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[DigitalGrampa]

I will admit, I'm new to dosbox - just wanted to start off saying that. However, I'm not a jerk, and I did my research before deciding to post here.

I'm having a serious problem with Shadowgate. I got it mounted just fine, and I'm playing it with ease, I just can't save.

Essentially, if I try and save, I'm told to insert a formatted disk and name my savefile. Following this route, I cannot enter text or even press "return" to abort. Attempting to change the path is a similar problem.

Shadowgate is a save-heavy game, as death comes often. I need to be able to save, or there's very little point in playing. Someone have any ideas?

[Geezer]

Did you mount Drive A and if so, how?

[DigitalGrampa]

Originally Posted by JMB

Did you mount Drive A and if so, how?

That seemed like a logical move, so I tried that before my first post, I'm just hoping I did it wrong.

Z:\>mount a C:/(games folder)

If I mount a C Drive and run sgate.exe it starts right up. However, running the same executable from an emulated a drive brings up a screen:

"Insert disk 2 / press any key when ready"

Pressing any key runs the game as usual, so aside from that first screen all is the same. However, I still can't save to drive A. I can't tell if it's an input problem from my keyboard, but I'm assuming that's the case.

I also tried mounting Drive A in the shadowgate subfolder, which worked, just to see if I could run install.exe - hoping that it would make some kind of difference. Alas, nothing will allow me to run install.exe, it tells me "command aborted. Installation diskette must be in Drive A."

[Eagle of Fire]

Just fired the game with DOSBox 0.72, and it froze right there at the start.

Did you try using lower versions of DOSBox?

[_r.u.s.s.]

digitalgrampa, shadowgate runs only on dosbox 0.63 and lower

however, older dosbox was kind of slower and you might need to tweak it up a bit. keep in mind that old dosbox versions didn't support direct command input and you had to re-edit the dosbox.cfg file (except the f-12 and other f-thingies)

my shadowgate (which runs ok on the newest dosbox, except for the saves) ran on dosbox 0.63 with dynamic core on about 35000 cycles but it differs on different machines, just play with your cycles

also, wtf is it so much darker in old dosbox?

[DigitalGrampa]

I am using 0.72 and aside from this save issue it runs perfect at about 1500 cycles for me (otherwise it's WAY too fast), but I will take both of your suggestions and try it on 0.63.

r.u.s.s., I assume it's saving just fine for you on that version? Otherwise I suppose you wouldn't have mentioned it.

And as a new dos box user, should I anticipate this problem in the future? I mean that downgrading is a solution? That seems a bitty funny to me.

[Eagle of Fire]

Just a guess Russ, but I'm guessing it have to do with the native resolution which was tweaked to prevent people from having problems with new LCD monitors. While "normal" old monitors were all the same by default, most LCD monitors are very dark.

[_r.u.s.s.]

that's kinda weird, from my experience almost all the lcds that i've seen were really bright, sometimes even too bright

[DigitalGrampa]

0.63 worked! Sadly, you're right - it's much darker and the sound isn't as crisp.

But, I can save now, so I'm incredibly happy.

My mom and dad had this game on their Macintosh SE back in the 80's. I guess they used to play together for hours trying to figure it out, but eventually had to send out for a guide because they couldn't beat the last puzzle. My dad wants me to play through this game now, and see if I can do what he couldn't.

Thanks for the help guys, much obliged.

[_r.u.s.s.]

Originally Posted by DigitalGrampa

and the sound isn't as crisp.

try playing with the settings i mentioned