Playing Discworld under Dosbox

Terramax · 11-09-2005, 05:40 AM

Yo! Got Discworld and have it sort of running under Dosbox, however a few probs.
1.) When I play the game in full screen mode it tells me that it's an 'unknown mode'.
2.) I managed to get the sound working by running the 'sblaster' file before the game but there's nomusic.
3.) whenever i save game it never actually saves. I click on load and there's nothing there.

Surely somebody else has got this game working? Any help would be greatful, thanks ^^

Kurufinwe · 11-09-2005, 11:13 AM

1) What's saying that? DOSBox or the game?
2) How have you set up the . . .

Oh, enough is enough! Why am I wasting my time writing all that? I've done it already far too many times.

Terramax · 11-09-2005, 12:38 PM

My monitor tells me that. Is there anyway to configure the size manualy? Stretch the screen like you can do on, say, Media player?

Kurufinwe · 11-10-2005, 12:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Terramax

Is there anyway to configure the size manualy?

Yes, there is. Read the manual. Read the comments in the config file. Read the DOSBox wiki (esp. the page about the aforementioned config file).

VoodooFX · 11-10-2005, 12:58 AM

TerraMax, when you say dosbox, you mean what exactly?

People have a tendency to call DOS mode a dosbox, while many of us think of DosBox, an emulator.

So lets go one step at the time... Where are you running Discworld from?

Ninth · 11-10-2005, 03:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by VoodooFX

TerraMax, when you say dosbox, you mean what exactly?

People have a tendency to call DOS mode a dosbox, while many of us think of DosBox, an emulator.

So lets go one step at the time... Where are you running Discworld from?

People are still using a dos mode?

I had no trouble setting DOSBOX for Discworld, myself, with the music and stuff... So it's doable.

VoodooFX · 11-10-2005, 04:09 AM

Some people are keeping old machines around for sole purpose of runing the old DOS games.

As for the Discworld in Dosbox, yes, got it to work without any problems, minus the speed issues.
Same goes for Discworld2... game itself plays fine, while cutscenes are a bit too heavy for my rig to handle.

thriftweed · 11-10-2005, 05:49 AM

I have got Discworld 1 + 2 running perfectly on windows ME without the use of DosBox.
Anyway we wont have to worry about this soon when it becomes available on ScummVm.

VoodooFX · 11-10-2005, 06:03 AM

Well 'soon' can be very relative term... I wouldn't expect full support for them for another 6 months, maybe even more than that, if I were you.

Terramax · 11-10-2005, 03:07 PM

I'm using DOSbox. No music though. Games won't save. I'll try doing the screen size manually though.

Kurufinwe · 11-11-2005, 12:22 AM

Terramax, you haven't answered VoodooFX's question. So, once again, please read my post here. And take it seriously. Everybody here is willing, even eager, to help, but nobody's going to be able to, unless you provide the required information.

If for some reason you don't want to do that, then read the documentation I mentioned earlier. I had no problem running Discworld under DOSBox, and seemingly neither did VoodooFX nor Ninth. So you should be able to figure it out by yourself, if that's what you prefer. But know that there are people willing to give help here, if you ask for it properly.

VoodooFX · 11-11-2005, 12:34 AM

He did answer my question. He said he is using Dosbox.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Terramax

I'm using DOSbox. No music though.

But one of the problems he mentioned (can't save a game) reminds me of the time, when my friend had the same problem... and he was playing cd-ripped version. Which would also explain why Terramax can't hear any music.

So if that's the case with you Terramax, I think you'll have to either buy a full game or play the game through ...in one sitting.

It that's not the case... follow the Kurufinwe's guide and give us the information we need in order to help you further.

Kurufinwe · 11-11-2005, 12:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by VoodooFX

He did answer my question. He said he is using Dosbox.

No, he didn't:

Quote:

Originally Posted by VoodooFX

So lets go one step at the time... Where are you running Discworld from?

Anyway,

Quote:

But one of the problems he mentioned (can't save a game) reminds me of the time, when my friend had the same problem... and he was playing cd-ripped version. Which would also explain why Terramax can't hear any music.

He has voices (it's not clear here, but he said it more explicitly on the DOSBox forums. I doubt any CD-rip would include some hundred megs of voices but leave out the MIDI music. So he must be doing something wrong.

And the inability to save probably means that the game is badly configured and tries to save in a directory that is write-protected or even doesn't exist. So he must be doing something wrong here again.

I'm sure we could actually figure out what the problem is and find a solution with some guesswork from what we've got here. But I'm completely unwilling to waste time doing that, and will wait for further information.

Spoiler:
Though I bet it's just an improper installation, or possibly even no installation at all.

Terramax · 11-11-2005, 02:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by VoodooFX

But one of the problems he mentioned (can't save a game) reminds me of the time, when my friend had the same problem... and he was playing cd-ripped version. Which would also explain why Terramax can't hear any music.

