The Pandora Directive: Porting GOG version to DOS PC? \ VOGONS

The Pandora Directive: Porting GOG version to DOS PC?

Topic actions

First post, by zerker

Posted on 2017-03-13, 22:36

zerker Offline

Rank Member

Rank: Member
Posts: 231
Joined: 2016-02-11, 01:34

Hello folks. I'm looking at getting my various games running on my retro machine, and one game I'd like to port over is The Pandora Directive.

But the GOG release is a bit big 😀

Now, I could probably get it working on Windows 98, but I'd like to get it running from a DVD like the original patch by Wintermute allowed. I'm guessing the GOG version already uses this patch for its distribution, since it doesn't contain any disk images. Can I just burn the whole thing onto a DVD called PANDORA1 and call it a day, or is there something else to be done?

The GOG version is missing an installer (sigh), so I'd also need to know which files need to be copied back to the HD to run it, and which are safe to leave on the disc.

Here is the directory listing from post-install GOG folder, with the obvious GOG and DOSBox config files removed, as well as the (empty) GAMES and PLAYERS folders.

1Directory of C:\THEPAN~1\.
2.              <DIR>            04-03-2017 11:07
3..             <DIR>            13-03-2017 18:10
4ABDUCTOR AP           1,349,389 31-05-1996 18:30
5C01      AP          68,606,945 05-06-1996 17:35
6C02      AP         137,422,988 09-05-1996 14:08
7C02BAK   AP           2,205,419 09-05-1996 14:08
8C03      AP          97,278,527 05-06-1996 16:03
9C03BAK   AP           1,816,160 13-05-1996 13:25
10C04      AP         119,902,093 23-05-1996 11:32
11C05      AP          60,433,220 26-06-1996 12:14
12C05AA    AP          19,061,780 26-06-1996 12:15
13C07      AP          85,584,885 10-06-1996 17:12
14C08      AP          52,827,586 26-06-1996 17:41
15C09      AP          49,554,667 08-05-1996 16:43
16C10      AP          73,061,886 10-05-1996 16:53
17C11      AP          27,581,636 03-05-1996 13:15
18C11AA    AP          23,926,091 03-05-1996 13:16
19C11AA2   AP          31,068,165 03-05-1996 13:17
20C12      AP          64,137,346 15-05-1996 17:41
21C13      AP         105,453,936 03-06-1996 19:34
22C14      AP          48,237,927 26-06-1996 17:31
23C15      AP          77,378,194 11-04-1996 17:29
24C16      AP         139,960,308 26-06-1996 16:44
25C16WARN  AP           2,398,697 26-06-1996 16:44
26C17      AP          10,804,714 07-06-1996 18:34
27C18      AP          33,103,477 02-05-1996 16:49
28C19      AP          29,441,773 28-05-1996 16:31
29C20      AP           1,679,784 09-01-1996  9:30
30C21      AP          51,706,732 28-05-1996 15:50
31C22      AP          56,444,220 11-04-1996 16:34
32C23      AP          38,908,179 24-04-1996 17:03
33C24      AP          56,602,294 02-05-1996 21:04
34C24NOT   AP           2,047,126 02-05-1996 21:04
35C25      AP         100,613,493 02-05-1996 17:29
36C26      AP          48,606,128 10-05-1996 17:43
37C27      AP          20,898,350 15-05-1996 12:47
38C28      AP          33,746,403 02-05-1996 17:38
39C29      AP          36,015,969 02-05-1996 17:41
40C30      AP         132,885,069 26-06-1996 12:27
41C31      AP          10,369,403 02-05-1996 13:28
42C32      AP          59,283,377 26-06-1996 17:50
43C33      AP          50,798,120 26-06-1996 17:19
44C34      AP          75,878,027 11-06-1996 17:48
45C35      AP         259,573,077 26-06-1996 13:29
46C36      AP           9,121,999 30-05-1996 19:10
47C37      AP          54,212,647 10-06-1996 18:32
48C38      AP           3,827,454 27-02-1996 11:25
49C39      AP          32,397,362 29-04-1996 13:04
50C40      AP          14,373,722 15-05-1996 13:45
51C41      AP          57,840,497 28-05-1996 16:25
52C42      AP           6,188,661 29-04-1996 16:17
53C43      AP           7,414,479 29-04-1996 16:22
54C44      AP           8,400,971 29-04-1996 16:13
55C45      AP          83,052,109 26-06-1996 13:12
56C46      AP          58,647,282 26-06-1996 12:43
57C47      AP           2,758,857 29-04-1996 16:08
58C48      AP           4,034,846 30-04-1996 18:03
59C49      AP           3,485,169 29-04-1996 16:10
60C51      AP          32,342,192 29-04-1996 15:55

