Okay, here's the background on this problem. My computer is about 6 years old, and was built by a private vendor. It has not exhibited any problems until a couple of years ago when I gave it away on a long term loan to a friend. When I got it back, there were many programs installed on it and several system changes made to the original configuration. I basically uninstalled everything I wasn't interested in and reinstalled my applications again. Shortly after, the computer began exibiting strange behavior like freezing up, not displaying certain fonts correctly even though the font was installed on my computer, and occasional crashes. With some technical assistance, I formatted the entire harddrive through crosswiring on the motherboard to eliminate old BIOS passwords I no longer remembered, so I basically began again with a totally clean slate. End of problem, right? Nope.
Prior to loaning my PC out, I was able to run such DOS based programs such as Duke Nukem' 3D, Blood, Theme Hospital, Full Throttle, Dark Forces, and a whole host of others, with out any trouble at all. Now, whether running through true DOS mode, bootup disk, or DOS through Windows, I'm lucky to get more than a couple minutes of playing time before I recieve a
"crash address (unrelocated)"
type error. Note that whenever available, I install the DOS only version of these programs when there is Windows type available on the cd as well. Over the last couple of years, my PC has undergone RAM upgrades, had a new modem that does not seem to work installed (there is no hardware conflict, though, and I'm not trying to use the net), several new mice, and most recently, my 6X cd player burned out and was replaced by a 54X. I looked in my hardware settings, and there was some sort of a hardware conflict with the port my mouse was on and some other device, but the mouse isn't used in many of these programs, so that wouldn't seem to make a difference. I've tried some so-called "Crash protection software", but these have not helped. I experience similar problems with some but not all Windows based games as well, specifically, Jedi Knight crashes shortly after starting. I noticed my CD player always continues playing the games' music after the crashes occur. From here, I'm not sure what info would be most helpful, but I can provide more if necessary. Please help! This is driving me nuts! All other types of application seem to run fine (ie. Word, Paintbrush, and some but not all Windows based games). I am currently using Windows 95.
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One last update. The PCI card with no information available apparantly belonged to my non-working modem. I tried removing the device, but Windows would reinstall it every time I rebooted, even if I prompted it not to do so. I physically removed the modem, and while this has not created any new problems, it has not fixed the old ones either.
Just an FYI...when running DOS programs in DOS mode through Windows, I usually recieve errors to this effect:
the program tried to perform an "invalid instruction" at 3943:001A (this location number is the number it always gives me. It does not match the numbers found under "resources" for any of my installed devices).
it tells me that a program tried to use memory "currently in use at 000FE9CB from 3943:0228". Once again, here is a 3943 number that does not correspond to any devicese that I have installed. Maybe I'm barking up the wrong tree, but it seems to be pointing to some sort of error in sharing of resources to me. Hope this helps!
I do not know what version of windows you are using but if it is win 98 or newer they use virtual dos. If you are running xp then run the dos games like so at logon hit F8 and selection 5 also you may need to update your vesa drivers. The current standard is 3.0 and you may want to check out simetels sci tech display doctor (just do a search) it contains a program called univbe and vbe test that will get the vesa updated. I would also reccomend a front loader like abandon loader that can slow the cpu and is much friendlier than moslo and I would check out the website dosgamearchives.com or theunder-dogs.org
I am running Windows 95. When I try to type "ver" in what would be DOS mode, it simply tells me I am using Windows 95 with no mention of any DOS. The Dark Forces program has a tool that checks to see if your PC meets the requirements for running the program, and it claims that I am running DOS 7.0, but I know this is not true. I don't think 7.0 was even out when I bought the PC. When I got the PC, though, there were no visible DOS tools or applications when you exited from Windows, just a command prompt and that was it. It appeared like perhaps the guy who built it decided DOS would not be necessary as long as I was running Windows.
Thanks for the points, I hope you got the games working for you. As a special thank you I highly reccomend you check out www.tuol.org. This is one of if not the best site to find DOS games
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by: Majik_MonkeePosted on 2003-05-06 at 10:38:03ID: 8473379
Just some further information about my PC that might be useful. Under hardware in my control panel, there is a device called "PCI Card" with no information available about it or it's model or anything, and it does not have any drivers installed. I also have a device simply called "Unsupportable device" that the system claims is "working properly", although there is no information about it or drivers or anything. There are no conflicts listed regarding either of these devices. Use of my DirectX diagnostic program states that the only potential problem is old versions of joystick driver files, "vjoyd" and "joy.cpl". I use a Propad 6 as my joystick, installed with the drivers on the disk, and it works fine. Finally, I use an external ZIP drive that, while it is installed, I do not always have plugged in. I'm not sure if this might be contributing to problems of any sort, but it comes up under control panel as a device that is not working properly when it's unplugged. Hope some of this helps.