Difference between revisions of "Basic Setup and Installation of DosBox"

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DOSBox is an emulator that recreates a MS-DOS compatible environment (complete with Sound, Input, Graphics and even basic networking).  This environment is complete enough to run many classic MS-DOS games completely unmodified.  In order to utilize all of DOSBox's features you need to first understand some basic concepts about the MS-DOS environment.
 
DOSBox is an emulator that recreates a MS-DOS compatible environment (complete with Sound, Input, Graphics and even basic networking).  This environment is complete enough to run many classic MS-DOS games completely unmodified.  In order to utilize all of DOSBox's features you need to first understand some basic concepts about the MS-DOS environment.
  
 +
* [[MOUNT|Mount a Drive]]
 
* [[Drives]]
 
* [[Drives]]
 
* [[Sound]]
 
* [[Sound]]
 
* [[Display]]
 
* [[Display]]
 
* [[Input]]
 
* [[Input]]
* [[Connectivity]] (Modems/Networking)
+
* [[Connectivity]] (Modems/Networking)
  
 
== Installation ==
 
== Installation ==
  
The first step is to install DOSBox. This guide will use the [[Version0.72|0.72]] Windows 32 version which is available for [http://www.dosbox.com/download.php?main=1 download]. Download the [[Releases|release]] for your operating system. If you are a Windows user, get the '''Win32 installer'''.
+
The first step is to install DOSBox. This guide will use the [[Version0.74|0.74]] Windows 32-bit version which is available for [http://www.dosbox.com/download.php?main=1 download]. Download the [[Releases|release]] for your operating system. If you are a Windows user, get the '''Win32 installer'''.
  
After downloading, install DOSBox to any directory. Also, make a folder to put all your old games in. I put my DOSBox in '''<tt>C:\DOSBox</tt>''', and my old games directory is '''<tt>C:\oldgames</tt>'''. I put a game in my oldgames directory, '''<tt>testdriv</tt>''', which is [[GAMES:TestDrive|Test Drive]], an old racing game:  
+
After downloading, install DOSBox to any directory. Also, make a folder to put all your old games in. I put DOSBox in '''<tt>C:\DOSBox</tt>''', and my old games directory is '''<tt>C:\OLDGAMES</tt>'''. I put a game in my '''<tt>OLDGAMES</tt>''' directory, '''<tt>TESTDRIV</tt>''', which is [[GAMES:TestDrive|Test Drive]], an old racing game.  Your directories should look like this:
  
 
[[Image:DOSBox-Folders.jpg]]
 
[[Image:DOSBox-Folders.jpg]]
Line 19: Line 20:
 
== Running a game ==
 
== Running a game ==
  
Now, the hardest part, getting games to run. First, run '''dosbox.exe''' in your DOSBox folder. Remember that OLDGAMES directory you created in Step 1? You have to basically set that as new directory just for DOSBox. Essentially, it's going to become the '''[[CDrive|C:\>]]''' drive of DOSBox. So, type:
+
Now, the hardest part, getting games to run. First, run '''dosbox.exe''' in your DOSBox folder. Remember that '''<tt>OLDGAMES</tt>''' directory you created in Step 1? You have to basically set that as new directory just for DOSBox. Essentially, it's going to become the '''[[CDrive|C:\>]]''' drive of DOSBox. So, type:
<code><pre>MOUNT C C:\OLDGAMES</pre></code>
+
Z:\>'''MOUNT C C:\OLDGAMES'''
 +
Drive C mounted as local directory C:\OLDGAMES\
  
 
To dissect the above:
 
To dissect the above:
;'''[[MOUNT]]''': Tells the program to [[MOUNT|mount]] a directory
+
*'''[[MOUNT]]''': Tells the program to [[MOUNT|mount]] a directory
;'''C''':  Tells the program what you want your new drive to be called (leaving it as C: is fine)
+
*'''C''':  Tells the program what you want your new drive to be called (leaving it as C: is fine)
;'''C:\OLDGAMES''': This is the directory I want to set as the new drive for DOSBox, because all my games are in it. If you created a different directory, write in the directory you created.
+
*'''C:\OLDGAMES''': This is the directory I want to set as the new drive for DOSBox, because all my games are in it. If you created a different directory, write in the directory you created.
  
