and its easy for a sceintist and asssistant professor to say that!

gigglez



exactly!

And I was a gamer in the 80s, so I had to learn how to optimize your Config.sys and autoexec.bat. The first real help was a application called memmaker, which was quite good im giving the right amount of memory for your games.Much better was Qemm.
Whoever was able to get more than 620KB was really quite good.


I was getting 634kb prior to acquiring QEMM. Don't remember which game needed the HIMEM, I believe it was TANKS!(Wargames Construction Set and Carrier Strike)?
QEMM made it easier(automatic),but caused me to forget all I had learned...
Long time ago..
I hang onto my old games, hoping some fine-haired sonovabitch will make Windows DOS-friendly, (as it was promised early on)..


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Post #: 35
RE: Running a DOS game in Windows XP - 3/8/2007 1:48:51 PM   
wdolson

 

Posts: 10398
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From: Near Portland, OR
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quote:

ORIGINAL: AlexCobra

My God, another gamer who knows what Config.sys and Autoexec.bat are about? A really rare thing in our days. Btw, imho Memmaker was great, but QEMM was crap, and I insist on that:-). Never had a success optimizing memory with QEMM.

And I do run DOS games with DOSBOX program with no problems. Don't think it's interface can be a problem also.

Alex.


I was programming DOS back in the day. In Assembly. Device drivers. That was a lot of fun. I'm spoiled with C++ these days.

As I said above, look into VirtualPC to run the old DOS games. You'll have to dig out DOS to install on the new virtual machine, but it's the best way I've found to run them without setting up a separate PC with an older version of Windows or DOS on it.

Microsoft bought VirtualPC not that long ago, so they haven't messed it up yet. I've heard it's free for download now.

Bill

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Post #: 36
RE: Running a DOS game in Windows XP - 3/8/2007 2:12:21 PM   
rtrapasso


Posts: 22653
Joined: 9/3/2002
Status: offline 		The problem with installing DOS as a partition is that there are often (generally?) no device drivers for things like your DVD-drive, mouse, etc. This makes it difficult to even install a DOS game you have in some cases.

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Post #: 37
RE: Running a DOS game in Windows XP - 3/8/2007 3:49:33 PM   
wworld7


Posts: 1727
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From: The Nutmeg State
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quote:

ORIGINAL: AlexCobra

Memmaker was great,




Wow, that brings back old memories (some good and some not so good).

Flipper

P.S. One good thing between the old days and now is NO MORE dip switches. My eyes couldn't handle that if I had to do those again...

Irish

< Message edited by flipperwasirish -- 3/8/2007 4:41:26 PM >

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Post #: 38
RE: Running a DOS game in Windows XP - 3/8/2007 3:55:15 PM   
Nikademus


Posts: 25684
Joined: 5/27/2000
From: Alien spacecraft
Status: offline 		ah memories......

NOT ENOUGH MEMORY.

wait a min....i have 4 megs.....

NOT ENOUGH MEMORY

oh....only the first 640k counts.....gotta config high MEM.....only have 455k free

fiddle fiddle fiddle

cool now have 510k

NOT ENOUGH MEMORY

(*&(!!!

fiddle fiddle fiddle



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Post #: 39
RE: Running a DOS game in Windows XP - 3/8/2007 3:58:06 PM   
rtrapasso


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i had something like 23 batch files to install correct configurations to run various programs...

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Post #: 40
RE: Running a DOS game in Windows XP - 3/8/2007 4:26:55 PM   
wworld7


Posts: 1727
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From: The Nutmeg State
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quote:

ORIGINAL: rtrapasso



i had something like 23 batch files to install correct configurations to run various programs...


YUP, YUP, YUP!!!
Flipper

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Post #: 41
RE: Running a DOS game in Windows XP - 3/8/2007 10:41:38 PM   
wdolson

 

Posts: 10398
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From: Near Portland, OR
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quote:

ORIGINAL: rtrapasso

The problem with installing DOS as a partition is that there are often (generally?) no device drivers for things like your DVD-drive, mouse, etc. This makes it difficult to even install a DOS game you have in some cases.


There are always compatability mode drivers. The standard CD driver will support CDs in a DVD drive. The generic MS mouse driver will work for most mice, though the buttons and wheel on newer mice probably won't work. The only tricky bit is the video. It's possible that you won't be able to get anything better than 640X480.

Nice thing about VirtualPC is that it emmulates a very common video card and sound card from the early 90s, so just install the drivers for those and you're good to go.

Bill

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Post #: 42
RE: Running a DOS game in Windows XP - 3/9/2007 8:57:44 AM   
AlexCobra

 

Posts: 86
Joined: 4/1/2005
From: Russia
Status: offline 		Hi

quote:

There are always compatability mode drivers. The standard CD driver will support CDs in a DVD drive. The generic MS mouse driver will work for most mice, though the buttons and wheel on newer mice probably won't work. The only tricky bit is the video. It's possible that you won't be able to get anything better than 640X480.

Nice thing about VirtualPC is that it emmulates a very common video card and sound card from the early 90s, so just install the drivers for those and you're good to go.


