4dos completely crashes my retroPCs (computer reboots when running the executable) \ VOGONS

4dos completely crashes my retroPCs (computer reboots when running the executable)

Topic actions

First post, by compiler

Posted on Today, 17:45

compiler Offline

Rank Newbie

Rank: Newbie
Posts: 12
Joined: 2026-03-21, 19:37

I've been setting up a CF card for 2 "retro" computers (Neoware EON GX1 and PIII-800 downgraded to 400Mhz).

I added 4dos 8.0 to the CF and when I run "4dos", the PC reboots.

I remember having 4dos working on this CF before, so maybe I have something incompatible with 4dos in my config files that I'm not aware.

My config.sys:

1DEVICE=C:\DOS\HIMEM.SYS
2DEVICE=C:\DOS\EMM386.EXE /AUTO /V
3
4FILES=40
5BUFFERS=30
6LASTDRIVE=J
7
8DOS=HIGH,UMB

My autoexec.bat:

1@ECHO OFF
2
3PROMPT $p$g
4PATH C:\DOS;C:\BIN;C:\UTILS\4DOS;C:\UTILS\NC
5SET TEMP=C:\TMP
6KEYB SP,,C:\DOS\KEYBOARD.SYS
7
8SET BLASTER=A220 I7 D1 H5 P330 T6
9C:\DRIVERS\UNISOUND\UNISOUND
10
11LH C:\DRIVERS\MOUSE\BIN\CTMOUSE.EXE

Any idea on what could be wrong?

Thanks.

Reply 1 of 5, by Yoghoo

Posted on Today, 18:08

Yoghoo Offline

Rank Oldbie

Rank: Oldbie
Posts: 535
Joined: 2021-07-17, 18:32
Location: Netherlands

What's in your 4dos.ini?

Also normally you add a couple of lines in your startup scripts to automatically run 4dos. For example:

AUTOEXEC.BAT:
SET COMSPEC=C:\4DOS\4DOS.COM

CONFIG.SYS:
SHELL=C:\4DOS\4DOS.COM /P /E:1024

Reply 2 of 5, by compiler

Posted on Today, 18:26

compiler Offline

Rank Newbie

Rank: Newbie
Posts: 12
Joined: 2026-03-21, 19:37

Yoghoo wrote on Today, 18:08:
What's in your 4dos.ini? […]
Show full quote

What's in your 4dos.ini?

Also normally you add a couple of lines in your startup scripts to automatically run 4dos. For example:

AUTOEXEC.BAT:
SET COMSPEC=C:\4DOS\4DOS.COM

CONFIG.SYS:
SHELL=C:\4DOS\4DOS.COM /P /E:1024

I didn't setup a 4dos.ini file (there's no such file in 4dos800.zip and 4dos7501.zip).

I don't have anything related to 4dos in config.sys and autoexec.bat, I remember using 4dos for years in 199x launching it manually from the command line ("4dos<enter>").

I just tested (besides 8.0) 7.50.1 and 7.50.

I started commenting with REM all lines in config and now it works. I narrowed the issue down to:

1DEVICE=C:\DOS\EMM386.EXE /AUTO /V

Commenting that line 4dos works, but I need it to have XMS...

Reply 3 of 5, by compiler

Posted on Today, 18:29

compiler Offline

Rank Newbie

Rank: Newbie
Posts: 12
Joined: 2026-03-21, 19:37

compiler wrote on Today, 18:26:
I started commenting with REM all lines in config and now it works. I narrowed the issue down to: […]
Show full quote

I started commenting with REM all lines in config and now it works. I narrowed the issue down to:
1DEVICE=C:\DOS\EMM386.EXE /AUTO /V

I found that the issue is /AUTO.

Removing that parameter fixes the issue.

Reply 4 of 5, by Yoghoo

Posted on Today, 18:31

Yoghoo Offline

Rank Oldbie

Rank: Oldbie
Posts: 535
Joined: 2021-07-17, 18:32
Location: Netherlands

What version of DOS are you using? /AUTO is normally not a valid option. It is normally just AUTO. Like this:

DEVICE=C:\DOS\EMM386.EXE NOEMS D=64 AUTO NOTR

Reply 5 of 5, by compiler

Posted on Today, 18:37

compiler Offline

Rank Newbie

Rank: Newbie
Posts: 12
Joined: 2026-03-21, 19:37

It's MSDOS 6.22

Go to top of page Go to top of page

Back to DOS Games/Apps