…Show last 184 lines

61C52      AP           4,235,889 29-04-1996 15:51
62C53      AP          85,389,852 27-06-1996 13:30
63C54      AP           2,912,793 12-04-1996 13:33
64C55      AP          15,899,864 18-03-1996 11:02
65C56      AP          45,163,836 30-05-1996 13:23
66C57      AP           6,496,848 26-06-1996 13:14
67C58      AP             188,372 30-10-1995 16:48
68C59      AP          15,488,863 26-06-1996 17:23
69C60      AP           8,268,825 29-04-1996 16:49
70C63      AP           4,047,289 19-06-1996 11:13
71C66      AP          14,964,477 23-02-1996 18:02
72C70      AP           6,307,679 25-04-1996 15:05
73C71      AP           6,499,325 25-04-1996 15:17
74C72      AP           6,766,465 30-04-1996 11:58
75CHARCODE AP             330,784 11-05-2009 12:08
76CONFIG   INI                601 18-06-2009  9:58
77DDRUM08  DPG            216,442 11-05-2009 12:08
78DDRUM16  DPG            430,371 11-05-2009 12:08
79DEFAULT  INI                600 11-05-2009 12:09
80DMAP     LZ               6,773 11-05-2009 12:08
81DRUM     BNK              5,404 11-05-2009 12:08
82EXAM     LZ              13,079 11-05-2009 12:08
83EXAM000  AP          10,149,136 17-06-2009 16:14
84EXAM020  AP           9,752,060 17-06-2009 16:14
85EXAM040  AP           9,479,298 17-06-2009 16:14
86EXAM060  AP           7,248,106 17-06-2009 16:14
87EXAM080  AP           3,648,523 17-06-2009 16:14
88EXAM0A0  AP           6,030,193 17-06-2009 16:14
89EXAM0D0  AP           7,618,054 17-06-2009 16:14
90EXAM100  AP           3,457,065 17-06-2009 16:14
91GRAPHICS AP           1,869,753 11-05-2009 12:08
92HELP     AP             144,680 11-05-2009 12:08
93HINT     AP             263,483 11-05-2009 12:08
94HLPINDEX IDX              1,860 11-05-2009 12:08
95HLPINDEX TXT             62,631 11-05-2009 12:08
96HMIDET   386             87,637 11-05-2009 12:08
97HMIDRV   386            317,317 11-05-2009 12:08
98HMIMDRV  386            117,858 11-05-2009 12:08
99ICONS    AP             107,228 11-05-2009 12:08
100INV      AP             286,386 11-05-2009 12:08
101INV2     AP             393,800 11-05-2009 12:08
102INVM     AP             142,574 11-05-2009 12:08
103LOADPATS EXE             49,194 11-05-2009 12:08
104MELODIC  BNK              5,404 11-05-2009 12:08
105MT32     PAT             27,221 11-05-2009 12:08
106MUSIC    AP           1,026,765 11-05-2009 12:08
107MUSICTBL AP               5,298 11-05-2009 12:08
108NEWS     AP             399,560 24-10-1995 13:05
109PANDORA  AP           2,677,038 29-05-1996 16:25
110PANEL    AP           1,026,238 11-05-2009 12:08
111PATCHES  INI              6,226 11-05-2009 12:08
112R01      AP           4,406,704 04-06-1996 11:07
113R01VR    AP           3,247,944 04-06-1996 10:20
114R02      AP           4,121,218 29-04-1996 13:35
115R02VR    AP           3,460,659 24-06-1996 12:20
116R03      AP           1,406,089 11-04-1996 16:23
117R03VR    AP           3,035,729 04-06-1996 10:20
118R04      AP           5,035,469 11-05-2009 12:08
119R04VR    AP           5,482,323 11-05-2009 12:08
120R05      AP           1,740,707 25-03-1996 11:18
121R05VR    AP           2,691,405 04-06-1996 10:20
