VOGONS

X-Com: UFO Defense installation issue

Topic actions

First post, by Stormlight

Posted on 
User metadata
Rank Newbie
Rank
Newbie

Although I've known about DOSBox for years, this is the first time I've ever used it.

I've been trying to install X-COM from the original floppies I bought back in 1994 because I wanted a clean install. I mounted both my OLDGAMES folder (as drive C:) and my A: drive (as drive A:) in DOSBox. The first diskette installs correctly. But when the install program asks for Disk 2 and I insert Disk 2 into the drive and hit ENTER, the computer reads the disk for a bit and then I get the following error message:

Streaming:(floppy) => (data transfer ...)
Error: file failed to write work file: C\UFO\MPSLABS.$$$

At this point, I get the message to put Disk 3 in the A: drive. Obviously Disk 3 is the wrong disk because the install program has not yet copied the file from Disk 2. If I put Disk 3 in the drive as requested, I get another error message to insert Disk 4 into the drive. Again, this is incorrect because the game came with only 3 disks.

I don't know if this is the Microprose install program or DOSBox that is generating this error. Nevertheless, I cannot get beyond this error regardless of how many times I've tried to install the game.

I've even tried using a USB floppy disk drive, mounting it as Drive B:, but I still get the same error after Disk 1 installs correctly.

What does this error mean, or better yet, does anyone have a solution?

Thank you for any help you might give me.

Dave

[System info]
Motherboard: Asus P5N-D
Processor: Intel Core 2 Extreme X6800 2.93GHz
RAM: 4GB (2x2GB) DDR2 PC2-6400 800MHz
Video card: NVIDIA GeForce 8800 GTS, 640MB PCIE
Sound board: Sound Blaster X-Fi Fatal1ty FPS
Monitor: Alienware OptX AW2210 21.5" HD Widescreen
Operating system: XP Pro SP3
Game: X-Com: UFO Defense

DOSBox version: 0.74
Sound mode used: [X-Com setup] SB16, SBBASE=220, IRQ=7, DMA=1, HDMA=1
Emulator version: [not using any, unless it was part of the DOSBox installation]

Reply 1 of 7, by ripsaw8080

Posted on 
User metadata
Rank DOSBox Author
Rank
DOSBox Author

You need to mount the A: drive like this:

mount a A:\ -t floppy

Without the -t floppy parameter you have to press Ctrl-F4 to make DOSBox refresh its disk cache after switching disks, but the parameter is easier.

Reply 2 of 7, by Stormlight

Posted on 
User metadata
Rank Newbie
Rank
Newbie

Thank you! That fixed the problem.

I only read the Basic Setup and Installation doc for DosBox thinking that the -t parameters only applied to CDs. I see now I should have dug deeper on the DOSBox Wiki site. Your help was very much appreciated.

Reply 3 of 7, by jmrydholm

Posted on 
User metadata
Rank Member
Rank
Member

On a similar issue, I had some trouble using my Roland MT-32 with Doxbox and X-Com: UFO Defense. If I select "MT-32/LAPC 1" in the setup options, I have sound but absolutely no music. The strange thing is, I have Dosbox set up exactly the same way for X-Com 2: TFTD. The MT-32 starts right up and plays that game's music with no problems.

Am I missing something here? Doesn't X-Com 1 support the MT-32? I have it hooked up via Midi to USB cable and it works with all of my other games, like the "Quest" series, Indiana Jones, etc. I do appreciate any advice!

"The height of strategy, is to attack your opponent’s strategy” -Sun Tzu
“Make your fighting stance, your everyday stance and make your everyday stance, your fighting stance.” - Musashi
SET BLASTER = A220 I5 D1 T3 P330 E620 OMG WTF BBQ

Reply 4 of 7, by ripsaw8080

Posted on 
User metadata
Rank DOSBox Author
Rank
DOSBox Author

Other than being for the same game, I don't see how your problem is similar to an installation problem, so probably would do better to make a new thread for it.

Anyway, X-COM definitely does support MT-32/LAPC-1, so perhaps you haven't configured the game correctly (e.g. MIDI port 0x330) or you're missing sound files. Which version of the game do you have? The v1.4 update to X-COM broke Roland music support, for which there is a patch, but that problem is more severe than missing music -- it causes the game to crash.

Reply 5 of 7, by jmrydholm

Posted on 
User metadata
Rank Member
Rank
Member

Sorry, you're right. I probably should've made a new thread! I have the Direct2Drive version, with UFO, TFTD, Enforcer, and Interceptor. They got merged into Gamefly recently, so maybe I should check on their forums as well. Thank you for the patch though, I will definitely try it. At worst, I can reinstall or use my Sound Canvas instead.

"The height of strategy, is to attack your opponent’s strategy” -Sun Tzu
“Make your fighting stance, your everyday stance and make your everyday stance, your fighting stance.” - Musashi
SET BLASTER = A220 I5 D1 T3 P330 E620 OMG WTF BBQ

Reply 6 of 7, by Shagittarius

Posted on 
User metadata
Rank Oldbie
Rank
Oldbie

Does the Direct to Drive version use DosBox to run the games? If so it probably installed its own instance and you'll need to configure it to use your setup properly.

Reply 7 of 7, by jmrydholm

Posted on 
User metadata
Rank Member
Rank
Member

Thank you guys, the patch worked perfectly! Apparently the D2D/Gamefly edition is prepatched with the broken .cat file. A simple overwrite repaired the crashing/no sound issues.

"The height of strategy, is to attack your opponent’s strategy” -Sun Tzu
“Make your fighting stance, your everyday stance and make your everyday stance, your fighting stance.” - Musashi
SET BLASTER = A220 I5 D1 T3 P330 E620 OMG WTF BBQ

Go to top of page Go to top of page
Back to DOSBox Games/Apps
Close window
Close window