Many improvements take come up with the most contempo versions of Windows. Unfortunately, along with these improvements, support for running certain DOS programs has been lost. For those who are attached to their quondam DOS software, at that place is hope.

Yous can even so run your favorite DOS programs using an open source DOS emulator called DOSBox. DOSBox was designed to run DOS games, merely will run many other DOS applications as well. At that place's even a long list of DOS programs that accept been tested on DOSBox. As well as Windows, DOSBox will run under Mac Os X, Linux and FreeBSD.

Download and Install DOSBox

Navigate to the DOSBox.com downloads website and select the Windows link. You will be automatically forwarded to the SourceForge.cyberspace website to download the installation file. If you accept trouble with the download, click the straight link or click the mirror link to choose another download site.

Brand sure you have 4.iii MB of free space to install DOSBox. Start the file, then make sure that Cadre files and Desktop Shortcut are selected. Click Next and Install to continue the installation, so click Shut.

Install DOSBox

Install DOS Software

Before you first installing your software, create a directory on your C: drive for the files. For instance, if yous would like to play games, create a DosGames directory. Make sure that your folder name is eight characters or less.

Don't use spaces or any characters other than messages or numbers to name your DOS directory. One time the directory has been created, motility your DOS files to the directory or install the DOS software directly into the directory.

Create DOS Directory

Mount a Drive

Before you become started, brand sure all your DOS programs are installed in a unmarried directory. First DOSBox with the shortcut on your desktop. At the control prompt, type MOUNT C C:\DIRECTORY\, where DIRECTORY is the folder on your hard drive containing your DOS programs. If the DOS files are on a floppy disk, blazon MOUNT A A:\ -t floppy. If they're on a CD, type Mount Due east Due east:\ -t cdrom, where Eastward is the alphabetic character of your CD-ROM bulldoze.

Mount Drive in DOSBox

In some cases, you won't exist able to type a backslash (\) in the directory path. This is due to a disharmonize between DOSBox's key mapping and the central mapping of some keyboards. To solve the problem, press CTRL + F1. Delete and re-add together the backslash cardinal to remap the keyboard until the backslash key types the correct character.

DOSBox Keyboard Map

You lot must re-mountain the bulldoze each time you start DOSBox.

Change Directories and Run Your DOS Program

You can change your directory hands in DOSBox by only typing the name of your mounted bulldoze. For example, if you've mounted drive C:, and so only type C: at the Z: prompt. And then type DIR to see the files in your directory.

Blazon CD plus the proper noun of the directory to modify to a different directory. Type DIR again to see the contents of the new directory. Look for a .COM or .EXE file proper noun. Type the file proper noun to commencement the programme.

Type DOS Program Filename

For more than tips on using DOS, read How to navigate in the DOS command prompt.