G15 INSIDE A DOSBOX VIRTUALISATION Additional info for the ardent G15 Yoga6dorg gamer, programmer, researcher, explorer, educator who wish to get PC's up with G15 Yoga6dorg in MORE ways than the normal ways! This is g15_dosb.txt at norskesites.org/fic3 and mirror-site moscowsites.org/fic3 and there's a G15X.BAT file listed beside it which is needed to do what's in this text. **************************************************** * SECURITY PRECAUTIONS * * Dosbox, unlike the Linux version of * * the G15 PVI, has plenty of connections * * to the rest of the computer and to the * * cables and wireless that goes out of it. * * Unless you really know what you're doing, * * only do this for a task then essentially * * uninstall the package rather than leaving * * it permanently in any administrator-like * * mode. If you need to use it regularly, * * work on settings until you get it in a * * non-administrator mode that cannot easily * * be misused by any subversive software * * that might come from any source. * **************************************************** For some purposes, which may include running certain games, and to receive data via RS232 for publishing on the Internet, any modern fast PC equipped with something like Dosbox can perform the G15 Yoga6dorg package inside the g15sp_f.zip well enough to serve. Let's also note here: G15 YOGA6DORG for creative work where you express yourself as an artist with the Curveart program should be done on an as large and 'mechanical' PC as possible, with an as mechanical mouse as possible. The more layers of simulation and the more microscopic the computer and the mouse or the substitution for mouse, the more impossible it becomes to use it in the flowing creative sense that comes so utterly easy when used directly on a bulky machine with a pleasantly bulky mouse such as in the Firth linked to from the Archive section, which is found in the same subpage of norskesites.org/fic3 that also holds essays and programs that can be mounted. Blessings to folks behind www.dosbox.com for what they do to help the whole work also at www.freedos.org cement the standard type of Y2000 style PC with its 1024x768 Vesa S3 video driver and physically realised size of 4'3. The open source emulation helps keeping those standards forever alive. Major factories are using such standards when they configure the drivers of their machines PRIOR to loading any huge platform. The DOS is in a way the most native i386 compatible platform. It is a treat to run always directly. And it is good to have some passageways to this, not just through such as virtual i386 machines (which may or may not work consistently from one year's update to the next on a deep operating system level), but in this 'lighter' and more 'application window' way also. Dosbox works for a very wide range of machines and if you look around at dosbox.com you'll find pointers to ports for all sorts of computers. But still there is no guarantee that it works even on a pretty standard machine that has a very standard platform, at least not without perhaps somewhat complicated work (for instance, if you have an advanced videocard you may have to get absolutely the latest videodriver for it and such). As long as this is understood, and you read ALL this text with the normal awareness for mistakes in it, and give allowance for the fact that it has been edited several times and so is a bit affected by that, PROCEED AND HAVE FUN! This document is not NORMALLY in need of any update at all, so we'll keep it 'dateless' in the norskesites.org/fic3 section and rather mention inside the G15SP_F.ZIP folder whether there is something that has to be updated relative to what it says. (However, if need be, we'll do an update on this text.) This merely makes it more straightforward to enable the content of G15SP_F.ZIP in other contexts. There is an issue with USB pendisks of a new kind when run on a classic PC sometimes, even if such as Centos 5.5 is run on the same hardisk as also holds such as Firth: this is due to the ever-changing specifications of USB, USB is very second-hand and rather a muddy thing branded, rebranded and over-branded and probably established in the first place by such as Microsoft to make Dos less useful and for no other reason. In any case, any large desktop PC can easily be fitted with RS232 and any early style PC also has RS232. With Dosbox, which can enable RS232 serial port communication directly with an early style PC you have two-way communication, not only by Kermit inside Firth, but also by means of the utility menu inside G15 which, in