''(Note: If you want to [[MOUNT|mount]] a CD-ROM instead of a folder, type this:  
+
''(Note: If you want to [[MOUNT|mount]] a CD-ROM instead of a folder, type this:''
<code><pre>MOUNT D D:\ -t cdrom</pre></code>
+
Z:\>'''MOUNT D D:\ -t cdrom'''
 +
MSCDEX installed.
 +
Drive D is mounted as CDRom D:\
  
In my example, '''D:\ -T CDROM''' tells DOSBox that my D:\ drive is a CDRom drive, at the first '''D''', tells DOSBox what my new drive name should be called. Then, in the step below, you'd write '''D:''' instead of '''C:'''. You can find instructions on how to [[MOUNT|mount]] other devices, such as floppy drives, in the [[MOUNT|mount]] section).''
+
''(Note: '''"cdrom"''' is case sensitive and must be lowercase!)''
  
After you've done this, you will be prompted with a '''[[ZDrive|Z:\>]]'''. Now, just write what you wanted to call your new DOSBox drive, which as I said above, we called '''C'''. So type in '''C:''' to set it as the new drive. Hopefully, you're all set! Now, it's time to run the game. You can remember I had a game called '''<tt>TESTDRIV</tt>''' in my OLDGAMES folder. So, I want DOSBox to go to that folder. So type in:
+
In this example, '''D:\ -T cdrom''' tells DOSBox that my D:\ drive is a CD-ROM drive, and the first '''D''', tells DOSBox what my new drive name should be called. If you are running your game off a CD-ROM then make sure to use '''D:''' in place of '''C:''' in the following examples. You can find instructions on how to [[MOUNT|mount]] other devices, such as floppy drives, in the [[MOUNT|mount]] section).''
  
<code><pre>C:
+
After you've done this, you will be prompted with a '''[[ZDrive|Z:\>]]'''. Now, just write what you wanted to call your new DOSBox drive, which as I said above, we called '''C'''. To navigate to that newly mounted drive just type in:
CD TESTDRIV</pre></code>
 
  
That's it! [[Commands#CD|CD]] stands for "Change Directory", so you've changed the directory to TESTDRIV. One more step, running the game! Most games have an EXE file in their directory that you can run. However, some might require a BAT file, or COM file (common in demos and really old games). Most of the time, the file is in the root folder. However, if it isn't, you'll have to do something like this:
+
Z:\>'''C:'''
 +
 +
C:\>
  
<code><pre>CD TESTDRIV\FOLDER1\FOLDER2</pre></code>
+
Hopefully, you're all set! Now, it's time to run the game. Previously I had mentioned a game called '''<tt>TESTDRIV</tt>''' in my '''<tt>OLDGAMES</tt>''' folder.  I now want DOSBox to go to that folder. So type in:
  
-or-
+
C:\>'''CD TESTDRIV'''
 +
 +
C:\TESTDRIV>
  
<code><pre>CD TESTDRIV</pre></code>
+
That's it! [[Commands#CD|CD]] stands for "Change Directory", so you've changed the directory to TESTDRIV.  You can find instructions on how to use the [[Commands#CD|Change Directory]] command, in the [[Commands#CD|CD]] section of the [[Commands]] article.
then
 
<code><pre>CD FOLDER1</pre></code>
 
then
 
<code><pre>CD FOLDER2</pre></code>
 
  
If you want to go back to a previous directory, type:
+
One more step, running the game! Most games have an EXE file in their directory that you can run. However, some might require a BAT file, or COM file (common in demos and really old games). Most of the time, the file is in the root folder.  Please consult the documentation of your game for which file is needed to start the game. In the case of [[GAMES:TestDrive|Test Drive]], it's '''TDCGA.EXE'''. So now, I just type this:
  
<code><pre>CD ..</pre></code>
+
C:\TESTDRIV>'''TDCGA.EXE'''
or
 
<code><pre>CD \</pre></code>
 
 
 
Please consult the documentation of your game for which file is needed to start the game. In the case of Test Drive, it's '''TDCGA.EXE'''. So now, I just type this:
 
 
 
