Old games, new PC: How to run DOS classics on Windows 11

Who doesn’t bear in mind PC video games reminiscent of Maniac Mansion, the King’s Quest series and the doubtful adventures of Leisure Suit Larry or software program reminiscent of Microsoft Works and Lotus Smart Suite?

These titles initially got here from the 80s and 90s, ran beneath MS-DOS or Windows 3.1 and have been delivered on floppy discs or—very fashionable again then!—CD-ROMs.

In our information, we wish to breathe new life into these treasures from the previous and get them working on a present PC with Windows 11.

We describe two situations:

1. Firstly, we use the unique information carriers for MS-DOS or Windows 3.1.
2. The second situation describes the case the place set up media are now not out there. Even then, there’s a manner so that you can delve again into all of your favorite video games and packages from again then.

Prerequisite: DOSBox as MS-DOS emulator

To run outdated functions and video games beneath Windows 11, you want an emulator reminiscent of DOSBox.

This command line software, which was primarily developed for video games, gives the MS-DOS platform and simulates an IBM PC-compatible pc with an x86 processor, the pace of which you’ll be able to alter.

This signifies that outdated 16-bit packages may also be run beneath DOSBox, and you may even set up Windows 3.1 after which run suitable software program on it.

DOSBox additionally gives the required {hardware} setting: In addition to mouse and keyboard, the software controls enter units reminiscent of joysticks and gamepads, which is indispensable for video games.

It additionally helps (digital) CD-ROM drives and sound playing cards for audio output. The emulator works independently of the particular gear of the PC on which it’s working.

The operation of DOSBox requires rudimentary data of command line instruments. However, you’ll be able to at all times name up a brief introduction and the assistance perform every time you begin it, and there are wonderful directions on the mission web site.

There can also be an alphabetically sorted record of supported video games at www.dosbox.com/comp_list.php.

Setting up DOSBox and mounting the required drives

For the sake of readability, set up DOSBox in a newly created listing referred to as Oldies in your exhausting drive “C:” and create one other folder referred to as DOSSoft wherein you’ll later retailer your video games and functions.

When naming folders, please word that DOSBox, like MS-DOS itself, abbreviates all names which can be longer than eight characters. As you’ll should sort the folder names into the command line later, you must due to this fact keep away from names which can be too lengthy.

For our article, we first wish to run the MS-DOS sport Shadowlands (1992), which we nonetheless have the unique 3.5-inch floppy disc for, beneath DOSBox.

Next, set up Windows 3.1 from the unique floppy discs and set up the graphics program Aldus Photostyler (1991) – out there on 4 3.5-inch floppy discs – and a picture of Microsoft Works (1988).

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To learn the media, use a USB floppy drive that’s mounted in DOSBox, i.e. make it out there to the emulator as a bodily drive. To do that, begin this system and kind for the USB floppy drive

mount A A: -t floppy

This preserves the drive’s letter A. The “-t” and the next designation stand for the drive sort that’s mounted. The drive letter is capitalized. Otherwise, higher and decrease case shouldn’t be necessary.

If the mount was profitable, a corresponding message seems. Please be affected person, nevertheless, as the method might take a number of seconds.

Important: Every time you exit DOSBox, it’s essential to remount your drives. In addition, the contents of the mounted drives and folders should not up to date. So in case you copy new information right into a mounted listing, it’s essential to take away it with mount -u : after which remount it.

By the way in which: If you continue to have packages on 5.25-inch floppy discs, set up will be tough and even unattainable. We didn’t discover any exterior drives for this in our analysis, and the present mainboards do not need the controllers for used inside units.

So if you wish to use a program that initially comes on 5.25-inch floppy discs, it’s important to get the ISO from the Internet. But extra on this later.

Running video games from 3.5-inch discs beneath MS-DOS

The fantasy role-playing sport Shadowlands was launched in 1992 for MS-DOS, Amiga and Atari, and we wish to run it from the unique 3.5-inch floppy disc in DOSBox.

After mounting our floppy drive as described above, we should do the identical with our set up listing. So we sort

mount C C:OldiesDOSSoft 

– the folder now has the drive letter “C:” -, then change the drive letter with

A: 

to the floppy drive and set up Shadowlands utilizing the command

set up A: C: 

into our sport folder.

A “SHADOW” folder is routinely created. The message “Install Complete” seems as affirmation, and we swap to the following folder with

C: 

to routinely swap to the SHADOW folder. With

dir

to show the contents and at last begin our sport with shadow.

