I am trying to access special computer features that are on a music CD that was released in 1997.

I got a message saying I needed to install MS DOS 6.2, so I visited the Microsoft Downloads website and downloaded it.

It seemed to go OK, and I've now got a load of new icons on my desktop.

But when I tried to launch the software on the CD, I again got a message that I needed to install DOS 6.2 or higher.

Any ideas?

Try to launch program via command prompt. Start -Run, type cmd. If it doesn't open with cmd, use that DOS 6.2.

In cmd, you first have to change drive to your CD-drive, typing in example e:. If software is in sub-folder, type cd <name of the folder> (i.e. cd features). Then type name of the program you wanna start, i.e. demo.

Hi CeeCee

I'm a bit confused. The program I want to run is on the CD.

So?

EDIT: Did it worked?

I don't understand what you mean by changing drive.

The way to run the program is to insert the CD, and then it should run automatically. But it just keeps saying I need to install MS DOS 6.2, even though I already have. I don't know what the program is called so I don't know what to type.

A music CD (not an audio CD) that's a CD EXTRA/Enhanced CD from 1997 wants you to install DOS?

What files are you trying to get off the disc, say a music video or something?

So you can't browse that cd by double clicking CD-drive?

CeeCee - if I double click the CD drive, it just tries to start the installation of the features . . . and then says I need MS DOS.

Hi Andavari - it's a music CD that contains some interactive features, calling itself a "CD Extra". It's been some years since I accessed the interactive stuff on an old PC, but I seem to remember it contained things such as being able to make your own mixes of some of the songs etc.

Well don't double click the CD in My Computer. Instead right click the CD icon and select Open, or select Browse, that way you can at least view the CD contents in Windows Explorer without it causing the AutoRun program that may be on that CD requesting DOS be installed.

Take a look at this screenshot from Command Prompt: http://xs217.xs.to/xs217/07286/Clipboadsrd01.jpg

I have first changed drive letter to match my cd-drive. With command cd <folder name>, i can access sub-folder (if any). With just command dir, you see what files are in the current drive/folder, i.e. H: dir. If there's in example file demo, you can start it just using that file name.

Hi guys, and thanks for your help so far.

I know I sound like a complete idiot, but I'm lost here. I don't quite understand what I'm looking for.

Andavari - I've right-clicked and it opens up a load of icons, but I'm not sure what I need to do with them.

CeeCee - Thanks for the screenshot, but I'm not clear what I need to be doing. Please bear with me here! I thought that by downloading MS DOS, I could simply run a CD that worked fine aon my old computer a decade ago!

I don't quite know where sub-folders and file names come into this.

Where did you find the MS Dos 6.2 download on the MS site? All I see are MS-Dos step-up files.


I would like to find a full copy of MS Dos myself so I can set up a dual boot OS and run old programs.

What I meant was this:
1. Right click the CD drive with the CD in it.
2. Select the Explore option, this will bring up Windows Explorer and should bypass any autorun program on the disc. Now you "should" be able to see the disc contents and grab any videos, software, or whatever is on the data portion without it requesting the installation of DOS - I think.

Screenshot:

Andavari - I see what you mean now. Anyway, I right-clicked and went into Explore, and a whole load of icons appeared. But none of them would work when I tried to click them - and again, I got told to install MS DOS.

BrownSugar - This is what I have downloaded: http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details...;DisplayLang=en
Perhaps that's why I'm having problems - maybe what I thought was DOS isn't DOS.

Could you give a screenshot of those icons/content of that CD?

Yea you would be right (excerpt from the readme.now file) :



You have got us all interested in your cd now, lets see a screenshot as suggested by CeeCee

Don't laugh, but I don't know how to do screenshots.

But tell me what to do, and I'll post one!

Look for the print screen (PrtScr) key on your keyboard.
Open your favorite photo editor: like MSPaint
Click Edit / Paste in Paints menu
Click File / Save
Select jpg or gif from the filetype box.
Save to desktop or My Documents

Go to www.imageshack.us
At imageshack click the Browse button locate your saved image click Ok
Click the Host It button.
Once its uploaded, copy the code in the first box,
Paste the code it into a reply to this post

Thanks, fieryone.

Here it is - let me know if you want me to send screenshots of any of the sub-folders.

<a href="http://img521.imageshack.us/my.php?image=image1rz0.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://img521.imageshack.us/img521/9948/image1rz0.th.jpg" border="0" alt="Free Image Hosting at www.ImageShack.us" /></a>

Actually, that doesn't look right - shouldn't the screen shot have appeared there?

Direct link to image is this: http://img521.imageshack.us/my.php?image=image1rz0.jpg

When you double click that "setup" icon , does installing DOS prompt come then?

Yep - that's exactly when it happens.

Try to use command prompt to launch that "setup" program. Open cmd (Start>Run>cmd). Then type d:. After that type setup. Of course you have to press "Enter" after all typed commands.

Just tried that, but get the same error message.

I'm guessing I've hit a brick wall here - or is there any way of downloading another program that is similar to MS DOS?

Link to the screenshot:
http://img521.imageshack.us/my.php?image=image1rz0.jpg

Edit:
Just noticed CeeCee already posted the link.

You cant install or run MS.dos on a windows system after ver 3.1 unless you set up a dual boot arrangement.

And is a dual boot arrangement easy to set up?

Here is the MS instructions

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/306559

Whats wrong with just using the upload button when replying to a post, surely easier?

Easier yes, but you also use up your allocated disk space on the forums, I have 1.95mb for uploading however I'm only using about 37.65kb of it.

Just been reading about a free emulator to run dos games and applications in called DosBox. It fools any dos software into thinking it is running in dos.

http://dosbox.sourceforge.net/news.php?show_news=1

The FAQ's and downloads are at the top of the page.

Also available and recommended is D-Fend which stores your setting when you use the DosBox, this is available under the tools section of the downloads.

Wouldn't surprise me, the Iron Maiden remasters which were released in 1998 prompt the user to install some crapware by the name of Director Player that was probably released a few years before the birth of Christ. Even performing the sign of the cross to access the multimedia files didn't help.