122R06      AP           4,073,301 01-05-1996 13:29
123R06VR    AP           3,404,165 04-06-1996 10:20
124R07      AP           1,948,184 03-06-1996 13:50
125R07VR    AP           3,142,979 27-06-1996 17:16
126R08      AP             606,734 26-04-1996 12:15
127R08VR    AP           1,921,175 04-06-1996 10:20
128R09      AP           2,117,771 25-03-1996 11:26
129R09VR    AP           3,708,246 04-06-1996 10:20
130R11      AP           2,160,555 25-03-1996 11:28
131R11VR    AP           3,088,786 04-06-1996 10:20
132R12      AP           1,656,567 10-02-1996 13:01
133R12VR    AP           1,405,137 04-06-1996 10:20
134R15      AP          23,351,058 18-06-1996 18:48
135R15VR    AP           3,463,435 04-06-1996 10:20
136R17      AP             324,469 01-07-1996 16:22
137R17VR    AP           1,310,438 01-07-1996 15:44
138R20      AP           1,498,537 02-04-1996 12:07
139R20VR    AP           3,055,537 14-06-1996 12:10
140R21      AP           4,204,330 03-06-1996 13:37
141R21VR    AP           3,687,851 04-06-1996 10:20
142R22      AP           2,936,013 30-04-1996 11:48
143R22VR    AP           3,703,772 18-06-1996 12:08
144R23      AP           1,678,204 03-06-1996 13:17
145R23VR    AP           2,630,849 10-06-1996 13:24
146R24      AP           1,886,595 03-06-1996 13:39
147R24VR    AP           3,261,244 04-06-1996 10:20
148R25      AP           2,426,499 03-06-1996 13:20
149R25VR    AP           2,640,958 27-06-1996 17:32
150R26      AP           1,666,811 18-06-1996 19:08
151R26VR    AP           3,928,602 11-06-1996 18:04
152R27      AP           1,051,365 18-06-1996 12:14
153R27VR    AP           3,727,665 11-06-1996 18:02
154R28      AP           1,829,948 16-04-1996 17:13
155R28VR    AP           1,824,771 14-06-1996 12:06
156R29      AP           1,744,426 25-03-1996 11:43
157R29VR    AP           3,403,838 20-06-1996 13:30
158R31      AP           2,351,171 25-03-1996 11:46
159R31VR    AP           3,024,106 18-06-1996 13:44
160R32      AP           2,993,454 22-04-1996 14:07
161R32VR    AP           2,692,792 27-06-1996 17:25
162R33      AP             471,003 10-02-1996 13:05
163R33VR    AP           1,268,175 04-06-1996 10:20
164R34      AP             379,843 10-02-1996 13:05
165R34VR    AP           1,339,328 04-06-1996 10:20
166R35      AP             975,657 10-02-1996 13:05
167R35VR    AP           2,188,087 04-06-1996 10:20
168R36      AP           1,254,405 25-03-1996 11:49
169R36VR    AP           2,630,476 04-06-1996 10:20
170R37      AP           1,272,721 10-02-1996 13:05
171R37VR    AP           3,045,707 04-06-1996 10:20
172R38      AP             616,778 25-03-1996 11:50
173R38VR    AP           1,456,729 04-06-1996 10:20
174R39      AP             540,553 10-02-1996 13:05
175R39VR    AP           1,151,810 14-06-1996 12:04
176R40      AP           1,175,241 10-02-1996 13:06
177R40VR    AP           1,666,643 04-06-1996 10:20
178R41      AP           3,600,694 18-06-1996 15:02
179R41VR    AP           2,218,329 04-06-1996 10:20
180R42      AP           1,429,849 03-06-1996 13:24
181R42VR    AP           2,067,256 04-06-1996 10:20
182R43      AP             427,964 21-03-1996 11:19
183R43VR    AP           1,302,810 04-06-1996 10:20