Answer found to the second problem. I couldn't find a way of installing the game (apparently the installation program is on the floppy disc and I don't have a floppy drive) so I dragged the info from the CD into my old games folder. Do you think there's a way of creating a saved game file somewhere?

VoodooFX · 11-11-2005, 02:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Terramax

I couldn't find a way of installing the game (apparently the installation program is on the floppy disc) so I dragged the info from the CD into my old games folder.

Never heard of such release being in existance.

Kurufinwe · 11-11-2005, 02:58 AM

No installation, I knew it!

Anyway, copy the entire contents of the CD somewhere on your hard drive. Right-click on that folder (under Windows), Properties, uncheck "read-only", OK, say you want it applied to all subfolders, files, etc.

Then, under DOSBox, run setsound, choose Gravis Ultrasound for Audio (IO 240, IRQ 5, DMA 3 are the DOSBox defaults; or enter the appropriate settings if you've changed them yourself), and General MIDI for music. Then save the settings and run disc (or the game exe, dwb I think).

And that should be it. See how easier it is when you actually try and provide some information...?

VoodooFX · 11-11-2005, 03:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kurufinwe

No installation, I knew it!

...
...
...
And that should be it. See how easier it is when you actually try and provide some information...?

Now, now, Kurufinwe... don't be so hard on him.
What some of us take for granted or common sense, can to others be close to the greatest discovery since invention of wheel.

Kurufinwe · 11-11-2005, 03:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by VoodooFX

Now, now, Kurufinwe... don't be so hard on him.
What some of us take for granted or common sense, can to others be close to the greatest discovery since invention of wheel.

I wasn't being hard on him. Not in that last post anyway.

I understand, and accept, that some people may know little about computers. I also understand, and accept, that some people are not interested in learning about computers, although I believe that it is necessary to learn a few things to use DOSBox, as DOS was an awfully complex and user-unfriendly thing. But that's not the point. The point is that it is important to ask for help in a proper fashion, if you want to achieve something. Actually, thinking what information may be relevant and looking at it is usually enough to make you solve the problem by yourself. And so I believe it's important, far beyond the field of computers, and so, yes, I am rubbing it in. But maybe that way it'll be remembered, and maybe Terramax will afterwards have a better approach to his problems and be able to find the solution himself, or at least ask for it in a way that'll make him receive the answer in a few minutes instead of several days. You know, it's like that thing about giving fish to a person and feeding him for one day, or teaching that person to fish and feeding him for life...

(Yes, that was the pedagogy manifesto of the day. See, I'm still young and innocent and actually still believe in all that!

)

Terramax · 11-11-2005, 03:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kurufinwe

No installation, I knew it!

Then, under DOSBox, run setsound, choose Gravis Ultrasound for Audio (IO 240, IRQ 5, DMA 3 are the DOSBox defaults; or enter the appropriate settings if you've changed them yourself), and General MIDI for music. Then save the settings and run disc (or the game exe, dwb I think).

Setsound doesn't seem to exist on DW. Tells me illegal command if I type setsound.

I tried loading a sound file called PMIDPAK and it said this.

MIDI Sound Package - Copyright (c) 1993, John W. Ratcliff :v3.0
Miles Desigh Inc. MIDI music driver 'MIDPAK.ADV' not found.
Run SETM to define sound hardware.

I typed 'SETM' and 'SETMUSIC' but nothing happened but the illegal command.

P.S. Sorry I didn't give all info last time.

Kurufinwe · 11-12-2005, 01:25 AM

This is all very odd. My version has the setsound programme, but not all those other things that you mention. No matter, we'll work it out.

In DOSBox, go to the folder where you've put all the contents of the CD. Then, type :

Code:

dir > blah.txt

This is going to create a text file called blah.txt (in the folder) listing all the contents of this folder. Please attach this file here.

11-09-2005, 05:40 AM	#1
Terramax Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Posts: 1,595	Playing Discworld under Dosbox Yo! Got Discworld and have it sort of running under Dosbox, however a few probs. 1.) When I play the game in full screen mode it tells me that it's an 'unknown mode'. 2.) I managed to get the sound working by running the 'sblaster' file before the game but there's nomusic. 3.) whenever i save game it never actually saves. I click on load and there's nothing there. Surely somebody else has got this game working? Any help would be greatful, thanks ^^ Share Share this post on Twitter

11-09-2005, 11:13 AM	#2
Kurufinwe Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Santa Barbara, CA Posts: 3,038	1) What's saying that? DOSBox or the game? 2) How have you set up the . . . Oh, enough is enough! Why am I wasting my time writing all that? I've done it already far too many times. Share Share this post on Twitter __________________ Currently reading: Dune (F. Herbert) Recently finished: Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (J. K. Rowling) [++], La Nuit des Temps (R. Barjavel) [+++] Currently playing: Skyrim Recently finished: MCF: Escape from Ravenhearst [+], The Walking Dead, ep. 1 [+++], Gray Matter [++]

