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HOWTO: Use DOSBox - Debian

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lkraemer
Posts: 209
Joined: 2011-02-09 05:02
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HOWTO: Use DOSBox - Debian

#1 Post by lkraemer »

HOWTO: Use DOSBox - Debian

This HOWTO: will guide you through the process of getting your old MSDOS programs
running in Debian (6.0) under DOSBox.


1. Install DOSBox from the repo's via Synaptics Package Manager or apt-get.

REF:
http://www.dosbox.com
http://dosbox.sourceforge.net/wiki

2. DOSBox - Command Summary
The following commands can be used in DOSBox:
intro
intro mount
intro cdrom
intro special
help
help /all

3. Testing DOSBox commands and methods.

Let's use the following example as a guide for the commands we will need to
use to mount and unmount a directory.

I had several recipes that were saved in C:\pw\2_LDK\Cookin on an
old Dos machine. I copied the complete C:\pw folder to /home/larry/C:/.
This folder will be mounted as C: Drive in DOSBox so the EXE, COM, or BAT
files can be executed. To mount your C: drive, you will use the mount
command to mount the Linux folder as c and then change to Drive C:\> and
execute your old MSDOS Program.

I executed DOSBox from the Debian menu.

Start DOSBox via:
APPLICATIONS -> GAMES -> DOSBox

When the DOSBox window opened I typed the following to mount a SUBDIRECTORY as Drive C.
So, when I change to Drive C, I am really pointing at /home/larry/pw

DOSBox positions you at Drive z:

Code: Select all

mount c: ~/path/to/dir/to/mount/
C:
dir/p
cd pw
pw
From within pw I just used a normal program exit.

Before you can unmount the drive you must change back to drive z:
then you can issue the unmount command.
To UNMOUNT C: and exit DOSBOX use the following commands:

Code: Select all

z:
mount -u c:
exit
Now, lets get Sourcer from V-Communications running in DOSBox. First we
need to copy the DOS subdirectory Sourcer_305 to the Linux folder C:.
This will copy all the files needed to run Sourcer version 3.05.
When the copy is complete, start DOSBox. Mount the folder as C: with the following commands:

Code: Select all

mount c: ~/C:
C:
cd source~1
sr
(NOTE: Once mounted you don't need to repeat that command, just cd to the folder you need to access.)

To UNMOUNT C: use the following command:

Code: Select all

mount -u c:
exit
Please submit your suggestions to improve this document.

Thanks.


Larry
Last edited by lkraemer on 2023-04-24 14:58, edited 1 time in total.

Targenor
Posts: 3
Joined: 2016-03-04 21:32

Re: HOWTO: Use DOSBox - Debian

#2 Post by Targenor »

Is thre anyway to get Dosbox to work during shell access or do you have to use the desktop to get it to work?

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dasein
Posts: 7680
Joined: 2011-03-04 01:06
Location: Terra Incantationum

Re: HOWTO: Use DOSBox - Debian

#3 Post by dasein »

Targenor wrote:Is thre anyway to get Dosbox to work during shell access or do you have to use the desktop to get it to work?
Yes and no, respectively.

User avatar
GarryRicketson
Posts: 5644
Joined: 2015-01-20 22:16
Location: Durango, Mexico

Re: HOWTO: Use DOSBox - Debian

#4 Post by GarryRicketson »

You do not have to use the "deskop", just type:

Code: Select all

dosbox
at the prompt.
To read the manual:

Code: Select all

man dosbox
DOSBOX(1) DOSBOX(1)

NAME
dosbox - an x86/DOS emulator with sound/graphics

SYNOPSIS
dosbox [-fullscreen] [-startmapper] [-noautoexec] [-securemode]
[-userconf] [-scaler scaler] [-forcescaler scaler] [-conf configfile]
[-lang langfile] [file] [-c command] [-exit] [-machine machinetype]
Example:

Code: Select all

$ dosbox
DOSBox version 0.74
Copyright 2002-2010 DOSBox Team, published under GNU GPL.
---
CONFIG:Loading primary settings from config file /home/garry/.dosbox/dosbox-0.74.conf
MIXER:Got different values from SDL: freq 44100, blocksize 512
ALSA:Can't subscribe to MIDI port (65:0) nor (17:0)
MIDI:Opened device:none
One joystick reported, initializing with 4axis
Using joystick ST LIS3LV02DL Accelerometer with 3 axes, 0 buttons and 0 hat(s 
On mine , I have it set up so my pacman game starts, automaticly when I start dosbox.
All I do is type "dosbox" at the command prompt.

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