First, try a modern frontend. D-fend is not fully compatible with newer releases of DOSBox. It doesn't support any of the newer features. Take a look at DOSBox Game Launcher or D.O.G..

Archon Ultra always was problematic with old DOSBox versions. Versions 0.70 and 0.71 can run the game without any troubles. I think the problems when launching AU were connected to it's Soundcard Auto-Detection routine. You don't have to fiddle with DOSBox settings, just use a recent version.

Alrighty, I've gone and updated Dosbox... Lo and behold, everything works, even Archon Ultra...

*scratches head*...

...but yet, not quite right. Everything is being shown in a 640x480 rectangle in the middle of the screen again.

Every game has "Start fullscreen" enabled (and if it's disabled, it pops up in a 640x480 window- if I attempt to scale the window, a black background emerges, as opposed to the game screen itself scaling), and I have fiddled with various on/off combinations of Use Doublebuffering/Fullfixed/Aspect Correction (but couldn't tell you specifically what I did, as it was mere fiddling), as well as having the resolution set to 1024x768... but none of that seems to work. At least it's not offcentered to the left anymore. 😄

I mean, it's alright as is, but if it could be set to fullscreen, that'd be great. Anyway, thanks for the help so far, and thanks in advance for any further advice.

you did stop using dfend right ?
as the options for the screen were renamed at one point in time

Maybe we need stickied thread that states to try a newer frontend and or newer version of DOSBox before asking for help.

I've now got DOG installed as well... and it too is displaying it in a 640x480 rectangle in the middle of the screen, even despite the "fullscreen" checkbox being ticked.

I've also updated my graphics driver, and that didn't help either.

You need to change output - try openglnb for example.

For the record- Direct Draw and Standard did the 640x480 rectangle equally well, Overlay made it full-screen (but with horribly broken graphics with repeated columns), and OpenGL and OpenGL NB turned my monitor completely off.

Edit: I've got it fixed. I set the Scaler from x2 to x3 (which makes me wonder why I've never bothered with that before... 😒 ). Thanks to everyone for all your help, and keep up the great work!

What you just said should not happen at all so it's obvious something is going on. You didn't use any of your old settings I hope?

I would recommend to posting the config files for the broken settings and the conf file with the working settings, so that we can compare both. Also post the screenshots using the CTRL+F5.

You can easily view the created conf files with D.O.G. Do rightclick on the profile and select View Conf file, Notepad opens the generated conf file, then save the file to your desktop.

Also try fiddeling with the Window resolutions. Set it to 640:480, this is the most compatible with all screens.

Erik.

-_-; Hmmm... Welp, I *would* go and post the config, but I have since moved that computer upstairs (two flights of stairs), and can't find our spare wireless network card or our insanely long phone cord (and I have no floppies to copy it to). Hmmm... I'll go and post it later tonight after my sons stop using it. (as a note, be forewarned for typos, missed lines, and other things that fall out of my head in transit).

Any particular parts I should look for specifically, or post the whole thing? (lol, I'm going to be doing a lot of running tonight 😄)

One further note... now that I've got the speakers working again, I've discovered that the sound is really choppy on every game. (The sound is default in DOG/Dosbox, and I use either Adlib or Soundblaster within the various games). As an aside, it is equally choppy on my computer, so I know that, if nothing else, their sound card isn't broken. I'll post details on their sound card along with the config files tonight. Is there any way to make the sound play properly? I mean, it's not that big of a deal, but if it could be fixed, that'd be great.

Again, thanks for everything. 😄

When using DOSBox 0.71 then try out the auto or max cycles, together with the dynamic core.

Also use OpenGL if you have an NVidea graphicscard or Direct Draw if not.

Also don't use scalers, set it to none.

There is also an extensive Q&A in the FAQ (in this general forum) on this problem.

The reason for the choppy sound is because the CPU of your PC is running at its maximum load and can't keep up.

Erik.