After copying the entire CD to your computer you need to set the cd path in the Z.CFG file. Where it says "pathcd". Set that to the arena2 directory.

for example my config is:

pathcd d:\bethesda\dagger\arena2\

or alternately point that path to your actual CDROM.

I reinstalled. I set the size to "huge" and when it was done I copies the entire cd to a folder in the installed Daggerfall directory. I then changed the pathcd in the z.cfg file to point to the folder. The problem still occurred. I like the idea though and I think I can work with it. If it helps the drive I'm installing the game to is d. My cd drive is e.

This is my z.cfg file after editing and the folder that I copied the cd to.

That doesn't look right. Did you copy the Arena2 folder on the CDrom to D:\dagger\DFCD\? If you did that is the only way that would work. You need to point to the arena2 directory, or its contents directly.

Looking at your screenshot it looks like the correct pathcd might be "D:\DAGGER\DFCD\DAGGER\ARENA2\"

or if you want to point it to your CDrom:

"X:\DAGGER\ARENA2\" where X is the letter of your CDROM drive.

If he is trying to play it on bare metal, he needs to make sure that the burned CD has the correct volume label as well.

What would the correct label be?

Give me a bit-- I am pulling from steam again. 😀

the dosbox script that launches it, contains a directive that creates a fake cdrom out of the folder, with the volume label specified. As soon as I get it pulled again, I will tell you.

Thank ye!

One other thing I forgot you have to launch it specifying the Z.CFG.

Make a .BAT file that specifies:

FALL.EXE Z.CFG

and then launch the game using the BAT file you made.

THANK YE SO MUCH!!! THE BATCH FILE WORKED PERFECTLY! THANK ALL OF YE FOR YOUR HELP AND EFFORT!

the dosbox version contains this directive:

mount D: ..\DF\DFCD -t cdrom -label Daggerfall

The volume label for the burned media needs to be "Daggerfall"

I experienced this issue when setting up UnityDF some time back, which is why I remembered. I just did not remember what the proper volume label needs to be.

Thanks, I might make a proper Daggerfall cd with this label in the future.

I have a bit of a minor problem. The intro cutscene won't play. Is there a way to make the cutscenes work? Even the death cutscene won't play.

Sounds like its not finding the files it needs in either the path or pathcd directory.

You can try to copy the files from the cd and make sure that path commands are pointed in the right place.

OR

Because I'm using the free version from Bethesda and you are using the gog version there might be differences. If you download the bethesda version from here: https://elderscrolls.bethesda.net/en/daggerfall

then the way I have told you and the way you have it set up will play all the videos, this is how it works on my machine.

EDIT: Just realized Bethesda now links to the STEAM install. They use to have a standalone package you could use. I still bet they work the same and you just need to make sure the right files are in the directories you are pointing to. Mine runs entirely off the HDD with no need for a CD.

EDIT2: Make sure any sub-directories that exist on the CD were copied over as well.

I'm using the Steam version. Where are the cutscene files?

Everything in mine is in the arena2 directory.

Here is my directory listing, it has 2 sub dirs that I have not listed:

I imagine all the .VID files might be what you are looking for.

It is interesting to note that the old free standalone version mentioned by Shagittarius can still be downloaded from the Bethesda server using the direct link provided by squareguy in this thread:
The Elder Scrolls II: Daggerfall

Thank you! The cutscenes work now. All I had to do was copy the contents of the arena2 folder from the cd and put them in the arena2 folder in the game's install folder. I had to hold the n key so that nothing overwrite the installed stuff.

Cool! Enjoy the game after all that work!