Scraping MS-DOS games

[mitu]

Might a long folder name (including spaces) be the problem? Also, I’m using lr-dosbox instead of the regular dosbox.

lr-dosbox doesn't support .sh files.

-c "cd 007 - License to Kill (1989)"

You know that DOS doesn't support filenames with more than 8 characters, right ? 007 - License to Kill (1989) is not a valid folder name under DOS (not in this form anyway), you should rename it to 007 and re-try.

[gordonfreemanjr]

@mitu Thanks. I knew something was wrong with the folder name, just didn't quite remember what the DOS naming restrictions were. Thanks for the reminder.

Has DOSBox already generated some config files I should delete before?

[mitu]

@gordonfreemanjr said in Scraping MS-DOS games:

Has DOSBox already generated some config files I should delete before?

Most likely no. As an alternative to a .sh file, you can use .conf files with the commands added to the autoexec section.
For instance, assuming your game is in /home/pi/pcroms/007, you can create a 007 - License to Kill.conf file in your pc rom folder containing:

[autoexec]
mount c /home/pi/pcroms
c:
cd 007
bonde.exe
exit

They're easier to write and they're supported by lr-dosbox . Plus, you can just start dosbox without any games and enter the commands one by one to check if they're ok.

[gordonfreemanjr]

@mitu Amazing! I’ll do that.

If I use a .conf file this way, can I still save a game specific config via the RetroArch menu? Will it work? (I use it mostoy for the „cycles” option).

[mitu]

@gordonfreemanjr said in Scraping MS-DOS games:

If I use a .conf file this way, can I still save a game specific config via the RetroArch menu?

If you're referring to the core options part, then yes. But you can use the .conf file for that , by adding the cycles to the [cpu] section of the .conf.

[gordonfreemanjr]

@mitu No luck. Running the conf files from the Emulation Station just brings me to an empty DOSBox quick menu with no items available.

[mitu]

Can you post your .conf file ? Does it work with dosbox ?

[gordonfreemanjr]

This is the 007 - License to Kill.conf file:

[autoexec]
mount c /home/pi/roms/pcroms
c:
cd 007
bonde.exe
exit

It doesn't work with standard dosbox either.

[mitu]

What's the error you're receiving from doxbox ? Is the game path correct ?

[gordonfreemanjr]

@mitu Yes, the pcroms subfolder was placed in the pi/roms folder, and the .conf files are placed in the roms/pc folder. There’s no error to speak of, that’s just how it boots - empty Quick Menu. If I choose to boot the .conf with dosbox, it just doesn’t launch, bringing me back to Emulation Station.

[mitu]

Then a log file (/dev/shm/runcommand.log) may shed some light on the issue.

EDIT: as I said earlier, you can also start dosbox, then type each of the .conf file commands at the command line and see if you get any error (and where).

[gordonfreemanjr]

@mitu I just noticed a mistake regarding the file path. That’s probably what’s causing the failures. I’ll check it momentarily, but there’s something else:

while trying to configure best config for Action Supercross in lr-dosbox, I set CPU to 386_prefetch, which caused the emulator to crash. Now it won’t start, even after reboot. What do I do?

[mitu]

@gordonfreemanjr said in Scraping MS-DOS games:

while trying to configure best config for Action Supercross in lr-dosbox, I set CPU to 386_prefetch, which caused the emulator to crash. Now it won’t start, even after reboot. What do I do?

Revert the CPU option ?

[gordonfreemanjr]

@mitu Yes, but how do I do this if I’m not able to start lr-dosbox at all?

[mitu]

@gordonfreemanjr Reload, dr. Freeman.

EDIT: You can open the core options file (\\retropie\configs\all\retroarch-core-options.cfg) and modify or delete the faulty option.

[gordonfreemanjr]

@mitu I thoroughly enjoy working with you, Dr. Mitu. Your thesis is always precise and on point. Whatever doubts seem to cast shadow on my work, your spotless razor-sharp mind can cut through like a witcher’s sword.

I’m aware that my retropying is clumsy at best and my questions are often plain stupid, but I firmly believe it’s better to ask and know than not to ask and keep wondering.

The good news is: I’m almost done :) The bad news is: configuring Atari and Macintosh emulators is still to come.

[gordonfreemanjr]

@mitu Seriously, man, thanks. You’ve already provided me with ton of extremely valuable answers to my often entry/silly level problems. I greately appreciate your effort and your time. I’d buy you a drink if I could. Thank you.

[gordonfreemanjr]

@mitu Is that a common issue that I barely get any DOS scrapes? I got only 20/300 hits on all available sources (with an uncanny zero from Screenscraper), only games like Doom or Alone In The Dark got a match. The rest hasn’t been found for any reason. I’m using Skyscraper and my .conf names are pretty detailed (i.e. Batman Returns, Tom & Jerry, Mario Is Missing etc).

It’s not a deal breaker, I’m grateful to have bunch of working .conf files. It just feels weird. I got like 80% hits on mu ZX Spectrum library, and DOS? 20/300?

[mitu]

@gordonfreemanjr said in Scraping MS-DOS games:

@mitu Is that a common issue that I barely get any DOS scrapes?

I don't know - I don't have an large DOS library. Have you tried to use TheGamesDB as a source ? They might have more DOS games in their database - Batman Returns or Mario is Missing seem to scrape fine via Skyscraper.

[gordonfreemanjr]

@mitu I’ve tried all 4 of them. I have a membership on Screenscraper and it typically provides 90% of my scrapes. With DOS the result was zero.

Odd that a file named: Mario is Missing.conf doesn’t earn a scrape.