Using DOSBox to run Haltech DOS prorams in XP

by Claudio Sun Jan 27, 2008 1:10 pm

Hello all, just thought i'd post here, i have actually been playing with DOSBox recently and it
really works very well, and its a lot easier to setup than Virtual PC is and you have access to the
hard drive as opposed to VPC where you cant.
If anybody needs DOSBox here's what you have to do:
1. Download DOSBox from here:
http://prdownloads.sourceforge.net/dosbox/DOSBox0.72-win32-installer.exe?download
2. Install the application.
3. After you've installed the application, go to the Program Files folder, and in the D-Box folder
you will find a file called dosbox.conf, open it with notepad.
4. Scroll down to the bottom and find the Serial settings it will say:
serial1=disabled
serial2=disabled
serial3=disabled
serial4=disabled
Type the following:
serial1=directserial realport:com1
serial2=disabled
serial3=disabled
serial4=disabled
Make sure that your COMM port is set to COM1 on both the Haltech software and in the
Device Manager. If you are using a USB to serial adapter make sure to set it to COM1 before
doing all this. Or you wont be able to go online.
5. After you've done this scroll to the very bottom where it says [autoexec], type the following:

mount c c:\Haldos
C:\
Note: If you only use one program, and you would like that program to automatically
launch when you double click the DOSBox icon, type the following line after the "C:\" :
C:\E6K
This will automatically launch the E6K software (make sure you type the correct name
for the file you are using, ie. E6K_V634, etc.)
6. Now, save the file and close notepad.
7. Make a folder with all your DOS Haltech programs and maps and put it in the root directory,
C:, and call it 'Haldos'.
8. After you've done this you can now double click the DOSBox icon in the desktop. When it
runs it will enable the use of the serial port and have as the C:\ directory your Haldos folder,
type "DIR" to view all the files saved there.
9. You're done, you may now use Haltech DOS software with XP (and possibly Vista).
I have not tried to go online on Vista yet, you're more than welcomed to do so. And post if it
works.
Once DOSBox is running you will be able to improve the speed of it by pressing Ctrl + F12
around 6 or 7 times. After you're done using the software and wish to close it, type Ctrl + Q
from the haltech program to quit, then type EXIT and hit Enter and DOSBox will close.
Enjoy, good luck. Can this be made into a Sticky???
Claudio
tuningtechnology@gmail.com
Independant Haltech Sales & Tech Support