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13-12-2006 01:36 PM

The Fifth Horseman

Apologies for the late reply, certain real life issues kept me away from the forum.

Quote:

The screen is a 24", very hi res. I still have the old 21" Gateway monitor. Should I just use it to avoid any more confusion. Since I'm already in that frame of mind.[/b]

I'm pretty sure neither of these screens should have any problems with running DOS.

Quote:

Have you played Xeen? My Dummy book was sent "book class" so getting it to where I live will take weeks. Would really like to play Xeen, but, probably a bad idea considering my ignorance of DOS.[/b]

I suggest trying by trial and error. Use the DIR and CD commands to get to the right directories, use the filenames of executable files to run them. That's the basics.

Quote:

You obviously play DOS games. Do you use the DOS box? From other forums and comments, I get the impression that without being a DOS genius, playing it on the old machine might be less of a problem.[/b]

I'm using DosBox for last two years. Before that, I used to have a 486 machine (before I plugged in motherboard power connectors the wrong way and fried it), so playing DOS games was not much of a problem for me.
Configuring DOS machines to run old games can range from simple to complicated, depending on the results you want to achieve.

I wanted to experiment with multiboot and boot menus on the P120 I purchased second-hand last year, but never really got around to doing that.

Quote:

Re: the AUTOEXEC.BAT file. Just curious and wanted to look so I left clicked, it flashes on screen and disappears. Right click, get the open, edit, print, scan and so forth window, click open, it does the same thing, flashes and disappears. Shouldn't something open, when you click OPEN?[/b]

Something would open when you choose EDIT. When you try to open a BAT file, your system automatically attempts to run it.

Quote:

Right now the old machine is Win95/98. So, to play a DOS game, don't I have to adjust something (in this DOS batch file) so the machine knows what to do. Or, if I start the machine in DOS mode, does this file become moot?[/b]

Most things should run in the DOS mode no problem. Messing around with the Autoexec and Config files is really a "last resort" kind of solution when all else fails.

05-12-2006 09:26 AM

Taarna

[quote]

Quote:

Are you referring to the (C

drive, seen when I click "My Computer" either on the Win95/98 Gateway, or newer XP?? If so, been there many times, just never knew the proper term was "root of drive"..If that's what you meant.

Yup, that's the exact thing

Quote:

When DOS was installed in the old Gateway, the large, hi res LCD monitors didn't exist. Should I do something with the res setting?? Some forums make reference to monitor problems. Any thoughts.

Unless it's a widescreen, you shouldn't have problems using it.

Quote:

I continued looking through all the folders in the (C

drive. There is no sign of the Xeen install. I didn't modify any files when I installed the game. I don't know what the game did while installing. I tried the SEARCH, but, wasn't sure what file to search for. I had tried a couple of C:\Program File searches using different names, Xeen, the company and so forth, but no luck. Will give it another, more through, look see.

Do you know what I should have typed in the SEARCH window?? bye

You didn't modify any files, but the game did. When running the search, you have an option of looking for files and directories modified in a certain time period. That's your best bet right now.

Oh, and the entire idea about putting installed software into C:\Program Files\ has began after the advent of Windows - no point looking in there.

PS. The AUTOEXEC file you found on your Windows hard drive is a normal thing. That one is used only to load Windows stuff, though.
[/quote

That's so neat the way you isolate the individual questions and answer them.

The screen is a 24", very hi res. I still have the old 21" Gateway monitor. Should I just use it to avoid any more confusion. Since I'm already in that frame of mind.

Have you played Xeen? My Dummy book was sent "book class" so getting it to where I live will take weeks. Would really like to play Xeen, but, probably a bad idea considering my ignorance of DOS.

You obviously play DOS games. Do you use the DOS box? From other forums and comments, I get the impression that without being a DOS genius, playing it on the old machine might be less of a problem.

Re: the AUTOEXEC.BAT file. Just curious and wanted to look so I left clicked, it flashes on screen and disappears. Right click, get the open, edit, print, scan and so forth window, click open, it does the same thing, flashes and disappears. Shouldn't something open, when you click OPEN?

But, when I right click on it and get the "properties" option, click on it, under General tab, it says it's a MS-DOS Batch File. Under COMPATIBILITY, in the compatibility mode window, there's nothing checked, or selected..as in Win95, Win 98 NT, and so forth. In the DISPLAY SETTINGS area, the three selections are unchecked also.

Right now the old machine is Win95/98. So, to play a DOS game, don't I have to adjust something (in this DOS batch file) so the machine knows what to do. Or, if I start the machine in DOS mode, does this file become moot?

Thanks for the time you're taking to help. Really nice of you...

