Your desktop screen resolution is set to 24bpp model (true colour without alpha channel). I would recommend setting your desktop resolution to either 16bpp or 32bpp.

What are your system specs?

I wonder if the message should be removed....

Is DOSBox working slow for you?

> Is DOSBox working slow for you?

I won't know until I change the SDL (whatever that is) and see.

Dave

Thanks for the constructive advice, I will search around and find out how to adjust the check bpp.

Dave

That should be in your OSs display configuration dialog.

SDL is a library to access the graphics device, input handling etc. and
you are not supposed to "change" that.

DaveDoesIT wrote:

Thanks for the constructive advice, I will search around and find out how to adjust the check bpp. Dave

DOSBox opening message - " SDL:You are running in 24 bpp mode, this will slow down things! "

Hi,

Sorry to open up a thread that is a little old, but ...

I get the same message as Dave when I run Portable DOSBox 0.72 on both my Win98SE Toshiba Laptop and a WinXP Compaq Desktop.
I cannot find any reference to SDL or 24 bpp in any official DOSBox webpages or documentation. Nor is it mentioned in the dosbox.conf file.

DosFreak wrote:

Is DOSBox working slow for you?

Yes, DOSBox works very slowly for me.

I know 24 bpp refers to 24 bits per pixel (or something similar).
None of the answers in this thread offer full advice on how to modify this setting in DOSBox. eL_PuSHeR gives some help, but instructions are not complete ...

eL_PuSHeR wrote:

Your desktop screen resolution is set to 24bpp model (true colour without alpha channel). I would recommend setting your desktop resolution to either 16bpp or 32bpp.

My only desktop screen resolution settings choices are 256 colours and 24 bit (I don't have 16bpp or 32 bpp), but I don't want to make any permanent chnages to my desktop settings (or someone elses desktop - I run Portable DOSBox on friends computers that I don't own).

Ok, Windows Help and Support Centre offers this advice -

To switch your display to 256 colors Some games and other software programs require that your monitor be set to 256 colors, or t […]
Show full quote

To switch your display to 256 colors
Some games and other software programs require that your monitor be set to 256 colors, or they run better in 256 colors. Many of those programs will switch your monitor to 256 colors automatically when you start the program. For those that don't, follow the steps below if you want to switch the display temporarily while the game or program is running.

• On your desktop or on the Start menu, right-click the game or other program that you want to run in 256 colors, and then click Properties.
  Click the Compatibility tab.
  Select the Run in 256 colors check box.

Notes

• The screen will revert to your default color quality when you close the program.
  Try switching to 256 colors if your software program shows the wrong color or the graphics redraw slowly.
  If your software program appears in a small window in the center of your screen, you can increase its size by changing your screen resolution temporarily. Follow the procedure above, but in step 3 select the Run in 640x480 screen resolution check box. Your screen resolution will revert to its previous resolution when you close the program.
  The Compatibility tab is available only for programs or games located on your computer's hard disk. It is not available if the program is stored on a floppy disk, compact disk, or a network.

Changing DOSBoxPortable .exe file Properties, Compatibility, Display Settings to select Run in 256 colours flashes the entire screen to 256 colours whilst DOSBox is starting up. Entire screen restores to 24 bit colours after DOSBox finishes booting, but some icons do not refresh.

Changing the Properties, Compatibility, Display Settings to select Run in 640 x 480 screen resolution causes the entire screen to go to 640 x 480 res and DOSBox crashes. Entire screen finally restores to 1024 x 768 after DOSBox fails to start, but some icons do not refresh.

So, I have somewhat answered my own question, but I am not very satisfied with the result of the settings for the entire screen being changed, even if it is only while DOSBox loads itself.

Does anyone have any further suggestions or advice, please???

You are doing it wrong. For starters, drop that "portable" version and use a real official DOSBox 0.72 with a clean installation.

Then it's time for upgrading your video card drivers. What operating system are you using?.

and if your card truly only supports 256 colors and 24bit color then it's time to get a new card.

On a laptop? 😉

I get the same message as Dave when I run Portable DOSBox 0.72 on both my Win98SE Toshiba Laptop and a WinXP Compaq Desktop.

Try to get some newer drivers for both the laptop and the Desktop. Though I really can't see how you can not have all the settings on the desktop machine...

eL_PuSHeR wrote:

You are doing it wrong. For starters, drop that "portable" version and use a real official DOSBox 0.72 with a clean installation.

Then it's time for upgrading your video card drivers. What operating system are you using?.

Hello,

And thank you for your quick replies.

I do like eL_PuSHeR's suggestion of using a "real" version of DOSBox. I will try that shortly. In answer to your question on my operating system - I am using both Win98SE and WinXP on various machines.

All the other replies, as appreciated as they are, are splitting hairs about video settings on the windows desktop.

I really don't want to change the windows desktop video settings. Is it really nescessary?
If DOSBox gives a message about it then -
1. Should not there be some reference to
a) its meaning, and
b) its solution
in the DOSBox help files, other documentation, and/or website?
2. Should not there be a solution to the problem in the DOSBox settings
(ie. the dosbox.conf file settings), or somewhere within DOSbox
itself?

I mention these points here because I am assuming that some experienced members of this forum are also part of the team that codes new versions of DOSBox and/or the DOSBox website. Am I right?

Best regards, GlenF

2. Should not there be a solution to the problem in the DOSBox settings

No as this is not a dosbox problem.
The message is issued if somebody was as crazy as selecting a 24bit
video mode instead of a 32bit one, and judging that your report is the
sole one in YEARS may suggest that graphics card driver developers
now force the users to use fast colour resolutions.

DOSFreak's second reply fully covers the problem.

Could probably make a bigger message that explains the problem more. People just see a message and don't understand what it says.

wd wrote:

No as this is not a dosbox problem.

The message "SDL:You are running in 24 bpp mode, this will slow down things!" is a DOSBox message, so DOSBox should have some documentation about the message - IMHO.

wd wrote:

... judging that your report is the sole one in YEARS ...

I may be the only one observant enough to notice the message, but I can't believe I am the only computer user out there who uses machines dating around the 2000 annum. In that era 24 bit colour was standard, and 8-9 years is really not that long ago!

a DOSBox message

Uhm yeah so much for this, and as already explained this is very rare that
somebody is as stupid to set an ugly 24bpp mode rather than the 32bpp
equivalent so indeed you may be the only one to ever see this message.

In that era 24 bit colour was standard

No it wasn't because the gfx guys pretty soon noticed that *4 is easier done
than *3 so switched to 32bpp.

Thanks, Harekiet, that would be tremendous.
Some mention/explanation in the documentation would be useful too IMHO.

Harekiet will remove the message for sure.

Problem solved it seems.