Video RAM does not affect DOS games in Windows. Video RAM will enable Windows applications to use higher resolutions or color depth, but DOS games runs at fixed resolutions. Most of them should run fine even with 256K VGAs.

On the other hand, Windows was not meant to deal with programs that access hardware directly (=DOS games). Although Windows 9x is better running DOS games, they should be run on plain DOS.

Sorry, but Windows 3.1 gaming experience sucks.

Why do you open a new topic about the same problem, days away? Please do not do this.

As I wrote before, I think this is fixed in SVN. That the emucr build does not work, means you should try another one.

@Zup: Sure, Win 3.1 sucks, but the "PIF-Edior" offers settings for VGA-DOS in a window. If it's not working at all, MS would'nt have added it...

@Dominus: Hello! Why I opend the same topic twice is written in the first line of this thread, repeated in other words: I guess that different or more people are browsing the "Software" section, in the hope to receive an answer I understand. I told you in the original thread, that your appreciated reply was too "diogenesque" fo me. I'm sure it is my fault, but I'm no programmer and - maybe - a little dim. I could neither find out, what SVN really means, nor where to get a working version. You did not provide a link, and my confused clicking through the SVN-wiki just lead me to some 3rd-party site with useless software, maybe 64bit or linux or whatever. So, if you could (please) post a link to a 32bit-Windows DOSBox that fixes the issue, I'd be more than grateful and will immediately stop asking the same thing twice. I even promise to try it out asap and - if successful - post a screenshot for others who want to know - if any. Thank you!

Tricia McMillan wrote:

@Zup: Sure, Win 3.1 sucks, but the "PIF-Edior" offers settings for VGA-DOS in a window. If it's not working at all, MS would'nt have added it...

You should get yourself some background information about how all this works (technically). I'm not going into this, but MS gave a shit for DOS games when they designed Windows 3.x. PIF files are for running text-mode DOS applications, not for games. Games had to access the hardware directly, as DOS had no API for such things. Because of this, it's not only outside of Windows' control, it just can't work in many cases. This is not Win9x, which had a completely different approach in supporting DOS games.

@Dominus: You see?! It works! More postings = more answers.
@derSammler: Thank you for your comment! I'm the first to say that I don't know much about technics, my method is trial and error. If something does'nt work, I surf and / or ask until I either know how to fix it or I'm convinced that i'ts impossible.

Now there are 2 contrary opinions: a) Zup and derSammler = "No way, forget it." b) Dominus: "It works, use SVN-DOXBox." Well, I'd really like to experiment with b) ...

edit: I surfed a little, now it looks that the most recent version of DOSBox compatible with XP is 0.74. If so, this thread is closed and I shall proceed as suggested: "forget it!" ... Thank you anyway!

No one runs DOS games in Windows 3.1 unless they want to be contrary especially if they are using DOSBox.
If you want to be super lazy then the right way to do it is by using a frontend like DBGL.

DOSBox 0.74-3 and the SVN support Windows XP just fine.

If you run across a build of DOSBox that does not support Windows XP then they likely used Visual Studio but forgot to compile with XP support which is a checkbox. Visual Studio 2019 still supports XP SP3 using the v141 toolset. Contact those people so they can fix their idiocy.

I've attached a SVN executable.

Install 0.74-3, rename the original exe and extract the attached to the installed location but no guarantees this will fix your issue since you should be running DOS games in DOS not Windows, it's a tough concept to grasp I know.

DosFreak wrote:

No one runs DOS games in Windows 3.1 unless they want to be contrary especially if they are using DOSBox.
If you want to be super lazy then the right way to do it is by using a frontend like DBGL. ...

Jaya, it's an experiment, nothing more. Tried to make my "unique Win 3.1 experience" even more, err. Winful... Usually my DOSes are in DFR which is the best frontend i can imagine = slim, xtra-lazy and 100% trouble-free...

DosFreak wrote:

...I've attached a SVN executable. ...

In www there are myriads of different DOSBoxes and *no" convincing docs, so thank's for your fresh one!
Unlike my old 0.74, with your version "command.com" runs in a window without crash.
Re. EGA / VGA DOS in a 3.1 window, I shall believe what the others say = stop trying, wo'nt work.

DosFreak wrote:

... DOS games in DOS not Windows, it's a tough concept to grasp I know.

Ah! Sounds somehow strange, but the more I think about it, the more I agree. Maybe that's the reason why my C64 and SEGA-emulator can't cope with the DOSes, too! Thanks once more!

Tricia McMillan wrote:

@Dominus: You see?! It works! More postings = more answers. @derSammler: Thank you for your comment! I'm the first to say that […]
Show full quote

@Dominus: You see?! It works! More postings = more answers.
@derSammler: Thank you for your comment! I'm the first to say that I don't know much about technics, my method is trial and error. If something does'nt work, I surf and / or ask until I either know how to fix it or I'm convinced that i'ts impossible.

Now there are 2 contrary opinions: a) Zup and derSammler = "No way, forget it." b) Dominus: "It works, use SVN-DOXBox." Well, I'd really like to experiment with b) ...

edit: I surfed a little, now it looks that the most recent version of DOSBox compatible with XP is 0.74. If so, this thread is closed and I shall proceed as suggested: "forget it!" ... Thank you anyway!

So, I repeat myself, please do not open a new thread about the same topic. Posting mire in the old thread would have delivered the same.
Why I didn't help you more? You figured out the SVN Wiki yourself and more doesn't need to be told.

I think the same.
If running DOS games or Windows on a desktop is important, OS/2 2.x or higher is also worth a try.

Tricia McMillan wrote:

Jaya, it's an experiment, nothing more. Tried to make my "unique Win 3.1 experience" even more, err. Winful...]..}

Okay, so it's an experiment. I did something similar, but CGA is the best you can emulate in terms of graphics in Windows 3.x, I'm afraid. 😐
See https://youtu.be/DwkAVlUBu30

If you like to experiment with CGA/MCGA or such, you can give Windows /386 (v2.1x +) a try.
Mayve it works better with them, not sure.
There are some screenshots of it along with windowed DOS games available at:

https://virtuallyfun.com/wordpress/2018/08/07 … dows-386-v2-03/
https://virtuallyfun.com/wordpress/2014/05/09 … rosoft-os2-2-0/
https://virtuallyfun.com/wordpress/2011/06/01/windows-3-0/