DOSBox v0.61
=====
NOTE:
=====
While we hope that, one day, DOSBox will run virtually all programs
ever made for the PC...we are not there yet. At present, DOSBox run on a high-
end machine will roughly be the equivalent of a lowend 486 PC. While the 0.60
release has added support for "protected mode" allowing for more complex and
recent programs, but note that this support is early in development and
nowhere near as complete as the support for 386 real-mode games (or
earlier). Also note that "protected mode" games need substantially more
resources and may require a much faster processor for you to run it properly
in DOSBox.
======
Usage:
======
dosbox [name] [-exit] [-c command] [-fullscreen] [-conf congfigfile]
[-lang languagefile] [-machine machinetype] [-noconsole]
name
If "name" is a directory it'll mount that as the C: drive.
If "name" is an executable it'll mount the directory of "name"
as the C: drive and execute "name".
-exit
dosbox will exit after the "name" has been executed.
-c command
Runs the specified command before running "name". Multiple commands
can be specified. Each command should start with -c though.
-fullscreen
Starts dosbox in fullscreen mode.
-conf configfile
Start dosbox with the options specified in "configfile".
-lang languagefile
Start dosbox using the language string specified in "languagefile".
-noconsole (Windows Only)
Start dosbox without showing the console window, output will
be redirected to stdout.txt and stderr.txt
-machine machinetype
Setup dosbox to emulate a specific type of machine. Valid choices are:
auto,hercules,cga,tandy,vga.
Note: If a name/command/configfile/languagefile contains a space in it, put
the whole name/command/configfile/languagefile between quotes("example").
For example:
dosbox c:atlantisatlantis.exe -c "MOUNT D C:SAVES"
This would mount c:atlantis as c: and run atlantis.exe.
Before it does that it would first mount C:SAVES as the D drive.
In Windows you can also drag directories/files onto the dosbox executable.
==================
Internal Programs:
==================
DOSBox supports most of the DOS commands found in command.com.
In addition, the following commands are available:
MOUNT "Emulated Drive letter" "Real Drive or Directory"
[-t type] [-aspi] [-ioctl] [-usecd number] [-size drivesize]
[-label drivelabel]
MOUNT -cd
Program to mount local directories as drives inside DOSBox.
"Emulated Drive letter"
The driveletter inside dosbox (eg. C).
"Real Drive letter or Directory"
The local directory you want to have inside dosbox.
(Under Win32 usually the same as "Emulated Drive letter".
For Example: mount c c: )
-t type
Type of the mounted directory. Supported are: dir (standard),
floppy, cdrom.
-size drivesize
Sets the size of the drive.
-label drivelabel
Sets the name of the drive to "drivelabel". Needed on some
systems if the cd label isn't read correctly. Useful when a
program can't find its cdrom.
-aspi
Forces to use the aspi layer. Only valid if mounting a cdrom under
Windows systems with an ASPI-Layer.
-ioctl
Forces to use ioctl commands. Only valid if mounting a cdrom under
windows which support them (Win2000/XP/NT).
-usecd number
Forces to use SDL cdrom support for drive number.
Number can be found by -cd. Valid on all systems.
-cd
Displays all detected cdrom drives and their numbers. Use with -usecd.
Note: It's possible to mount a local directory as cdrom drive.
Hardware support is then missing.
Basically, MOUNT allows you to connect real hardware to DOSBox's "emulated"
PC. So MOUNT C C: tells DOSBox to use your real C: drive as drive C: in
DosBox. It also allows you to change the drive's letter identification for
programs that demand specific drive letters.
For example: Touche: Adventures of The Fifth Musketeer must be run on your C:
drive. Using DOSBox and it's mount command, you can trick into thinking it
is on C drive while placing it where you want it. For example, if the game
were in D:TOUCHE, you can use the command MOUNT C D: would allow you to
run Touche from the D drive.
