SCI DOS Games and Windows XP: Difference between revisions
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<div align="center" style="font-size: 22pt">SCI DOS Games | <div align="center" style="font-size: 22pt">SCI DOS Games and Windows XP</div><br /> | ||
<div align="center">''Note: The following information is no longer needed. SCI games run easily in DOSBox. DOSBox is by far the recommended way to play the AGI games.''</div> | <div align="center">''Note: The following information is no longer needed. SCI games run easily in DOSBox. DOSBox is by far the recommended way to play the AGI games.''</div> | ||
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==<br /> How to get DOS SCI Games to run in Windows XP == | ==<br /> How to get DOS SCI Games to run in Windows XP == | ||
You shouldn't have any problems running most of Sierra's DOS SCI games in Windows 2000 or XP. But to have sound with these games, or any DOS game, you will need to run the games using [[ | You shouldn't have any problems running most of Sierra's DOS SCI games in Windows 2000 or XP. But to have sound with these games, or any DOS game, you will need to run the games using [[VDMSound]]. | ||
You might have had to add a | You might have had to add a | ||
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line to the "<code>resource.cfg</code>" file for some Sierra DOS games. | line to the "<code>resource.cfg</code>" file for some Sierra DOS games. | ||
You might encounter a lockup on start or get an error message "[[Unable to Initialize Audio Hardware|Unable to initialize your audio hardware]]." This is a speed issue with the DOS games, not an XP problem. Updated sound drivers or a patch such as [[GOSiERRA]] may fix this. '''(UPDATE: playing the game in DOSBox solves this problem. You may need to lower your DOSBox cycles before you start the game -- you can raise it after the game starts.''') Another problem you might have is digital sound effects looping endlessly on you. This is another speed issue. See [[Infinitely Looping Audio| this page]] for possible solutions. For Sound related issues see the [[Sound Utilities Page]]. | You might encounter a lockup on start or get an error message "[[Unable to Initialize Audio Hardware|Unable to initialize your audio hardware]]." This is a speed issue with the DOS games, not an XP problem. Updated sound drivers or a patch such as [[GOSiERRA]] may fix this. '''(UPDATE: playing the game in DOSBox solves this problem. You may need to lower your DOSBox cycles before you start the game -- you can raise it after the game starts.''') Another problem you might have is digital sound effects looping endlessly on you. This is another speed issue. See [[Infinitely Looping Audio| this page]] for possible solutions. For Sound related issues see the [[Sound and MIDI Utilities|Sound Utilities Page]]. | ||
If there is no [[New Timer Bug Updates| new timer bug patch]] for your game, use DOSBox for other speed or timer bugs. The old solution was to try a slow down utility such as [[Slowdown Utilities#Turbo|Turbo]] or [[Slowdown Utilities#MoSlo|Mo'Slo]], but, as computers get faster and with the new dual core CPUs these old standbys become less and less useful. | If there is no [[New Timer Bug Updates| new timer bug patch]] for your game, use DOSBox for other speed or timer bugs. The old solution was to try a slow down utility such as [[Slowdown Utilities#Turbo|Turbo]] or [[Slowdown Utilities#MoSlo|Mo'Slo]], but, as computers get faster and with the new dual core CPUs these old standbys become less and less useful. | ||
Make sure to check for any [[ | Make sure to check for any [[Sierra Game Updates|patches or updates]] that there may be for your game. Also check the [[Windows XP Help|Main XP Help Page]] for specific help for your game. | ||
If you have trouble getting a DOS Sierra to run, you can try the Windows version (if there is one) instead. Usually there are fewer problems with DOS versions with few exceptions ( [[ | If you have trouble getting a DOS Sierra to run, you can try the Windows version (if there is one) instead. Usually there are fewer problems with DOS versions with few exceptions ( [[King's Quest 5 and Windows XP|King's Quest V]]). | ||
If all else fails you can try running the game with another interpreter such as [[FreeSCI]] or out of a DOS emulator such as [[DOSBox]]. | If all else fails you can try running the game with another interpreter such as [[FreeSCI]] or out of a DOS emulator such as [[DOSBox]]. | ||
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[[Category:Technical Info]] | [[Category:Technical Info]] | ||
[[Category:Game Troubleshooting]] | [[Category:Game Troubleshooting]] | ||
[[Category:Game Bugs | [[Category:Game Bugs and Errors]] | ||
[[Category:Game Help]] | [[Category:Game Help]] | ||
[[Category:Guides]] | [[Category:Guides]] | ||
[[Category:Utilities]] | [[Category:Utilities]] | ||
[[Category:Patches and Updates]] | [[Category:Patches and Updates]] | ||
[[Category:New Pages to be Edited]] | [[Category:New Pages to be Edited]] | ||
Latest revision as of 19:28, 5 December 2024
How to get DOS SCI Games to run in Windows XP
You shouldn't have any problems running most of Sierra's DOS SCI games in Windows 2000 or XP. But to have sound with these games, or any DOS game, you will need to run the games using VDMSound.
You might have had to add a
minhunk=100k
line to the "resource.cfg" file for some Sierra DOS games.
You might encounter a lockup on start or get an error message "Unable to initialize your audio hardware." This is a speed issue with the DOS games, not an XP problem. Updated sound drivers or a patch such as GOSiERRA may fix this. (UPDATE: playing the game in DOSBox solves this problem. You may need to lower your DOSBox cycles before you start the game -- you can raise it after the game starts.) Another problem you might have is digital sound effects looping endlessly on you. This is another speed issue. See this page for possible solutions. For Sound related issues see the Sound Utilities Page.
If there is no new timer bug patch for your game, use DOSBox for other speed or timer bugs. The old solution was to try a slow down utility such as Turbo or Mo'Slo, but, as computers get faster and with the new dual core CPUs these old standbys become less and less useful.
Make sure to check for any patches or updates that there may be for your game. Also check the Main XP Help Page for specific help for your game.
If you have trouble getting a DOS Sierra to run, you can try the Windows version (if there is one) instead. Usually there are fewer problems with DOS versions with few exceptions ( King's Quest V).
If all else fails you can try running the game with another interpreter such as FreeSCI or out of a DOS emulator such as DOSBox.
References
See Also
- Main Windows 3x Page
- Main DOSBox Page
- General Game Help
- Game Troubleshooting
- Emulators
- Utilities
- Main Utilities Page
- Main Update Page