Dos contexts, allow direct transfer of cards at a very relaxed pace but in a way that does at least not require use of any such thing as floppy disks, suitable for some dozens of pages of text and for a couple of images given adequate time. The E:6 menu has conversion to and back from 8-bit format which is performed before one uses the transmit and send of such as images or curveart drawings. For larger files, when one doesn't have early style USB pendisks available, and not floppy either, one should use such as ethernet cable to the early style PC and a temporary storage at Internet, utilizing a second partition to run such as Centos 5.5 (see where you can get this in the readme.txt inside the g15sp_f.zip, an elementary linux which works swell). The genuine hardware for G15 PC created by Elsketch and robotics handles inter-pc communication by simply having many 1000s of Rs232 lines simultaneously in operation which is more first-hand than any other communication approach between computers. WHAT MACHINES CAN RUN THIS DOSBOX WITH G15 IN IT? Answer: only machines that are many times faster than such speeds as 1-2 giga of hertz. This is rather much a twice-over virtualisation and it is unlikely to feel very much a luxurious thing unless the machine is a car with an airplane engine. WILL DOSBOX FULLSCREEN WORK FOR G15? Answer: only at very skillfully made videocards, not any usual ones. We exclude the cases where the pixels get stretched in the 1024x768 mode, for this is in our view the same as to not having it working! This means that it is best to aim at running it inside a frame, no matter the screensize (and then experiment with fullscreen only in the sense of a vague hope, no expectation). The Linux G15 PVI works for a broader range of machines as for the fullscreen mode, both 32-bit and 64-bit, both advanced and simplified videocards. HOW IS THE MOUSE RE-ACQUIRED WHEN IT HAS BEEN TRANSMUTATED TO DO MYSTICAL THINGS WITHIN THE G15 PVI? At Ubuntu, click at left-ALT and then e.g. ESC. But you can also use CTR-F10. At some laptops and notebooks this becomes CTR-Fn-F10 where Fn is a 'enable Functionkeys' key (which can be adjusted in Bios, quite often, so that its normal setting is reversed.) Inside G15 PVI, the mouse pointer goes off, and on, and to vibration, depending on whether it is not in use, in moderate use, or in active use, and shown as a dancer's graceful foot! Other keys in Dosbox: http://www.dosbox.com/wiki/Special_Keys Please remember that CTR-F10 is a rescue in case the Dosbox program started enters into a closed unending loop and you must force exit of Dosbox; and indeed get the mouse pointer back to do anything at all around Dosbox. Memorise CTR-F10! CONFIGURING DOSBOX TO WORK FOR YOU: We'll explain how to configure the program below -- it's done in minutes if you know your way with modifying simple text files of a slightly technical nature. *****INSTALLING DOSBOX, UBUNTU, MsWINDOWS, APPLE AND OTHERS When you install Dosbox in Ubuntu, the Ubuntu Software Center should find it to you. When you install it in Windows, there's an almost as quick install by means of the download page at www.dosbox.com which is www.dosbox.com/download.php?main=1 This should run the Firth DOS version of G15 nicely. The command line is a bit simpler so we have simplified the startup into G15X.BAT which you start by typing G15X for dosboX (instead of the G15 command used in Firth). [[[Note: sometimes Dosbox works better for 32-bit than for 64-bit esp. as for Linux, and may not work at all in some 64-bit Linux contexts and possibly also some 32-bit Linux contexts unless supported by a highly standard-oriented videocard, and then only if the following line in the configuration file is set correctly: output=surface that's the standard value, but overlay or sometimes opengl or openglnb may be what you have to choose. Also, for some MsWindows even 32-bit, this may have to be set to overlay or at least something else than the standard value. Please remember this note at section where configuration of dosbox is talked about below if Dosbox doesn't start for some reason.]]] You start first Dosbox once, so that you're sure that it works, but also so that you're sure that it actually has an editable configuration file suitable for just the place you're going to put the files. After this open the long but easy to fix on .txt configuration file in any text editor and make changes -- and feel free to ignore the rest of the configuration things, usually. This we now explain next. *****CONFIGURING DOSBOX: We're here telling how to set it up for a new folder