VOGONS


Die Siedler/ The Settler

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First post, by ChaosAngel

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Hi all, i wanted to play an old dos game (astonishing) called The Settler in 2 Player SplitScreen Mode.

The game runs using DosBox.
I tried running it under Linux and Windows.
But for the 2 player Splitscreen mode you need a second mouse (or graphis gamepad, but my PC does not have any input connector)

I tried to use an old PS2/Mouse with a Com Port Adapter on ComPort2 as described in the readme of the game.
But when I start the game i can not use the second mouse (it doesn't move).
So how do i configure DOsBox that the game can use this second mouse, or is this not possible with DosBox.

An answer would be a great help, since i dont want to install Win98(don't have a copy) and risk to delete my boot loader.

Mfg
Max

Reply 1 of 26, by Dominus

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use the search, just recently someone made a patched that might help you someday...

Windows 3.1x guide for DOSBox
60 seconds guide to DOSBox
DOSBox SVN snapshot for macOS (10.4-11.x ppc/intel 32/64bit) notarized for gatekeeper

Reply 2 of 26, by bugs_bugger

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Use a direct serial enabled build. The topic has been already discussed, but here is a short summary for you:
1. Set up direct serial. The emulated COM port has to use IRQ 4, COM2.
2. Choose Mouse at COM2, IRQ 4 at the options menu of settlers as input device for player 2.
3. PS2 mice have to support the serial mouse protocol in order to work with PS2->serial adaptors.
4. Any USB joystick can be used if you want to play with a joystick instead of a mouse.

Reply 4 of 26, by ChaosAngel

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Following the Topic:
DOSBox SVN Builds
i tried the daily builds most actual version:
http://builds.tharos-online.de/ under Windows.
And the Mouse does not work.
In the same topic i found:
http://home.arcor.de/h-a-l-9000/
Description: Builds of DosBox focused on serial\networking support

I tried to configure the source under linux and got an error message, that
hardware/Makefile.in does not exists
make does compile the dosbox binary, but no mouse moves.

Tried too old PS2 mouses with COM Port Adapter, non worked.
Tried the Windows binary of this build, no mouse works.

Maybe you could send me a link to the topic describing which serial build i can use.
Furthermore i got a Problem with Point 2:

2. Choose Mouse at COM2, IRQ 4 at the options menu of settlers as input device for player 2.

I try to run Siedler1/Settler1, there is no option where i can configure this. I think this applies only for Settler2.
Following the Readme of Settlers1, the second mouse should be on COM2.

Reply 6 of 26, by ChaosAngel

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I changed the line
serial2=dummy
to
serial2=directserial realport:com2

Under Linux DOSBox Megabuild 4
i get the message when starting DosBox:

CONFIG:Loading primary settings from config file dosbox.conf MIDI:Opened device:oss Serial2: Opening com2 Serial2: Serial Port " […]
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CONFIG:Loading primary settings from config file dosbox.conf
MIDI:Opened device:oss
Serial2: Opening com2
Serial2: Serial Port "com2" could not be opened.
System error 9.

The mouse does not work.

The same DosBox under Windows

CONFIG:Loading primary settings from config file dosbox.conf MIDI:Opened device:win32 Serial2: Opening com2 WinPcap has to be in […]
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CONFIG:Loading primary settings from config file dosbox.conf
MIDI:Opened device:win32
Serial2: Opening com2
WinPcap has to be installed for the NE2000 to work.

But the mouse still does not work.
Tried both mouses.

Is there an option to get more information about the error/serial connection.
Do i use a wrong DosBox Version ?

Thanks for your patience.

Reply 7 of 26, by bugs_bugger

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Sorry for confusing the IRQs. Here is a screenshot of the options menu I was talking about:

sied_000.png

As you can see, actual IRQ or COM port numbers are not that important, just as long as they are same in both dosbox.conf and settlers.

Talking about your PS/2 mice, you really have to ensure that they are compatible with the serial voltages and protocol.