General MOUNT Examples:
1. To mount c:floppy as a floppy :
mount a c:floppy -t floppy
2. To mount system cdrom drive E as cdrom drive D in dosbox:
mount d e: -t cdrom
3. To mount system cdrom drive at mountpoint /media/cdrom as cdrom drive D
in dosbox:
mount d /media/cdrom -t cdrom -usecd 0
4. To mount a drive with 870 mb free diskspace (rarely needed! experts only):
mount c d: -size 4025,127,16513,1700
5. To mount /home/dos/dosgames as drive C in DOSBox:
mount c /home/dos/dosgames
MEM
Program to display the amount of free memory.
CONFIG [-writeconf] [-writelang] localfile
Write the current configuration or language settings to file.
"localfile" is located on the local drive !!!
Example:
To create a configfile in your current directory:
config -writeconf dosbox.conf
LOADFIX [-size] [program] [program-parameters]
LOADFIX -f
Program to "eat up" memory. Useful for old programs which don't expect much
memory to be free.
-size
number of kb to "eat up", default = 64kb
-f
frees all previously allocated memory
Examples:
1. To start mm2.exe and allocate 64kb memory :
loadfix mm2
2. To start mm2.exe and allocate 32kb memory :
loadfix -32 mm2
3. To free previous allocated memory :
loadfix -f
For more information use the /? command line switch with the programs.
=============
Special Keys:
=============
ALT-ENTER Go full screen and back.
CTRL-F5 Save a screenshot.
CTRL-F6 Start/Stop recording sound output to a wave file.
CTRL-F7 Decrease frameskip.
CTRL-F8 Increase frameskip.
CTRL-F9 Kill dosbox.
CTRL-F10 Capture/Release the mouse.
CTRL-F11 Slow down emulation (Decrease DOSBox Cycles).
CTRL-F12 Speed up emulation (Increase DOSox Cycles).
NOTE: Once you increase your DOSBox cycles beyond your computer's maximum
capacity, it will produce the same effect as slowing down the emulation.
This maximum will vary from computer to computer, there is no standard.
====================
System requirements:
====================
Fast machine. My guess would be pentium-2 400+ to get decent emulation
of games written for an 286 machine.
For protected mode games a 1 Ghz machine is recommended and don't expect
them to run fast though!! Be sure to read the next section on how to speed
it up somewhat.
================================
To run resource-demanding games:
================================
DOSBox emulates the CPU, the sound and graphic cards, and some other
stuff, all at the same time. You can overclock DOSBox by using CTRL+F12, but
you'll be limited by the power of your actual CPU. You can see how much free
time your true CPU has by looking at the Task Manager in Windows 2000/XP and
the System Monitor in Windows 95/98/ME. Once 100% of your real CPU time is
used there is no further way to speed up DOSBox unless you reduce the load
generated by the non-CPU parts of DOSBox.
So:
Close every program but DOSBox
Overclock DOSBox until 100% of your CPU is used (use the utilities above to
check)
Since VGA emulation is the most demanding part of DOSBox in terms of actual
CPU usage, we'll start here. Increase the number of frames skipped (in
increments of one) by pressing CRTL+F8. Your CPU usage should decrease.
Go back one step and repeat this until the game runs fast enough for you.
Please note that this is a trade off: you lose in fluidity of video what you
gain in speed
You can also try to disable the sound through the setup utility of the game
to further reduce load on your CPU.
====
FAQ:
====
Q: I've got a Z instead of a C at the prompt.
A: In DOSBox you can mount directories as drives.
In win32: mount c D: would give you a C in DOSBox which points
at D: in win32.
In linux: mount c /home/username would give you a C in DOSBox
which points at /home/username in Linux.
Q: The mouse doesn't work.
A: Normally dosbox detects the mouse being used by a game. If you click on
the screen then it should get locked and work.
Sometimes the dosbox mouse detection doesn't work with certain games. You
might have to force to lock the mouse then with ctrl-F10.
Q: The sound stutters.
A: You're using too much cpu power to keep dosbox running at the current speed.
You can either lower the cycles or skip frames or get a faster machine.
Q: I can't type in DOSBox.
A: This is a known problem. It only occurs if your keyboard layout isn't US.
