VOGONS


First post, by Old_mATX

User metadata
Rank Newbie
Rank
Newbie

Hi guys,

What do I need to do to start playing some DOS platformers under my current platform?

Do I need any utilities to reduce RAM and CPU during play?

My specs are:

OS ME for now
CPU Socket 478 P4 2.4
MOBO Asrock p4i65g
RAM 512 MB
SOUND CARD Sound Blaster Audigy 2 ZS with DOS driver
GPU BFG GeForce FX 5700 Ultra

The games I wanted to try are as follows: Raptor: Call of the Shadows, Aladdin, Earthworm Jim, Jazz Jackrabbit, Rayman.

Where do you also get them semi or legit way?

Thanks.

Reply 1 of 7, by Greywolf1

User metadata
Rank Member
Rank
Member

Dosbox is a favourite for many there are a variety of versions that have high flexibility to play a host of games reasonably well.
As for games it’s against the rules , google provides if you use the right words.
Good luck

Reply 2 of 7, by Jo22

User metadata
Rank l33t++
Rank
l33t++

Technically, it might be possible to use VDMSound here.
VDMSound was the spiritual predecessor to DOSBox.
We used in the the early years of Windows XP, when we moved on from our Windows 98 PCs.

Now, normal VDMSound is very old and was originally written for Windows NT, to improve NTVDM.
However, there's an Windows 9x port that's in alpha stage. It may work, but it's unsupported.

Alternatively, it's also possible to have an older version of Connnectix Virtual PC running on Windows Me.
The PC version v4 was available to both OS/2 and Windows 98, I vaguely remember.
By using Virtual PC you can run MS-DOS 6.22 in a window. It's just a wild idea, though.

"Time, it seems, doesn't flow. For some it's fast, for some it's slow.
In what to one race is no time at all, another race can rise and fall..." - The Minstrel

//My video channel//

Reply 3 of 7, by Old_mATX

User metadata
Rank Newbie
Rank
Newbie
Greywolf1 wrote on 2024-10-30, 19:54:

Dosbox is a favourite for many there are a variety of versions that have high flexibility to play a host of games reasonably well.
As for games it’s against the rules , google provides if you use the right words.
Good luck

Isn't for more newer Win OS's?

Reply 4 of 7, by Keekan_kk

User metadata
Rank Newbie
Rank
Newbie

hi
i am also interested in this. Please let me know if oyu have any leads..Please . thank you

Reply 5 of 7, by Jo22

User metadata
Rank l33t++
Rank
l33t++

Isn't for more newer Win OS's?

Some builds run on Windows NT 3.51 or 95, even.

Niche OSes like KolibriOS (MenuetOS) have DOSBox ports, too.

"Time, it seems, doesn't flow. For some it's fast, for some it's slow.
In what to one race is no time at all, another race can rise and fall..." - The Minstrel

//My video channel//

Reply 6 of 7, by zb10948

User metadata
Rank Member
Rank
Member

Remove ME for 98 and you get rid of all the issues.
Legit source of games is GOG, when you have GOG installer with old dos game it's actually under Dosbox, so just get the game files out from the installation directory. Ofc you'll have to do that on modern Windows.

Reply 7 of 7, by chinny22

User metadata
Rank l33t++
Rank
l33t++

Dosbox is definitely the easiest way.
Running dosbox requires a PC with a bit of extra power to run both your actual version of windows + the emulator but the games you list aren't overly demanding so should be ok on a P4?

However as you are running WinME technically you do have a copy of dos installed already.
WinME removed the option to boot into dos, (one of the reasons I still prefer Win98) but it is possible to restore the option, here is one I found with a quick search, not sure if it's the best method or not.
https://youtu.be/JlhISICHlYo?si=cpVxfjlqt08xWbBy

You say you have the Audigy 2 ZS dos drivers already installed so won't go through that but if needed check out the dos driver section from this guide
Guide: Installing Windows 9x and DOS drivers on Audigy cards (version 3.1)

Out of your games that I know
-Raptor as no special requirements
-Jazz will require the TPPatch from here https://www.jazz2online.com/downloads/341/jazz-1-tppatch
-Aladdin won't work with more than 32MB of RAM, this post has a fix to improve sound for SoundBlaster as well as steps on how to reduce your ram with tools towards the end.
Re: Aladdin (DOS) music - SB16 vs. SBPro vs. WSS