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D O S G A M E S A R C H I V E N E W S L E T T E R
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No. 10 * September 9, 1999 * http://www.dosgamesarchive.com
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Welcome
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Welcome to the 10th issue of the DOS Games Archive News-
letter! We have included a special article about .PIF
files. It tells you how to quit Windows completely when
you want to play a DOS game. We hope you will find the
article usefull.
If you have any ideas for future content/articles
to include in our newsletter, we would like to hear from
you! Please e-mail us at: webmaster@dosgamesarchive.com
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Table of contents
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+ What's new on DOS Games Archive?
- Monopoly
+ Get rid of Windows!
- Did you know?
+ Top 10 downloads
+ Wanted!
- Hobitus
- Empire
- Indianapolis 500
- Golf courses
+ Webpoll
+ Site tip
- Games Nostalgia
===================== Sponsor message =====================
Speed up and resume broken downloads with Go!Zilla 3.5. Go
for the freeware version and more information to this URL:
http://www.dosgamesarchive.com/gozilla.html
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What's new on DOS Games Archive?
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-- Monopoly -----------------------------------------------
There is a new game in our archive, called 'Monopoly' from
Esc Programs. Here's some information:
Title: Monopoly
Developer: Esc Programs
File size: 399 kB
Year: 1999
Version: Public domain 1.2
Website: http://members.xoom.com/escp/monopoly.html
Rating: [x][x][x][x][ ]
This Monopoly board game is almost like a real Monopoly
game - just a few changes to the official rules. Neat
graphics of the animated dices. The game supports surround
sound.
If you want to download this game, go to our site at
http://www.dosgamesarchive.com. Choose 'Games' in the
index to the left and select 'Monopoly'. You will get
a HTML document with some information about the game.
On the bottom of the page you will find a link with
which you can download 'Monopoly'.
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Get rid of Windows! by Shawn Yarbrough
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Windows 95 is really the first version of Microsoft's
DOS-based operating system that can be counted on to run
DOS programs. Even programs that rely on fast graphics and
sound (like games) will usually run inside a DOS window on
the desktop.
But running DOS in a window on the desktop is naturally
slow. Windows 95 has to handle all the sound and graphics
output coming from DOS programs, and it has to multitask
when multiple programs are running. This overhead occurs
even while displaying the DOS window in full screen mode.
When you just want to run a single DOS program, all that
overhead becomes unnecessary. Why can't you just type
commands at a simple old DOS prompt? Here's how you can!
For faster execution with nearly 100% MS-DOS compatibility,
try switching to what Microsoft calls 'MS-DOS mode'.
Most of the DOS-related options for Microsoft Windows can
be set with a 'Program Information File', or .PIF file.
There can be many .PIF files on a system, each with a
different DOS configuration. The easiest .PIF file to find
is through the menu of Windows 95/98. Right-click on the
'Start' button and choose 'Open'. A 'directory called
'Programs' will appear. Double-click on the 'Programs'
folder and you will see several files and directories.
Somewhere in this window should be a clearly visible icon
labeled 'MS-DOS Prompt'. This icon represents a .PIF
file. Point at the icon while holding down the right mouse
button and drag it to any open spot on the Windows 95/98
desktop. Choose 'Copy Here'. A duplicate of the MS-DOS
Prompt will appear on the desktop. Now you can close the
opened windows.
Now to the good part. Right click once on the new MS-DOS
Prompt icon and pick 'Properties', then pick the 'Programs'
tab, and finally the 'Advanced' button. Aha! Three options
are now be visible, one of these is called 'MS-DOS Mode'.
The best way to run DOS games is inside MS-DOS Mode, so
choose it, and also choose 'Use current configuration'.
This MS-DOS Prompt icon is now a direct path into MS-DOS
Mode. Double-click it (after clicking 'OK' inside
'Properties') and MS-DOS Mode will start.
A full-screen DOS prompt should appear. From this prompt
most DOS games can run at full speed. Great! But is Windows
really gone? Nope. A tiny reminder of that huge operating
system still remains.
Type 'mem /c /p' to list memory contents and one of the
programs listed will be called 'WIN'. This tiny program is
what Microsoft Windows uses to switch back out of DOS mode
when the user requests it. In fact, do that right now by
typing 'exit'.
Occasionally, some DOS programs will refuse to run when
that pesky 'WIN' program is hanging around. Here's how to
get rid of Windows completely.
