Running DOS Build Engine Games in Windows XP

Running DOS Build Engine Games in Windows XP.

This has been tested on and works on the following games:

Redneck Rampage

Sucking Grits on Route 66

Redneck Rides Again

Redneck Deer Hunting

Blood

Shadow Warrior

Duke3D

Nam

WW2GI

For this example we will use Redneck Rides Again, because the original Redneck Rampage needs extra help to get running, which I won't go into just yet. This tutorial assumes you have a basic knowledge of DOS and can navigate DOS folders using DOS commands.

Step 1: Getting Started

1) Download NOLFB. This is the program needed for VESA2.0 video support. https://www.jonhunt.com/redneck/other/nolfb.zip

2) Download Cli2nop. This program is used to disable the sound interrupts in the game .exe. You may not need it for Redneck Rampage, but you will in the other Build Games.. https://www.jonhunt.com/redneck/other/cli2nop.zip

3) Download and install the latest version of VDM sound.

https://www.jonhunt.com/redneck/other/vdmsound210.exe

Restart computer.

4) Install your Build game you want to play. In this example we will use Redneck Rides Again.

Open a DOS box. (Start/Programs/Accessories/command prompt) and switch to your Rides Again Folder.

6) Go to your redneck setup and set your screen rez to 640x480.

7) Still in Redneck setup, set your sound to soundblaster16 , Port 220, IRQ 7, 8 bit DMA 1, 16bit DMA 5. (If this doesn't work, set the IRQ to 5) Set the voices and mixing rate to your liking, but lower them if you experience sound issues during the game. I have my settings set hi, and have had no problems.

8) Save and exit setup. Close DOX box and return to windows.

9) Unzip NOLFB.zip into your Rides Again folder.

Step 2: Playing the game from a DOS box

1) Open up DOS Box (Start/Programs/Accessories/command prompt) and switch to your Rides Again Folder.

2) Type NOLFB Then hit enter.

3) In the same DOS box Type DOSDRV Hit Enter

4) Type RA hit enter, and play the game!

*NOTE: If the game crashes at this point read, "How to change VDM sound DOS configuration" below.

How to change VDM sound DOS configuration

Open windows Explorer.

Browse to your VDM Sound install folder. Default is C:ProgramfilesVDMsound

Locate VDMS.INI   and open with notepad.

Scroll down until you see this line:

; This module emulates a SoundBlaster-compatible card.

5) Look for : "IRQ = 7 ; usually 5 or 7"

If in your Redneck sound setup, you set the IRQ to 5, you would need to change this line in VDMS.ini to a 5.

Save and try the game again.

The two biggest reasons for the game to not work, and crash are not typing NOLFB and DOSDRV before typing the game executable. And not having the sound IRQ setting right. In fact in all cases where the player followed these instructions exactly and the game would not work, the player either didn't type something right or the sound wasn't set up properly.

Running the games through windows

Follow Step 1 Above: We will use Rides Again as the test game.

Step 2:

Open Windows Explorer and browse to your Rides Again (game) folder. Delete all MSDOS game shortcuts. Only the shortcuts that say MSDOS for the icon picture.

Open notepad and add the following lines: (this example is for rides again, substitute your game for rides again)

Nolfb.com

Ra.exe

And save the file in your Rides Again folder as rrxp.bat

In windows explorer in your Rides Again folder, right click on your newly created raxp.bat

Choose the " Run With VDM Sound" Option.

The first time you run the game a VDM sound config box will come up. You will have 2 choices:

"Use A Default Configuration"

"Set up Custom Configuration"

Choose " Set up custom Configuration" Click next

Click "Create New Configuration From Scratch" Click Next

Click Advanced.

Click on the soundblaster Tab and set the IRQ to 5 or 7, whichever matches your redneck setup.

Click OK or Apply, then click Next. And then click Finish. The game should now start and run.

Cli2nop

I suppose you've been wondering when I was going to talk about this file. If /when you are playing the game and your sound "stutters" or is "choppy" You will need to apply this sound patch.

Unzip Cli2nop into your game folder.

Open up DOS Box (Start/Programs/Accessories/command prompt) and switch to your game folder.

Type: cli2nop -p (game).exe

Example: cli2nop -p blood.exe (There is a space between cli2nop and -p and another space between -p and blood.exe.

That's it!

The original Redneck Rampage

Due to some sort of glitch, the First Redneck Rampage game will always crash as the opening screen. Lucky for you, I have found a way to correct this.

Open notepad and add these lines

nolfb.com

RR /GREDNECK.GRP /xGAME.CON

Save file in your Redneck folder as rrxp.bat. Run the game in windows as outlined above.

Other Semi- Important Tips

You can play user levels just fine using the DOS Box method. Just use the -map switch as you have always done.

GeForce 4 Video Cards are limited to 640x480 screen resolution. I have found that Earlier Geforce and current ATI cards will run up to 1024x768.

The level editor will not work. Go to:

https://jonof.edgenetwork.org/buildport/duke3d

Download the new 3d version of Duke3D. It comes with a new windows based version of the Build editor that works fine in Redneck Rampage series of games, and Nam and WW2GI. I don't think it will support Blood or Shadow Warrior.

If you are playing a game that needs a CD in the drive, (like Redneck Deer Huntin) and you have multiple CD drives, You will get an error that says Abort, Ignore, Retry. Just hit "I" for ignore until it cycles to your drive that has the CD in it. The game should start as it normally does.

This will work with both Fat32 and NTFS file systems.

Test Systems

Compaq Presario  Homebuilt

AMD 2000  AMD 1700+

40 gb HD with NTFS file system 20 gig WD HD

256 mb pc2100 ram 512 MB PC 2100

PNY Geforce4 ti4200 64 mb GeForce MX-400 64mb RAM

Onboard 4.1 sound. SBLive

CD-RW  Windows XP Pro SP1

Windows XP Home

Homebuilt  Homebuilt Homebuilt

Pentium 4 2.4 ghz AMD64 3000 AMD 2100+

512 pc2100 ram 512 PC 3200 RAM 640 PC 133 RAM

dual 40 gb HD with FAT32  Dual 80 gig WD HD Dual 40gig WD HD

ASUS Geforce4 ti4200 128mb ATI RADEON 9500 Pro MSI GeForce4 ti4200 64MB

Soundblaster Live Value Turtle Beach OEM Sound Onboard sound

CD-RW 

DVD-RW

Dual Boot W98 /XP

Special thanks to Speeed for helping test the accuracy of the tutorial, and also for helping on test on other systems. Thanks Speeed.

webmaster@jonhunt.com

2004 Jon Hunt and Totally Redneck All Rights Reserved.

No one may copy or post this file to any medium without prior written authorization.