<code><pre>TDCGA.EXE</pre></code>
 
  
 
That's it! Here's a picture of all of the commands I've written about in Step 2:  
 
That's it! Here's a picture of all of the commands I've written about in Step 2:  
Line 63: Line 60:
 
[[Image:Dosbox2.jpg]]
 
[[Image:Dosbox2.jpg]]
  
As soon as you press enter after typing in the file name, the game window will pop up, and an additional console window will pop-up providing some additional information.
+
== Alternate methods for running a game ==
 
 
There is also a shortcut that allows you to run a program with DosBox without doing any typing at the command prompt!  All you have to do is make a new, blank, text file.  Rename it to the name of the program you want to run, and change the file extension to a new, unused file extension.  For example, if I want to run a program called "BestGame.exe," I would create a blank file and call it "BestGame.xyz," where *.xyz is not a registered file type on the computer.  Place the blank *.xyz file in the same directory as BestGame.exe. Then, set *.xyz files to always open with DosBox.  Make a new, blank *.xyz file for every program you want to open with DosBox.  You could even make shortcuts to a single directory so you don't have to browse for different games!
 
  
 +
The steps described above are closely aligned with how DOS Based operating systems behave natively.  However modern operating system allow for more user friendly (although less authentic) ways of playing your favorite games.  If the steps above seem tedious or confusing you can try some of these other guides.  In most cases these guides will still require you to setup a working DOSBox environment.
  
NOTE: If you have problems with launching the game, unrecognizable errors being spit out, saving settings, or having the game drop out while running it, one thing to try is to make sure all the files are not set to Read Only. In Windows, select the folder of the game, right click and hit properties, uncheck '''Read Only''' if it is checked, and apply to all subfolders.
+
*[[DOSBoxFrontends|Using Frontends]]
 +
*[[DOSBoxShortcuts|Creating desktop shortcuts]]
 +
**[[DOSBoxShortcuts#Windows|in Microsoft Windows]]
 +
**[[DOSBoxShortcuts#OSX|in Apple OSX]]
 +
**[[DOSBoxShortcuts#GNOME|in Linux GNOME]]
  
If you have other errors, please search the [http://vogons.zetafleet.com forums] first before posting a question.
+
NOTE: If you have problems with launching the game, unrecognizable errors being spit out, saving settings, or having the game drop out while running it, one thing to try is to make sure all the files are not set to Read Only. In Windows, select the folder of the game, right click and hit properties, uncheck '''Read Only''' if it is checked, and apply to all sub folders.
  
----
+
If you have other errors, please search the [http://vogons.org forums] first before posting a question.
  
 
== Performance ==
 
== Performance ==
 
Yay, you've gotten your game to run! But maybe you're experiencing slowdown? How do you fix this? With the following commands:
 
Yay, you've gotten your game to run! But maybe you're experiencing slowdown? How do you fix this? With the following commands:
  
'''<tt>CTRL-F7</tt>''' = Decreases frameskip<br/>
+
'''<tt>CTRL+F7</tt>''' = Decreases frameskip<br/>
'''<tt>CTRL-F8</tt>''' = Increases Frameskip<br/>
+
'''<tt>CTRL+F8</tt>''' = Increases Frameskip<br/>
'''<tt>CTRL-F11</tt>''' = Slows down the game<br/>
+
'''<tt>CTRL+F11</tt>''' = Slows down the game<br/>
'''<tt>CTRL-F12</tt>''' = Speeds up the game<br/>
+
'''<tt>CTRL+F12</tt>''' = Speeds up the game<br/>
  
Press '''<tt>CTRL-ALT-DEL</tt>''' to open the Task Manager, and click the Performance tab. Start by pressing '''<tt>CTRL-F12</tt>''' until your CPU Usage level begins to go above 95%. After that, if you still need a performance boost, hit '''<tt>CTRL-F8</tt>''' to have DOSBox not render some frames. The console window will display all of the changes you've made, and the top of the game window will display the current settings. Adjust these settings as needed until your game goes smoothly. '''''Please keep in mind that not all games will run smoothly on DOSBox.'''''
+
Press '''<tt>CTRL+ALT+DEL</tt>''' to open the Task Manager, and click the Performance tab. Start by pressing '''<tt>CTRL+F12</tt>''' until your CPU Usage level begins to go above 95%. After that, if you still need a performance boost, hit '''<tt>CTRL+F8</tt>''' to have DOSBox not render some frames. The console window will display all of the changes you've made, and the top of the game window will display the current settings. Adjust these settings as needed until your game goes smoothly. '''''Please keep in mind that not all games will run smoothly on DOSBox.'''''
  
