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Software to run DOS and early Windows software

Posted: 2005-02-16 10:07am
by Knighthawk
I'm looking for software that will allow me to run DOS based and early Windows based programs and games on Windows XP Professional. Any suggestions?

Posted: 2005-02-16 10:12am
by Faram

Posted: 2005-02-16 10:18am
by wautd
I second that

Posted: 2005-02-16 10:33am
by Knighthawk
can it emulate various memory allocations, like XMS and EMS?

Posted: 2005-02-16 01:25pm
by Knighthawk
Ok, I've tried configuring it for Jagged Alliance : Deadly Games and for Zone66, but I've had no luck at either...suggestions? Help?!

Sorry guys, but I'm obviously incompitent.

-K

Posted: 2005-02-16 02:11pm
by Tribun
Godd thing that I
a)Still use Win98 (has built in DOS)
and b)still have a ISA Soundblaster AEW 64 (Good sound for DOS games)

But thius aside, you seem to have a REAL problem with that, becsuse configuring for DOS can be hell.

UPDATE

Posted: 2005-02-16 05:26pm
by Knighthawk
update:
Ok, I managed to turn off the XMS memory, but I can't allocate the required 512k memory that the game is asking for. I see nothing in the helpfile for configuring it. Any suggestions?

Posted: 2005-02-16 05:31pm
by Faram
Should have asked me 10y ago or so back then I knew my config.sys and autoexec.bat now thankfuly I have forgotten most of it.

Anywaays try this:

config.sys
DEVICE=C:\WINDOWS\HIMEM.SYS
DOS=HIGH,UMB
DEVICE=C:\WINDOWS\EMM386.EXE NOEMS
FILES=30
STACKS=0,0
BUFFERS=20

autoexec.bat
SET SOUND=C:\PROGRAM\CREATIVE\CTSND
SET BLASTER=A220 I5 D1 H5 P330 E620 T6
SET PATH=C:\WINDOWS;C:\
LH C:\MOUSE\MOUSE.EXE


Try seartching the web, I got that info from an OLD mail I have

Posted: 2005-02-16 08:04pm
by Knighthawk
Faram wrote:Should have asked me 10y ago or so back then I knew my config.sys and autoexec.bat now thankfuly I have forgotten most of it.

Anywaays try this:

config.sys
DEVICE=C:\WINDOWS\HIMEM.SYS
DOS=HIGH,UMB
DEVICE=C:\WINDOWS\EMM386.EXE NOEMS
FILES=30
STACKS=0,0
BUFFERS=20

autoexec.bat
SET SOUND=C:\PROGRAM\CREATIVE\CTSND
SET BLASTER=A220 I5 D1 H5 P330 E620 T6
SET PATH=C:\WINDOWS;C:\
LH C:\MOUSE\MOUSE.EXE


Try seartching the web, I got that info from an OLD mail I have
Is that the code for DOSBox's autoexec/config.sys or my main system's?

-K

Posted: 2005-02-16 08:20pm
by Knighthawk
I'm not seeing a base autoexec or config file. I made new ones, but I'm unsure if they'll run, or even be recognized.

It's weird, I used to f' around with DOS all the time in my teenage years, guess I've gotten lazy and slacking in my old age :?

-K

Posted: 2005-02-16 08:23pm
by Knighthawk
Ok, system didn't crash (good thing) but I realized something, the "noems" isn't going to work anyways. I remember you have to tell the compy how much memory is being allocated to XMS or EMS memory, but I don't remember how the computer manages / counts that memory. Is it by kilobytes or bytes straight? I know it isn't megabytes...

So...little help? Thanx

-K

Posted: 2005-02-16 08:30pm
by Knighthawk
Destructionator XIII wrote:My DOS help files say it is all measured in kilobytes.
ok, that's good, but unfortunately the helpfile for DOSBox doesn't say how it wants that memory allocated, like what command it's looking for. Any ideas?

It's telling me it needs 512k extended memory to run the game. If I recall, Extended is EMS and Expanded is XMS (thus why it was telling me to disable XMS memory). I don't know how to allocate the memory it wants. This is my problem

(Sorry to be such a pain)

-K

Posted: 2005-02-17 12:20am
by Knighthawk
Destructionator XIII wrote:
Knighthawk wrote:ok, that's good, but unfortunately the helpfile for DOSBox doesn't say how it wants that memory allocated, like what command it's looking for. Any ideas?
I'm not familiar with your games nor DOSBox; all I have are my MS-DOS 6.22 help files and I don't know how applicable they will be. I'm finding this somewhat bizarre because usally all you need to do in DOS is make sure the memory is free and the right drivers are loaded, and the program will do the allocation.
It's telling me it needs 512k extended memory to run the game. If I recall, Extended is EMS and Expanded is XMS (thus why it was telling me to disable XMS memory). I don't know how to allocate the memory it wants. This is my problem
Actually, expanded is EMS and extended is XMS. Double check what it is asking for. Maybe posting an exact quote of the message would be helpful.
"You must have at least 512k of extended memory to run this program!!!"

yes, the exclamation points are there too.
oh, and so you know, I'm trying to run ZONE66 through DOSBot...incase I didn't say it earlier

I'm not sure what to do, considering it told me to disable XMS earlier

Posted: 2005-02-17 08:28am
by Terr Fangbite
For some games if you have winblows xp, you could try compatability mode (properties, compatability). While it doesn't work on alot of things, some of my favorite games have been played thusly.

Posted: 2005-02-17 08:36am
by Knighthawk
WOOT! I got it to work!

I was messing around with settings, and I decided to shut down both memory managers, XMS and EMS, and WHAM! It works now! Thanx for all your help guys!

Posted: 2005-02-17 07:39pm
by Meest
http://sourceforge.net/projects/vdmsound/ this is another good one that uses a more user friendly interface, though not sure if it's as compatible as Dosbox. Had to patch some old sierra and wing commander games to get it working fully.