184R44      AP             587,544 25-03-1996 11:52
185R44VR    AP           1,614,374 04-06-1996 10:20
186R45      AP             838,775 25-03-1996 11:53
187R45VR    AP           1,840,214 04-06-1996 10:20
188R46      AP             441,856 21-03-1996 11:20
189R46VR    AP           1,480,763 04-06-1996 10:20
190R47      AP           1,704,095 19-06-1996 10:53
191R47VR    AP           2,441,937 14-06-1996 12:22
192R48      AP             590,401 10-02-1996 13:06
193R48VR    AP           1,422,311 04-06-1996 10:20
194R49      AP             738,289 20-03-1996 15:44
195R49VR    AP           1,557,333 04-06-1996 10:20
196R54      AP           7,465,762 26-03-1996 11:11
197R54VR    AP           3,202,377 04-06-1996 10:20
198R57      AP           1,206,421 28-05-1996 13:22
199R57VR    AP           2,506,930 10-06-1996 13:44
200R58      AP             797,352 28-05-1996 13:30
201R58VR    AP           2,244,051 04-06-1996 10:20
202R59      AP           2,832,550 03-06-1996 13:42
203R59VR    AP           2,457,534 04-06-1996 10:20
204R60      AP             856,888 03-06-1996 13:43
205R60VR    AP           4,634,384 04-06-1996 10:20
206R61      AP           1,062,575 19-06-1996 10:34
207R61VR    AP           2,221,297 04-06-1996 10:20
208R62      AP           1,363,811 26-03-1996  9:57
209R62VR    AP           2,408,238 14-06-1996 12:04
210R63      AP           1,024,427 10-02-1996 13:08
211R63VR    AP           2,690,841 04-06-1996 10:20
212R64      AP           1,443,114 11-04-1996 16:15
213R64VR    AP           3,064,028 04-06-1996 10:20
214R65      AP           2,550,589 03-06-1996 13:45
215R65VR    AP           2,519,017 04-06-1996 10:20
216R66      AP           1,376,239 18-06-1996 19:46
217R66VR    AP           1,886,992 04-06-1996 10:20
218R67      AP           2,103,065 11-04-1996 15:39
219R67VR    AP           3,502,722 04-06-1996 10:20
220R68      AP             897,711 26-03-1996 10:10
221R68VR    AP           2,291,205 04-06-1996 10:20
222R69      AP           1,300,292 13-05-1996 10:30
223R69GARY  AP           4,270,486 13-05-1996 10:32
224R69VR    AP           2,904,801 04-06-1996 10:20
225R70      AP           1,870,582 25-04-1996 15:20
226R70VR    AP           2,547,230 10-06-1996 17:45
227R71      AP           1,637,342 04-06-1996 11:10
228R71VR    AP           2,710,428 04-06-1996 10:20
229README   TXT             10,163 18-06-2009 11:48
230RMAP     AP              17,202 11-05-2009 12:08
231ROOMCODE AP             215,272 11-05-2009 12:08
232SAFE     AP           2,960,527 30-09-1995  9:27
233SOUND    AP             108,138 11-05-2009 12:08
234SOUND    INF              4,500 11-05-2009 12:08
235SPECIAL  AP           5,096,224 24-06-1996 13:45
236TEST     HMI              3,328 11-05-2009 12:08
237TEST     LOG                100 11-05-2009 12:10
238TEST     WAV            154,668 11-05-2009 12:08
239TEX4     EXE          1,300,693 11-05-2009 12:08
240TITLE    AP           5,035,951 03-06-1996 18:18
241TRAVEL   AP           1,246,096 11-05-2009 12:08
242VAAPHOTO AP           1,174,914 19-04-1996 15:40
243  239 File(s)     3,365,864,416 Bytes.
244    2 Dir(s)        262,111,744 Bytes free.

