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DOS Shell/OS in 320x200?

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First post, by Asaki

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Maybe I'm just not using the right search terms, but there has to be some kind of file browser out there that runs in 320x200 (or 240) video mode, right??

Nothing fancy, just something similar to DOSShell or Norton Commander. It would be very useful for things like CRT televisions, or DOS emulators on low-resolution handhelds, to be able to browse through folders and run games/apps without an entire keyboard (even if it doesn't load back up when you quit the game).
Bonus points if it can run on DSx86 for the Nintendo DS, but I'm not holding my breath.

The closest I've been able to find are frontends for DOSBox. I need something that actually runs inside real (or emulated) DOS.

Alternatively, maybe a driver to run something like GEM in low resolution? I did find one link that has a driver for FreeGEM for CGA or VGA, but I'm having some issues getting that version to install/run in DOSBox, so I'm going to have to keep working on that one: https://www.z80cpu.eu/mirrors/www.seasip.demo … vers/video.html
OpenGEM I've got working fine, but those drivers don't seem to work with it.

Reply 1 of 11, by Jo22

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Hi, good evening! Windows 3.x can run in MCGA resolution, for example. .
There's an experimental driver. 😀

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wvu65KCkd3Y

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Reply 3 of 11, by Jo22

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Good luck! 🙂🤞
The driver is part of Windows 3.0 with Multimedia Extensions 1.0.
Works in both Standard Mode and Enhanced Mode of Windows 3.x.

"Time, it seems, doesn't flow. For some it's fast, for some it's slow.
In what to one race is no time at all, another race can rise and fall..." - The Minstrel

//My video channel//

Reply 4 of 11, by Asaki

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Well I did eventually get GEM running properly in 320x200 VGA (albiet with some slight glitches in the splash screen of GEM3), so that's fun.
Works fine in PC DOSBox.
Probably works fine in real DOS too, but did not test.
Did not test Wii DOSBox.
DSx86, if I try running a game through it (just tested with Duke Nukum real quick), it crashes back to GEM with what looks like a "not enough memory" error. It flashes a little too quickly to read. I'm a little surprised that it actually almost worked.
Nintendo 3DS port of DOSBox, it crashes back to GEM, but I couldn't see any kind of error message.

I might try posting in the LaunchBox thread and seeing if the author might be able to add support for 320x200 mode(s)...but I doubt I'll get an answer.
However I did coincidentally notice, in that thread, some ASM code for manually switching video modes, and I downloaded NASM and compiled a COM for each mode (mode 0D being the most useful at the moment). This at least gives me a good starting point with a readable DOS prompt...doesn't solve the "minimal keyboard" issue, but at least it's -something-. (pretty sure I have another program somewhere that can do this, though)

Reply 5 of 11, by Asaki

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Not 100% ideal, but for now, I've cooked up a BAT file that will automatically run MODE0D, run games (or whatever), PAUSE on exit (so you can read games that have custom quit messages), then return to page 1 of the launcher.

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Reply 6 of 11, by weedeewee

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MODE0D ? is that the same as running " mode co40 "?

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Reply 7 of 11, by Grzyb

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mode 0Dh = graphics, 320x200, 16 colors

"MODE CO40" sets mode 01h = text, 40x25, 16 colors

Żywotwór planetarny, jego gnijące błoto, jest świtem egzystencji, fazą wstępną, i wyłoni się z krwawych ciastomózgowych miedź miłująca...

Reply 8 of 11, by Asaki

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weedeewee wrote on 2022-07-25, 13:19:

MODE0D ? is that the same as running " mode co40 "?

Nope.
MODE0D: 320x200 16 color graphics (EGA,VGA)
Your command just changes the number of columns, not the screen resolution.

I can upload these if you want to play with them. Like I said, I'm pretty sure there are other programs that can do this (I think ANSI can as well?), this was just faster than digging out hard drives.

CLS will reset back to the default mode.

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Reply 9 of 11, by torafuma

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Not sure if you are looking for something a little bit more graphical, but I have been using this "LaunchBox for MS-DOS" (here - New MS-DOS Games Launcher / Menu System App, or in the LauchBox Forums - https://forums.launchbox-app.com/files/file/9 … pecial-edition/) for some time on all of my Pure DOS Boxes. Personally I have it added to the end of my autoexec.bat, so it launches at startup for me.

Reply 10 of 11, by Asaki

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torafuma wrote on 2022-07-25, 18:08:

Not sure if you are looking for something a little bit more graphical, but I have been using this "LaunchBox for MS-DOS"...

I've tried this one before, and as far as I can tell, it doesn't have a 320x200 mode.

Reply 11 of 11, by torafuma

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Asaki wrote on 2022-07-25, 18:29:
torafuma wrote on 2022-07-25, 18:08:

Not sure if you are looking for something a little bit more graphical, but I have been using this "LaunchBox for MS-DOS"...

I've tried this one before, and as far as I can tell, it doesn't have a 320x200 mode.

My Bad... missed the "320x200 mode"! 😜

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