Posted: 18 days ago
(Edited: 18 days ago)
EZGames69
He/They
Publisher, Reviewer, Expert player (5088)
Joined: 5/29/2017
Posts: 2792
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I'm making this thread to document some ways in which I understand how to run DOS games in BizHawk's DOSbox-X core, since it's rather confusing for the average person, especially if you are unfamiliar with DOS computers in general. I'd also recommend anyone who has more knowledge on this process to feel free to chime in the replies for any additional steps you can make if some games require more set up work. These are the 3 methods I am aware of:
  1. Using an existing formatted files created out of preinstalled files This one is pretty straight forward. If you find the game already in either an ISO format, a Bin+Cue format, or there is a ".ima" file in the game folder, then loading these into Bizhawk should work.
  2. Pre-installed files not converted to the ISO format. I have found for most games, they come in a folder with several different files. Mostly EXE files and the like. These will not load in Bizhawk on their own. They will need to be converted into a format such as ISO. There is this bash script for linux that was used to convert these files into an ISO format that you can use here (although make sure you install xorriso when you do this, as pointed out by Dimon12321 in the reply to the script linked).
  3. Insallation disks This one is the most confusing. It involves installing the game using installation disks and then exporting the HDD after installation and then treating that exported file as the rom itself. This will also involve creating a verification movie file that does the installation. To do this, you'll need to open up the Multi-Disc bundler in bizhawk and load in all installation disks into the menu in chronological order. Save as an .xml file and run in bizhawk. From there you will create a verification movie file that runs the commands to start the installation process. Once that is done, you will open the DOS menu on the Bizhawk window and select "Export Hard Drive Disk". From there you will treat the resulting .hdd file as a rom.
This is all I have for now. This thread is mostly to start some documentation on how to load DOS games into BizHawk. If there's anything I missed please feel free to share in the replies.
[14:15] <feos> WinDOES what DOSn't 12:33:44 PM <Mothrayas> "I got an oof with my game!" Mothrayas Today at 12:22: <Colin> thank you for supporting noble causes such as my feet MemoryTAS Today at 11:55 AM: you wouldn't know beauty if it slapped you in the face with a giant fish [Today at 4:51 PM] Mothrayas: although if you like your own tweets that's the online equivalent of sniffing your own farts and probably tells a lot about you as a person MemoryTAS Today at 7:01 PM: But I exert big staff energy honestly lol Samsara Today at 1:20 PM: wouldn't ACE in a real life TAS just stand for Actually Cease Existing
Posted: 18 days ago
slamo
Reviewer, Expert player (2714)
Joined: 5/21/2013
Posts: 421
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Just a few additions: 1. It's very rare to find pre-installed games already on an ISO, almost always ISOs you find online are official CD distributions and come with an installer, although sometimes you can get away with running the game files directly from the ISO. 2. If you're not submitting a TAS you can just use your favorite ISO creator to make the image. Otherwise these instructions should be followed closely. The bash script will dump a list of files and hashes, you should copy this list and keep it for your submission notes so others can sync the movie. 3. Installation is not just limited to floppy disks, CDs were distributed as well. Use redump to find known good CD dumps and goodolddays to find known good floppy disk dumps.
Posted: 14 days ago
feos
Site Admin, Skilled player (1254)
Joined: 4/17/2010
Posts: 11774
NES TAS of 2011
I created a windows package for making ISO! https://github.com/TASEmulators/iso_maker/releases/tag/windows_v1
Warning: When making decisions, I try to collect as much data as possible before actually deciding. I try to abstract away and see the principles behind real world events and people's opinions. I try to generalize them and turn into something clear and reusable. I hate depending on unpredictable and having to make lottery guesses. Any problem can be solved by systems thinking and acting.