Microsoft's antiquated and since-retired operating organisation MS-DOS (short for Microsoft Disk Operating System) was home to some fantastic games. Many of these former DOS computer games at present sit dusty and unloved in attics across the world, next to quondam copies of Lotus Word Pro and your Windows 98 Second Edition CD.

Then maybe it'south fourth dimension to drop the gamepad, leave the Wii-mote and shun Kinect. Get that box of floppies and badly scratched CDs out of the attic, brush up on your command line skills and enjoy some of the finest computer games e'er developed.

If yous're a Windows 7 user with a nostalgic craving for the classics, you lot're going to need a bit of assistance getting everything up and running. Enter DOSBox.

MS-DOS Emulation

In order to create an environment in which your ageing games will feel about comfortable, you lot're going to demand to run a DOS emulator. There's a couple available, only my personal favourite (because it'due south piece of cake and just works) is DOSBox.

old computer dos games

You tin download DOSBox here, beingness a Windows user you'll want the top option. Information technology's worth mentioning the big array of different versions to cull from - DOSBox will work just as well on Linux and Mac, as well as FreeBSD, Solaris and other more obscure platforms.

In one case downloaded, double click the executable installer.

how to get dos games to work

Yous'll be prompted to have the licence, create shortcuts and finally choose an install directory. Hit the Install button when you're ready, then Shut.

Using DOSBox

Detect the DOSBox binder in your Kickoff menu or utilize the desktop shortcut you just created. You'll detect two windows open up: the DOSBox status window and the chief DOSBox window. Yous'll want the main i.

how to get dos games to work

Before you can run whatsoever games yous'll demand to mount a directory as your virtual C:\ drive. This is what DOSBox will employ every bit a local hard drive, any folders therein can and so exist accessed with the C: prefix (more on this in a bit).

To mount a binder of your choice, blazon:

mount c <folder>\

I made a directory called dosgames on my C:\ bulldoze, and so to mount it I would type:

mount c c:\dosgames\
how to get dos games to work

Now yous can place any games you wish to see the folder you mounted. You volition need to mountain a binder each time you lot run DOSBox in order to access the juicy games stored within.

Information technology'due south probably worth brushing up on your command line skills as well. Those of you who are veterans of the DOS era will probably encounter little trouble, but users who are new to the command line may struggle.

Navigation is done through the cd command, so to change directory from the default DOSBox Z:\> prompt you'd type:

C:\

To modify to the C: drive you lot merely created, and so:

          cd /doom/

This would accept you to the doom directory, if you had one. There is aid available within DOSBox, at any time type help /all for a consummate listing of supported commands.

The Games

So you've set up DOSBox, and you even know how to use it. With your virtual C:\ bulldoze created it's time to make full that folder you mounted with classic games.

There'due south a couple of means to get hold of old DOS computer games. The most obvious method is using your original CD or floppy disk. To do this, create a new folder within the mounted location (then for me, it's C:\dosgames\) and drag the contents of the CD/floppy into it.

You tin can and then navigate there, using the cd command and run the game by typing:

run <executable>

Supersede <executable> with the name of the game'south executable file, and enjoy yourself.

old computer dos games

Peradventure you've scratched your onetime CDs, no longer have a floppy drive or are just apparently lazy - you can always download the games you own. This is not illegal provided you own the original media, though if you lot download whatever games you lot don't own then be aware that you're breaking the police.

I'thousand not going to name any websites from which to download said games, though you'll probably notice what y'all're looking for using torrents and individual trackers.

As usual, put whatsoever games you've downloaded within the folder you mounted. Y'all'll then be able to access them through DOSBox.

Last but certainly not to the lowest degree there's abandonware. This software's legality is still contested for a diverseness of reasons, merely in that location's a flurry of websites that are jam-packed with games - and we've got an commodity all about them.

Decision

DOSBox should be your ticket to old-school gaming on Microsoft'southward latest operating system. Sometimes it's nice to take a break from the latest and greatest and enjoy the gilded oldies. If you think this is crawly, then check out our other article on SCUMMVM for point-and-click goodness. You'll be playing classics like Cannon Fodder, Theme Park and Commander Keen for hours!

Have you played with DOSBox? Got any favourites from years gone by? Allow us know in the comments.

PyScript Beta Lets You Run Python in the Browser

Read Next

About The Author

Tim Brookes (821 Manufactures Published)

Tim is a freelance writer who lives in Melbourne, Australia. You can follow him on Twitter.

More than From Tim Brookes