wierd_w wrote on 2026-01-26, 18:57:

No. You can get it individually. The FreeDOS one is apparently baked into FreeCOM command interpreter, but it's existed as vinta […]
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DustyShinigami wrote on 2026-01-26, 18:08:

wierd_w wrote on 2026-01-26, 17:52:

It's from the freedos project. It will work with dos 6.22 as well.

https://help.fdos.org/en/hhstndrd/command/loadfix.htm

Do I need to download and install FreeDOS to get it?

No. You can get it individually. The FreeDOS one is apparently baked into FreeCOM command interpreter, but it's existed as vintage software forever.

It's actually a stock component of DOS 5, and can be found in various flavors from numerous vendors. They all do the same thing.

For example, vintage adverts and documentation reference it.

https://archive.org/stream/dosworld021199505/ … 995-05_djvu.txt

A version from Novell can be found here, for example.

https://files.mpoli.fi/unpacked/hardware/net/ … /3x/300pt1.exe/

The dos 5 utility can be found on disk 2 of the set, and expanded with the EXPAND utility. It's a .COM file.

https://www.betaarchive.com/wiki/index.php/Mi … B_Archive/71823

This script suggests it can be found (compressed) on disk 2 of the dos 6.22 disk set.

https://gist.github.com/jepebe/4011bb9d0b0dfa … 8ff026675eb275b

I'm sorry, but none of these make any sense to me. I don't understand what I'm supposed to do or how to do it. I can't find a single download link for it anywhere. And the one included with Novell only takes me to its hex code. And the extract option goes to download it, but then my Malwarebytes blocks it saying it's a threat.

Ok.

Get your dos 6.22 installation disks out.

On disk 1, will be a program called EXPAND.EXE

We'll need it. Copy it into a folder someplace.

On disk 2, you will find 'loadfix.co_'. This is a compressed version of loadfix.com.

Copy it to the place you copied EXPAND.EXE to.

Then, inside that folder, run:

EXPAND LOAFDIX.CO_ LOADFIX.COM

It should tell you that it expanded successfully.

Copy loadfix.com to your DOS folder.

To use it, you call it like this

LOADFIX [DRIVE:][\SOMEPATH\][SOMEPROG.EXE]

wierd_w wrote on 2026-01-26, 19:36:

Ok. […]
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Ok.

Get your dos 6.22 installation disks out.

On disk 1, will be a program called EXPAND.EXE

We'll need it. Copy it into a folder someplace.

On disk 2, you will find 'loadfix.co_'. This is a compressed version of loadfix.com.

Copy it to the place you copied EXPAND.EXE to.

Then, inside that folder, run:

EXPAND LOAFDIX.CO_ LOADFIX.COM

It should tell you that it expanded successfully.

Copy loadfix.com to your DOS folder.

To use it, you call it like this

LOADFIX [DRIVE:][\SOMEPATH\][SOMEPROG.EXE]

I don't have any DOS installation disks. Also, I'm on 7.10, so I'm not sure if that matters...? I guess I can find some online though.

The forum rules are the forum rules.

Otherwise i'd just attach a copy to a post. [Shrug]

I wasn't sure if DOS install disks were freely available now, but then we are talking about Microsoft. ^^;

Ironically, the only places on the internet where they are not freely available are microsoft.com and VOGONS.

DustyShinigami wrote on 2026-01-26, 20:45:

I wasn't sure if DOS install disks were freely available now, but then we are talking about Microsoft. ^^;

In my DBBD (DosBoxBootDos), I include a number of bootable DOS images. I did some research to confirm they are "free".
This is part of my README file":

=================================== MS-DOS ==================================
In 2024, Microsoft release some older versions of MS-DOS (with source code)
under the MIT licence (see below)

I believe this would also include various OEM versions as these consist of a
simple text change. This would include: Early IBM, Compaq etc.

** I have not found "official" release statements for >4.0, however people I
know assure me they were available from Microsoft FTP before it was shutdown
- and their presence on many "archive" sites support this!
=================================== PC-DOS ==================================
A noted above, early of PC-DOS are covered Microsofts release, however IBM
did a lot of their own development in later versions.