Excuse me, can I ask a thing about VirtualPC? What about processor performance - the most annoying thing I can't handle with most of DOS-emulators, is that my Athlon is too fast for most early 90's games. I tried some progs that slows the processor, but it just don't work like it should do... I want no more then 100MHz, but can't get it. So, do VirtualPC allow to slow down processor frequency? Somehow:-)?

Alex.


< Message edited by AlexCobra -- 3/9/2007 9:13:28 AM >

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Post #: 43
RE: Running a DOS game in Windows XP - 3/9/2007 9:04:39 AM   
marky


Posts: 5780
Joined: 3/8/2004
From: Wisconsin
Status: offline 		i couldnt even get VPC to work

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Post #: 44
RE: Running a DOS game in Windows XP - 3/9/2007 11:43:34 AM   
Japanese_Spirit

 

Posts: 108
Joined: 9/6/2005
From: United Kingdom
Status: offline 		Marky,

Here is a quick instruction to loading up games on Dos Box.

The Japanese_Spirit's way:

1) Cough and Sigh, shake your head and begin.

2) First of all, create a folder called 'Games' in your general 'C' drive.

3) Put all your DOS games in that folder (Create a folder in 'Games' called 'So and so game', for example)

4) Find out what the main file is called to start the game.

5) Go into DG and type mount c c:\games then I think the name of the game file as CD so and so games.

6) Type in the main file's name once the name of your folder is on the DOS BOX command setup.

7) Enjoy your game!

I recommend myself popping over to www.abandonia.com to read up some tips (and get games that have been legally put up for download and accepted by the ESA, which is quite alot now)

On a side note, anyone remember Pacific General? Well, you can play that game by downloading the main game and a fan made XP compatibilty patch from some place called "The Armoury".

You can't run PG is Dos Box since it is a Windows game only.

I hope this helps!

P.S: I am only 19 years of age and remember playing all the DOS classics and fiddling around in DOS myself. Quite rare for someone my age.

I recall messing with in Windows 3.1, etc and pure DOS in that, I believe.

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Post #: 45
RE: Running a DOS game in Windows XP - 3/9/2007 12:11:25 PM   
Sardaukar


Posts: 9847
Joined: 11/28/2001
From: Finland/Israel
Status: offline 		I have fond memories about having DOS boot disk with 6 different configurations needed in different games... DosBox is quite good, but cannot handle everything...so may have an old rig just for playing old games.

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Post #: 46
RE: Running a DOS game in Windows XP - 3/9/2007 12:30:50 PM   
Japanese_Spirit

 

Posts: 108
Joined: 9/6/2005
From: United Kingdom
Status: offline
quote:

ORIGINAL: Sardaukar

I have fond memories about having DOS boot disk with 6 different configurations needed in different games... DosBox is quite good, but cannot handle everything...so may have an old rig just for playing old games.


It is funny that you should mention the infamous "Boot Disks" but I, too, remember as a young boy, playing around with boot disks, trying to hope that it would run games and even in the end, start up Windows itself.

Ahhhhhhh, memories.

Also, games were pretty good back then, too. Only really M Games areworth playing nowadays.

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Post #: 47
RE: Running a DOS game in Windows XP - 3/9/2007 1:17:23 PM   
wdolson

 

Posts: 10398
Joined: 6/28/2006
From: Near Portland, OR
Status: offline
quote:

ORIGINAL: AlexCobra
Excuse me, can I ask a thing about VirtualPC? What about processor performance - the most annoying thing I can't handle with most of DOS-emulators, is that my Athlon is too fast for most early 90's games. I tried some progs that slows the processor, but it just don't work like it should do... I want no more then 100MHz, but can't get it. So, do VirtualPC allow to slow down processor frequency? Somehow:-)?



I haven't tried it with any games that are touchy about speed. I don't have that many that are speed dependent. I just checked the settings and there is a setting for CPU performance, but it doesn't specifically slow down the performance to emulate slower processors.

I did find that VirtualPC ran a lot slower when in windowed mode.

Bill

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Post #: 48
RE: Running a DOS game in Windows XP - 3/9/2007 1:19:08 PM   
wdolson

 

Posts: 10398
Joined: 6/28/2006
From: Near Portland, OR
Status: offline
quote:

ORIGINAL: marky

i couldnt even get VPC to work


You need to have some idea how to set up a PC running DOS. The instructions do cover a lot of what you need to know. I found it easier to set up than DosBox. More compatible too.

Bill

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Post #: 49
RE: Running a DOS game in Windows XP - 3/9/2007 1:56:44 PM   
marky


Posts: 5780
Joined: 3/8/2004
From: Wisconsin
Status: offline 		hmm. ill just have my geeek in law do it. he understands it, i tried but ended up wanting to pull my hair out 

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RE: Running a DOS game in Windows XP - 3/9/2007 6:52:38 PM   
Nikademus


Posts: 25684
Joined: 5/27/2000
From: Alien spacecraft
Status: offline 		Guess there was a good reason to keep my DOS 5.0 manual after all.....

