I need to fix the autoexec.bat and config.sys files because whenever I add the CDrom , , the computer gives me out of memory errors when I try to run some games.

Those are some nice acquisitions. Congrats!

There is dedicated thread for posting these kinds of things though, rather than stating a new thread: Bought these (retro) hardware today

Give use a screen shot of the s autoexec.bat and config.sys files so we can se whats going on with it. What Dos versoin does it have on it?

Very nice score btw.

Caluser2000 wrote on 2020-06-10, 19:36:

Give use a screen shot of the s autoexec.bat and config.sys files so we can se whats going on with it. What Dos versoin does it have on it?

Very nice score btw.

Good Question, I will get the pictures and post them a bit later today. I think its DOS 7 through windows 98.

pan069 wrote on 2020-06-10, 19:34:

Those are some nice acquisitions. Congrats!

There is dedicated thread for posting these kinds of things though, rather than stating a new thread: Bought these (retro) hardware today

I wasnt sure if I should post it in there or not. Sorry. I didnt want to get it cluttered, as I knew I was going to ask about the autoexec and config files and didnt want to take up too much of that thread.

Here is the P200 as it is now. The 5.25 floppy drive and the zip disk drive dont work.

Here are the config and autoexec files

Law212 wrote on 2020-06-10, 19:52:

pan069 wrote on 2020-06-10, 19:34:

Those are some nice acquisitions. Congrats!

There is dedicated thread for posting these kinds of things though, rather than stating a new thread: Bought these (retro) hardware today

I wasnt sure if I should post it in there or not. Sorry. I didnt want to get it cluttered, as I knew I was going to ask about the autoexec and config files and didnt want to take up too much of that thread.

Sorry. Didn't see your question re. config.sys and autoexec.bat. 😀

So, the problem is on the P200 machine right, running Windows 98? Are you trying to run the games from Windows or directly from DOS? I assume these are older DOS games only using conventional memory (up to 640kb).

In the config.sys file, can you change the line:

1DEVICE=C:\WINDOWS\EMM386.EXE

To:

1DEVICE=C:\WINDOWS\EMM386.EXE /NOEMS

And at the end of config.sys add:

1DOS=HIGH,UMB

Also, with these changes you could also try to boot directly into DOS by pressing F8 while rebooting the machine. Do this a couple of times AFTER the initial boot screen (where it counts the memory). You should then get a menu where you can skip booting Windows and boot directly into DOS by choosing option 5.

pan069 wrote on 2020-06-10, 21:48:

Sorry. Didn't see your question re. config.sys and autoexec.bat. :) […]
Show full quote

Law212 wrote on 2020-06-10, 19:52:

pan069 wrote on 2020-06-10, 19:34:

Those are some nice acquisitions. Congrats!

There is dedicated thread for posting these kinds of things though, rather than stating a new thread: Bought these (retro) hardware today

I wasnt sure if I should post it in there or not. Sorry. I didnt want to get it cluttered, as I knew I was going to ask about the autoexec and config files and didnt want to take up too much of that thread.

Sorry. Didn't see your question re. config.sys and autoexec.bat. 😀

So, the problem is on the P200 machine right, running Windows 98? Are you trying to run the games from Windows or directly from DOS? I assume these are older DOS games only using conventional memory (up to 640kb).

In the config.sys file, can you change the line:

Copy code to clipboard

1DEVICE=C:\WINDOWS\EMM386.EXE

To:

Copy code to clipboard

1DEVICE=C:\WINDOWS\EMM386.EXE /NOEMS

And at the end of config.sys add:

Copy code to clipboard

1DOS=HIGH,UMB

Also, with these changes you could also try to boot directly into DOS by pressing F8 while rebooting the machine. Do this a couple of times AFTER the initial boot screen (where it counts the memory). You should then get a menu where you can skip booting Windows and boot directly into DOS by choosing option 5.

Thanks, Ill try out these suggestions right now.

as for the questions. I am trying to run most games under DOS. Some games, after adding the lines to have my cdrom work, dont run anymore because of memory errors. ALso, I tried running the Dark Forces launcher in windows and it wouldnt run because of memory issues as well....

