It seems that you're using an outdated browser. Some things may not work as they should (or don't work at all).
We suggest you upgrade newer and better browser like: Chrome, Firefox, Internet Explorer or Opera

×
I purchased a game that boots using the DOSBox emulator. I was wondering if I can have it boot in DOSBox-X instead, as I prefer that DOS emulator. Thanks.
No posts in this topic were marked as the solution yet. If you can help, add your reply
avatar
dm_mute: I purchased a game that boots using the DOSBox emulator. I was wondering if I can have it boot in DOSBox-X instead, as I prefer that DOS emulator. Thanks.
I'm not sure exactly how Dosbox-X works but yes, you should be able to do this. The games here for Dos should come packaged with their executables, so it shouldn't be that hard for you to do.
avatar
dm_mute: I purchased a game that boots using the DOSBox emulator. I was wondering if I can have it boot in DOSBox-X instead, as I prefer that DOS emulator. Thanks.
Probably. It’s not supported though, you would need to do it yourself. I don’t know dosbox emulator, but you should be able to follow what you do for other games as the files should be in install area.
Does Dosbox-X have a frontend? If not, do Frontends like D-Fend work with it?
avatar
dm_mute: I purchased a game that boots using the DOSBox emulator. I was wondering if I can have it boot in DOSBox-X instead, as I prefer that DOS emulator. Thanks.
It should work fine. I've tested other DOSBox alternatives in the past (eg, DOSBox Staging and the "DAUM" version of DOSBox (that added save-states), and they worked fine. If it's a fork of DOSBox then all the settings in the .conf files should work the same.
Post edited February 01, 2022 by AB2012
avatar
dm_mute: I purchased a game that boots using the DOSBox emulator. I was wondering if I can have it boot in DOSBox-X instead, as I prefer that DOS emulator. Thanks.
https://dosbox-x.com/wiki/Home#_getting_started_to_run_dosbox_x

Per the above link, mount the folder that contains your game files, then run the .exe for your game in question. (Also run the game's setup exe where necessary).
avatar
dm_mute: I purchased a game that boots using the DOSBox emulator. I was wondering if I can have it boot in DOSBox-X instead, as I prefer that DOS emulator. Thanks.
avatar
AB2012: It should work fine. I've tested other DOSBox alternatives in the past (eg, DOSBox Staging and the "DAUM" version of DOSBox (that added save-states), and they worked fine. If it's a fork of DOSBox then all the settings in the .conf files should work the same.
Off-topic, but how stable are the save states in DAUM? I haven't looked in to this for a few years, but last I heard was that they weren't very reliable and could cause unexpected behaviour when you restore one.
avatar
pds41: Off-topic, but how stable are the save states in DAUM? I haven't looked in to this for a few years, but last I heard was that they weren't very reliable and could cause unexpected behaviour when you restore one.
It mostly seems to be fine to me though it depends on the game. I tried it in quite a few, eg, Prince of Persia (1989), Elite Plus, Crystal Caves, Hero Quest, etc, and it seemed to work well. Just a case of CTRL-F1 then assigning a desired key to QuickSave & QuickLoad. I suspect the simpler the game the fewer issues, plus there will probably be problems if DOSBox settings are changed between saving & loading. It's kinda weird that the main DOSBox developer has a "thing" against them even though it's a fairly normal feature for modern 8-16 bit emulators.
avatar
pds41: Off-topic, but how stable are the save states in DAUM? I haven't looked in to this for a few years, but last I heard was that they weren't very reliable and could cause unexpected behaviour when you restore one.
avatar
AB2012: It mostly seems to be fine to me though it depends on the game. I tried it in quite a few, eg, Prince of Persia (1989), Elite Plus, Crystal Caves, Hero Quest, etc, and it seemed to work well. Just a case of CTRL-F1 then assigning a desired key to QuickSave & QuickLoad. I suspect the simpler the game the fewer issues, plus there will probably be problems if DOSBox settings are changed between saving & loading. It's kinda weird that the main DOSBox developer has a "thing" against them even though it's a fairly normal feature for modern 8-16 bit emulators.
Judging by their posts on Vogons, the developers for the original Dosbox appear to be stuck in their old ways of doing things, merely content to move as slowly as possible on bugfixes. Dosbox 0.74 has been the latest full version of this program (excluding 0.74.-3 in 2019) for more than 10 years and counting.
Sure, you could. But personally I'm more into the kicking and screaming nature of Dosbox Staging over "Strangely Specific niche fix".
Backup or delete your original gog game "dosbox" folder. Copy your desired "dosbox" into your gog game and rename the folder to "Dosbox".
If it does not work edit the conf files, try things, understand, try harder.
I would say if the different system supports all the appropriate calls and manages it right, i don't see why not.

Though some software may not work right even in DosBox, as it doesn't use MS-DOS and you aren't running on a real BIOS. One such program i remember trying was a Qbasic program i did which was to make/access maps i make for D&D and the like. But that wasn't what broke, what broke was the font replacement com file i made, which failed to replace the 128+ (upper Ascii) characters with my own set of characters out.

Though that is a particular case, most games/programs just change the graphics mode which has nothing to do with font.

GoG more or less has set it's own configs to try and make the game work correctly, you may have to do a little elbow grease work to fill in details if something doesn't match correctly. Though i'd guess those are few and far between, as soundcard/graphics/speed are the only three things you need to worry about.

Also to note, there's an emulator you can use for the Raspberry Pi, which accurately emulates MS-DOS and dos environment, so you could be running on what more-or-less feels like actual bare-metal systems.
Post edited February 02, 2022 by rtcvb32
avatar
rtcvb32: I would say if the different system supports all the appropriate calls and manages it right, i don't see why not.

Though some software may not work right even in DosBox, as it doesn't use MS-DOS and you aren't running on a real BIOS. One such program i remember trying was a Qbasic program i did which was to make/access maps i make for D&D and the like. But that wasn't what broke, what broke was the font replacement com file i made, which failed to replace the 128+ (upper Ascii) characters with my own set of characters out.

Though that is a particular case, most games/programs just change the graphics mode which has nothing to do with font.

GoG more or less has set it's own configs to try and make the game work correctly, you may have to do a little elbow grease work to fill in details if something doesn't match correctly. Though i'd guess those are few and far between, as soundcard/graphics/speed are the only three things you need to worry about.

Also to note, there's an emulator you can use for the Raspberry Pi, which accurately emulates MS-DOS and dos environment, so you could be running on what more-or-less feels like actual bare-metal systems.
There's also of course, actual DOS systems like FreeDos, but those require a bit more assembly, so to speak.
avatar
Darvond: There's also of course, actual DOS systems like FreeDos, but those require a bit more assembly, so to speak.
Mhmm. Ever done ASM for MS-DOS? It's a bit interesting. Most calls will be Int 20h/21h, but will range depending on what you're trying to do (and if it's BIOS or DOS handling the request). AH usually determines the 'function' you want to use. For a very limited system it isn't bad, just a bit annoying requiring a giant reference manual to do anything.