DOS versions of DOOM \ VOGONS

DOS versions of DOOM

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First post, by FFXIhealer

Posted on 2021-11-21, 15:54

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Ok, so I'm on the hunt for the original DOS program files (NOT the WAD files, I have those already from a LONG time ago and from the Win9x versions of the game) to run on my retro systems. Specifically because the Win9x versions don't really run all that well on a 200MHz Pentium system, but will run fantastic in the original DOS. I've bought the games in the past back in those days (~1997-ish), but have lost the actual files to time. I'm only recently getting back into all of this.

If this counts to the mods as "software piracy", then I apologize and I will drop my questions/request and I will fully understand if the thread is locked and/or deleted. I'm not trying to pirate software. I'm just trying to find the Doom and Doom2 software files WITHOUT DOSBox and WITHOUT the Windows9x components, etc. I'm talking the old old old original DOS stuff, because I want it to run natively on the systems. All the stuff I've been able to find on-line have been the Win9x files/packages.

Reply 1 of 17, by BitWrangler

Posted on 2021-11-21, 16:43

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I believe for Doom it is the original levels WAD file that is not distributable, but the executable is the same as the DOS shareware version. So if you've got the official wad, just install shareware, copy the full version wad over it and you should be good to go. Not sure what to do about Doom2 though.

Unicorn herding operations are proceeding, but all the totes of hens teeth and barrels of rocking horse poop give them plenty of hiding spots.

Reply 2 of 17, by dr.zeissler

Posted on 2021-11-21, 16:47

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They changed the soundengine from the early Doom1 to the later Doom1 (1.66..) and used it in Doom2 too.
The early soundengine had no problem with ESS-Solo1 in plain Dos on intel-Chipset, the later one never worked on that soundcard in such a setup.

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Reply 3 of 17, by Joseph_Joestar

Posted on 2021-11-21, 16:54

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FFXIhealer wrote on 2021-11-21, 15:54:

All the stuff I've been able to find on-line have been the Win9x files/packages.

GOG has the DOS version of Ultimate Doom: https://www.gog.com/game/the_ultimate_doom

It's packaged with DOSBox, but getting it to your retro PC is pretty easy. Simply install the game on your modern system, then copy the installation folder over to your retro rig. Remember to use 8 characters or less for the folder name. Before that, you may want to delete any files longer than the standard 8+3 character limit. These are not needed for running the game under actual DOS.

I've been playing this version of the game on my Pentium MMX system without any issues.

PC#1: Pentium MMX 166 / Soyo SY-5BT / S3 Trio64V+ / Voodoo1 / YMF719 / AWE64 Gold / SC-155
PC#2: AthlonXP 2100+ / ECS K7VTA3 / Voodoo3 / Audigy2 / Vortex2
PC#3: Athlon64 3400+ / Asus K8V-MX / 5900XT / Audigy2
PC#4: i5-3570K / MSI Z77A-G43 / GTX 970 / X-Fi

Reply 4 of 17, by flynnsbit

Posted on 2021-11-21, 18:50

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FastDoom might be a better option especially if you already have your retail WAD files for Doom/Doom2. The compiled exe's are on github... https://github.com/viti95/FastDoom/releases

1 Supported WADS
2 --------------
3
4 The supported wads are the following:
5    * DOOM.WAD -> DOOM Registered (3 episodes)
6    * DOOM1.WAD -> DOOM Shareware (1 episode)
7    * DOOMU.WAD -> Ultimate DOOM (4 episodes)
8    * DOOM2.WAD -> DOOM II
9    * PLUTONIA.WAD -> Final DOOM The Plutonia Experiment
10    * TNT.WAD -> Final DOOM TNT Evilution

Reply 5 of 17, by The Serpent Rider

Posted on 2021-11-21, 22:01

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but the executable is the same as the DOS shareware version

Doom Shareware which commonly can be found today is using Doom II updated engine v1.9.

I must be some kind of standard: the anonymous gangbanger of the 21st century.

Reply 6 of 17, by chinny22

Posted on 2021-11-23, 10:35

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dr.zeissler wrote on 2021-11-21, 16:47:

They changed the soundengine from the early Doom1 to the later Doom1 (1.66..) and used it in Doom2 too.
The early soundengine had no problem with ESS-Solo1 in plain Dos on intel-Chipset, the later one never worked on that soundcard in such a setup.

