Running Old Games on DOSBOX

[bev0]

hi all, i have been trying to get the my copy of Blood running on my PC utilising DOSBox v7.2, i have seemed to successfully install the game and go through the setup but then when i launch the game it starts to load up but then an error appears which reads:


"DOS/4GW fatat error (1012): C:\BLOOD\BLOOD.EXE is not a WATCOM program"

I have been searching for a sulotion for this for a while, i came across one forum that suggested i use DOS32A, but i could even get that to run.

any help will be much appreciated

regards

[DaveLembke]

I have used FreeDOS for a bunch of old games that dont like DOSBOX, but FreeDOS is not like DOSBOX that will run side by side windows. I created a FreeDOS bootable USB drive and placed the games on it. Tons of DOS games can fit on a USB stick..lol

[bev0]

Thanks, i'll give  Freedos a go

[bev0]

hey,

After much unsuccessful mucking around with FreeDos i have given in and purchased the game that i have already purchased more than 10 years ago from gog.com and it runs perfectly, should have just spent that 5.99 in the fist place.
thanks all the same for your help, i think i just lacked the knowledge to pull off what you were suggesting still sounds like a great idea and i will keep trying to do it, i like the idea of one thumb drive with all my old dos games,

Cheers

[Linux711]

If DOSBOX doesn't work, you can run DOS in a virtual machine (which will appear almost the same as DOSBOX). You can download VirtualPC 2007 from Microsoft's site and the latest version of DOS here: http://www.syschat.com/download60.html

Now, you just have to make a new virtual machine (which is pretty easy just using the wizard) and then you mount the ISO file of DOS found in the link and then you can install DOS. Now your done. Put your games on a CD and play them in the virtual machine.

[BC_Programmer]

Blood has been working fine in DOSBox for me...

[rthompson80819]

DOSbox has a list of supported games and Blood is listed as a supported game.

[DaveLembke]

I tried VirtualPC 2007 with DOS 6.22 and many DOS games dont like the Virtual Graphics Adapter, especially the older games created for CGA and EGA displays that work ok under a real physical VGA adapter and display, but black screen or error out in VPC2007 DOS 6.22 virtual setup.

[BC_Programmer]

Virtual PC uses a S3 Trio for emulation.

I've yet to find a DOS game that doesn't work under any Virtual machine that supports running MS-DOS. I have a S3 Trio (the exact same one implemented by Virtual PC) and I can tell you, any problems games have on Virtual PC are the same as they would be with the actual card... I'm looking at you, scorched earth... (That may be what you were saying Dave but I read it like you meant that the problem stemmed from the fact that there was virtualization at work)

Also, as for "DOS 7.1" there are a few points I would like to make:

-the installer says it's "GNU Software". It's not. it's the same DOS, they just ripped it out of Windows 98/98SE and added a crapload of other stuff. It's still proprietary. You can't just slap a "This is GNU Software" on top of something already licensed in another way and say it's legal.

-because of the aforementioned reason, it is technically illegal to download and use it if you don't have a proper license for Windows 9x.

-I'm pretty sure posting links that are "borderline" in this way <might> be against the forum rules.

-What does this DOS 7.1 have over freeDOS? not much, really, at list with regards to running older games. Probably easier to get booting from a flash drive as well, additionally, freeDOS is actually free and there is no question or "gray area" or legal BS to try to comprehend with it (with the exception of the GPL, I suppose (is freeDOS GPL?), which is a rant in and of itself)