Red Alert Command and Conquer Install

posted on November 6th, 2011, 2:36 am

Tried dosbox, I managed to confuse the hell out of myself with it. 

Sorry to hear that.  I think they make a bad read doc on it.  It is quite simple really.  I am running every old dos game there is now.  Just finished with C&C first 3 missions.  Works great!

Ok, I will make this as simple as I can.

(a) download dosbox 0.74 here

DOSBox, an x86 emulator with DOS

Install it. 

Then open up the dosbox config file in your "Start" "Programs" "Dosbox" "Options" "DOSbox 0.74 Options"

This config file is what you will set up.  Now, find the setting for "cycles".  This is what your dosbox CPU emulation speed will be set at.  Default is 3000 I believe.  Most old dos games need more speed.  set this to between 10,000 and 80,000 depending on how much CPU speed you want (i.e. how fast you want the game to run.  For RA, set this to around 30,000.  A good mid road speed for most dos games.

Now, find the sound blaster files.  Just make sure you know this will emulate SB16 @ address 220/7/1
you can change this to any of the known ports to config this.  Just remember that for your sound settings.

Now, understand the xms and ems settings.  This is also very important to many dos games.  Find out if the game requires ems or xms, or even both.  Simply setting this to "true" or "false" will switch this on or off respectively.

Finally, at the very bottom/end of the config file, is the "autoexec" lines.  Below the last line, insert this path...

mount e: e: -t cdrom (where e: is your CD/DVD ROM)

This automatically mounts the CD?DVD ROM when you open up dosbox.

That's it.

Now you have dosbox installed and set up (config file).  Now it is time to learn how to mount folders for dosbox. 

You want to install RA.  Ok, then go to "My Computer" "C Drive" or any drive you wish, and simply create a folder called RA (for example).

open up dosbox.  You will see that your CD/DVD ROM has already been mounted and is ready to go.  You start with a Z: promt.  Now type "mount c: c:RA"

Now, you will see c: mounted.  Next, type cdE: (or what ever your CD/DVD ROM is).  This changes the drive to your E: CD/DVD ROM.  Type "install"

That's it.  Once installed, start the game.  Enjoy.

This covers all games.  Do the same process for any dos game.  It is as simple as that!

posted on November 6th, 2011, 2:40 am

Running RA in Windows natively is still much more comfortable than in DOSbox. It runs perfectly fine on any 64 bit OS with the application of some fixes.

Check out this RA installer for Windows: Command & Conquer Communications Center Community forums - Red Alert

Also check these instructions to fix the widely known inverted colors issue that affects many older DirectDraw titles on Win7: Print Page - Fixing weird colors on Windows Vista/7

Edit: Errrrr, sorry the linked version appears to be limited in terms of content. YOu might wanna check it out anyway sinc ethe package already includes the most important fixes.

Ahh, the gold editions.

I just got finished trying to get C&C gold with the "hi res" 106c patch, and it is nothing but problems!  It would be easier to run the dosbox stuff that to try to get the 106c to run right.  The videos are all in the corner and the game will freeze (randomly).  Too many bugs.  Just my experiences with this.

posted on November 7th, 2011, 12:56 am

Sorry to hear that.  I think they make a bad read doc on it. 

They had a read doc!? That explains why I got so confused

Thanks, all this seems much more obvious now that I haven't been messing with it for 8 hours straight

posted on November 7th, 2011, 2:37 am

They had a read doc!? That explains why I got so confused

Thanks, all this seems much more obvious now that I haven't been messing with it for 8 hours straight

Great!  Let us know how everything works out. 

Also, I got Star Trek: Final Unity working as well.  BOY, has it been a LONG time playing that one!!!

posted on November 7th, 2011, 7:08 am

Ok, all up and running now, thanks for the help everyone

posted on November 14th, 2011, 6:42 pm

i tend to use mivrosoft virtual pc with a windows95c for the most old games, i have only a few that really only work with DosBox.