How about this......anyone know where one can get a good analog joystick and then how to hook it up to the PC? I have an Atari 2600 emulator on my machine but the games are mostly unplayable with the keyboard only.

and i'd really like to play classics like "The A-Team" or "Yar's Revenge" again.



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RE: Running a DOS game in Windows XP - 3/9/2007 6:58:41 PM   
rtrapasso


Posts: 22653
Joined: 9/3/2002
Status: offline
quote:

ORIGINAL: Nikademus

Guess there was a good reason to keep my DOS 5.0 manual after all.....

How about this......anyone know where one can get a good analog joystick and then how to hook it up to the PC? I have an Atari 2600 emulator on my machine but the games are mostly unplayable with the keyboard only.

and i'd really like to play classics like "The A-Team" or "Yar's Revenge" again.




isn't there a port where joysticks plug in? i used to use one not that long ago...

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Post #: 52
RE: Running a DOS game in Windows XP - 3/9/2007 7:03:01 PM   
Nikademus


Posts: 25684
Joined: 5/27/2000
From: Alien spacecraft
Status: offline
quote:

ORIGINAL: rtrapasso


[
isn't there a port where joysticks plug in? i used to use one not that long ago...



Not for an analog joystick. I can plug in my flightstick to the port on the sound card. Is there an adaptor one can purchase? Last time i checked (but this was several years ago) you had to cobble together something from scratch. I'm not that handy. I'd probably burn the condo down.



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RE: Running a DOS game in Windows XP - 3/9/2007 7:08:30 PM   
rtrapasso


Posts: 22653
Joined: 9/3/2002
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quote:

ORIGINAL: Nikademus


quote:

ORIGINAL: rtrapasso


[
isn't there a port where joysticks plug in? i used to use one not that long ago...



Not for an analog joystick. I can plug in my flightstick to the port on the sound card. Is there an adaptor one can purchase? Last time i checked (but this was several years ago) you had to cobble together something from scratch. I'm not that handy. I'd probably burn the condo down.



Not sure what you mean... the joysticks i've had were mostly cheapies ($5.95 from catalogs) - they convert the motion of the joystick into some sort of electrical signal, but i doubt it was digitized... maybe the port i plugged it into (sound card?) digitized it, but there were hardly any parts in the actual joystick...

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Post #: 54
RE: Running a DOS game in Windows XP - 3/9/2007 7:12:28 PM   
Sardaukar


Posts: 9847
Joined: 11/28/2001
From: Finland/Israel
Status: offline 		Hmmm..the good old days of MS-DOS, EMS, XMS, Himem, QEMM, DR-DOS...countless hours to fiddle with config.sys and autoexec.bat... At least then computer did exactly what you told it to do... Nowadays Windows "thinks" it's smarter than you and does it's stuff instead of what you want to happen..at least in some situations.

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Post #: 55
RE: Running a DOS game in Windows XP - 3/9/2007 7:22:22 PM   
marky


Posts: 5780
Joined: 3/8/2004
From: Wisconsin
Status: offline 		hmm, ill give it another try spirit, maybe itll work this time :P

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Post #: 56
RE: Running a DOS game in Windows XP - 3/9/2007 7:58:27 PM   
Dino


Posts: 1032
Joined: 11/14/2005
From: Serbia
Status: offline
quote:

ORIGINAL: Nikademus


quote:

ORIGINAL: rtrapasso


[
isn't there a port where joysticks plug in? i used to use one not that long ago...



Not for an analog joystick. I can plug in my flightstick to the port on the sound card. Is there an adaptor one can purchase? Last time i checked (but this was several years ago) you had to cobble together something from scratch. I'm not that handy. I'd probably burn the condo down.




Did you try googling for "USB to Game Port adapter"?

I found this one offered for $16.99






Attachment (1)

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Post #: 57
RE: Running a DOS game in Windows XP - 3/9/2007 9:41:47 PM   
Nikademus


Posts: 25684
Joined: 5/27/2000
From: Alien spacecraft
Status: offline 		what about a classic atari joystick? I think thats what i meant now that i've collected my thoughts (without coffee)

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Post #: 58
RE: Running a DOS game in Windows XP - 3/10/2007 12:06:03 AM   
rtrapasso


Posts: 22653
Joined: 9/3/2002
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quote:

ORIGINAL: Nikademus

what about a classic atari joystick? I think thats what i meant now that i've collected my thoughts (without coffee)


Well, i've owned all kinds of computers, but never an Atari, nor a Coleco...

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Post #: 59
RE: Running a DOS game in Windows XP - 3/10/2007 4:50:57 AM   
wdolson

 

Posts: 10398
Joined: 6/28/2006
From: Near Portland, OR
Status: offline
quote:

ORIGINAL: Nikademus

what about a classic atari joystick? I think thats what i meant now that i've collected my thoughts (without coffee)


Sounds like you need this:

http://games.slashdot.org/games/04/03/07/0510218.shtml

Bill

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Post #: 60
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