A patch exists to downgrade 1.9 to to v1.1 https://www.doomworld.com/idgames/utils/exe_edit/downgrd
I used it for the 3 screen -node switch but it also reverts map changes back to 1.1
Maybe it also downgrades the soundengine?

Reply 7 of 17, by FFXIhealer

Posted on 2021-11-28, 02:05

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Well, this mini-project is now going to have to wait. My Pentium 1 Win95 system now won't boot due to some driver issues regarding the IDE ports on the motherboard. Looks like a fresh re-install is in my future, before I can even begin to try to put games on it.

Reply 8 of 17, by FFXIhealer

Posted on 2021-12-02, 23:44

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Ok, so I spent over an hour in DOS deleting the C:\Windows folder file by file, folder by folder, command by command until it was nuked and gone and then reinstalled Windows 95. It's working perfectly right now. I guess now I can worry about this whole Doom2 thing again. 🤣 Win9x and freakin' drivers, I swear.

Reply 9 of 17, by BitWrangler

Posted on 2021-12-03, 04:06

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Get a linux boot disk that lets you do an attrib -r -a -s -h on it all , then just rm that sucka.

Unicorn herding operations are proceeding, but all the totes of hens teeth and barrels of rocking horse poop give them plenty of hiding spots.

Reply 10 of 17, by FFXIhealer

Posted on 2021-12-03, 05:38

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Too late. It's already done. The long way. 🤣 I just put some Twitch streamer on while I was doing it. Gave me a very clean folder for a new Win95 install.

Not that it's relevant, but this system I actually did a "build" stream on my Twitch channel too, but I think it was too long ago and the VoD is no longer there. It was fun, but I don't have the camera and lighting setup that Phil's Computer Lab has, so it probably looked and sounded like an amateur was doing it.

Reply 11 of 17, by leileilol

Posted on 2021-12-03, 06:21

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deleting/renaming win.com and renaming the WINDOWS folder itself should be enough like Windows never existed.

long live PCem

Reply 12 of 17, by maxtherabbit

Posted on 2021-12-03, 14:03

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DELTREE.EXE has entered the chat

Reply 13 of 17, by 0x90

Posted on 2021-12-04, 14:43

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As mentioned above, Doom shareware (and old 3-episode registered version) and Doom 2 use the same executables. First version with complete Doom 2 support is v1.666. There are actually two slightly different variants of v1.666 (I think one was bundled with Doom 2, one you got via patching Doom 1) but it doesn't matter which you use. Neither one is the same as v1.6, though IIRC all three internally use VERSION = 106 for for demos, saves, netgames, etc.

Ultimate Doom and Final Doom need special updated executables either for the 4th episode (Ultimate), or for correct intermission and map name texts (Final).

There are actually two different versions of the Final Doom executable, the newer bug-fixed version was only ever officially distributed with the "id Anthology" package and via the "idstuff"/"idouts" digital store system.

All of the Ultimate and Final executables are still labeled "v1.9" (and internally use VERSION = 109), but they are not the same as the regular v1.9 executable or each other.

Ultimate v1.9 -> registered v1.1 downgrade patch does downgrade the sound system (DMX) too, it is wholly contained within the main doom.exe (or doom2.exe) file.

Btw. older versions of the sound system used to do hardware mixing of sound effects on GUS, but this was unfortunately removed in an update, around Doom v1.4 IIRC. The newest versions of Doom (since v1.8 IIRC), on the other hand, include undocumented direct support for Ensoniq SoundScape, and WSS / Crystal Codec compatible cards (not present in setup, need to edit default.cfg by hand).

You can get many different versions of vanilla DOS engine binaries for Doom, Heretic, Hexen and Strife from here:
https://github.com/Doom-Utils/iwad-patches/tr … /vanilla-engine

Reply 14 of 17, by matze79

Posted on 2022-02-19, 16:15

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Play some Wood instead 😀

https://www.retrokits.de - blog, retro projects, hdd clicker, diy soundcards etc
https://www.retroianer.de - german retro computer board

Reply 15 of 17, by Cyberdyne

Posted on 2022-02-19, 18:00

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In reality Doom 1.1 has better sound, varable pitched sound. And it is little bit faster in slow machines.

I am aroused about any X86 motherboard that has full functional ISA slot. I think i have problem. Not really into that original (Turbo) XT,286,386 and CGA/EGA stuff. So just a DOS nut.
PS. If I upload RAR, it is a 16-bit DOS RAR Version 2.50.