Dave's DOSBOX Distribution - updated: 13-Oct-2014 10:56a

This package contains a pre-configured DOS emulator (DOSBOX) which allows
DDS 16-bit software to be used under 64bit windows, and provides access to
windows serial ports and network interfaces within these DOS programs. This
distribution is based on the H-A-L-9000 "MegaBuild" DOSBOX 6 version.

This preconfigured DOSBOX installation includes:

  Drive C: for virtual C drive
  Drive D: for temporary storage
  Drive Y: for access to DOSBOX home directory
  Drive Z: for DOSBOX internal commands
  COM1 serial port (works with USB serial ports etc.)
  NE2000 packet driver (requires WinPcap)

I have provided a SETUP command which allows you to easily configure these
parameters - The first time you run DOSBOX you will be automatically prompted
for these settings - thereafter, you can use 'SETUP' to view the current
configuration, or 'SETUP /S' to reconfigure.

NOTE: To give the DOSBOX configuration file a consistant name both in and out
of DOSBOX, I have patched this copy of DOSBOX.EXE to use the name 'DOSBOX.INI'
instead of 'DOSBOX.CONF' (DOSBOX~1.CON within DOSBOX).

Information on manually configuring the needed parameters in DOSBOX.INI is
provided under "additional notes" in the relevant sections.


*** Installation ***

Unpack this archive to \DOSBOX

Set up a shortcut to run \DOSBOX\DOSBOX.EXE
*** Microsoft DIRECT-X has an issue where it uses an incorrect keyboard
*** mapping with some systems/keyboards - if your keyboard does not work
*** correctly (Right shift key does not work is a common example), try
*** changing the shortcut to run: \DOSBOX\DOSBOXDX.BAT
*** instead. This runs DOSBOX with generic windows I/O instead of DIRECT-X,
*** which resolves most keyboard problems (but has slower video performance)

If you wish to use networking within DOSBOX, install WinPcap if you do not
already have it on your system.

Place the content you wish to show as your C: drive into: \DOSBOX\C

Place any additional commands/utilities that you wish to have available while
running DOSBOX into the DOSBOX home directory - this will show up as drive 'Y'
within DOSBOX.


DOSBOX notes:

DOSBOX is a Win32 DOS emulator, use it to:

 - Run 16-bit DOS applications under 64 bit windows

 - Access windows COM ports from DOS programs

 - Emulate DOS network, sound, video and other hardware which is not
   available in native windows DOS emulator.


This version of DOSBOX can be run from a CD or USBstick without modifying
the host system. Follow these steps to use DOSBOX:

 - Open the CD/USBstick and navigate to the DOSBOX folder.

 - Double click the "dosbox.exe" file - this will start DOSBOX, you
   should see two windows open on your screen. One is the "console"
   window, and the other will contain the DOS command prompt.

 - There is always a default 'Z' drive which contains internal DOSBOX
   commands. Additional "drives" may be auto-mounted by the AUTOEXEC
   section of DOSBOX.INI (see below). Examine Z:AUTOEXEC.BAT to see
   the startup commands.

 - You can mount directories from your system with the MOUNT command:
     MOUNT E D:\          <= Mount the CD (assuming D:) as drive E:
     E:                   <= Switch to drive E:

 - You can now access the commands and utiltiies from the CD. If you
   need to access directories from your local system hard drive, you
   can mount them as well: MOUNT F c:\tmp    <= Mount C:\tmp as drive F:


Additional notes:

See DOSBOX.TXT for more information about DOSBOX. You can also visit
the DOSBOX web site at: www.dosbox.com
and H-A-L-9000's site at: http://home.arcor.de/h-a-l-9000

The file 'dosbox.ini' contains the DOSBOX configuration - it is a text
file and contains plenty of comments describing the various configuration
options that are available. You can modify it with any text editor.


-- Cycles
I have had DOSBOX lock up on a Win7-64 system when 'cycles=max' is
set in DOSBOX.INI under [CPU] - changing this to a fixed number prevents the
problem! I am now defaulting to: cycles=fixed 25000
You can try 'cycles=max' - if it works on your system you will get the
maximum possible DOSBOX performance.


-- Refreshing Directories
DOSBOX does not automatically see changes made to mounted directories on
the host system (ie: if you create new files on the host, DOSBOX will not
see them until the next time the drive is mounted). To see files changed
outside of DOSBOX, type 'rescan' to refresh the directory cache.


-- Function keys
The default DOSBOX function keys use a mix of Ctrl and Alt modifiers which
interfere with some DOS utilities which often use Ctrl and Alt as modifiers
for function keys. To alleviate this problem, I have provided a KEYS utility
which can be run from the DOSBOX command prompt, and manipulates the DOSBOX
keymapper file DOSBOX.MAP.
NOTE: DOSBOX.INI must contain the line: mapperfile=DOSBOX.MAP

KEYS /I
  Installs my (DDS) function key mappings which use Ctrl+Alt+Shift
  modifiers for all DOSBOX functions. To see the new mappings, use:

KEYS
  Displays the current function key mappings.

KEYS /D
  Deletes DOSBOX.MAP, returning to the default DOSBOX function key mappings.

KEYS /?
  Displays all KEYS comamnd line options.

You can further modify the keyboard map (or create your own completely new
map) using the DOSBOX interactive mapper by pressing: Ctrl+Alt+Shift-F1
NOTE: I have found the keymapper hit-and-miss ... sometimes modifiers seem
tied to physical keys, and therefore modifications are ignored or never work.
- it can take a bit of experimentation to find a setup that is workable
- keep a backup of DOSBOX.MAP


-- DosBoxTweak
I have provided DBT.COM which allows you to easily override a few useful
configuration options in the DOSBOX.INI file for the current session only.
Use: 'DBT /?' to see the available options.

NOTE: The options I've implemented reflect the settings I most often want
to change on a session basis -- if you need something else, please contact
me and I will look into adding it in.


-- Serial ports
I've preset a DOS COM1 port to windows COM1
You can change this assignment from the DOSBOX console, example:

  serial1=directserial realport:COM5

This changes DOS serial port 1 (COM1) to reference windows serial port COM5.

  serial2=directserial realport:COM2

Sets DOS serial port 2 (COM2) to reference windows serial port COM2.


--- Parallel Ports
If you wish to use "real" parallel ports in DOSBOX, you need to install the
"PortTalk" I/O driver:

   Copy PortTalk.SYS to your windows system32\drivers directory.
   Double-click PortTalk.REG to install the registry entries.

You will now be able to configure DOSBOX "real" parallel ports which will pass
through to the physical system ports:

   parallel1=reallpt realbase:378

Assigns LPT1 as a real port, using the hardware parallel port at address 0x378.

If you wish, you can remove the PortTalk driver by running 'portoff.exe'.

There are reports that PortTalk does NOT work under Vista/Win7/Win64.


-- Networking
If you wish to use networking in DOSBOX, you will need to install the windows
packet capture library on your PC, double-click the 'WinPcap_4_1_2.exe' file
and follow the on-screen instructions.
NOTE: WinPcap is NOT required unless you intend to use DOS networking.

To see a list of available network devices in the DOSBOX status window,
type: realnic list
at the DOSBOX command line (note: The status window normally opens BEHIND
the main DOSBOX command window).

Select a network device from the list, eg: realnic 1
to select the first device in the list as the DOSBOX network device.

This will enable a virtual NE2000 network card in DOSBOX which is bridged
to the indicated physical network device.

I have included a DOS NE2000 packet driver in the DOSBOX files.
After you have mounted the CD, go to the \DOSBOX directory, and load the
NE2000 packet driver with: NE2000 0x60