that you call e.g. g15sp [[[First, create this folder an appropriate place. Scroll a little further on in this text to see how you can do that, then go back up here. Indeed, read the whole text before you do much, and be prepared that there may be some errors here or there.]]] The configuration file in MsWindows is available on the Program Menu right near the Dosbox program itself, and it's usually called Options. The configuration file in Ubuntu, in order for you to run it inside the /g15sp folder which you normally start in Administrator mode (sudo -i) must be connected to a Dosbox also running in this mode. So type the sudo -i in a terminal and get the command line, type dosbox after it has been installed and it should start. Inside dosbox type exit and press lineshift and it exits. Now there will be a configuration file to edit. So still in the Terminal window type gedit /root/.dosbox/*.conf In the .conf file find memsize and adjust it to (32 seems a better choice here than the max 31 recommended but): memsize=32 Then find the line with frameskip and adjust it to this (unless your machine has speeds vastly beyond anything): frameskip=18 And to use the serial port -- if there is one on the computer, with 9 pins -- you find the line with serial1 and either either just write serial1=directserial realport:COM1 or possibly include initial setup info like this: serial1=directserial realport:COM1 startbps:4800 parity:o bytesize:8 stopbits:2 but only do anything about serial1 if you really want to use the serial port and that you have read the SECURITY PRECAUTIONS on top of this text file. Finally, at bottom of the file, in the [autoexec] part, after the two # lines there, you can add the following (so you don't have to type it in each time). For Ubuntu when you use the /g15sp folder: mount c /g15sp C: For MsWindows when you use C:\g15sp folder mount c c:\g15sp C: For MsWindows when you use D:\g15sp folder mount c d:\g15sp C: Or any other folder you like, just begin with mount c in each case no matter what the drive is called in MsWindows. As soon as you have configured Dosbox start it up and look at whether it seems okay. Fix it if it tells you it cannot do that mount. You should see a C: when all is well and typing DIR should tell any files within the G15SP folder. Be sure to exit Dosbox when you put any fresh files from the outside into it, or consult the HELP list of commands inside Dosbox to refresh filelist. Apple OsX is a little more complicated, it has a terminal window if you search for Terminal. Every folder in Apple has a hidden set of folders including one named Trash and much of the directory structure tends to be hidden, it is not a very graciously nor positive-affirming way of doing folder structure. If you look at the Archive section pointed to by the norskesites.org/fic3 site you'll somewhere find a place where I did some work with working out what's what with Dosbox on Apple (which is presumably easy enough if you have done much technical work on an Apple), with comments there. Anyhow, when you have edited the configuration file, you click CTR-S or some save button at the editor and try it! FOR MsWINDOWS AN ADDITIONAL CONFIGURATION IS IMPORTANT: This will increase the stability of the performance. Unless it's already given on the program menu as an option for startup, we'll add the phrase -noconsole to the icon so that every time Dosbox gets a hickup for some reason, it won't produce masses of text on a separate terminal window. And it does usually get some hickups -- even to the extent that much use of the mouse, especially quick motions, causes the program to exit to the command line, due to timing issues inside Dosbox relative to just how the mouse pointer is programmed. This is more apparent in some platforms around Dosbox than in others, and more connected to some CPU speeds than others. Usually, you'll get the program to run in a more stable way by starting it again but doing things a bit slower. HERE'S HOW: right-click with mouse and select Proporties on the icon that otherwise would start the Dosbox, or open the properties in a different manner if your MsWindows works differently than in the classical style. Whatever line that is there, it should be possible to add a blank (a space) and then the phrase -noconsole and select OK. Next time Dosbox is tested, it won't also open an extra frame where it pours text, and so it will be able to devote more attention to the task. There might be variations about this with the release of Dosbox and if any question about this consult the various text files that comes