So I just did as suggested. I booted straight into DOS, and ran alone in the dark. Getting some odd audio glitches at the moment. I need to test other games to see if they run

Law212 wrote on 2020-06-11, 01:26:

Thanks, Ill try out these suggestions right now. […]
Show full quote

pan069 wrote on 2020-06-10, 21:48:

Sorry. Didn't see your question re. config.sys and autoexec.bat. :) […]
Show full quote

Law212 wrote on 2020-06-10, 19:52:

I wasnt sure if I should post it in there or not. Sorry. I didnt want to get it cluttered, as I knew I was going to ask about the autoexec and config files and didnt want to take up too much of that thread.

Sorry. Didn't see your question re. config.sys and autoexec.bat. 😀

So, the problem is on the P200 machine right, running Windows 98? Are you trying to run the games from Windows or directly from DOS? I assume these are older DOS games only using conventional memory (up to 640kb).

In the config.sys file, can you change the line:

Copy code to clipboard

1DEVICE=C:\WINDOWS\EMM386.EXE

To:

Copy code to clipboard

1DEVICE=C:\WINDOWS\EMM386.EXE /NOEMS

And at the end of config.sys add:

Copy code to clipboard

1DOS=HIGH,UMB

Also, with these changes you could also try to boot directly into DOS by pressing F8 while rebooting the machine. Do this a couple of times AFTER the initial boot screen (where it counts the memory). You should then get a menu where you can skip booting Windows and boot directly into DOS by choosing option 5.

Thanks, Ill try out these suggestions right now.

as for the questions. I am trying to run most games under DOS. Some games, after adding the lines to have my cdrom work, dont run anymore because of memory errors. ALso, I tried running the Dark Forces launcher in windows and it wouldnt run because of memory issues as well....

So I just did as suggested. I booted straight into DOS, and ran alone in the dark. Getting some odd audio glitches at the moment. I need to test other games to see if they run

Sounds like progress? If you have errors, can you let us know what the exact error is? Taking a photo is probably easiest... 😀

Why do you have mouse drivers in both config.sys and autoexec.bat? You should be able to get rid of one of them (whatever uses the most memory) and load the other high.
Re: the LIVEDOS line - does that mean you're using a PCI sound card? You could be in for a world of pain and may want to see if you have ISA slots.
If you run mem /c /p does it show what is taking up conventional memory?

jakethompson1 wrote on 2020-06-12, 04:03:

Why do you have mouse drivers in both config.sys and autoexec.bat? You should be able to get rid of one of them (whatever uses the most memory) and load the other high.
Re: the LIVEDOS line - does that mean you're using a PCI sound card? You could be in for a world of pain and may want to see if you have ISA slots.
If you run mem /c /p does it show what is taking up conventional memory?

THanks for the replies. I will look into this. But yes im using a PCI sound card. a soundblaster live 5.1

I didnt realize I had the mouse driver twice.... oops

also I heard the oakcdrom driver takes up a lot of memory and using a different one would be better

Also, can I get dos to use my usb ports?

Law212 wrote on 2020-06-15, 21:14:

THanks for the replies. I will look into this. But yes im using a PCI sound card. a soundblaster live 5.1 […]
Show full quote

THanks for the replies. I will look into this. But yes im using a PCI sound card. a soundblaster live 5.1

I didnt realize I had the mouse driver twice.... oops

also I heard the oakcdrom driver takes up a lot of memory and using a different one would be better

Also, can I get dos to use my usb ports?

The FreeDOS project is a good resource for DOS drivers that use less memory. For example they package CuteMouse (CTMOUSE) and XCDROM instead of oakcdrom.
However, if you followed, hopefully you went back to your config.sys and autoexec.bat and changed all DEVICE= lines to DEVICEHIGH= (except for himem and emm386) and put LH in front of any TSRs you're loading in autoexec.bat
If that's the case, then unless you're out of upper memory, it isn't a factor that oakcdrom uses more memory than xcdrom.

Can you run mem /c /p and look at the "Conventional" column and list what's using conventional memory and the amount. That will help everyone answer any questions to free up enough conventional memory to get your games to run.

For USB you have to remember that DOS was long gone before USB caught on. You're going to have to ask that question specifically for what you want to attach by USB.

jakethompson1 wrote on 2020-06-15, 21:19:

The FreeDOS project is a good resource for DOS drivers that use less memory. For example they package CuteMouse (CTMOUSE) and XC […]
Show full quote

Law212 wrote on 2020-06-15, 21:14:

THanks for the replies. I will look into this. But yes im using a PCI sound card. a soundblaster live 5.1 […]
Show full quote

THanks for the replies. I will look into this. But yes im using a PCI sound card. a soundblaster live 5.1

I didnt realize I had the mouse driver twice.... oops

also I heard the oakcdrom driver takes up a lot of memory and using a different one would be better

Also, can I get dos to use my usb ports?

