Software to run DOS and early Windows software

Knighthawk · Post by **Knighthawk** » 2005-02-16 10:07am

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?

Faram · Post by **Faram** » 2005-02-16 10:12am

DOSbox

http://prdownloads.sourceforge.net/dosbox/

wautd · Post by **wautd** » 2005-02-16 10:18am

I second that

Knighthawk · Post by **Knighthawk** » 2005-02-16 10:33am

can it emulate various memory allocations, like XMS and EMS?

Knighthawk · Post by **Knighthawk** » 2005-02-16 01:25pm

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

Tribun · Post by **Tribun** » 2005-02-16 02:11pm

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.

Knighthawk · Post by **Knighthawk** » 2005-02-16 05:26pm

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?

Faram · Post by **Faram** » 2005-02-16 05:31pm

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

Knighthawk · Post by **Knighthawk** » 2005-02-16 08:04pm

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

Knighthawk · Post by **Knighthawk** » 2005-02-16 08:20pm

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

Knighthawk · Post by **Knighthawk** » 2005-02-16 08:23pm

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

Knighthawk · Post by **Knighthawk** » 2005-02-16 08:30pm

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

Knighthawk · Post by **Knighthawk** » 2005-02-17 12:20am

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

Terr Fangbite · Post by **Terr Fangbite** » 2005-02-17 08:28am

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.

Knighthawk · Post by **Knighthawk** » 2005-02-17 08:36am

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!

Meest · Post by **Meest** » 2005-02-17 07:39pm

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.

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Software to run DOS and early Windows software

Software to run DOS and early Windows software

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