In 2008, IBM released "Server guide scripting toolkit", which anyone could
download from their website free of charge, the "anyos_anycpu" version
includes a full copy of IBM PCDOS 7.1

You can get the original .ZIP at:
https://www.ibm.com/support/pages/ibm-serverg … on-version-1307
================================= Caldera ===============================
Caldera grants you a non-exclusive license to use the Software in
source or binary form free of charge if (a) you are a student,
faculty member or staff member of an educational institution
(K-12, junior college, college or library), a staff member of
a religious organization, or an employee of an organization which
meets Caldera's criteria for a charitable non-profit organization;
or (b) your use of the Software is for the purpose of evaluating
whether to purchase an ongoing license to the Software. The evaluation
period for use by or on behalf of a commercial entity is limited
to 90 days; evaluation use by others is not subject to this 90 day
limit but is still limited to a reasonable period. Government
agencies (other than public libraries) are not considered educational,
religious, or charitable non-profit organizations for purposes of this
Agreement. If you are using the Software free of charge, you are not
entitled to support or telephone assistance. If you fit within the
description of a non-commercial use license, you may use the Software
in the manner described in Parts III and IV below under "Scope of Grant."
================================= PTS-DOS ===============================
I'm pretty sure the copy I have is a free "evaluation" version obtained by a
Russian colleague who has "gone home to visit" - I can't really find mention
of this on the CD --- but a lot of the material is in Russian!
================================= MIT License ===============================
MIT License

Copyright (c) Microsoft Corporation.

Permission is hereby granted, free of charge, to any person obtaining a copy
of this software and associated documentation files (the "Software"), to deal
in the Software without restriction, including without limitation the rights to
use, copy, modify, merge, publish, distribute, sublicense, and/or sell copies
of the Software, and to permit persons to whom the Software is furnished to do
so, subject to the following conditions:

The above copyright notice and this permission notice shall be included in all
copies or substantial portions of the Software.

THE SOFTWARE IS PROVIDED "AS IS", WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR
IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO THE WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY,
FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE AND NONINFRINGEMENT. IN NO EVENT SHALL THE
AUTHORS OR COPYRIGHT HOLDERS BE LIABLE FOR ANY CLAIM, DAMAGES OR OTHER
LIABILITY, WHETHER IN AN ACTION OF CONTRACT, TORT OR OTHERWISE, ARISING FROM,
OUT OF OR IN CONNECTION WITH THE SOFTWARE OR THE USE OR OTHER DEALINGS IN THE
SOFTWARE.

DaveDDS wrote on 2026-01-26, 22:54:

In my DBBD (DosBoxBootDos), I include a number of bootable DOS images. I did some research to confirm they are "free". This is p […]
Show full quote

DustyShinigami wrote on 2026-01-26, 20:45:

I wasn't sure if DOS install disks were freely available now, but then we are talking about Microsoft. ^^;

In my DBBD (DosBoxBootDos), I include a number of bootable DOS images. I did some research to confirm they are "free".
This is part of my README file":

=================================== MS-DOS ==================================
In 2024, Microsoft release some older versions of MS-DOS (with source code)
under the MIT licence (see below)

I believe this would also include various OEM versions as these consist of a
simple text change. This would include: Early IBM, Compaq etc.

** I have not found "official" release statements for >4.0, however people I
know assure me they were available from Microsoft FTP before it was shutdown
- and their presence on many "archive" sites support this!
=================================== PC-DOS ==================================
A noted above, early of PC-DOS are covered Microsofts release, however IBM
did a lot of their own development in later versions.

In 2008, IBM released "Server guide scripting toolkit", which anyone could
download from their website free of charge, the "anyos_anycpu" version
includes a full copy of IBM PCDOS 7.1

You can get the original .ZIP at:
https://www.ibm.com/support/pages/ibm-serverg … on-version-1307
================================= Caldera ===============================
Caldera grants you a non-exclusive license to use the Software in
source or binary form free of charge if (a) you are a student,
faculty member or staff member of an educational institution
(K-12, junior college, college or library), a staff member of
a religious organization, or an employee of an organization which
meets Caldera's criteria for a charitable non-profit organization;
or (b) your use of the Software is for the purpose of evaluating
whether to purchase an ongoing license to the Software. The evaluation
period for use by or on behalf of a commercial entity is limited
to 90 days; evaluation use by others is not subject to this 90 day
limit but is still limited to a reasonable period. Government
agencies (other than public libraries) are not considered educational,
religious, or charitable non-profit organizations for purposes of this
Agreement. If you are using the Software free of charge, you are not
entitled to support or telephone assistance. If you fit within the
description of a non-commercial use license, you may use the Software
in the manner described in Parts III and IV below under "Scope of Grant."
================================= PTS-DOS ===============================
I'm pretty sure the copy I have is a free "evaluation" version obtained by a
Russian colleague who has "gone home to visit" - I can't really find mention
of this on the CD --- but a lot of the material is in Russian!
================================= MIT License ===============================
MIT License

Copyright (c) Microsoft Corporation.

