~DOS Tips

This month brings you another compilation of tips for improving your
machines performance in DOS.  This month brought to you by Kevin 
Gorasia.


~Makes your computer a little bit faster :

I used to own a 4mb machine and had brought Rise of the Robots.  The 
game said that it needed the full 4mb of memory.I had the 4mb patch 
on my copy also but it still wouldn't run.The following will also 
work if you don't have the 4mb memory patch here's what I did: 

Autoexec.bat
------------
Echo Off
SET TEMP=C:\DOS
prompt $p$g
LH C:\VESA-DRV.COM
PATH=C:\DOS;D:\GAMES\RISE;C:\WINDOWS
SET BLASTER=A220 I5 D1 T3
SET SOUND=C:\SB
LH MOUSE

The above configrution has got the absolute minimum to run the game.
You need the following drivers loaded to get it to run:
VESA driver
Set Sound Statement
Path Command for quick activation.

The above Autoexec.bat should work with all computers.  You may have 
to change the Set Sound statement,if you own a SB16.But apart from 
that it should work. 


Config.sys
----------

DEVICE=C:\DOS\HIMEM.SYS /hmamin=1
REM DEVICE=C:\DOS\EMM386.EXE RAM AUTO FRAME=E000
DEVICE=C:\DOS\SETVER.EXE
DOS=HIGH,UMB
FILES=30
STACKS=9,256
BUFFERS=6,0 

You will notice that I have disabled the EMM386 driver.This is 
essential, because with the EMM386 driver the game won't run. This 
also makes the computer a little bit faster.(For example a nominal 
directory listing takes 5 sec but on with the EMM386 disabled it 
only took 2 sec). 

Just copy the above files into your boot disk and anything else you 
need.  And Rise of the Robots should work with Full Sound and 
Cinamatics.  The above may sound a little far fetched to you,but 
just try it and if it doesn't work just tell me and don't chuck it 
out of the window!! 

                               -Kevin Gorasia