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By the way in which: If there are a number of subfolders, the cd command is used to vary the subfolder manually. You can go one stage larger with cd . (two dots).

After beginning Shadowlands, choose the decision, i.e. whether or not we wish VGA with 640 x 480 pixels or EGA with 640 x 350 pixels. We desire the “newer” VGA.

Shadowlands then begins with sound output and lets us create a hero for our epic journey.

Conveniently, we will use the mouse, as DOSBox can present this in addition to the keyboard. While you’re in an emulated sport, the mouse and keyboard are disabled to your “real” PC. You should then exit the sport or briefly interrupt it with Ctrl-Alt-Del to revive performance.

If you then wish to swap again to the sport, merely click on with the mouse within the related window.

By the way in which: If you wish to set up an outdated sport from CD, mount the corresponding drive with

mount E E: -t cdrom

whereby the drive retains the letter E. Then swap to it with E:, show the contents with dir to seek out the setup file after which execute it.

Proceed in the identical manner if a sport will be began instantly from CD. Then run the beginning file as a substitute of the installer.

Installing Windows 3.1 from disc or picture on DOSBox

Next, we wish to set up Windows 3.1 from our seven 3.5-inch floppy discs beneath DOSBox. To do that, mount our floppy drive and the set up folder as described above.

With

dir

to show the contents of the primary floppy disc after which begin the set up with

setup

The acquainted display screen seems and you may run by means of the set up. Change the discs when the set up wizard prompts you to take action. The information is routinely saved in your set up listing in a (new) folder referred to as WINDOWS. To begin the working system, mount this folder as drive F, for instance, with

mount F C:OldiesDOSSoftWindows 

mount, then change to the listing with F: and begin Windows 3.1 with

win 

to begin it. To return to DOSBox, click on on “File” and “Exit Windows” in Windows 3.1.

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Caution: Older floppy discs specifically might now not be readable!

In this case, you’ll be able to alternatively receive a picture of the specified program from the Internet. Remember, nevertheless, that you just can not legally use the software program with no legitimate serial quantity!

In the case of Windows 3.1, for instance, we discovered what we have been on the lookout for at winworldpc.com. After downloading and unpacking the ZIP file, transfer the six disc pictures to a newly created folder referred to as Win31, which you then transfer to your set up listing.

Also unpack the IMG information so that each one set up information are in a single folder. Now mount the listing as drive E with

mount E C:OldiesDOSSoftWin31

then change to the listing with E: and perform the set up with setup. As with the set up by way of floppy discs, a folder “WINDOWS” is created, which it’s essential to mount with a view to set up from it with

win 

to begin the working system.

Running functions in DOSBox beneath Windows 3.1

To set up a program beneath Windows 3.1, you’ll have to retailer the set up information in a folder to which we’ve entry beneath Windows 3.1.

This is the case to your set up listing, so create a folder referred to as Aldus for Aldus Photostyler and replica the information from the Aldus discs into it.

Under DOSBox, change to the (newly) mounted drive “C:” and ensure that the folder can also be out there. Then begin Windows 3.1 in DOSBox and open the “File Manager” within the “Main Group” folder.

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Find your “Aldus” folder within the “C:” drive, after which open it. Start the set up with the “pssetup.exe” file. Then shut the file supervisor utilizing the button of the identical identify and discover Aldus Photostyler in its personal folder. Double-click on the icon to begin the applying.

Next, to put in the Microsoft Works 2.0 picture proceed in the identical manner as with the Windows set up: Download the ZIP file from winworldpc.com, unzip it right into a beforehand created “Works” folder in your set up listing and unzip the eight disc pictures into it so that each one the information are within the Works folder.

Then remount the folder in DOSBox, begin Windows 3.1 and open drive “C:” by way of the file supervisor as already described. In the “Works” folder, begin the set up by way of the “setup.exe” file.

Create disc pictures

If you have got software program on unique floppy discs and wish to retailer their contents as securely as potential, you must create pictures of them. This is feasible with the freeware Floppy Image, which you merely run by way of the exe file with out set up. The program can create IMZ, IMG, and EXE information.

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Click on “Browse” beneath “Read Floppy” in this system, specify the identify, the storage location and the specified picture format and click on on “Save”.

Now enter an outline and begin the method by clicking on “Start”.