Dosbox-x works differently on different machines

[t18]

Hello, that's about the copy of Dosbox-x available on App, so I think it's correct to ask you first.


# Scenario 1:

Dosbox-x works pretty fine on Core installed on VirtualBox, hosted in turn by Slackware 15_64, on condition that Core is started from scratch.
If something else has been loaded before, Dosbox-x starts but the software I mean to use on it doesn't start.


# Scenario 2:

The same version of Dosbox-x starts but crashes on any configure attempt on Core installed on a Pentium 2 laptop.
Errors like "Illegal instruction" or "...Int15..." show.



I haven't been able to create any config file for none of the copies of Dosbox-x.
Trying to do that via its Configuration Tool, on the Vbox copy no file is created neither in the user's homedir, while the P2 copy crashes straightly.


On both copies of Dosbox-x I've installed Autocad R12 for DOS. That's the program I'd like to use.
If it starts, on the Pentium 2 the mouse pointer moves jerkily when activated as Autocad pointer.
As stated, I'm unable to do a config file to transfer from the lucky machine to the desperate one.


So I've tried to build a more recent version of Dosbox-x but I've realized that it's not like building Gimp.

Any suggestions or references would be very appreciated.

Many thanks

[Juanito]

See: http://www.tinycorelinux.net/14.x/x86/tcz/src/dosbox-x/compile_dosbox-x

[t18]

Thank you so much.

I continue to get the following error:

/usr/local/bin/ld: warning: creating DT_TEXTREL in a PIE
collect2: error: ld returned 1 exit status

I had tried to add -no-pie and -fno-pie but unsuccessfully. Not sure I did it correctly.

[Rich]

Hi t18
You might want to try something besides dosbox. Dosbox seems
to be mostly geared towards games. I fired up dosbox and I noticed
it consumed about 30% of the CPU time. And it wasn't even running
any programs, just a command prompt with a blinking cursor. One
of dosboxes functions is to slow things down so games don't execute
too quickly, something you don't need. It also provides other support
functions for games (sound, joystick, etc.) which you also don't need.

I'm wondering if it might be simpler to install FreeDos to a separate
partition, boot that and run Autocad R12 for DOS on that.

Or, maybe spin up a copy of FreeDos under VirtualBox or Qemu and
run Autocad R12 for DOS from there.

[t18]

Hi Rich,

I'm speaking about Dosbox-x, not Dosbox. I've chosen it because of its smaller package size, assuming it would require a smaller amount of RAM, hopefully.

Other than running games and programs, Dosbox-x allows us to install DOS and all the DOS-based versions of Windows, i.e. up to Win ME.
But that is possible having the necessary amount of RAM, while my aim is just to run an old DOS version of Autocad (i.e. requiring a low amount of RAM) on Linux.
That's because a Linux version of Autocad doesn't exist and my laptop is 160 Mb RAM only.

The FreeDOS option would be interesting if it's possible to install it on Linux straightly, but if I need Virtualbox what would it be the difference between
"Core + Dosbox-x + Autocad"
against
"Core + Virtualbox + FreeDos + Autocad"
in term of RAM requirement?

Compiling Dosbox-x on Core I got the "PIE" error. Any way to fix it?

[Juanito]

This would seem to indicate that error is fixed: https://github.com/joncampbell123/dosbox-x/issues/1963

[Juanito]

dosbox-x updated

[t18]

Thank you so much, waiting for it to be available via App. 

[Rich]

Hi t18

I'm speaking about Dosbox-x, not Dosbox. ...

Apologies, I missed the  "-x"  when I read your original post.
Then I missed it again in the link Juanito provided.

... while my aim is just to run an old DOS version of Autocad (i.e. requiring a low amount of RAM) on Linux. ...

... and my laptop is 160 Mb RAM only. ...

I didn't realize your RAM situation was that tight. Since your Autocad is a
DOS version, you shouldn't even need Linux, should you?

I think you would maximize available RAM if you:
1. Create a separate disk partition.
2. Format it with a DOS (FAT, FAT16, FAT32) based file system.
3. Install FreeDos (or some other DOS).
4. Boot that partition.
5. Install and run Autocad directly in that partition.

... That's because a Linux version of Autocad doesn't exist ...

I think you meant:
"That's because a Linux (UNIX) version of Autocad no longers exists"

According to this it was available for 4 UNIX platforms:
https://www.cadtutor.net/forum/topic/899-autocad-rel-12/#comment-10963

Then there's this (firing up Autocad on Silicon Graphics workstation, June 2018):
https://forums.irixnet.org/thread-147.html

[t18]

Hi t18

Apologies, I missed the  "-x"  when I read your original post.

Yes, I wonder why they didn't chose a different name since it causes problems in googling: tons of stuffs about Dosbox instead of Dosbox-x.

Since your Autocad is a DOS version, you shouldn't even need Linux, should you?

I think you would maximize available RAM if you:
1. Create a separate disk partition.
2. Format it with a DOS (FAT, FAT16, FAT32) based file system.
3. Install FreeDos (or some other DOS).

FreeDos needs a VM to run. The Pentium II was designed for Win98, I think DOS wouldn't recognize its hardware.

4. Boot that partition.
5. Install and run Autocad directly in that partition.

Yes, I'd maximize the available RAM but that way (if doable) I'm forced to switch between DOS and Linux. That's unpractical.
While my aim is to make a system fully exploitable.

... That's because a Linux version of Autocad doesn't exist ...

I think you meant:
"That's because a Linux (UNIX) version of Autocad no longers exists"

No, I referred =exactly= to a Linux version.
Autodesk switched from Unix to Windows because an agreement with Microsoft. They never considered Linux.

According to this it was available for 4 UNIX platforms:
https://www.cadtutor.net/forum/topic/899-autocad-rel-12/#comment-10963

Then there's this (firing up Autocad on Silicon Graphics workstation, June 2018):
https://forums.irixnet.org/thread-147.html

Yes, the problem is to own the relevant hardware.
I own a HP 9000/700 running HP-UX but the proper version of Autocad (R12 or 13) is unfindable.

SG was a top level, exclusive system. Their OS run only on their hardware.
The guys at Mame have been able to emulate a SG machine, but it's impossible to install all that on a Pentium 2.