 
[[Image:Dosbox3.jpg]]
 
[[Image:Dosbox3.jpg]]
Line 88: Line 88:
 
== Other Useful features ==
 
== Other Useful features ==
  
=== Quick start ===
+
=== Quick Start for Windows ===
 +
Windows users have an option of dragging the EXE of their DOS game onto the DOSBox program (or shorcut pointing to the DOSBox program). This will automatically start the game. If this doesn't work, then I would recommend reading the rest of this article.
 +
 
 +
=== Automatically Mounting Your DOS Games folder ===
  
You can save yourself some time by having the program automatically mount and set the drive. Do this by going to your DOSBox folder, and opening the [[dosbox.conf]] file. You can open it with Notepad. Scroll down to the very end, and add these lines:
+
You can save yourself some time by having DOSBox automatically [[MOUNT]] your folders and change the drive to '''C:'''.  In original DOS based operating systems a file called '''<tt>[[AUTOEXEC|AUTOEXEC.BAT]]</tt>''' contained any commands that the user wanted executed every time the computer booted up.  This functionality is simulated by the [[dosbox.conf#.5Bautoexec.5D|[autoexec]]] section of the [[dosbox.conf]] file.
 +
 
 +
For DOSBox versions older than 0.73 browse into program installation folder and open the [[dosbox.conf]] file in any text editor. For version 0.73 go to Start Menu and click on "Configuration" and then "Edit Configuration". Then scroll down to the very end, and add these lines:
  
 
<code><pre>MOUNT C C:\OLDGAMES
 
<code><pre>MOUNT C C:\OLDGAMES
Line 98: Line 103:
  
 
[[Image:Dosbox4.jpg]]
 
[[Image:Dosbox4.jpg]]
----
 
  
 
=== Full Screen ===
 
=== Full Screen ===
  
Just click Alt and Enter to go into and out of full screen.
+
Just press '''<tt>ALT+ENTER</tt>''' to go into and out of full screen.
 +
 
 +
Alternatively, you can open the [[dosbox.conf]] file as mentioned above and change "fullscreen=false" to "fullscreen=true". DOSBox will then run in full screen mode when you open it.

Latest revision as of 02:57, 9 June 2015

Basic Concepts

DOSBox is an emulator that recreates a MS-DOS compatible environment (complete with Sound, Input, Graphics and even basic networking). This environment is complete enough to run many classic MS-DOS games completely unmodified. In order to utilize all of DOSBox's features you need to first understand some basic concepts about the MS-DOS environment.

Installation

The first step is to install DOSBox. This guide will use the 0.74 Windows 32-bit version which is available for download. Download the release for your operating system. If you are a Windows user, get the Win32 installer.

After downloading, install DOSBox to any directory. Also, make a folder to put all your old games in. I put DOSBox in C:\DOSBox, and my old games directory is C:\OLDGAMES. I put a game in my OLDGAMES directory, TESTDRIV, which is Test Drive, an old racing game. Your directories should look like this:

DOSBox-Folders.jpg

Running a game

Now, the hardest part, getting games to run. First, run dosbox.exe in your DOSBox folder. Remember that OLDGAMES directory you created in Step 1? You have to basically set that as new directory just for DOSBox. Essentially, it's going to become the C:\> drive of DOSBox. So, type:

Z:\>MOUNT C C:\OLDGAMES
Drive C mounted as local directory C:\OLDGAMES\

To dissect the above:

  • MOUNT: Tells the program to mount a directory
  • C: Tells the program what you want your new drive to be called (leaving it as C: is fine)
  • C:\OLDGAMES: This is the directory I want to set as the new drive for DOSBox, because all my games are in it. If you created a different directory, write in the directory you created.

