diff --git a/README b/README index 61c28428..54820a01 100644 --- a/README +++ b/README @@ -3,17 +3,21 @@ DOSBox v0.58 Usage: ====== -With the new internal shell We've changed the command line a bit, so let's just give some -examples of what you can do now. +With the new internal shell,we've changed the command line a bit, +so let's just give some examples of what you can do now. dosbox - With nothing on the command line you'll end up on the internal drive and from there you - can mount directories as drives. + With nothing on the command line you'll end up on the internal drive and + from there you can mount directories as drives. dosbox [filename/directory] - If dosbox detects a directory it'll mount that as c:\ and then start the shell. - If dosbox doesn't detect a directory it'll assume you mean an executable this can be - .bat .com .exe. Doesn't need to have extension included. Then it'll strip the directory - from the filename and mount that as c:\ and then run the file. + If dosbox detects a directory it'll mount that as the C: drive + and then start the shell from c:\. + If dosbox doesn't detect a directory it'll assume you mean an executable. + This can be .bat .com .exe. Doesn't need to have extension included. + It will mount the directory the file is in as the C: drive. + Then start up the shell which will start the file. + +There also are a couple of command line switches. dosbox -fullscreen starts dosbox in fullscreen mode. @@ -22,66 +26,76 @@ dosbox -conf file dosbox -lang file loads file as a languagefile. -You can also add commands to be executed before the main program starts. Or you can use them -to start the program. +You can also add commands to be executed before the main program starts. +Or you can use them to start the program. To add commands use the -c command line switch. -For example -dosbox c:\atlantis\atlantis.exe -c "MOUNT D C:\SAVES" "SET TEST=blah" - This would mount c:\atlanis as c:\ and run atlantis.exe from that directory but before it - does that it would first mount C:\SAVES as the D drive and set the environment variable test to blah. -Dragging files or directories onto the DOSBox executable should also work. +For example: +dosbox c:\atlantis\atlantis.exe -c "MOUNT D C:\SAVES" + This would mount c:\atlanis as c:\ and run atlantis.exe. + Before it does that it would first mount C:\SAVES as the D drive. + +In Windows you can also drag directories/files on the dosbox executable. Internal Programs: ================== MOUNT Program to mount local directories as drives inside DOSBox. -The option -t specifies the media: dir = harddisk, floppy = floppy drive, cdrom = cdrom drive. -The option -size specifies the size. -The option -aspi forces to use aspi driver (only valid if mounting a cdrom and on Win2000/XP/NT systems). -For example to mount c:\floppy as a floppy : mount a c:\floppy -t floppy -For example to mount system cdrom drive e as cdrom drive d in dosbox : mount d e:\ -t cdrom -- In Win 95/98/ME you need latest ASPI driver to get cdrom audio support. -- In Win 2000/XP/NT you have the option to use an ASPI driver (add -aspi) at the end of the mount command. -It is even possible to mount a directory as cdrom, but you have some limited support for it then. +The option -t specifies the media: Where can be. + dir = harddisk + floppy = floppy drive + cdrom = cdrom drive +The option -aspi forces to use aspi driver + (only valid if mounting a cdrom and on Win2000/XP/NT systems). + +For example to mount c:\floppy as a floppy : mount a c:\floppy -t floppy +For example to mount system cdrom drive e as cdrom drive d in dosbox + mount d e:\ -t cdrom +- In Win 95/98/ME you need latest ASPI driver to get cdrom audio support. +- In Win 2000/XP/NT you have the option to use an ASPI driver (add -aspi) + at the end of the mount command. + +It is also possible to mount a directory as cdrom, but it's limited. MEM Program to display the amount of free memory CONFIG -Utility for generating a configfile with the current settings and for generating the languagefile. +Utility for generating a config file and language file. The option -writeconf filename is used to write the current config settings. The option -writelang filename is used to write the current language strings. -To get more information about how to use one these programs use the the /? command line switch. +For more information use the the /? command line switch with the programs. -The Configfile: +The Config File: =============== -A configfile can be generated by CONFIG.COM. You can edit it to customize DOSBox. -The file is divided in several sections (the names got [] around it). Some sections have options which you can set. +A config file can be generated by CONFIG.COM, edit it to customize DOSBox. +The file is divided in several sections (the names got [] around it). +Some sections have options which you can set. # and % indicate commentlines. The generated configfile contains the current settings. You can alter them and start dosbox with the -conf switch to load the file and use these settings. -For example in the section sblaster you can change the irq of the soundblaster and disable/enable the -adlib emulation. -The Languagefile: +The Language File: ================= -A languagefile can be generated by CONFIG.COM. If you read it you will understand how to change it. -Start Dosbox with -lang switch to use your language file or enter the location of the languagefile -in the configfile.(section:[dosbox] language=full path to languagefile.) +A language file can be generated by CONFIG.COM. +Read it and you will hopefuly understand how to change it. +Start Dosbox with -lang switch to use your new language file +Or you can setup the filename in the config file in the [dosbox] section. +There's a language= entry that can be changed with the filename. Special Keys: ============= ALT-ENTER Go full screen and back. -CTRL-F5 Save a screenshot -CTRL-F7 Decrease frameskip -CTRL-F8 Increase frameskip -CTRL-F9 Go full screen and back. +CTRL-F5 Save a screenshot. +CTRL-F6 Start/Stop recording sound output to a wave file. +CTRL-F7 Decrease frameskip. +CTRL-F8 Increase frameskip. +CTRL-F9 Kill dosbox. CTRL-F10 Capture/Release the mouse. CTRL-F11 Slowdown emulation. CTRL-F12 Speedup emulation. @@ -95,27 +109,31 @@ of games written for an 286 machine. FAQ: ==== -1.Q: I've got a Z instead of a C at the prompt. - A: In DOSBox you can mount directories as drives - in win32: mount c D:\ would give you an C in DOSBox which points - at D:\ in win32 - in linux: mount c /home/username would give you and C in DOSBox - which points at /home/username in Linux +Q: I've got a Z instead of a C at the prompt. +A: In DOSBox you can mount directories as drives + in win32: mount c D:\ would give you an C in DOSBox which points + at D:\ in win32 + in linux: mount c /home/username would give you and C in DOSBox + which points at /home/username in Linux -2.Q: The window is too small. - A: When you mouse touches the edges of the DOSBox screen you can click and drag it to - the size you prefer. +Q: The mouse doesn't work. +A: Normally dosbox detects the mouse being used by a game, if you click on + the screen then it should get locked and work. + Sometimes the dosbox mouse detection doesn't work with certain games, you + might have to force to lock the mouse then with ctrl-f10. -3.Q: The mouse(cursor) acts weird. (eg only updated when you press the mousebutton) - A: Lock the mouse with ctrl-F10. It should then behave the way you expect it to do. +Q: The sound stutters. +A: Your using too much cpu power to keep dosbox running at the current speed. + You can either lower the cycles or skip frames or get a faster machine. -4. Check the site/forum. + +For more questions check the site/forum. To run resource-demanding games: =============================== -DOSBox emulates at the CPU, the sound and graphic cards, and some other +DOSBox emulates the CPU, the sound and graphic cards, and some other stuff, all at the same time. You can overclock DOSBox by using CTRL+F12, but you'll be limited by the power of your actual CPU. You can see how much free time your true CPU has by looking at the Task Manager in Windows 2000/XP and