Haven't found much related to this, though this site suggests HIMEM makes the error go away and HIMEMX causes the issue. https://sourceforge.net/p/freedos/mailman/message/19493030/

Pretty sure HIMEM is already set in my config.sys.

DustyShinigami wrote on 2024-11-20, 16:09:

Pretty sure HIMEM is already set in my config.sys.

"Pretty sure" or *absolutely sure*?
It's your CONFIG.SYS, look and see. Put the contents of it in this thread.

AlaricD wrote on 2024-11-20, 16:57:

DustyShinigami wrote on 2024-11-20, 16:09:

Pretty sure HIMEM is already set in my config.sys.

"Pretty sure" or *absolutely sure*?
It's your CONFIG.SYS, look and see. Put the contents of it in this thread.

Pretty sure. :p I've been messing around with the autoexec and config files a LOT via another thread I made for another game. So I need to go and check it.

The game doesn't like too much free memory; it should be below 64 MB. Use something to eat up the additional memory.

XMSDSK can create a custom sized RAMDISK: https://www.freebasic.net/forum/viewtopic.php?t=22443
You only need "xmsdsk.exe". Put it in the DOS or your drivers folder.

Use this command while in DOS:

1XMSDSK # /t

Instead of "#" write the size of the RAMDISK in KB. For example, if you have 256 MB of memory, you have to set it to at least 193 MB, meaning you'd have to write 197632.
I had completely forgotten that HIMEM doesn't utilize more than 64 MB. If you have 64 MB or more of installed memory, then create at least a 1 MB RAMDISK, so write 1024.

EDIT: and I forgot that of course that's just with DOS 6. If using DOS 7 (Windows 95/98), IINM it sees up to 4 GB, so adjust accordingly.

"/t" is needed. It puts the RAMDISK at the top of the memory.

Type XMSDSK /? to see the commands.

P.S.
You don't have to load it at boot, and probably shouldn't.

EDIT:

You might also need to not load EMM386.

eddman wrote on 2024-11-20, 23:54:

The game doesn't like too much free memory; it should be below 64 MB. Use something to eat up the additional memory. […]
Show full quote

The game doesn't like too much free memory; it should be below 64 MB. Use something to eat up the additional memory.

XMSDSK can create a custom sized RAMDISK: https://www.freebasic.net/forum/viewtopic.php?t=22443
You only need "xmsdsk.exe". Put it in the DOS or your drivers folder.

Use this command while in DOS:

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1XMSDSK # /t

Instead of "#" write the size of the RAMDISK in KB. For example, if you have 256 MB of memory, you have to set it to at least 193 MB, meaning you'd have to write 197632.
I had completely forgotten that HIMEM doesn't utilize more than 64 MB. If you have 64 MB or more of installed memory, then create at least a 1 MB RAMDISK, so write 1024.

EDIT: and I forgot that of course that's just with DOS 6. If using DOS 7 (Windows 95/98), IINM it sees up to 4 GB, so adjust accordingly.

"/t" is needed. It puts the RAMDISK at the top of the memory.

Type XMSDSK /? to see the commands.

P.S.
You don't have to load it at boot, and probably shouldn't.

EDIT:

You might also need to not load EMM386.

Awesome. Thanks for the suggestions. At some point I'll get around to testing it out, just as soon as I get some other problems sorted.

Also, for anyone else that hasn't seen it, I'll post the current autoexec and config commands here:

SET BLASTER=A220 I5 D1 H5 P330 T6
SET SBPCI=C:\DOSDRV
C:\DOSDRV\SBLOAD
C:\DOSDRV\SBINIT.COM
C:\WINDOWS\SMARTDRV.EXE
LH MSCDEX /D:OPTICAL
LH C:\DOSDRV\MOUSE.COM /P4

And then there's the config.sys file:

DEVICE=C:\WINDOWS\HIMEM.SYS
DEVICE=C:\WINDOWS\EMM386.EXE RAM
DEVICEHIGH=C:\DOSDRV\VIDECDD.SYS /D:OPTICAL
DOS=HIGH, UMB

A couple of these need changing after some suggestions in another thread.

Fixed it! I tried the MS-DOS for Games shortcuts in C:\Windows. I sent both to the desktop. I tried the first one, which enables EMSS and XMS...? That seemed to do the trick and the game now works! 😁

Only problems I have now are that there's no speech. Just subtitles. Don't get much in the way of music and SFX during the opening sequence either.