Permission is hereby granted, free of charge, to any person obtaining a copy
of this software and associated documentation files (the "Software"), to deal
in the Software without restriction, including without limitation the rights to
use, copy, modify, merge, publish, distribute, sublicense, and/or sell copies
of the Software, and to permit persons to whom the Software is furnished to do
so, subject to the following conditions:

The above copyright notice and this permission notice shall be included in all
copies or substantial portions of the Software.

THE SOFTWARE IS PROVIDED "AS IS", WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR
IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO THE WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY,
FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE AND NONINFRINGEMENT. IN NO EVENT SHALL THE
AUTHORS OR COPYRIGHT HOLDERS BE LIABLE FOR ANY CLAIM, DAMAGES OR OTHER
LIABILITY, WHETHER IN AN ACTION OF CONTRACT, TORT OR OTHERWISE, ARISING FROM,
OUT OF OR IN CONNECTION WITH THE SOFTWARE OR THE USE OR OTHER DEALINGS IN THE
SOFTWARE.

Awesome. Good to know. 😀 It wouldn't make a lot of sense for them not to be free, to be honest. Apart from we retro PC users, I can't imagine DOS is heavily used. Or did I read something somewhere that some companies still do for certain things...? Either way, it's unlikely Microsoft are going to make any money from the software now.

wierd_w wrote on 2026-01-26, 19:36:

Ok. […]
Show full quote

Ok.

Get your dos 6.22 installation disks out.

On disk 1, will be a program called EXPAND.EXE

We'll need it. Copy it into a folder someplace.

On disk 2, you will find 'loadfix.co_'. This is a compressed version of loadfix.com.

Copy it to the place you copied EXPAND.EXE to.

Then, inside that folder, run:

EXPAND LOAFDIX.CO_ LOADFIX.COM

It should tell you that it expanded successfully.

Copy loadfix.com to your DOS folder.

To use it, you call it like this

LOADFIX [DRIVE:][\SOMEPATH\][SOMEPROG.EXE]

Just tried these steps, but I can't get it to expand.

You need a space between the source and destination. The space character on the forum is pretty thin so it's hard to see unless you use a code block.

1EXPAND LOAFDIX.CO_ LOADFIX.COM

NeoG_ wrote on 2026-01-27, 00:36:

You need a space between the source and destination. The space character on the forum is pretty thin so it's hard to see unless […]
Show full quote

You need a space between the source and destination. The space character on the forum is pretty thin so it's hard to see unless you use a code block.

Copy code to clipboard

1EXPAND LOAFDIX.CO_ LOADFIX.COM

Ahhh. I did wonder. Okay, that's extracted. Will give it a try now. 😀

wierd_w wrote on 2026-01-26, 19:36:

Ok. […]
Show full quote

Ok.

Get your dos 6.22 installation disks out.

On disk 1, will be a program called EXPAND.EXE

We'll need it. Copy it into a folder someplace.

On disk 2, you will find 'loadfix.co_'. This is a compressed version of loadfix.com.

Copy it to the place you copied EXPAND.EXE to.

Then, inside that folder, run:

EXPAND LOAFDIX.CO_ LOADFIX.COM

It should tell you that it expanded successfully.

Copy loadfix.com to your DOS folder.

To use it, you call it like this

LOADFIX [DRIVE:][\SOMEPATH\][SOMEPROG.EXE]

I take it I need to put LOADFIX where the game's executable/batch file is? I did that and put LOADFIX D:\DOS\ACCLAIM\TRILOGY\TRILOGY.EXE in my custom BAT file, but it says Bad command or file name. I tried it outside of the BAT and it still gives me that Fatal Error (1307) Not enough memory. 🙁

Okay, I think what I'll have to do instead is shift the commands to load up MPXPLAY and EK1M into the SBLOAD batch file. For some reason loading those in the game's batch file is giving it problems.

I've set things up wrong anyway. But I've set up SBLOAD.BAT as the following:

1SET BLASTER=A220 I5 D1 H5 P330 T4
2SET SB=C:\PROGRA`1\CREATIVE\SBLIVE\DOSDRV
3
4%SB%\SBEGO.COM
5%SB%\SBEMIXER /MA:255 /VO:255 /MI:255 /MT:255
6SET SBLOAD=TRUE (realised this shouldn't be here in a script that's called first before it's been set ^^;) 
7C:\DOSPRO\MPXPLAY\MPXPLAY.EXE -SCS SBA -F0 C:\DOSPRO\MPXPLAY\INIT.WAV -XEL
8C:\DOSPRO\EK1M\EK1M.EXE -F C:\DOSPRO\EK1M.INI

And then the game's BAT:

