DOS Games Discussion

Hi, everyone. I was going to custom-build a laptop, most likely a Dell, and use my Windows 98 CD to install Windows 98 on it so that I can have DOS and then set it so that DOS is loaded at startup instead of Windows, 'cause if I want to use Windows, I know how to type "win" and push enter. Anyway, I recently realized that not only do the newer sound cards not have any DOS drivers available for them that would allow me to adjust the volume level while in pure DOS, but also the newer video cards may tend to have problems with at least some older DOS software as well. I was reading a post someone put up on Computing.Net, and they were saying something about that their GeForce video card, or one of those newer video cards -- I don't remember for sure which one it was now -- was having problems because it didn't have VESA support or something like that. Now, I remember that the Super Nintendo emulator ZSNES, the DOS version, which is the one I like to use, uses VESA video modes.

Anyway, my point is that I want to custom-build a laptop that's going to be very fast and all, but I want to create it using an older sound and video card that will be totally compatible with the programs I want to run on it. The programs I'm most interested in using are the DOS version of ZSNES, the good old NES emulator Nesticle, the last DOS version of it to come out, the Sega Master System emulator Meka, most likely the latest DOS version of it to come out, assuming that's the one that will be the most compatible with the sound and video card that will work best with the other emulators, and finally the good old Kgen98 DOS emulator for Sega Genesis.

Okay, my question is this: could you all please tell me which sound and video card would be most compatible with these four emulators? Also, if there's any other particular hardware that I should get with the laptop in regards to these programs, please let me know about that too.

The big reason I want to get this laptop is to have a portable way to play these four great old systems that I love, so that's why I want to gear the construction of it towards running those four emulators, which are my favorite ones, at optimum performance. Also, could someone please tell me where to find software drivers for whatever sound card would be best so that I can adjust the volume lever while in pure DOS?

Anyway, I'm sorry that ended up being so long, but if anyone could please help me with this, I would so greatly appreciate it. You have no idea how important this is to me...

The problem with buying a new laptop for DOS use is that there probably is no modern hardware for laptops that is particularly condusive to running DOS emulators on it. Laptop hardware is very proprietary by nature, so there's not often a lot of leeway in choosing which specific parts you want.

My suggestion would be to forget the DOS emulators unless there's a specific reason why you want to use them instead of their Windows counterparts. I used the DOS version of ZSNES until I got Windows XP, and realized I couldn't get the ZSNES to work the way I wanted it to, so I switched to SNES9x, not knowing a great version of ZSNES is available for Windows. I use ZSNES for Windows now and it works great. Visit <a href="http://www.zsnes.com">www.zsnes.com</a> for the latest version (although watch out because I got a spyware popup when I went there just now ... click the X and don't install it anything like that, especially not from "BetterInternet" a known spyware company.)

Anywho ... I recommend <a href="http://fceultra.sourceforge.net">FCE Ultra</a> for NES emulation ... best NES emulator out there AFAIK. I'm not as into Sega systems so I don't know as much about those emulators ... the Zophar lists are fairly extensive and have links to several Windows-based emus for each system:

Genesis: http://www.zophar.net/genesis.html
Master System: http://www.zophar.net/sms-gg.html

HTH ... it may not be as 1337 to run the Windows emulators but it will probably be a lot less painful overall

Short answer: you can't.
Longer answer: even if you can, you don't want to.

Like emmzee said, finding oldie-compatible hardware for laptops is ten times harder than for desktop PCs, because the parts are much less standard and much more rare.

If emulators is what you want, move to the Windows versions and you'll have better performance with much less potential compatibility issues. ZSNES and FCE Ultra are what I'd suggest and I will also add Gens for Genesis/SegaCD and MEKAW for Master System.

You REALLY don't need DOS for emulation. Just forget it. Seriously.