config.sys parameters from dos to dosbox \ VOGONS

config.sys parameters from dos to dosbox

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First post, by pluc

Posted on 2009-09-11, 08:53

pluc Offline

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Joined: 2009-09-11, 08:15

Hi all, we have an old but important dos application (written in clipper) that currently we run on windows 2000/XP in a ntvdm box and eats so much system resources.
I tried it out on doxbox and the resources used are much lower, but the application is not fully functional:
the app loads correctly but after few operations hangs saying that config.sys is not correct.
The app, also in dos/windows, needs these lines in config.sys:
files=199
buffers=40
DOS=HIGH,UMB
device=C:\WINDOWS\COMMAND\display.sys con=(ega,,1)
Country=039,850,C:\WINDOWS\COMMAND\country.sys

and in autoexec:
mode con codepage prepare=((850) C:\WINDOWS\COMMAND\ega.cpi)
mode con codepage select=850
keyb it,,C:\WINDOWS\COMMAND\keyboard.sys
doskey

when I launch DosBox there are two errors:
Illegal command: DOSKEY
Illegal command: DOS

how can I corrrectly set those two instructions? is there an alternative syntax or command?
thanks,
Luca.

Reply 1 of 5, by Qbix

Posted on 2009-09-11, 09:07

Qbix Offline

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does it actually say that or does it simply hang ?

doskey is not needed in dosbox. does remembers the commandlines itself already.
the country and display commands in config.sys shouldn't matter.
You could try creating a fake (which is not used by dosbox) config.sys on the mounted c:\ drive. Maybe the application is happy then

Water flows down the stream
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Reply 2 of 5, by pluc

Posted on 2009-09-11, 09:24

pluc Offline

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Joined: 2009-09-11, 08:15

It says that the config.sys is not set up correctly.
I already created a fake autoexec & config.sys in the mounted C, but app was not happy, so I tried to insert files= & buffers= lines in dosbox configuration file, but those are not accepted by dosbox...

Reply 3 of 5, by Qbix

Posted on 2009-09-11, 09:40

Qbix Offline

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clipper programs tend to hang, but that is for a different cause.
however DOSBox has FILES=127 and BUFFERS=50 by default.
They can be changed by changing the dosbox sourcecode, however the hang is probably caused by other problems, (the FILES=199 might still be needed though for proper operation)

Water flows down the stream
How to ask questions the smart way!