04-12-2006 02:04 PM

The Fifth Horseman

Quote:

Are you referring to the (C

drive, seen when I click "My Computer" either on the Win95/98 Gateway, or newer XP?? If so, been there many times, just never knew the proper term was "root of drive"..If that's what you meant.[/b]

Yup, that's the exact thing

Quote:

When DOS was installed in the old Gateway, the large, hi res LCD monitors didn't exist. Should I do something with the res setting?? Some forums make reference to monitor problems. Any thoughts.[/b]

Unless it's a widescreen, you shouldn't have problems using it.

Quote:

I continued looking through all the folders in the (C

04-12-2006 01:15 PM

Taarna

QUOTE(Guest @ Dec 4 2006, 04:42 AM) [snapback]270219[/snapback]

Quote:

QUOTE(Guest @ Dec 4 2006, 01:38 PM) [snapback]270218[/snapback]

Quote:

QUOTE(the_fifth_horseman @ Dec 4 2006, 11:46 AM) [snapback]270184[/snapback]

Quote:

Root of drive: what you get when you double-click on the drive in Windows Explorer.

If you can't find the directory in the root of your drive, try using Windows' search function to locate any files modified the day you installed the game.
[/b]

Are you referring to the (C

drive, seen when I click "My Computer" either on the Win95/98 Gateway, or newer XP?? If so, been there many times, just never knew the proper term was "root of drive"..If that's what you meant. Even if it isn't, I found the AUTOEXEC.BAT folder, referred to. And some others that refer to DOS when opened. (poking around with the newer machine, not the Gateway)

In the Autoexe. file, on the XP, it has the compatibility mode box, UNCHECKED. When I hook up the Gateway, Win95/98, should there be something be in the MODE window. And also the DISPLAY SETTINGS. Nothing. Can I assume it's the same on the old Gateway and that I should enter something. The old Gateway has never played a DOS game or even been booted to DOS.

When DOS was installed in the old Gateway, the large, hi res LCD monitors didn't exist. Should I do something with the res setting?? Some forums make reference to monitor problems. Any thoughts.

I continued looking through all the folders in the (C

04-12-2006 12:42 PM

Guest

QUOTE(Guest @ Dec 4 2006, 01:38 PM) [snapback]270218[/snapback]

Quote:

QUOTE(the_fifth_horseman @ Dec 4 2006, 11:46 AM) [snapback]270184[/snapback]

Quote:

Are you referring to the (C

drive, seen when I click My Computer on the old Gateway, or newer XP?? If so, been there many times, just never knew the proper term was "root of drive"..If that's what you meant. Even if it isn't, I found the AUTOEXEC.BAT folder, referred to. And some others that refer to DOS when opened.

In the Autoexe. file, I'm not sure what the compatibility setting should be. Right now it has the compatibility mode box, UNCHECKED. Shouldn't something be in the MODE window. And the DISPLAY SETTINGS. Nothing is checked here either. (this is on the XP. Can I assume it's the same on the old Gateway) It's not hooked up right now.

When DOS was installed in the old Gateway, the hi res LCD monitors didn't exist. Should I do something with the res setting?? Some forums make reference to monitor problems. Any thoughts.
[/b][/quote]

04-12-2006 12:38 PM

Guest

QUOTE(the_fifth_horseman @ Dec 4 2006, 11:46 AM) [snapback]270184[/snapback]

Quote:

Are you referring to the (C

drive, seen when I click My Computer on the old Gateway, not the newer XP?? If so, been there many times, just never knew the proper term was "root of drive"..If that's what you meant. Even if it isn't, I found the AUTOEXEC.BAT folder, referred to. And some others that refer to DOS when opened.

In the Autoexe. file, I'm not sure what the compatibility setting should be. Right now it has the compatibility mode box, UNCHECKED. Shouldn't something be in the MODE window. And the DISPLAY SETTINGS. Nothing is checked here either.

When DOS was installed in the old Gateway, the hi res LCD monitors didn't exist. Should I do something with the res setting?? Some forums make reference to monitor problems. Any thoughts.

04-12-2006 10:46 AM

The Fifth Horseman

02-12-2006 11:43 AM

Guest

QUOTE(the_fifth_horseman @ Nov 28 2006, 04:06 PM) [snapback]269094[/snapback]

Quote:

How do you avoid messing with autoexe and bats and stuff if they're there when DOS boots?[/b]

Well, modifying them is only really neccesary when you need specific driver configuration, eg disabling CD-Rom support or expanded/extended memory managers. Most likely you won't have to deal with them.

Quote:

That last line is scary. "The biggest problem" say it isn't so.[/b]

Once you stop doubting your abilities, it turns out easier then it looked.

