General Dos problem...

  • Thread starter Thread starter Chris Mills
  • Start date Start date
C

Chris Mills

Whenever I try to run a DOS game under XP, it has an unusual problem. The
DOS box freezes and nothing happens. This does not crash my entire system,
and any game designed for Win95 and later works fine(Lucky me I guess). It
doesn't matter if the game was made just before win95 was the norm, or if
the game was made in the old 286 days.

I've noticed something that may be of some use, when I close the Dos box in
Task manager, a process called 'ntvdm.exe' is running flat out at 99% of the
cpu. When I close the box the process stops. Is it possible that ntvdm is
encountering some error that it can't handle? I think it might be a graphics
issue, but I really have no idea...

For example, a game from 1996 called M.A.X., when I try to load it, comes to
a screen about online registration and then freezes. But for some reason, I
can get in and use the setup program to configure the sound card without
trouble(except auto-detect, it causes a ctd, but who needs that anyway?).
Any hints, tips, pointers or fixes would be appreciated. And yes, I have
plans to build a cheapy Dos/win95/win98 box in the future...

Thanks in advance.
Keeper3.
 
Hi Chris,

As you already touched on.. When a game is a DOS game, it could work
using compatibility mode: http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=292533 , or
try Multiboot from: http://members.ozemail.com.au/~lpcd/downloads.html .

With DOSBOX you can emulate a DOS computer on your XP desktop:
http://dosbox.sourceforge.net/information.php

If you prefer to explore other advanced methods, here are two of the best
tutorials I've found on the subject: http://www.dosgames.com/xphints.php
and: http://home.earthlink.net/~angeldancer27/XpGameList.htm :-)

--
Cheers,
Jimmy S.

Additional Support Resources: My Zone.com Helpsite: http://nibblesnbits.tk
Microsoft Online Tech Support: http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=376
Game FAQ's: http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=FH;[LN];gms
My advice is donated "AS IS" without warranty; nor do I confer any rights.
_________________________________________________________

| Whenever I try to run a DOS game under XP, it has an unusual problem. The
| DOS box freezes and nothing happens. This does not crash my entire system,
| and any game designed for Win95 and later works fine(Lucky me I guess). It
| doesn't matter if the game was made just before win95 was the norm, or if
| the game was made in the old 286 days.
|
| I've noticed something that may be of some use, when I close the Dos box in
| Task manager, a process called 'ntvdm.exe' is running flat out at 99% of the
| cpu. When I close the box the process stops. Is it possible that ntvdm is
| encountering some error that it can't handle? I think it might be a graphics
| issue, but I really have no idea...
|
| For example, a game from 1996 called M.A.X., when I try to load it, comes to
| a screen about online registration and then freezes. But for some reason, I
| can get in and use the setup program to configure the sound card without
| trouble(except auto-detect, it causes a ctd, but who needs that anyway?).
| Any hints, tips, pointers or fixes would be appreciated. And yes, I have
| plans to build a cheapy Dos/win95/win98 box in the future...
|
| Thanks in advance.
| Keeper3.
|
|
 
Jimmy S. said:
Hi Chris,

As you already touched on.. When a game is a DOS game, it could work
using compatibility mode: http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=292533 , or
try Multiboot from: http://members.ozemail.com.au/~lpcd/downloads.html .
Click to expand...


Compatibility mode, already tried that. Fail
Multiboot no likey NTFS. Fail
With DOSBOX you can emulate a DOS computer on your XP desktop:
http://dosbox.sourceforge.net/information.php
Click to expand...


DOSBOX doesn't support Dos4gw(protected mode), could be good for older
games... But overall? Fail
If you prefer to explore other advanced methods, here are two of the best
tutorials I've found on the subject: http://www.dosgames.com/xphints.php
and: http://home.earthlink.net/~angeldancer27/XpGameList.htm :-)
Click to expand...


I tried the xphints, but I knew before I tried that it would do nothing. The
hints are useful if the games crash as they would in dos, the problem is
that the software XP is using to emulate DOS is encountering something that
stops normal operation. Fail
And the XPGameList? A horribly designed website(red text on black?!?), but
could be useful... Rating Pending

Grrrr! I want my DOS games now!!!11!

Oh well, thanks anyway, but if there is anyone with any other suggestions...
now is the time...

Keeper3 <-- getting somewhat desperate.
--
Cheers,
Jimmy S.

Additional Support Resources: My Zone.com Helpsite: http://nibblesnbits.tk
Microsoft Online Tech Support: http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=376
Game FAQ's: http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=FH;[LN];gms
My advice is donated "AS IS" without warranty; nor do I confer any
Click to expand...
rights.
 
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