1SET CDBQ=C:\DOSPRO\CDBQ
2SET CPUSPD=C:\DOSPRO\CPU\CPUSPD
3SET ALIEN=D:\DOS\ACCLAIM\TRILOGY
4
5CALL C:\SCRIPTS\SBLOAD.BAT
6IF %SBLOAD% == TRUE GOTO SKIPEK1M
7
8:SKIPEK1M
9
10F:
11DIR/W (this has to be here in order for the CD to 'wake up' and notice there's a disc present, otherwise CDBQ fails)
12%CDBQ%\CDBQ /P2 /DM /S1200
13%CPUSPD%\CPUSPD c2d t6
14%ALIEN%\NOVERT.COM
15CALL %ALIEN%\TRILOGY.EXE
16%ALIEN%\NOVERT.COM /U
17%CPUSPD%\CPUSPD c2e t8

As it is right now, I get that fatal error again and then if I run the BAT a second time, the game launches. But because MPXPLAY, EK1M and the SB are still re-initialising, I get no sound effects.

DustyShinigami wrote on 2026-01-26, 20:45:

I wasn't sure if DOS install disks were freely available now, but then we are talking about Microsoft. ^^;

There are good reasons to stop "making money" on obsolete products. If you sell it you have to support it, and at a certain point, the overhead in doing that exceeds money you "might make" in continued sales. (and be sure, the people still using "old stuff" will likely be the ones needing the most support)

Just a note on using EK1M as a mixer - It's not required (or recommended) if you are loading the SB emulation drivers as you can use the provided SB Mixer to open up the line input. You would only use EK1M if the sound blaster live card is not being used for anything else at the time and all you want to do with it is enable the audio jacks.

I.E. you would load the Yamaha card and EK1M together, or you would load the Yamaha card and SB emulation drivers together. But you wouldn't load SB Emulation and EK1M together - That is trying to use one DSP on the Live card for two tasks at the same time

NeoG_ wrote on 2026-01-27, 03:47:

Just a note on using EK1M as a mixer - It's not required (or recommended) if you are loading the SB emulation drivers as you can use the provided SB Mixer to open up the line input. You would only use EK1M if the sound blaster live card is not being used for anything else at the time and all you want to do with it is enable the audio jacks.

I.E. you would load the Yamaha card and EK1M together, or you would load the Yamaha card and SB emulation drivers together. But you wouldn't load SB Emulation and EK1M together - That is trying to use one DSP on the Live card for two tasks at the same time

Ahhh, yeah, that does make sense. I'm not quite sure why I decided to enable it in this instance. I'm certainly not trying to get both sound cards working at the same time for this game. ^^; The Alien Trilogy makes use of redbook audio and that's the only reason for using the SB16.

So having a look around at the 1307 error - It seems to be most likely that the DOS extender is experiencing a 16-bit integer overflow, it wraps back to a low value and thinks there is a very small amount of memory available.

The available solutions seem to be, find a way to limit the amount of memory avilable to DOS to 32MB, or to try and swap the built-in extender (DOS/4GW) with something like DOS/32A which supports up to 2GB of memory.

As to why it sometimes does and doesn't throw the error, I have noticed that some drivers or TSRs seem to change the available amount of memory to DOS. I think I kind of lucked out that based on the stuff I have loaded, the extended memory is limited to 32MB of the total 128MB in the system and no games that use extenders ever complain.

NeoG_ wrote on 2026-01-27, 11:23:

So having a look around at the 1307 error - It seems to be most likely that the DOS extender is experiencing a 16-bit integer overflow, it wraps back to a low value and thinks there is a very small amount of memory available.

The available solutions seem to be, find a way to limit the amount of memory avilable to DOS to 32MB, or to try and swap the built-in extender (DOS/4GW) with something like DOS/32A which supports up to 2GB of memory.

As to why it sometimes does and doesn't throw the error, I have noticed that some drivers or TSRs seem to change the available amount of memory to DOS. I think I kind of lucked out that based on the stuff I have loaded, the extended memory is limited to 32MB of the total 128MB in the system and no games that use extenders ever complain.

Hmm. I did download DOS/32A a few days ago. Haven't tried it yet, mind. Though as this error is definitely due to MPXPLAY and EK1M, and as you pointed out they're not needed just for the SB16, removing them should solve it. But if I encounter the error again with another game, I'll have to give DOS/32A a go and see if it helps. I might even just try it first and see if it does. 😀

So, skipping MPXPLAY and EK1M altogether, I want to incorporate that IF statement just for when the SB16 has initialised, so it doesn't keep doing it every time the game's BAT runs. As I have all the SB16 commands in its own BAT, will setting a variable/container in there, to indicate it's been done, be found in the game's BAT file? Or would it work a bit differently? Would I need to add the true variable in both SBLOAD.BAT and the game's BAT? Or just the game's?