VOGONS

Have no knowledge of coding, need help

Topic actions

First post, by qrtxian

Posted on 
User metadata
Rank Newbie
Rank
Newbie

As the title suggests, I don't understand coding (or programming, if that's what DOS Box is - I don't even know the difference) and cannot figure out what I am doing. I have read the readme, which seems to assume possession of basic computer skills that I lack, and I've also read the "60-second guide to getting your game to run" on these forums, which I understand up to a point.
Specifically, I am attempting to play Master of Orion 2 on Windows Vista. I can follow what the guide is saying until it discusses installing the game

5.Switch to the D: drive and install the game (to C:) […]
Show full quote

5.Switch to the D: drive and install the game (to C:)

C:\>D:

Have a look at the files with the dir command, and see if you can spot an install or and a setup program or whatever the command to start the installation is called. Check your Manual/Installation Guide for MyGame for the exact command to use.

D:\>dir /w

D:\>install

I don’t understand at what point I’m supposed to install the game. I have no idea what the “files with the dir command” are, and I can’t find them let alone an “install or setup program”. The manual is online and the installation guide is a single sheet of paper that is not at all clear. I also don’t understand the meaning or purpose of the two D\:> commands listed.
Although I know that MoO2 has options (if that’s the right word) for both DOS and Windows, attempts to start with the Windows “Orion95.exe” result in a failure to start with the message “This application has failed to start because DPLAY.dll was not found. Re-installing the application may fix this problem.” Reinstalling did not fix the problem.
Please help, I would really like to be able to play this classic game, but have no idea how to do so.

Also, I am unclear as to where on the C drive I am supposed to install the game.

Reply 2 of 7, by qrtxian

Posted on 
User metadata
Rank Newbie
Rank
Newbie

This doesn't really help. As I said getting up to the point where I install is easy - simple matter of following instructions. It's afterword, where the tutorial you linked to ends, that things get confusing.
Do I, perhaps, install the game to the folder I've just mounted?
I should repeat that I'm not certain where the DOS.exe for the game is. All I can find is the Windows version, orion95.exe, which does not work.

Reply 3 of 7, by IIGS_User

Posted on 
User metadata
Rank Oldbie
Rank
Oldbie
qrtxian wrote:

Do I, perhaps, install the game to the folder I've just mounted?

Yes.

(If it works with 'Disk Operating System', a.k.a DOS,
preferably the folder mounted as the C: drive within DOSBox.)

Klimawandel.

Reply 4 of 7, by robertmo

Posted on 
User metadata
Rank l33t++
Rank
l33t++

look for every .bat, .com .exe files in all folders on the cd too.

Reply 5 of 7, by qrtxian

Posted on 
User metadata
Rank Newbie
Rank
Newbie

Thanks for the advice, but unfortunately, it looks like the CD only came with the Windows 95 version, which categorically does not work. I've managed to install the game and attempt to run it, but it simply won't run in DOS and the Windows version doesn't work at all.
Looks like I'm out $5 or so. At least I can look for another copy online.

Reply 6 of 7, by Hater Depot

Posted on 
User metadata
Rank Member
Rank
Member

What was the game?

Korea Beat -- my cool translation blog.

Reply 7 of 7, by SKARDAVNELNATE

Posted on 
User metadata
Rank Oldbie
Rank
Oldbie
qrtxian wrote:

I don't understand coding (or programming, if that's what DOS Box is - I don't even know the difference)

DOSBox is neither. Computers used to work by typing into a command line. That is all you do to use DOSBox.

qrtxian wrote:

I have no idea what the “files with the dir command” are

Dir is a key word, short for directory. It will list all the files in a given location. A directory is what we would now call a folder.

qrtxian wrote:

I also don’t understand the meaning or purpose of the two D\:> commands listed.

D is the letter of a drive as denoted by the symbols following it. In DOSBox the D:\ drive is generally where you would assign a CD when mounting it.
D:\dir will list all the files in D:\ and the /w option will use wide list format when displaying the results.
D:\>install will attempt to run the file named install which is located in D:\.
The Dir command was to help you find the installation program though you should be able to just browse the CD in Windows.

Hater Depot wrote:

What was the game?

He stated in the first post that it was Master of Orion 2. It is apparently the windows version.

Go to top of page Go to top of page
Back to DOSBox General
Close window
Close window