Reply 1 of 15, by F2bnp

Posted on 2017-03-13, 23:10

F2bnp Offline

Rank l33t

Rank: l33t
Posts: 3499
Joined: 2007-09-23, 10:19

Why not use the HD/DVD Installer you mentioned? AFAIK the GOG version does not differ in any other way.
This is the way I played both Pandora Directive and UAKM, I never got the chance to thank the man himself. I doubt it'd have gotten very far with the amount of disc-swapping required in these games 🤣 .

Reply 2 of 15, by clueless1

Posted on 2017-03-13, 23:34

clueless1 Offline

Rank l33t

Rank: l33t
Posts: 4712
Joined: 2015-12-22, 17:43
Location: Midwest US

If you do get this working, you should report it in Phil's database of GOG games that work in real DOS:
Digital DOS games (GOG, Steam...) Retro PC Compatibility Sheet: We need your input!

The more I learn, the more I realize how much I don't know.
OPL3 FM vs. Roland MT-32 vs. General MIDI DOS Game Comparison
Let's benchmark our systems with cache disabled
DOS PCI Graphics Card Benchmarks

Reply 3 of 15, by zerker

Posted on 2017-03-14, 20:58

zerker Offline

Rank Member

Rank: Member
Posts: 231
Joined: 2016-02-11, 01:34

The HD/DVD installer assumes you already have an original set of CDs that you plan to combine to a HD install or create a DVD project folder. It doesn't operate on an already-installed hard drive folder. I already tried the UAKM installer on my original disc set to see how it worked.

Reply 4 of 15, by F2bnp

Posted on 2017-03-14, 21:01

F2bnp Offline

Rank l33t

Rank: l33t
Posts: 3499
Joined: 2007-09-23, 10:19

Ah, I didn't know you did not have the original CDs. You could try making a DVD image before burning it on a DVD-ROM and see how DOSBox behaves.

Reply 5 of 15, by zerker

Posted on 2017-03-14, 22:39

zerker Offline

Rank Member

Rank: Member
Posts: 231
Joined: 2016-02-11, 01:34

Yeah, but even doing that, I'm not sure which files to keep on the 'hard drive' portion of the test without a lot of trial and error. It would help greatly if anyone has an installed copy of Pandora Directive and could do a directory listing.

Reply 6 of 15, by F2bnp

Posted on 2017-03-15, 00:10

F2bnp Offline

Rank l33t

Rank: l33t
Posts: 3499
Joined: 2007-09-23, 10:19

I could help you out with that, I still have my original discs and I always kept a "DVD" version of the Pandora Directive in the box 😉.

Would you like a directory listing of a "DVD" installation? As in, the type of installation in which the installer creates a small folder on the hard drive and reads most of everything off of a single DVD? I can also provide you with the directory listing of my DVD.
I've played through the entire game using that disc!

Reply 7 of 15, by zerker

Posted on 2017-03-15, 06:50

zerker Offline

Rank Member

Rank: Member
Posts: 231
Joined: 2016-02-11, 01:34

The small folder on the hard drive is mostly what I need, but both listings would be helpful.

Reply 8 of 15, by F2bnp

Posted on 2017-03-15, 10:51

F2bnp Offline

Rank l33t

Rank: l33t
Posts: 3499
Joined: 2007-09-23, 10:19

Okay, here you go:

This is a directory listing of the DVD itself:

And this is a directory listing of the hard drive folder the game creates:

Reply 9 of 15, by zerker

Posted on 2017-03-15, 21:05

zerker Offline

Rank Member

Rank: Member
Posts: 231
Joined: 2016-02-11, 01:34

Okay, that will at least get me started, though an ASCII listing would be easier to compare (plus get listings for the subdirectories on the DVD). Can you run the following commands in a command prompt and paste the results in code blocks in a response?

