VOGONS


First post, by dideas

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I have a real nasty DOS application that seems to use the Ergo OS386 DOS extender. When I run it under DOSBOX - DOSBOX exits with no information. Any ideas how I could configure DOSBOX to run this?

I haveDOSVOX 0.63 under Win2K with a Celeron 2000 and 1GB of RAM and the default DOSBOX conf file. The DOS application runs fine on pentiums in DOS mode

Somewhat relevant is the error that Win2K DOS shows:

Copyright (c) 1990 Ergo Computing, Inc.
os386: OS386 requires 80386 processor
os386: Kernel cannot continue

Thanks in advance,
Chris

PS - I've attached the a memory test utility that comes with the problem application that seem reproduces the problem.

Attachments

  • Filename
    RPROMEM.EXE
    File size
    176.57 KiB
    Downloads
    341 downloads
    File comment
    DOS utility to test system memory - that generates OS386 error under DOSBOX
    File license
    Fair use/fair dealing exception

Reply 3 of 18, by OptimalDesigns

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kekko wrote:

try this newer build of dosbox: http://cvscompile.aep-emu.de/dosbox.htm

Your link is no longer valid! I have the same problem using OS386.exe today ... DOSbox just sits their, what to do?
The code I'm trying to execute is "OS386 HIGHKERNEL YES LOWRESERVE 1000" from the old DOS days. 😀
I'm using DOSbox v. 0.74 ... need some help/ideas!!!

Thanks, Phil

Reply 6 of 18, by Jorpho

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There's nothing necessarily wrong with it; it's just pretty remarkable.

OptimalDesigns wrote:

Your link is no longer valid! I have the same problem using OS386.exe today ... DOSbox just sits their, what to do?
The code I'm trying to execute is "OS386 HIGHKERNEL YES LOWRESERVE 1000" from the old DOS days. 😀
I'm using DOSbox v. 0.74 ... need some help/ideas!!!

It occurs to me you should also try changing the CPU type in dosbox.conf.

Reply 9 of 18, by OptimalDesigns

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Jorpho wrote:

But try changing your CPU type first.

Should the cpu type be of the PC that created my App that I'm trying to run -or- my present PC?

I have tried both ... I'm back to a setting of 'auto'.

Phil

Reply 10 of 18, by Jorpho

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The CPU type should be set to what is expected by the program you're trying to run. The first post in the thread suggests 386, 386_slow, or 386_prefetch might work, but you might as well try 486_slow and pentium_slow, too.

Reply 11 of 18, by OptimalDesigns

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Jorpho wrote:

The CPU type should be set to what is expected by the program you're trying to run. The first post in the thread suggests 386, 386_slow, or 386_prefetch might work, but you might as well try 486_slow and pentium_slow, too.

I'm working with a DOS compiler that was created in or before 1991. So I thought '386_slow' mite do it for my Apps but the Apps are up and running fine ... lots of timing problems that required 'pause' stmts to get around them. 🙁

Downloaded the VCN DOSbox program you recommended. Just getting started on it.

Thanks, Phil

Reply 12 of 18, by OptimalDesigns

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OptimalDesigns wrote:

Downloaded the VCN DOSbox program you recommended. Just getting started on it.

Nogo ... it seems that once OS386.exe starts or tries to start, DOSbox freezes. This happened to me when first working with OS386 on my 1991 PC. Once I got my Config.sys and AutoExec.bat files set right OS386 ran fine.

OS386.exe (from what little I know) converts 16 bit words to 32 bit words so EMM386 memory only. So XMS memory or any other may cause OS386 trouble. Any ideas on CONFig settings for DOSbox?

Thanks, Phil

Reply 14 of 18, by OptimalDesigns

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ripsaw8080 wrote:

Try running it without the HIGHKERNEL parameter.

That seems to have at least gotten me past starting OS386.exe up. Need lots of testing to be sure.

Thanks for the idea.
Phil

Reply 15 of 18, by OptimalDesigns

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ripsaw8080 wrote:

Try running it without the HIGHKERNEL parameter.

Not finished testing yet, but It worked so far with "\os386\OS386 HIGHKERNEL NO LOWRESERVE 1000". This is the 1st step and won't know if it worked right until step 4 or 5. But sure is lookin' good!

Thanks, Phil
PS: problem now is a missing library, glide2x.???. as shown by DOSbox status window. Here is message:

Press any key to continue . . .
DOSBox version SVN-Daum
Copyright 2002-2013 DOSBox Team, published under GNU GPL.
---
GUI: Press Ctrl-F10 to capture/release mouse.
Save your configuration and restart DOSBox if your settings do not take eff
ect.
CONFIG:Loading primary settings from config file C:\Users\Phil\AppData\Local\DOS
Box\dosbox-SVN-Daum.conf
D3D:Error when initializing pixel shader support. Disabling shaders.
PIT: Hacks disabled
forcerate I got ''

D3D:Error when initializing pixel shader support. Disabling shaders.
MIDI:Opened device:win32
ISA Plug & Play BIOS enabled
VGA BIOS occupies segment 0xc000-0xc7ff
Glide:LFB access: read-write
Glide:Unable to load glide2x library, glide emulation disabled
WinPcap has to be installed for the NE2000 to work.
D3D:Device is lost, locktexture() failed...
D3D:Device is lost, locktexture() failed...
D3D:No texture to draw to!?

Is OS386.exe causing this error by any chance?

Reply 17 of 18, by OptimalDesigns

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OptimalDesigns wrote:
ripsaw8080 wrote:

Try running it without the HIGHKERNEL parameter.

That seems to have at least gotten me past starting OS386.exe up. Need lots of testing to be sure.

Well I'm now on 2nd step, Compiling, and it seems to freeze again with "HIGHKERNEL NO LOWRESERVE 1000". Hmmm, wonder if upping lowreserve to 10,000 mite solve my present problem. Here is what os386's DESTATUS.exe program says about the kernel with "LOWRESERVE 1000".

Protected Mode Kernel Status,
Copyright(c) 1990, Ergo Computing, Inc.

Kernel status:
--------------

OS version 2.1.06

Total protected mode memory 15532032 ( ed0000 hex)
starting at 1245184 ( 130000 hex)
Low memory allocation 0 ( 0 hex)
Low reserve 1024000 ( fa000 hex)
Protected-mode portion of kernel is loaded in low memory

Made another run with " LOWRESERVE 10000" and rec'd the following status report:

  Total protected mode memory     15532032 (  ed0000 hex)
starting at 1245184 ( 130000 hex)
Low memory allocation 0 ( 0 hex)
Low reserve 10240000 ( 9c4000 hex)

No change in compiling run ... ideas how to get this thing running?

Thanks, Phil

Reply 18 of 18, by OptimalDesigns

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Jorpho wrote:

It worked!!!

My last problem was with the compiler eating up time and building a huge OBJ file ... 30 sec. got a 2+ mb file! That was with the original DOSbox. But with 'svn' version it ran as it should on the first try! Nice.

Thanks for your help.
Phil