Quote:

Any ideas about that one. Where would one look for a game installed for DOS????[/b]

In the root of your C drive, most likely.

Quote:

Although, with some of the other comments, I don't know how you managed to learn the darn thing.[/b]

Sheer persistence, mostly. And whaddadya know, it works.
[/b]

This'll make your day. How do I get to the "root of my C drive. Right and left clicked on it. No DOS games or Xeen for that matter. thanks

28-11-2006 03:06 PM

The Fifth Horseman

Quote:

How do you avoid messing with autoexe and bats and stuff if they're there when DOS boots?[/b]

Quote:

That last line is scary. "The biggest problem" say it isn't so.[/b]

Once you stop doubting your abilities, it turns out easier then it looked.

Quote:

Any ideas about that one. Where would one look for a game installed for DOS????[/b]

In the root of your C drive, most likely.

Quote:

Although, with some of the other comments, I don't know how you managed to learn the darn thing.[/b]

Sheer persistence, mostly. And whaddadya know, it works.

28-11-2006 02:49 PM

Taarna

QUOTE(the_fifth_horseman @ Nov 27 2006, 12:34 AM) [snapback]268865[/snapback]

Quote:

Now, I'm more confused than usual. Hope my DOS for DUMMIES gets here soon. I don't have a clue what a autoexec.bat and so forth is.[/b]

Autoexec.bat and Config.sys are two files used by DOS when it starts. They contain all the information about what drivers to load etc.
Anyway, if you're lucky you'll never have to mess with them.

My old machine once needed some modifications to these two files so that I'd have a larger quota of base memory to run Flashback with both music and sound... it was hell to get that all to work right, but in the end I learned a couple things.

Quote:

How the heck does someone learn this stuff.[/b]

Trial. Error. Trial. Error. Smashing head against the wall. Trial. Error. Trial. Error. Depression. Trial. Error. Trial. Success. :P
No, really. Most of the basics are easy to learn, but if you start messing with more advanced things... well, that's where the hard part begins.

Quote:

I'm too far from town to take any class. What about that guy that sells a computer course on t.v.??[/b]

Don't bother. Nowadays they don't even teach anything about DOS on most computer courses.
It's better to spend this time reading the books you've ordered on the subject and the links found in Wikipedia DOS article

Quote:

This is awful. You folks are trying to help me and without knowing the terms and what they mean, it's usuless. I know I have a bunch of memory available on the DOS/Gateway. It says there is 79% available. I don't use these machines for much more than playing games. And, I clear all files/cookies and defrag. But, still, without knowing much more...I'm lost....[/b]

Hey, I was too, back in the days. The biggest problem with DOS is believing you can learn to use it.

[/b]

That last line is scary. "The biggest problem" say it isn't so.

How do you avoid messing with autoexe and bats and stuff if they're there when DOS boots?

With Xeen, I loaded both games, (read on a forum you need both games loaded to play) even following directions for Start, Run and so forth. Typed as instructed and....nothing. A black screen with some white printing appeared and a blinking white line. (reminded me of Safe Mode) Didn't have a clue what it was for, since the manual didn't say anything about it. Can figure out most Win95/98, XP stuff, without ever calling a tech, but don't have a clue how to tweak or mess with DOS that would allow me to play a game.

Don't know why Xeen wouldn't play. When it was being installed, all the little bars, marched across the screen. It utimately told me my games were loaded. The only thing I couldn't do was pick one of the three choices regarding amount of install. I tried the Y..N..arrow keys and so forth, but couldn't make any changes. I wanted a full intall anyway, so it really didn't matter. I wonder if that had anything to do with it.

When the game didn't play, I couldn't figure out how to get out of DOS.....duh...so I turned it off at the switch. Oh Well... Once back in Windows, I thought to delete the two games and try reinstalling. But, I can't find them anywhere. Not in program files, folders, or anywhere else I could think to look. Does DOS stuff hide somewhere I'm not aware of??

Any ideas about that one. Where would one look for a game installed for DOS????

Well, even though you've beaten your head against the wall, on numerous occasions, you all seem to be merrily playing DOS games. Although, with some of the other comments, I don't know how you managed to learn the darn thing.

So, between your auto's and bats, and DOS Boxes, I'm gonna go watch the Northern Lights until my DOS book gets here. Then I will read my book, all your helpful hints and jump into the Artic Ocean. Taking my DOS games with me. Just kidding. I'll just throw the games and book into the ocean. Whoops, the enviornment, can't do that either. Wanna buy a book........cheap.

Couldn't get out of DOS, turned it off at switch.....how pathetic. Be happy.

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