1dir F:\ /s > %USERPROFILE%\Desktop\PandoraDVD.txt
2dir E:\Games\Pandora /s > %USERPROFILE%\Desktop\PandoraHDD.txt

The results should, of course, appear on your desktop. Go ahead and delete after you post it here.

Also, can you post the contents of PANDORA.BAT? I'd like to make sure it isn't using any odd command-line arguments.

Initial testing caused a complete segmentation fault on DOSBOX, so that's no good. After I have the full DVD listing, I'll try burning a disc with the files I have and continue on the retro machine.

Reply 10 of 15, by F2bnp

Posted on 2017-03-16, 01:23

F2bnp Offline

Rank l33t

Rank: l33t
Posts: 3499
Joined: 2007-09-23, 10:19

Hmm, how about I just send you an image of my DVD, seeing as you already own the game anyway. That should answer all of your questions and help you out in making the GOG version work in the same manner!

I'll send you a PM with the details soon.

Reply 11 of 15, by yawetaG

Posted on 2017-03-16, 08:18

yawetaG Offline

Rank Oldbie

Rank: Oldbie
Posts: 1828
Joined: 2016-06-14, 14:36
Location: Netherlands

IIRC, it's possible to get a complete list of filenames containing in a folder from within Windows by selecting all the files, hitting Ctrl-C, and pasting the result in a simple text file (e.g. Notepad). No need for DOS commands.

Reply 12 of 15, by Stiletto

Posted on 2017-03-16, 14:12

Stiletto Offline

Rank l33t++

Rank: l33t++
Posts: 5133
Joined: 2002-07-01, 21:57

yawetaG wrote:
IIRC, it's possible to get a complete list of filenames containing in a folder from within Windows by selecting all the files, hitting Ctrl-C, and pasting the result in a simple text file (e.g. Notepad). No need for DOS commands.

You mean from Windows Explorer? Not working here (Windows 10)

That should work from a command prompt window, but you still need DOS commands to list files and folders.

"I see a little silhouette-o of a man, Scaramouche, Scaramouche, will you
do the Fandango!" - Queen

Stiletto

Reply 13 of 15, by zerker

Posted on 2017-03-16, 20:08

zerker Offline

Rank Member

Rank: Member
Posts: 231
Joined: 2016-02-11, 01:34

My preference would not be sending copies of the game around. If you aren't comfortable with running commands, at least a screenshot of the contents of the DATA01 and ATS folders would be sufficient. I think the VESA folder probably just contains UNIVBE, which I don't need 😀

However, you can right click on the command prompt to paste the commands to save yourself re-typing if you go that route.

Reply 14 of 15, by F2bnp

Posted on 2017-03-16, 21:54

F2bnp Offline

Rank l33t

Rank: l33t
Posts: 3499
Joined: 2007-09-23, 10:19

Well, I tried to upload it last night, but Windows 10 decided it wanted to restart my PC for updates. 🤣

Anyway, here's what you asked for, I've included Pandora.bat too. Have fun!

Reply 15 of 15, by CrossBow777

Posted on 2019-01-03, 15:49

CrossBow777 Offline

Rank Member

Rank: Member
Posts: 328
Joined: 2018-02-06, 03:30
Location: Ivory Tower, Fantasia - Tulsa, OK

I know this original post is well over a year old now and nearly 2 years. But I wondered if anyone has gotten the MT-32 mode to work with this game? I've both both my MT-200 (SC-55 basically), and an MT-32 and was curious to hear the difference between the soundtracks. However, when I go into the config section of the game and select MT-32, it will promptly crash DosBOX as soon as you try and test it. This happens under both the GOG release of DosBOX that comes with the game as well as within a standalone DOSbox that I normally use for my DOS game playing.

So..yeah anyone managed to get the MT-32 mode working on this game?

Midi Modules: MT-32 (OLD), MT-200, MT-300, MT-90S, MT-90U, SD-20

Go to top of page Go to top of page

Back to Software