im on step 1.3 and when i type CD NCinst it switches to C:\NCINST> and then i typed install and it says install is an illegal command what to do now?

type in dir and tell what it says

Three possibilities: you didn't unpack the archive with Norton Commander at all, unpacked it the wrong way (or to a wrong place), or you downloaded the disk images instead of the archive (which happened to somebody else before, if memory serves me right).

Just as _r.u.s.s said, use DIR inside the NCINST directory to check what you've got in there.

i'm somewhat having the same problem, so i'll do my best to explain it step by step. I open the files and extract them to my oldgames folder. then when i check in the folder all i have are image files and i have no idea what to do. please help.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Guest @ Nov 19 2007, 04:07 AM) [snapback]319536[/snapback]</div>
what game?

Dosbox has a readme file where you can easilly find how to mount the image.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Guest @ Nov 19 2007, 04:07 AM) [snapback]319536[/snapback]</div>If you get IMG files from the Norton Commander archive, you have downloaded the wrong one. Use this one.

You don't have to run install/setup utility for all games found at Abandonia, but it is a good practice to make sure all settings are set correctly.

Easiest way to find what EXE or BAT files you can run is by pressing tab key in DOSBox. (it will circle trough files in current directory)

What DOSBox guide are you following??

He's following the guide I posted in the sticky thread at the top of this forum. Setting up Norton Commander is part of the whole thing, because it makes basic things like moving in the directory structure and running executables much easier than the command line.

Thanks for reply.

I never used norton commander, as I never had any problems with DOS file management.

Why do you need norton if you can have direct access to files trough windows??

Easier navigation in them when you can't use Windows file manager (which sucks anyway).

i think the link you tried sending me to for norton commander is no good due to the recent site moving. though i can't get norton commander working i was wondering if i need it, or if you could just tell me how to manually start a game.

to manually start a game in DOS, you need a couple of DOS commands that you type in the DOS prompt:

cd
(change directory, equals clicking a folder in windows) followed by the directory's (folder's) name.

[filename of either the game's exe-, bat- or com file]

Example:
You have Colonization (start file = colonize.exe) in a directory called Colonize, which in turn is in a directory called MPS.
In the the prompt showing C:\> type
cd mps
cd colonize
colonize

The last command (colonize) will start the exe, bat or com file named "colonize".

If you enter the wrong directory, type
cd ..
to go one step back in the directory tree.

Another helpful command is
dir
which will display all files and directories in the current directory.
dir can be used with the /p switch to list the files and directories one screen at a time if the list is long: dir /p
One last thing. When looking for a particular file extention, you can type
dir .[file extention]
e.g. dir .exe

But still it is not easier then DOSBox front end such as D-Fend.

The very point of my guide is not using D-Fend, as it causes compatibility problems with some games.
Also, a lot of "n00b-questions" we get on the forums tend to come from users who only used D-Fend to run games in DOSBox until they ended up with some simple problem that D-Fend could not get them past.
Finally, Norton is by no means the definite way to run things.
It's possible to create customized shortcuts and config files that allow you to run games in DOSBox simply by running the shortcut (easier than it sounds, too). Doing it for 90-something games can take some time and patience, though, and not everyone has sufficient amount of both (hell, I'm only doing it for the games I run most frequently). Using NC is a bit easier (though when I finish the guide, the shortcut thing will be there as the final chapter).

Can you point me in the direction of those problems with D-Fend that can't be resolved.

If something works in DOSBox, ti will work as well if you use D-Fend. (as long as you installed it and use it properly)


Norton Commander is part of nostalgia if used with DOSBox.

One name I remember right now is Magic Carpet which kept crashing in D-Fend at a certain point in the game.
When I instructed the user to run it in DOSBox without using D-Fend, crashes ended.

That's not the only such case, but I don't really feel like digging up each and every one of them.

No argument on that. Playing old DOS games is nostalgia as well, though. :D

I'll have to dig my CD with Magic Carpet. (It's been many years since I played it)

Only reason it might crash is different setting in DOSBox and D-Fend. (D-Fend just calls the game to run into DOSBox)

Yes, some of us preffer typing instead of using file manager when operating DOS. :D

maybe you should add it to the dosbox tutorial, you know, if some people were confusing like this one