This is not new, but even if would use it, I prefer the installer that makes no registry entries. Just offering a reg file should be enough for those that want it.

Can't offer reg file, won't work if different version of Dosbox.
Also, where's the heart in an installer? 😀

There are a number of ways that a registry entry or a reg file could be dynamically generated. Many prefer installers with a light touch that doesn't stomp all over the registry. Heavy handed installers are why many simply prefer a plain zip. As it is, the official installer makes no reg entries. The only thing that you will find in the registry from DOSBox is just what Windows itself adds from using it such as MRU entries.

collector wrote:

Heavy handed installers are why many simply prefer a plain zip.

Heck yes. dosbox installer is the perfect kind of an installer for me, only the necessary +a couple of icons to simplify things for those seeking one.

I searched these forums for dosbox installer, dosbox wiki, google.
Closest I found was the edit shortcut trick.
What dosbox installer do you refer to?

Um, http://sourceforge.net/projects/dosbox/files/ … er.exe/download ?

I have DOSBox in the Send to menu instead. Works well enough and I don't need to touch the registry or potentially risk the magical file association for exes/bats/coms

As for program shortcuts they usually point to dosbox.exe and then the exe afterward (with an appropiate -conf in certain cases). No need to right click to emulate when you can't run it natively anyway

I thought you meant there was and alternate program called "Dosbox Installer" to create shortcuts, or auto start Dosbox programs. I obviously have Dosbox installed with the install path above. (C:\\Program Files\\DOSBox-0.74\\DOSBox.exe).

Personally, I have no issues with editing my registry. I have had this same computer for about 8 years now, and have made quite a few modifications to registry. Never an issue with windows, or file association and have only formatted once, (to upgrade to Window 7).
It's funny how people automatically get scared at the mention of the word registry, it's really not that complicated.

MarkAss wrote:

It's funny how people automatically get scared at the mention of the word registry, it's really not that complicated.

"Ignorance is the mother of suffering."

Too true.

My old way of loading Dosbox games never used the registry.
I opened the Dosbox config file, and under the auto execute section I would add;

mount t c:\dosboxbats
t:\
cls
dir /w

Then in the folder C:\dosboxbats I made batch files with the games name to auto mount and run the games.

mount d d:\ -t cdrom
mount c C:\dosboxgames\game
game.exe

=========================================================

Thanks for the discussion guys, and thanks for Dosbox

You misunderstand. I doubt that anyone in this thread is afraid working with the registry, but of having installers making unwanted and unknown changes to the Registry. They simply want to have control over their systems. You don't even know what changes an installer makes unless you track it. Unneeded crap in the registry slows the system down and is part of the debris that eventually drags the whole system down to the point of needing have to do a clean reinstall of Windows. There is a reason that modern best practices is for programs to save their settings in an XML in the user space rather than the registry. This can be controlled by being careful with what and how things are installed on the system. It is why outside of entries required by the games themselves my installers only adds uninstall information that will be removed when uninstalled.

When your right, your right.
Thanks for all your work and good practices.

MarkAss wrote:

Too true. […]
Show full quote

Too true.

My old way of loading Dosbox games never used the registry.
I opened the Dosbox config file, and under the auto execute section I would add;

mount t c:\dosboxbats
t:\
cls
dir /w

Then in the folder C:\dosboxbats I made batch files with the games name to auto mount and run the games.

mount d d:\ -t cdrom
mount c C:\dosboxgames\game
game.exe

You're aware that commands in DOSBox can be entered on the command line using the "-c" switch, right? You can even use it in shortcuts, complete with custom icons.