Post exactly how you're mounting, post a screenshot of the dosbox window
right before starting the game, post a screenshot right after you started
the game (ie. with the error message), then type "mem" at the dosbox
prompt (still the same dosbox session, ie. the error message is still visible)
and post a screenshot of that.

I don't mount anything, I just do like with the others games (a-train and simcity) - I just stretch the A4 launch file on the dosbox icon on my desktop. For me this is more simple way to run games with dosbox.

But I found this text in the readme.txt in A4 folder -
If for any reason the game crashes or returns to DOS, check that you have :
- At least 580 KB (=593920 bytes)of conventional memory,
- At least 4 MB of RAM available,
- At least 2.7 MB of free EMS memory.
- A VESA compatible video card (standard video) and the appropriate
VESA driver.
- A Microsoft compatible mouse.
- DOS version higher than 5.00.

3. INCREASE MEMORY
------------------

You're able to play to play with less than 580 Ko of conventional
memory. To do so : launch _ /C at the call of DOS. (in the directory
INFOGRAM\NETWORKS or in the directory you have put the game)

I don't understand the last one - what is "launch _ /C"????

For me this is more simple way to run games with dosbox

Obviously it doesn't work that way for whatever reason. Use regular mounting,
post screenshots etc.

Ok, I mounted game in Dosbox like you told me and unforunately the same problem. I couldn't enter the command 'mem' because dosbox was frozen after the ems error.

I have a4 folder on my E disc under e:\a-4\a4net
Dosbox is on the different disc D

So in dosbox I enter a command "mount e e:\"
And then I enter to e:\a-4 folder then to e:\a-4\a4net where I have whole game.
And finally enter the game e:\a-4\a4net\a4

Somehow the screenshots are still missing.
Type "mount" and "mem" right before starting the game, and post a screenshot
of that, too.

Ok, here's the screenshot ( I hope I placed it good).
Like I told you before, I can't enter the 'me,' command because dosbox is frozen later.

Ok, once again with MEM command

YOU NEED TO MOUNT A C:\ DRIVE. HAVE YOU EVER SEEN A DOS/WINDOWS SYSTEM WITHOUT A C:\ DRIVE?! For god's sake...

Sorry for shouting, but in the last few days, the amount of sheer ignorance in the posts is too much even for a modest person like me. (;

And, Bartosz: if the game won't run, consider buying the effing original. It has been said in many threads: Abandonware is not supported on VOGONS. No-one can tell what happened to the files you have downloaded. There may be missing files, or wrong ones, or virii in the archive.

I can't mount drive c because when I open the dosbox it is automatically mounted.

And second case - I wonder where I can buy original game from 1997 year ?? 😉 I searched everywhere and found nothing.
Besides I found this game accidentaly 😉

OK, now some constructive input... I can't even install the game from floppy images. Obviously, the installer wants the disks labeled "disk1", "disk2", and so on (5 disks total). The thing is that DOSBox won't read the label when mounting the images with a command like "imgmount a: <image> -t floppy". After mounting, the label is "NOLABEL" according to DOSBox, even though the label seems to be saved correctly in the image (says WinImage).

I can't mount drive c because when I open the dosbox it is automatically mounted.

Uninstall dosbox, reinstall it and try again.

I show you a screenshot.

mount c e:\a-4

I did that, but it doesn't solve the problem 🙁

Screenshot with the output of "mount" and "mem" right before starting the game please.

Ahhhh, don't you love the BMP image format? Almost 3MB for three screenshots. 😜

I have replaced them with PNG format.

All the screeens was bmp files 😉
here you go:

I vaguely guess that ElPusher's question was a rhethorical one.

Anyways, did you try the mounting i posted earlier?

Yeah, I did that:

I hope that this is what you want 😉

Erm and suppose it still doesn't work, right?
If so, reinstall dosbox, get the mounting straight and reinstall the game.