along with the package or the dosbox.com documentation. http://www.dosbox.com/wiki/Usage has info on various options. SO, AT THIS POINT: YOU HAVE INSTALLED DOSBOX. WHAT'S THE QUICKEST WAY OF SETTING GETTING THE MOST RECENT g15sp_f.zip FROM www.norskesites.org/fic3 UP AND RUNNING? First, backup and cleanse directory from earlier files if you have an earlier version, or merge them if you know what you're doing. In order to get the files installed for g15sp_f.zip as quickly as you can, make a folder named g15sp e.g. in Ubuntu by a Terminal window that comes up by CTR-ALT-T then you type there sudo -i (answer by your password) mkdir /g15sp [[[if you haven't done so already.]]] You then unzip the files found in g15sp_f and put to the g15sp folder. Also you put the G15X.BAT that you find at norskesites.org/fic3 somewhere near this text file you're reading now in that same folder. Start up Dosbox. In Ubuntu, you easily do this from a terminal that you've typed sudo -i in if you do it the way that is the Adminstrator way, but then only if you take responsibility for what you're doing and have read the security precautions above. (You must place the files in a different place than in a novel made folder on top of the hierarchy if you do work as a non-administrator with this.) Here, you type dosbox In Windows, you can use the Program menu. In some versions it may be that you have got to modify to administrator settings or whatever to fully access what you've got in C:\g15sp or else keep the folder somewhere with write-file permission. Once dosbox is up, go to uppercase and type D then HENNI THESTUFF.ZIP PART 1 EXIT This creates (whether you wrote it in uppercase or not) the uppercase file THESTUFF.ZIP. The final word EXIT is the way to get out of Dosbox. Next, using the platform around Dosbox, unzip THESTUFF.ZIP! Allow overwrite of existing files, move the content of this unzipped file into g15sp. Then you go back into Dosbox the same way and G15X (which is the G15X.BAT command listed just beside this info text file at norskesites.org/fic3 somewhere) will start the whole lovely lot. If you're machine is very very very fast, it will do the G15 as fast as if it is performed directly on an enormously slower machine. There are subtle things and workarounds you'll have to stick with when you do such virtualisation. Don't try and judge the G15 Yoga6dorg from merely running it in such a simulated way, please ;) By the way, to start it, press ENTER twice. To get into the CAR CARD editor to 'drive your cards' type CAR and press ENTER after reading carefully the few screenfuls there, a couple of times ENTER. When done with CAR, press CTR-Q. To exit G15, type REB when you have its command line. To find out what it is that isn't working if you try to start it and something isn't working, type NEWSTARS manually, then type G15FIR manually. If it gives an error message at 'acquiring RAM' message, then somehow you must give it more RAM, either by settings, by physical machine, or by reboot. If it gives message near 'Starting load of G15 OS' it is probably that the folder doesn't have write permission for the user that is trying to access it -- try then going to administrator mode, or put the folder in ~/home/ folder section or something, and find out which Dosbox configuration file that then applies. If it gives message near 'Starting graphics' or some message like that, then the Dosbox or what it is have to get S3 Video for 1024x768 fully enabled. This is normally no problem at all for Dosbox, as it emulates that standard extremely well within a frame within all commercially available platforms. To use RS232 consult security precautions and settings for it above, but also be aware that the machine must be very speedy so that the tightly synchronised aspect of RS232 serial communication over the DB9 type of male and female plugs work out flawlessly. Only when RS232 cable is connected to another PC that's also running G15 Yoga6dorg, and with RS232 program about to start there, should you start RS232 programs, for these may otherwise enter a static loop if they don't get a matching response. For this reason, exit the G15 and restart it so that you're sure all changed information is stored safely on the disks before you try any Rs232. More info in the readme.txt inside the g15sp_f.zip. Again, realise that Dosbox has openings in it that can allow hacking and that this is an option you must only call on when you know what you're doing and work to establish adequate security for how you do it. GOOD LUCK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1 ATWLAH