Reply 9 of 26, by ChaosAngel

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I remember such a menu. But i cant find it in my Siedler version.
The Exra Option button Menu has a right and a left side:
Various Options for Scrolling, Musik and SVGA, but no way to configure the com port.
Maybe i have a too old/new settler version, i think there existed some remakes for compatibility.

How do i check for compatibility? Its an old "Fujitsu" 2 Button mouse from my very first PC.

Reply 11 of 26, by h-a-l-9000

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To check if the mouse works:
Boot Windows while the mouse is connected, it should move the mouse pointer too.
But while Windows uses it it can't be used by DOSBox. So restart Windows or remove the mouse from the device manager (you can add a /noserialmice to your boot.ini if you don't want Windows to take over, use Google for more specific instructions).

Under Linux, serial ports are not named comx but ttySx/ttyUSBx or other names, so your attempt can't work.

1+1=10

Reply 13 of 26, by ChaosAngel

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I'm back. And still i have not succeeded.
I'm currently visiting an old friend who borrowed a COM Mouse (3 Buttons).
When i start windows it does not move the mouse pointer.
Before i went going buying a new mouse, anyone an idea why it does not work on his computer with the Megabuild DosBox, correct settings as you described and a Com port mouse ?
Is there some debug output or something for the COM Port i can watch ?

THX

Reply 14 of 26, by bugs_bugger

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What does the label of the mouse say? You will need either a Mircosoft or a Mousesystems protocol for Settlers/Serf City/Siedler. There are also other protocols I know little about. Just make sure your mouse uses none of them. Micosoft mouse protocol should work in XP (does for me). Mouseystems mice should work with Settlers, but not with Windows 95 and later (so i remember). Anyway, as soon as your serial mouse is used by Windows, it is rendered useless for DosBox. If you succeed in getting it to work in Windows, the first thing you will have to do is to "uninstall" the mouse in your device manager.

If you want to check wether there are any signals forwarded to DosBox or not, I will attach a nice tool to do this.

Attachments

  • Filename
    comchk18.zip
    File size
    30.33 KiB
    Downloads
    83 downloads
    File license
    Fair use/fair dealing exception

Reply 15 of 26, by ChaosAngel

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Thank you very much.
I can not look at the mouse any further as he has only borrowed it.
I hope that it was no Microsoft/Mousesystem mouse, because i tried both settings in the game.
And it didn't run under windowsXP. I know if it runs then i can not use it, but hopefully some mouse does. Then i could remove the mouse from the system (or just plug it in later).
This tool will be very nice once i found another mouse.
We played yesterday a first game (using one mouse) and it was a lot of fun.
I will be back if i have a mouse (running or not).
Thank you for your patience.

Reply 16 of 26, by ChaosAngel

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So, now i have the mouse described above.
There is no hint on it wether it is Microsoft or Mousesystem.
If I start Windows with the mouse on ComPort 1 it does not move the mouse.
It does not move in the game either.
I have used your tool with the mouse plugged in(pluggin in after windows has started) but it shows no data. (I have not changed the command line or something).

Any ideas ?
Can the Com Port be disabled in bios ? In windows/Hardware(Device Manager) i can see the COM2 Port. No Problems.

The Mouse is "Genius Mouse 2000"

Reply 18 of 26, by ChaosAngel

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Here is the requested data.
Thanx for your help.

Attachments

  • screen.JPG
    Filename
    screen.JPG
    File size
    23.94 KiB
    Views
    1820 views
    File license
    Fair use/fair dealing exception
  • screen1.JPG
    Filename
    screen1.JPG
    File size
    61.74 KiB
    Views
    1820 views
    File license
    Fair use/fair dealing exception
  • Filename
    Kopie von dosbox.conf.txt
    File size
    13.23 KiB
    Downloads
    72 downloads
    File license
    Fair use/fair dealing exception

Reply 19 of 26, by bugs_bugger

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I cannot tell you why it does not work. As soon as you move your mouse, there should be some output visible when using that tool. The error could be anywhere. In my setup it works without any problem, so I cannot give you any further hints. I simply do not know what to do.