Need help with setting up DOS machine
Posted: Fri Jan 06, 2017 10:42 am
I'm trying to setup a DOS machine that can be used for programming and gaming. I'm first trying to use what I have on hand. I'm kicking myself for getting rid of my old Pentium machine about 2 years ago now after having not used it for like 15 years. Oh well.
What I have is the following machine:
http://global.shuttle.com/products/prod ... ductId=474
It's a kind of all in one cube type thing that was really a Windows 98 machine.
The first issue I have is trying to get a driver for the sound card. The manufacturer website only has a Win XP driver currently hosted.
I currently have DOS 7.1 loaded on it.
But that aside I have the following questions:
Is this machine workable as a DOS gaming machine (I'm already running into some problems).
Can the on-board sound card be used for DOS at all, or do I need to install a different sound card? All I can find are Win XP and 95 drivers for the card. But can some generic driver work?
Is Pentium 4 okay, or do I really need Pentium 2 or lower?
Right now my memory looks like the following without me doing anything other than installing 7.1 with defaults:
Conventional: 638K
Upper: 111K
Reserved: 339K
XMS: 1,047
It's been a LONG time since I've done anything with DOS. I used to have well configured machines that I tweaked all on my own with the latest hardware and maximized configurations, but how to do all of that has long left my memory.
The main thing is I do have a Gravis Gamepad and a Joystick for flight sims. I'd like to be able to run some side scrollers, stuff like Mortal Kombat, Baldur's Gate, Settlers, Warcraft, Dark Sun, various Ultimas, Might & Magic, and maybe some flight games like Tie Fighter & Wing Commander, etc.
Also, the real main purpose of the game is C++ programming.
Can I get there with this machine, or do I need to go for something older?
The issues I've had are:
1) No sound as of yet
2) Trying to run the install for Commander Keen 4 fails (but it works on DOS Box)
3) Trying to install Command & Conquer Red Alter aborts without an error message half way through the install.
Any help is appreciated. Thanks.
What I have is the following machine:
http://global.shuttle.com/products/prod ... ductId=474
It's a kind of all in one cube type thing that was really a Windows 98 machine.
The first issue I have is trying to get a driver for the sound card. The manufacturer website only has a Win XP driver currently hosted.
I currently have DOS 7.1 loaded on it.
But that aside I have the following questions:
Is this machine workable as a DOS gaming machine (I'm already running into some problems).
Can the on-board sound card be used for DOS at all, or do I need to install a different sound card? All I can find are Win XP and 95 drivers for the card. But can some generic driver work?
Is Pentium 4 okay, or do I really need Pentium 2 or lower?
Right now my memory looks like the following without me doing anything other than installing 7.1 with defaults:
Conventional: 638K
Upper: 111K
Reserved: 339K
XMS: 1,047
It's been a LONG time since I've done anything with DOS. I used to have well configured machines that I tweaked all on my own with the latest hardware and maximized configurations, but how to do all of that has long left my memory.
The main thing is I do have a Gravis Gamepad and a Joystick for flight sims. I'd like to be able to run some side scrollers, stuff like Mortal Kombat, Baldur's Gate, Settlers, Warcraft, Dark Sun, various Ultimas, Might & Magic, and maybe some flight games like Tie Fighter & Wing Commander, etc.
Also, the real main purpose of the game is C++ programming.
Can I get there with this machine, or do I need to go for something older?
The issues I've had are:
1) No sound as of yet
2) Trying to run the install for Commander Keen 4 fails (but it works on DOS Box)
3) Trying to install Command & Conquer Red Alter aborts without an error message half way through the install.
Any help is appreciated. Thanks.