Old game 'destroys' screen display

[Basan]

*Meh* As many of you probably realise I have the tendency to come here with the most idiotic stuff I can think of. Today will be no different. :P

Well, I've got Ascendancy (http://www.abandonia.com/games/en/221/Ascendancy.htm) because an old friend of mine spoke nicely about it. Have settled it up on my HD and started the game, 'cause it said to be XP compatible (read, no DOS Box involved whatsoever). I've got a 38 cm screen in my laptop and the game showed the loading screen and all others larger than it should, thus preventing me to see the lower panel controls. I then proceeded to get into it's *.exe's properties and making'em compatible. Tried all OS's present and even the 256 colour thingy. None solved my issue.

Next, have tried to lower my laptop's resolution in the monitor properties to 800 * 600 (my lowest resolution) and also placed the worst colours I could possibly pick. Still no cigar. :mad:
Simply put, I still haven't ascended. :rolleyes:

At this point I'm stumped and really wished to try that RTS which was many times advised to me. Any Santa's helpers are welcome and for that you'll get milk and cookies too. ;)

[OboeGuru]

XP's compatibility controls have been largely underwhelming to me, as I have yet a to find an instance where they actually did anything. Granted, I haven't had too much reason to try. Even DOS games couldn't be run from within Windows 95 without a) using a DOS prompt or b) rebooting into DOS.
I have no idea how Abandonia defines games to be "XP Compatible", but I would highly suggest just using the DOSBox software, particularly if you ever feel inclined to try any other games on that site. It's very simple to set up (read their tutorial), and takes maybe 10 minutes, if that.

Not really an answer to your query, but it's the best I can do. Running DOS applications withing the Windows environment has always been gimmicky.

[Basan]

XP's compatibility controls have been largely underwhelming to me, as I have yet a to find an instance where they actually did anything. Granted, I haven't had too much reason to try. Even DOS games couldn't be run from within Windows 95 without a) using a DOS prompt or b) rebooting into DOS.

For me it has worked before on old Ignition (http://www.abandonia.com/games/en/107/Ignition.htm) that got from there as well. (I lousily 'lost it' after a borrow that never came back home. :()
And it also worked like a charm before for my Re-Volt (http://www.abandonia.com/games/en/908/ReVolt.htm)'s revisiting days from the PS1 (at a friend's house). :)

In fact, it was the 1st time that I got a game from there that didn't work well from the get go. :concern:

I have no idea how Abandonia defines games to be "XP Compatible", but I would highly suggest just using the DOSBox software, particularly if you ever feel inclined to try any other games on that site. It's very simple to set up (read their tutorial), and takes maybe 10 minutes, if that.

Not really an answer to your query, but it's the best I can do. Running DOS applications withing the Windows environment has always been gimmicky.

Eh, I'm still hesitant in trying the new DOS Box (http://dosbox.sourceforge.net/download.php?) (v0.70). Will do it only as a last resource because I couldn't get it to operate in older versions due to what I assume being my laptop's fault. :P After starting the app' I can't simply set a DOS operated folder 'cause it's command window doesn't identify the ":" inside it. :lame:, I know but what can I say? *Shrugs lips*

[Shortyland05]

http://sourceforge.net/projects/vdmsound/

VDMsound solved all of my dosgame problems in xp, it sorts out the memory/speed/graphics and even sound! all ya have to do is right click and click on 'run on VDMsound'

[OboeGuru]

Age of the game is a crucial factor. Re-Volt hardly counts because it's not a DOS game. :P
Even Ignition isn't as dated as Ascendancy, which looks to have been developed prior to the DOS-Windows integration seen in Windows 95. That's probably why Ascedancy doesn't work perfectly within the Windows environment and requires the DOSBox Virtual Machine to function as intended.
Of course, any other DOS Virtual Machine will suffice, but that's the one supported by that website. VDMsound does not appear to be a Virtual Machine, but rather an emulator, so it may or may not solve the issue you're having, Basan.
Eh, I'm still hesitant in trying the new DOS Box (http://dosbox.sourceforge.net/download.php?) (v0.70). Will do it only as a last resource because I couldn't get it to operate in older versions due to what I assume being my laptop's fault. :P After starting the app' I can't simply set a DOS operated folder 'cause it's command window doesn't identify the ":" inside it. :lame:, I know but what can I say? *Shrugs lips*
I just installed DOS Box v0.70 tonight after reading your post, and it works perfectly for me (I'm playing Wing Commander (http://www.abandonia.com/games/en/137/WingCommander.htm) right now!)... did you follow the instructions exactly as Abandonia laid them out? The program doesn't strike me as something you can just download, install, and run with, editing that DOSBox.conf file correctly is crucial to the operation of the program.

[Basan]

ShortyLand', had that app a long time ago in my PC but never got it to work properly for Heretic so ditched it altogether.

Thanks, oh 'Guru! ^_^ Will try to edit the "DOSBox.conf" (http://www.abandonia.com/main.php?nav=setting&FAQ=1) to see if it works provided that I couldn't from the window command the program has (due to it not recognizing the ":" key in my keyboard as have said earlier). And, alas, even after configuring the file it still doesn't allow me to load any games. It seems that I must configure the keyboard inside it but giving the "qwerty" code didn't work... :P nor saying that my keyboard is "Portuguese" (as my laptop is well known national brand - Tsunami). :angel:

Any further ideas for this will do (and are appreciated). ;)

[Shortyland05]

heh, or you could go to a 2nd hand computer store and buy an old 333mhz and put 95 or 98 on it XD

[Basan]

heh, or you could go to a 2nd hand computer store and buy an old 333mhz and put 95 or 98 on it XD

Don't need to. :P Already have one similar for home PC (but for particular reasons I don't wish to use it for that).
But since I had that app' you suggested in my previous 2K NT OS I'll try it again because since then have upgraded to a XP (Pro). ^_^

Anyway, DOS Box still wasn't capable to make recognize the drive I've set into it's config' file due to that key mishap. :concern: Anyone else has any ideas on how to possibly bypass/solve it (besides the obvious wisecrack remarks that already popped around)?