Some possible fixes:
1. Switch your keyboard layout.
2. Use / instead.
3. Add the commands you want to execute in dosbox.conf
Q: The game/application can't find its CD-ROM.
A: Be sure to mount the CD-ROM with -t cdrom switch. Also try adding the cor-
rect label (-label LABEL). To enable more low-level cdrom support add
the following switch to mount: -usecd #, where # is the number of your
CD-ROM drive reported by mount -cd. If you run Win32 you can specify -ioctl
or -aspi. Look at the description elsewhere in this document for their
meaning.
Q: The game/application runs much too slow!
A: Look at the section "To run resource-demanding games" for more information.
Q: I would like to change the memory size/cpu speed/ems/soundblaster IRQ.
A: This is possible! Just create a config file: config -writeconf dosbox.conf .
Startup your favourite editor and look at all the settings present. To
start DOSBox with your new settings: dosbox -conf dosbox.conf
Q: What sound hardware does DosBox presently emulate?
A: DosBox emulates several legacy sound devices:
- Internal PC speaker
This emulation includes both the tone generator and several forms of
digital
sound output through the internal speaker.
- Creative CMS/Gameblaster
The is the first card released by Creative Labs(R). The default
configuration places
it on port 0x220. It should be noted that enabling this with the Adlib
emulation may
result in conflicts.
- Tandy 3 voice
The emulation of this sound hardware is complete with the exception of the
noise channel,
which is not very well documented and as such is only a best guess as to
the sound's accuracy.
- Adlib
Borrowed from MAME, this emulation is almost perfect and includes the
Adlib's ability to almost
play digitized sound.
- SoundBlaster Pro
Coupled with the Adlib, DosBox provides Soundblaster Pro level 8-bit stereo
sound.
- Disney Soundsource
Using the printer port, this sound device outputs digital sound only.
- Gravis Ultrasound
The emulation of this hardware is nearly complete, though the MIDI
capabilities have been left
out since an MPU-401 has been emulated in other code.
- MPU-401
A MIDI passthrough interface is also emulated. This method of sound output
will only work when
used with a General Midi or MT-32 device.
Q: Great README, but I still don't get it.
A: While unlikely this seems to happen. Maybe a look at "The Newbie's
pictorial guide to dosbox" located at
http://vogons.zetafleet.com/viewforum.php?f=39 might help you.
For more questions check the site/forum:
http://dosbox.sourceforge.net
================
The Config File:
================
A config file can be generated by CONFIG.COM, which can be found on the
internal dosbox Z: drive when you start up dosbox. Look in the internal
programs section of the readme for usage of CONFIG.COM.
You can edit the generated configfile to customize DOSBox.
The file is divided into several sections (the names have [] around it).
Some sections have options which you can set.
# and % indicate comment-lines.
The generated configfile contains the current settings. You can alter them and
start DOSBox with the -conf switch to load the file and use these settings.
DOSBox will if no configfile is specified with the -conf switch look in the
current directory for dosbox.conf. Then it will look for ~/.dosboxrc (linux),
~dosbox.conf (win32) or "~/Library/Preferences/DOSBox Preferences" (MACOSX).
==================
The Language File:
==================
A language file can be generated by CONFIG.COM.
Read it and you will hopefully understand how to change it.
Start DOSBox with the -lang switch to use your new language file
or you can setup the filename in the config file in the [dosbox] section.
There's a language= entry that can be changed with the filename.
====================================
Building your own version of DOSBox:
====================================
Download the source.
Check the INSTALL in the source distribution.
===============
Special Thanks:
===============
Vlad R. of the vdmsound project for excellent sound blaster info.
Tatsuyuki Satoh of the Mame Team for making an excellent FM emulator.
The Bochs and DOSemu projects which I used for information.
Freedos for ideas in making my shell.
Pierre-Yves Gérardy for hosting the old Beta Board.
Colin Snover for hosting our forum.
The Beta Testers.
========
Contact:
========
Harekiet harekiet()zophar.net
http://dosbox.sourceforge.net
|
aminet net>