11-09-2005, 12:38 PM	#3
Terramax Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Posts: 1,595	My monitor tells me that. Is there anyway to configure the size manualy? Stretch the screen like you can do on, say, Media player? Share Share this post on Twitter

11-10-2005, 12:58 AM	#5
VoodooFX Grumpy & bitter man Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Slovenia Posts: 1,171	TerraMax, when you say dosbox, you mean what exactly? People have a tendency to call DOS mode a dosbox, while many of us think of DosBox, an emulator. So lets go one step at the time... Where are you running Discworld from? Share Share this post on Twitter __________________ We may have days, we may have hours, but sooner or later we all push up flowers.

11-10-2005, 04:09 AM	#7
VoodooFX Grumpy & bitter man Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Slovenia Posts: 1,171	Some people are keeping old machines around for sole purpose of runing the old DOS games. As for the Discworld in Dosbox, yes, got it to work without any problems, minus the speed issues. Same goes for Discworld2... game itself plays fine, while cutscenes are a bit too heavy for my rig to handle. Share Share this post on Twitter __________________ We may have days, we may have hours, but sooner or later we all push up flowers.

11-10-2005, 05:49 AM	#8
thriftweed Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Posts: 39	I have got Discworld 1 + 2 running perfectly on windows ME without the use of DosBox. Anyway we wont have to worry about this soon when it becomes available on ScummVm. Share Share this post on Twitter

11-10-2005, 06:03 AM	#9
VoodooFX Grumpy & bitter man Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Slovenia Posts: 1,171	Well 'soon' can be very relative term... I wouldn't expect full support for them for another 6 months, maybe even more than that, if I were you. Share Share this post on Twitter __________________ We may have days, we may have hours, but sooner or later we all push up flowers.

11-10-2005, 03:07 PM	#10
Terramax Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Posts: 1,595	I'm using DOSbox. No music though. Games won't save. I'll try doing the screen size manually though. Share Share this post on Twitter

11-11-2005, 12:22 AM	#11
Kurufinwe Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Santa Barbara, CA Posts: 3,038	Terramax, you haven't answered VoodooFX's question. So, once again, please read my post here. And take it seriously. Everybody here is willing, even eager, to help, but nobody's going to be able to, unless you provide the required information. If for some reason you don't want to do that, then read the documentation I mentioned earlier. I had no problem running Discworld under DOSBox, and seemingly neither did VoodooFX nor Ninth. So you should be able to figure it out by yourself, if that's what you prefer. But know that there are people willing to give help here, if you ask for it properly. Share Share this post on Twitter __________________ Currently reading: Dune (F. Herbert) Recently finished: Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (J. K. Rowling) [++], La Nuit des Temps (R. Barjavel) [+++] Currently playing: Skyrim Recently finished: MCF: Escape from Ravenhearst [+], The Walking Dead, ep. 1 [+++], Gray Matter [++]

11-11-2005, 02:58 AM	#16
Kurufinwe Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Santa Barbara, CA Posts: 3,038	No installation, I knew it! Anyway, copy the entire contents of the CD somewhere on your hard drive. Right-click on that folder (under Windows), Properties, uncheck "read-only", OK, say you want it applied to all subfolders, files, etc. Then, under DOSBox, run setsound, choose Gravis Ultrasound for Audio (IO 240, IRQ 5, DMA 3 are the DOSBox defaults; or enter the appropriate settings if you've changed them yourself), and General MIDI for music. Then save the settings and run disc (or the game exe, dwb I think). And that should be it. See how easier it is when you actually try and provide some information...? Share Share this post on Twitter __________________ Currently reading: Dune (F. Herbert) Recently finished: Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (J. K. Rowling) [++], La Nuit des Temps (R. Barjavel) [+++] Currently playing: Skyrim Recently finished: MCF: Escape from Ravenhearst [+], The Walking Dead, ep. 1 [+++], Gray Matter [++]

11-12-2005, 01:25 AM	#20
Kurufinwe Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Santa Barbara, CA Posts: 3,038	This is all very odd. My version has the setsound programme, but not all those other things that you mention. No matter, we'll work it out. In DOSBox, go to the folder where you've put all the contents of the CD. Then, type : Code: dir > blah.txt This is going to create a text file called blah.txt (in the folder) listing all the contents of this folder. Please attach this file here. Share Share this post on Twitter __________________ Currently reading: Dune (F. Herbert) Recently finished: Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (J. K. Rowling) [++], La Nuit des Temps (R. Barjavel) [+++] Currently playing: Skyrim Recently finished: MCF: Escape from Ravenhearst [+], The Walking Dead, ep. 1 [+++], Gray Matter [++]

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