VOGONS


First post, by Shannon123

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I have installed Reader Rabbit Kindergarten successfully to Windows 3.1 through DOSBOX. When I click on the icon to start the game I get : ERROR: Could not execute the external program \.
I have tried a different file thinking maybe something was missing - to no avail.
Reader Rabbit is installed to C drive -TLCWIN/RRK20.
I have tried to start the game from the file instead of the icon. Did not work.
Any ideas?

Reply 1 of 7, by Jorpho

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Your post is unclear. You have Windows 3.1 running in DOSBox, correct? How did you install the game? When you say you "click on the icon to start the game", are you clicking on the item in Windows 3.1 in DOSBox?

What are you trying to run when you "start the game from the file instead of the icon" ? Does it give you the same error message about "could not execute the external program" ?

Reply 2 of 7, by Shannon123

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Sorry, first time using DOSBox.
Yes, Windows 3.1 is running in DOSBox. I Installed the game using SETUP.EXE. When I "click on the icon" , I am clicking on the item in Windows 3.1 in DOSBox.
When I try the file instead of the icon, I am going into file manager, C drive, TLCWIN to RRK20 and double clicking Launcher.exe. Nothing happens- no error. Just nothing.
I have also tried AutoRun.exe in file manager. This gives me an error: WIN32s- ERROR C:\autorun\autorun.exe invalid format.

Reply 3 of 7, by Jorpho

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Shannon123 wrote:

I Installed the game using SETUP.EXE.

So, you copied all the files from a CD-ROM to a folder you had mounted in DOSBox, and then ran setup.exe? If this is a CD-ROM game, it is entirely possible that it expects the CD to be "in the drive" when you try to run it.

When I "click on the icon" , I am clicking on the item in Windows 3.1 in DOSBox.

I forget exactly how, but you should be able to get the properties for the icon and determine specifically if it is trying to run launcher.exe or something else.

Reply 4 of 7, by Shannon123

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Yes I copied the files to a folder that was mounted in DOSBox. However, it was not from a CD-ROM. It was from a download. I have tried multiple downloads, so I know the issue is not specifically the download.
But, this is a CD-ROM game, so it may be looking for the disc. I would think it would say that though? Is there a way around it looking for the disc? I imagine others play CD-ROM games without a disc.
I found the properties for the icon. It is trying to run C:\tlcwin\rrk20\launcher.exe 1

Reply 5 of 7, by Shannon123

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I noticed that it was trying to run Launcher.exe 1
In the folder there is no such file. There is a file Launcher.exe but no Launcher.exe 1
So, I erased the 1. Which got rid of the error. However, when I try to open the file it shows the loading sign and then does nothing. The same thing happens if I go to the file Launcher.exe through file manager and try to open it there. Loading sign and then nothing.

Reply 6 of 7, by Jorpho

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Shannon123 wrote:

Yes I copied the files to a folder that was mounted in DOSBox. However, it was not from a CD-ROM. It was from a download. I have tried multiple downloads, so I know the issue is not specifically the download.

How can you say that? It is quite possible that everyone who has this game available for download has the same corrupted or badly-copied version of the game. Unless you have an original copy of the game, it is pointless to try to diagnose the problem.

But, this is a CD-ROM game, so it may be looking for the disc. I would think it would say that though? Is there a way around it looking for the disc? I imagine others play CD-ROM games without a disc.

You can try putting the game's files in a separate directory and mounting that directory as drive D in DOSBox, with the "-t cdrom" switch. Similar details are discussed in the 60 Seconds Guide.

I found the properties for the icon. It is trying to run C:\tlcwin\rrk20\launcher.exe 1

The "1" is probably supposed to be there.

Reply 7 of 7, by Dominus

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Please do not ask for help here about problems with illegal downloads.
- Vogons and Dosbox authors do not want to be associated with warez/abandonwarez - it's not legal
- these copies are not always working correctly if they work at all - trying to get them working is often like chasing your own tail.

So I'm closing this thread.

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