The FreeDOS project is a good resource for DOS drivers that use less memory. For example they package CuteMouse (CTMOUSE) and XCDROM instead of oakcdrom.
However, if you followed, hopefully you went back to your config.sys and autoexec.bat and changed all DEVICE= lines to DEVICEHIGH= (except for himem and emm386) and put LH in front of any TSRs you're loading in autoexec.bat
If that's the case, then unless you're out of upper memory, it isn't a factor that oakcdrom uses more memory than xcdrom.

Can you run mem /c /p and look at the "Conventional" column and list what's using conventional memory and the amount. That will help everyone answer any questions to free up enough conventional memory to get your games to run.

For USB you have to remember that DOS was long gone before USB caught on. You're going to have to ask that question specifically for what you want to attach by USB.

This is good info. I will run that command soon. I am currently installing some new retro games I picked up today.
this computer had windows 95 when I got it, and it seems that the usb gamepad I had worked in dos but not anymore. THough I did take pictures of the autoexec and config sys so I can look back and see what the commands were.

I havent changed my sys files yet , ill do that tonight

pan069 wrote on 2020-06-11, 04:39:

Law212 wrote on 2020-06-11, 01:26:

Thanks, Ill try out these suggestions right now. […]
Show full quote

pan069 wrote on 2020-06-10, 21:48:

Sorry. Didn't see your question re. config.sys and autoexec.bat. :) […]
Show full quote

Sorry. Didn't see your question re. config.sys and autoexec.bat. 😀

So, the problem is on the P200 machine right, running Windows 98? Are you trying to run the games from Windows or directly from DOS? I assume these are older DOS games only using conventional memory (up to 640kb).

In the config.sys file, can you change the line:

Copy code to clipboard

1DEVICE=C:\WINDOWS\EMM386.EXE

To:

Copy code to clipboard

1DEVICE=C:\WINDOWS\EMM386.EXE /NOEMS

And at the end of config.sys add:

Copy code to clipboard

1DOS=HIGH,UMB

Also, with these changes you could also try to boot directly into DOS by pressing F8 while rebooting the machine. Do this a couple of times AFTER the initial boot screen (where it counts the memory). You should then get a menu where you can skip booting Windows and boot directly into DOS by choosing option 5.

Thanks, Ill try out these suggestions right now.

as for the questions. I am trying to run most games under DOS. Some games, after adding the lines to have my cdrom work, dont run anymore because of memory errors. ALso, I tried running the Dark Forces launcher in windows and it wouldnt run because of memory issues as well....

So I just did as suggested. I booted straight into DOS, and ran alone in the dark. Getting some odd audio glitches at the moment. I need to test other games to see if they run

Sounds like progress? If you have errors, can you let us know what the exact error is? Taking a photo is probably easiest... 😀

As for the sound errors, it just sounded like random FX would play randomly. I wasnt having this issue when I would exit to dos and run the game. I will let you know what else I find as im on the computer now messing around with it

Here are the pics of running the mem command

v

Looks like more than enough memory... I had a couple games tell me that I needed at least 575,000 or something like that and wouldnt run. Ill need to check my sys files again to see if I changed them and dont remember

Looks like you just need to get the mouse driver loaded high and then you'll have plenty of conv. memory

jakethompson1 wrote on 2020-06-16, 04:17:

Looks like you just need to get the mouse driver loaded high and then you'll have plenty of conv. memory

So, I removed the mouse driver from the wrong spot, but I just initialized it in DOS. THings are working very well. I have been playing Space quest 4 and 5, and now playing some Waynes World. Never knew this game existed. Seems though I need to set Music to Roland , and Sounds to soundblaster. Working super nice right now though. Im having a blast. Thanks for all the help from all of you. Im sure ill need more help when I get around to messing with the 486 ...

That tower case must be one of the most common generic AT cases making it all the way around the world.
For me it was an Australian High School's 486/33's with "Beam" branding.
Who could of guessed that back then that these unloved cases would have the "magical 3" retro items Mhz Display, Turbo, Keyboard lock