(Note: If you want to mount a CD-ROM instead of a folder, type this:

Z:\>MOUNT D D:\ -t cdrom
MSCDEX installed.
Drive D is mounted as CDRom D:\

(Note: "cdrom" is case sensitive and must be lowercase!)

In this example, D:\ -T cdrom tells DOSBox that my D:\ drive is a CD-ROM drive, and the first D, tells DOSBox what my new drive name should be called. If you are running your game off a CD-ROM then make sure to use D: in place of C: in the following examples. You can find instructions on how to mount other devices, such as floppy drives, in the mount section).

After you've done this, you will be prompted with a Z:\>. Now, just write what you wanted to call your new DOSBox drive, which as I said above, we called C. To navigate to that newly mounted drive just type in:

Z:\>C:

C:\>

Hopefully, you're all set! Now, it's time to run the game. Previously I had mentioned a game called TESTDRIV in my OLDGAMES folder. I now want DOSBox to go to that folder. So type in:

C:\>CD TESTDRIV

C:\TESTDRIV>

That's it! CD stands for "Change Directory", so you've changed the directory to TESTDRIV. You can find instructions on how to use the Change Directory command, in the CD section of the Commands article.

One more step, running the game! Most games have an EXE file in their directory that you can run. However, some might require a BAT file, or COM file (common in demos and really old games). Most of the time, the file is in the root folder. Please consult the documentation of your game for which file is needed to start the game. In the case of Test Drive, it's TDCGA.EXE. So now, I just type this:

C:\TESTDRIV>TDCGA.EXE

That's it! Here's a picture of all of the commands I've written about in Step 2:

Dosbox2.jpg

Alternate methods for running a game

The steps described above are closely aligned with how DOS Based operating systems behave natively. However modern operating system allow for more user friendly (although less authentic) ways of playing your favorite games. If the steps above seem tedious or confusing you can try some of these other guides. In most cases these guides will still require you to setup a working DOSBox environment.

NOTE: If you have problems with launching the game, unrecognizable errors being spit out, saving settings, or having the game drop out while running it, one thing to try is to make sure all the files are not set to Read Only. In Windows, select the folder of the game, right click and hit properties, uncheck Read Only if it is checked, and apply to all sub folders.

If you have other errors, please search the forums first before posting a question.

Performance

Yay, you've gotten your game to run! But maybe you're experiencing slowdown? How do you fix this? With the following commands:

CTRL+F7 = Decreases frameskip
CTRL+F8 = Increases Frameskip
CTRL+F11 = Slows down the game
CTRL+F12 = Speeds up the game

Press CTRL+ALT+DEL to open the Task Manager, and click the Performance tab. Start by pressing CTRL+F12 until your CPU Usage level begins to go above 95%. After that, if you still need a performance boost, hit CTRL+F8 to have DOSBox not render some frames. The console window will display all of the changes you've made, and the top of the game window will display the current settings. Adjust these settings as needed until your game goes smoothly. Please keep in mind that not all games will run smoothly on DOSBox.

Dosbox3.jpg

Other Useful features

Quick Start for Windows

Windows users have an option of dragging the EXE of their DOS game onto the DOSBox program (or shorcut pointing to the DOSBox program). This will automatically start the game. If this doesn't work, then I would recommend reading the rest of this article.

Automatically Mounting Your DOS Games folder

You can save yourself some time by having DOSBox automatically MOUNT your folders and change the drive to C:. In original DOS based operating systems a file called AUTOEXEC.BAT contained any commands that the user wanted executed every time the computer booted up. This functionality is simulated by the [autoexec] section of the dosbox.conf file.

For DOSBox versions older than 0.73 browse into program installation folder and open the dosbox.conf file in any text editor. For version 0.73 go to Start Menu and click on "Configuration" and then "Edit Configuration". Then scroll down to the very end, and add these lines:

MOUNT C C:\OLDGAMES
C:

Now those commands will be executed automatically when starting! If you're having trouble with that, make sure it looks like this (look at the bottom):

Dosbox4.jpg

Full Screen

Just press ALT+ENTER to go into and out of full screen.

Alternatively, you can open the dosbox.conf file as mentioned above and change "fullscreen=false" to "fullscreen=true". DOSBox will then run in full screen mode when you open it.