Remember picking 'Use current configuration' on the MS-DOS
Prompt's properties menu. Go back there and pick 'Specify
a new MS-DOS configuration' instead. It is optional to type
anything into the AUTOEXEC.BAT and CONFIG.SYS boxes, so
leave them blank for now. Now switch into MS-DOS Mode using
the modified MS-DOS Prompt icon. Do not be alarmed when the
computer reboots itself. This is normal because
AUTOEXEC.BAT and CONFIG.SYS can only be processed at boot
time.
Type 'mem /c /p' again to verify that 'WIN' is gone. The
computer is now in nearly 100% MS-DOS compatibility mode.
It will probably be necessary to go back and copy your
AUTOEXEC.BAT and CONFIG.SYS files into the .PIF properties
dialog box. In fact, it's easy to make many .PIF files,
each with different configurations. The computer I'm
writing this on has 6, some with a RAM disk, some with no
CD-ROM driver, some with EMS or XMS memory. It's easy to
get rid of all those boot floppies that DOS games like to
make by putting them onto the Windows 95/98 desktop.
-- Did you know? ------------------------------------------
There is a special .PIF file in the \WINDOWS directory that
many people have used without knowing it. It's called
'Exit To DOS.PIF' and it's called anytime that 'Restart
the computer in MS-DOS mode' is selected from the 'Shut
Down' menu (the 'Shut Down' menu is on the Start menu).
This special Program Information File can be modified at
will, just like any other .PIF.
This article is written by Shawn Yarbrough
Copyright (c) 1996 Idean Software
We would like to thank Shawn for providing his article.
===================== Sponsor message =====================
The third edition of the book 'DOS for Dummies' teach you
more about MS-DOS. The author manages to infuse practically
every passage with humor. If you're using DOS, this book
will provide you with valuable and professional help.
http://www.dosgamesarchive.com/shop/dummies.html
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Top 10 downloads
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The following games are most downloaded from our site:
1. Mario 6. Cannon Fodder
2. Prince of Persia 2 7. Wolfenstein 3D
3. Pinball Fantasies 8. Ninja Rabbits
4. DOOM 9. Wacky Wheels
5. Lamborghini 10. Worms
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Wanted!
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In this section you will find postings from our message
board. Most people are looking for a game that isn't in our
archive. Maybe other visitors (or readers of this
newsletter) own the game. Then they could contact the
person who has written the message.
-- Hobitus ------------------------------------------------
> "I remember a quite old game (1992-1993) called "Hobitus"
> or something very similar. If anyone has it, knows where
> to find it, knows of someone that could have it, or just
> anything, please, I love this game, it's awesome...
>
> Just contact me through ICQ: 20033450
>
> I got alot of oldies too, if you need."
CarbonMan - d_shahar@internet-zahav.net
-- Empire -------------------------------------------------
> "There was a game a long time ago called Empire. Graphics
> were poor, could fit on a 3.5" disk, and played on
> 286-386 computers (DOS). It was multiplayer (computer
> could play a character as well). You create tanks,
> planes, ships etc, and try to take over your opponents
> cities. The map was blacked out, and each type of weapon
> you created could move a certain amount of spaces. The
> game was a lot of fun, and I have been looking for it for
> a while now. Does anyone know where I can find it?"
Steve - sgiacobbo@home.com
-- Indianapolis 500 ---------------------------------------
> "Does somebody have Indianapolis 500 on his computer or
> know where I can get it on the Internet? Thanks a lot!"
Jan Wijma - janwijma@gmx.net
-- Golf courses -------------------------------------------
> "Can anybody out there tell me where I can find any of
> the old Links 386 golf courses that I can download. I
> have the Links LS upgrade program but no courses.
> HELP ME OBI WON!"
Yungjedi - yungjedi@canoemail.net
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Webpoll
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Here are the results of our Webpoll:
What's your favorite browser?
Netscape Navigator 47% 668 votes
Internet Explorer 43% 603 votes
Opera 5% 76 votes
Other 5% 67 votes
Total votes: 1414
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Site tip
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-- Games Nostalgia ----------------------------------------
Games Nostalgia is a site about old computer games for
MS-DOS. The site includes downloads, a library (with
reviews, cheat codes, FAQs and a timeline), a forum and
links. Check it out!
URL: http://nostalgia.dosgamesarchive.com
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Thanks
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That's it for this issue of our newsletter. See you next
issue and thanks for reading!
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