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OlSheep

Joined: 13 Aug 2004
Posts: 42
Location: Lost in Quebec

Posted: Mon May 21, 2007 7:29 pm Post subject: Daggerfall and DOSBox

Here's a guide I thought some of you might want (sorry if it's completely useless)... Feel free to reply and/or PM me additional questions you might have...

Running Daggerfall under DOSBox for imbeciles :
Because frontends are for pussies

1 - Download and install the latest version of DOSBox

Get it here : http://dosbox.sourceforge.net/news.php?show_news=1

2 - Create a folder to use as DOSBox's virtual hard drive

You can create this folder anywhere on your machine. Keep in mind that a full install of Daggerfall requires ~500 Mb.

I like to use C:\DDRIVE (I guess /$HOME/DDRIVE would be good if you've got a Linux box) as it's simple, short and easy to remember.

3 - Configure DosBox

You'll want to open "dosbox.conf" in an ASCII editor (e.g. Notepad). The Windows version of DOSBox will put a shortcut to this file in your start menu (i.e. just click on : Start -> Programs -> DOSBox-0.70 -> DOSBox.conf).

Editing dosbox.conf is fairly straightforward. Just make sure you don't use incorrect values (read the lines that begins with #, these are comments that aren't interpreted as settings by the program at run-time).

Since you're probably eager to start playing, here's a list of things you need to edit (if a parameter isn't listed here, just leave it as it is):

SDL

dosbox

- memsize=64 (kinda self-explanatory)

render

- scaler=advinterp2x (this applies a nice scaler that'll make edges look a bit better - omgzor teh graphix lol!!!1!z -, leave this to none if your machine is a bit slow/old)

cpu

autoexec (that one is at the end of the file)

Add the following lines and replace C:\DDRIVE by the path leading to your own folder (see 2 - Create a folder to use as DOSBox's virtual hard drive) :

Code:

MOUNT C C:\DDRIVE -freesize 500
C:

So your autoxec section should look like this :

Code:

[autoexec]
# Lines in this section will be run at startup.
MOUNT C PATH_TO_YOUR_FOLDER -freesize 500
C:

4 - Accessing the CD drive

I'll cover 2 scenarios here : installing the game from the actual CD and installing it from an image (a .iso file).

If you've got the tools to create a .iso from your CD, you should do so as using an image results in better performances (your hard drive is faster than your CD drive). If you'd like to do this, you're own your own, I'm not going to cover this topic here.

Using the CD

Fire up DOSBox (i.e. just click on : Start -> Programs -> DOSBox-0.70 -> DOSBox). At the prompt, type (and then press ENTER) :

Code:

mount d PATH_TO_YOUR_DRIVE -t cdrom -usecd 0 -ioctl

Where, supposing you're running Windows, PATH_TO_YOUR_DRIVE is your CD Drive's letter followed by :\ .

If you only have one hard drive and one CD drive, that path would be D:\ :

Code:

mount d D:\ -t cdrom -usecd 0 -ioctl

Just put the CD in the drive and start reading step 5.

Using an image

Fire up DOSBox (i.e. just click on : Start -> Programs -> DOSBox-0.70 -> DOSBox). At the prompt, type (and then press ENTER) :

Code:

imgmount d PATH_TO_YOUR_ISO -t iso

Assuming your image file is in C:\Images\Daggerfall.iso, the command would become :

Code:

imgmount d C:\Images\Daggerfall.iso -t iso

5 - Installing the game

As of now, you've got DOSBox running at pretty much top speed with a virtual hard drive and an access to Daggerfall's CD.

If you're not familiar with DOS, you might want to get acquainted with some of its commands : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_DOS_commands .

Basically, there are 2 essentials here : CD and DIR .

CD means change directory and is used to enter a folder.

DIR lists the content of the current directory (that's right, you can only open one folder at any given time).

You can see the current directory by looking at the prompt.

You might want to read the wiki and mess around with DOSBox for a bit. If you don't feel like it, just do what I tell you to do.

Type (always press ENTER after typing a command) :

Code:

This I'll change the current drive to the CD.

Then type :

Code:

install

This isn't one of DOS' internal commands. If you type something that isn't a command, the OS searches the current directory and tries to find a program named (minus the extension, which is the text after the dot - e.g. .exe -) after what you've entered.

Luckily, the CD contains a program named install.exe which means DOSBox can run this.

The installation should begin. When the License Agreement comes up, "lock" the mouse within DOSBox by clicking on the window (you can use CTRL+F10 to "unlock" the mouse). Agree with the terms.

You should be able to install the program on your own, just pick "Install the game on your hard drive", "Change the install size", select the biggest size, accept, accept the default folder and let the program do its job.

6 - Configuring the sound card

DOSBox emulates a bunch of common sound cards.

Select Digital
Using the arrow keys on your keyboard, enter this section.

Pick Sound Blaster 16/AWE 32, and set the port to 220, the DMA to 1 and the IRQ to 7.

Then select OK

Select MIDI
Using the arrow keys on your keyboard, enter this section.

Pick Sound Blaster 16, MIDI Port 388.

Then select OK.

Leave the HMI Sound Operating System Setup Utility by selecting OK from the main menu. You may try Test Digital and Test MIDI if you feel like it.

Leave the installation, you're done.

7 - Preparing the game

Close DOSBox. You can to this by using the [x] button on the top-right corner or by pressing CTRL+F9.

Open up Notepad (or any other ASCII editor) and type the following (make sure you do the replacing with your own paths) :

If you're running the game from a CD Drive...

Code:

mount d PATH_TO_YOUR_DRIVE -t cdrom -usecd 0 -ioctl
c:
cd dagger
fall z.cfg

If you're running the game from an image...
Running from a CD Drive...

Code:

imgmount d PATH_TO_YOUR_ISO -t iso
c:
cd dagger
fall z.cfg

Save this file directly inside DOSBox's virtual hard drive folder (don't put it in a subdirectory).

Name it go.bat (make sure it's a .bat, not a .txt).

8 - Patching the game

Yea, Daggerfall is buggy...

Get the patch : http://rapidshare.com/files/32589539/dag213.zip.html (yeah, yea, I know, rapidshare sucks).

Unzip this in daggerfall's directory (i.e. PATH_TO_DOSBOX_VIRTUAL_HARD_DRIVE\dagger)

As an example, if I had to install, I'd unzip the file to C:\DDRIVE\dagger.

Open up DOSBox. Enter the following commands :

Code:

cd dagger
dag213

Answer the patch's questions (just type y and press enter) and let the program do its job.

9 - Running the game

Now that the game has been patched, all that is left to do is run it.

Within DOSBox, type :

Code:

cd \
go

This'll bring the current directory back to the virtual drive's root and run the batch file we've created earlier. The game should now be running.

10 - Enjoy !

You might want to press ALT+ENTER to have DOSBox go into fullscreen mode.

You're on your own now...

10b - Running the game from now on...

Next time you want to run the game, start DOSBox, type "go" and press ENTER.
_________________
"A pessimist is one who, when he has a choice of two evils, chooses both." - Oscar Wilde

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