DOS Games Discussion

Is it possible to run a downloaded DOS game using to command prompt on Windows XP. Instead of using something like DOSbox

It depends on the game.

Frenkel wrote:It depends on the game.

Well, how about, say ,....... Keen Dreams

I think Keen Dreams' Adlib sound effects don't work in XP.

I've downloaded and unzipped keen dreams. Could anyone tell me the next steps

Reminder: I'm NOT using DOSbox, i'm using the command prompt on Windows XP

You better use dosbox.
If you really want to use the XP command box you must get your system on track:
put your XP setup cd in your cd drive and from the run command:
expand x:\i386\config.nt_ c:\windows\system32\config.nt
expand x:\i386\autoexec.nt_ c:\windows\system32\autoexec.nt
expand x:\i386\command.co_ c:\windows\system32\command.com
*edit*:between the _ and the c there is a space !the x is your cd drive.

That is for starters , this will give you a minimal dos support on XP. If you want sound and joystick support in dosgames on XP command box:
NO usb joystick,NO usb mouse or keyboard, and load dos drivers.
NO p&play soundcard , your soundcard MUST have a IRQ set in your PC bios, and the appropiate drivers loaded.
Dosdrivers for your soundcard are needed.Advisable is a soundblaster AWE...something as that...
And that is only the begin......
You better use dosbox , that program takes care of all of this.
If you really don't want to use dosbox get a multiboot with W98 or msdos
Further one : you CAN set your XP up for a dosgame , but XP will never allow a direct memory or drive acces. And for good reason, that is to protect your whole system.
You better think it over.
I am out of this thread.
Good luck.

I have sucsessfully made Keen Dreams work using DOSbox, but i have two questions:

1. How can i make the DOSbox window full-screen
2. When i try to save my game i get the message "this item has been disabled", is there anyway to save my game?

1 -> <ALT>+<ENTER>
2 -> don't know , don't have this one on my HD anymore , someone else ?

BTW:Good idea to use dosbox .

Thanks
And nevermind on question number 2 i figured out how to save

Just a note: While DOSBox is excellent, if the game can be run on the XP command prompt/NTVDM, that makes it much simpler to deal with, and it also saves CPU/RAM since that's one less program running (DOSBox itself).

The best attitude is try to get the game running on XP itself, and if that won't do it, then use DOSBox. The less you need to do the better.