MechWarrior 2 DOS on XP/2000

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Sir MMPD Radick
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MechWarrior 2 DOS on XP/2000

Post by Sir MMPD Radick »

If you already have the DOS version installed, you can skip this tutorial and just patch it here if you like.

Known Issues

1. Jump Jet bug, aka slow loading jumpjets.
Unfortunately, this can never be ultimately fixed, the current workaround is to use a program called cpugrab, if you run this prior to launching it may fix the problem to an extent.
You will have to mess with the program until you find a setting appropriate to your system; I would start with 30 and work from there. There are other programs such as AGL.

2. Rainbow world with MechWarrior 2 DOS on Sapphire ATI x1600, some intel onboard chipsets.
At present, we have no solution to this problem, you will not be able to get the colors to normal, but the game does run. If you are having this issue it is highly suggested to switch to DOSBOX.
Rainbow World - Sorta (Not the real thing but close)
Rainbow World - Sorta (Not the real thing but close)
untitled.JPG (11.57 KiB) Viewed 40972 times
MechWarrior 2 DOS Setup
Notes:
1. This will only work on XP 32bit/2000/98/95; Vista and XP x64 has no 16-bit support and therefore is not capable of running this even in command prompt.

2. If you have the Netmech edition(or a derivative) of MechWarrior 2, then the installer on the cd will be MINST.EXE.

3. If you have the genuine article MechWarrior 2 DOS, the installer will be install.exe.

4. If you are on Windows 98, you can still use the bat file at the end of this and it is suggested as it will enable you to use 1024 x768 resolution in the game.

Step 1: Run MINST.exe or INSTALL.exe
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Step 2: Windows XP/2000 has issues with old DOS programs, but it seems to run anyway, hit ignore.
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Step 3: It has issues reading the disc for some reason, hit f and it will run fine.
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Step 4: Hit Enter
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Step 5: Type y, and hit enter, reality is you have more, but it cannot detect it.
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Step 6: Select and configure MIDI music driver.
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Step 7: This is hardware dependant, but generally, either Sound Blaster Pro or 100% compatible version of it should work. However sometimes, especially with programs like VMware or a laptop, you cannot get any sound at all; try all the settings before giving up if both choices fail.
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Step 8: Attempt to configure automatically. You can do it the other way, but generally, if you cannot get it to work automatically usually it will never work.
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Step 9: Assuming it worked you will see this screen.
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Step 10: Back on the main menu continue to the next setting.
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Step 11: Again, this is system dependant, but generally most sound cards can emulate Sound Blaster or 100% compatible or the Pro version.
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Step 12: Auto configure it.
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Step 13: Assuming it worked you will see this.
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Step 14: Accept the settings.
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Step 15: Hit ESC when done reading.
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Step 16: You could change the install path or just accept it and begin installation, it really does not matter, just remember where you installed it if you change the directory!
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Step 17: You will want the full-blown installation, any other and you will have the CD spinning allot.
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Step 18: Just wait for this to finish
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Step 19: I wonder if they will give me a rebate. Anyway, bypass it.
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Step 20: Your installation is successful... or is it.
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Step 21: Type N and hit enter; you do not need a boot disk.
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Step 22: Now your installation is complete.
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Now you have two options, you could either continue reading or just run the patcher that will set everything up for you.
If you want the patch you may download it here.
Just point it to the MechWarrior 2 DOS directory you installed to, and you can launch it through the start menu.
Launch through the bat file.

Otherwise continue reading for the batch file instructions, this applies to GBL and mercs as well.
If requested I will make a mercs and GBL patcher.

DOS Batch File
Now, in order to run this successfully on Windows XP or 2000 there are a few more steps you must complete. If you are on 98, you are welcome to follow these anyway.
First, you need these files and a .bat file, you may download them here.

Otherwise, the files are:
 NOFLB.COM
 SAPUCDEX.EXE
 MOUSE2KV.EXE

Mouse2kv smoothes out the mouse movements in dos, it pretty much is necessary.
SAPUCDEX is optional, but it helps with the cd music.
NOFLB, it creates extra lag and helps with jump jet recharge, however you may need an external utility
such as CPU grab in order to get your jets to recharge like normal anyway.

The code in the batch file is this:
@ECHO OFF
SAPUCDEX.EXE
NOLFB.COM
MOUSE2KV.EXE 1024 1200 8 8 MECH2.EXE

It is important to note that there is another step I am not covering in all this, and there is a utility called vdmsound, which cleans up the audio for dos programs. This many people use, because it really can fix the crackling sound up quite abit. Google it and do some research and you will find it, it is a popular utility.

Also, please note this bat file can be used to play on kali as well, just remember to have kali to point to that instead of to the mech2.exe.
Lastly, if you are in XP/2000, then you may need to get the resolution fix.
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And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue among our members, that it defileth the whole body. Out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not so to be.
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Sir MMPD Radick
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Re: MechWarrior 2 DOS on XP/2000

Post by Sir MMPD Radick »

bump

Updated Post: There is now a pic of Rainbow world thanks to cyril.
It is not the real thing as rainbow world cannot be captured except through external means such as a camera, but it is really close.
James 3:5-10: My Reminder
And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue among our members, that it defileth the whole body. Out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not so to be.
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Re: MechWarrior 2 DOS on XP/2000

Post by Cyril »

Sir MMPD Radick wrote:bump

Updated Post: There is now a pic of Rainbow world thanks to cyril.
It is not the real thing as rainbow world cannot be captured except through external means such as a camera, but it is really close.

well a few things:
in the first post,,,it says CTR's,,,this was on a flat lcd.
and wheile i was playing everything was fine,,,that was a capture from PrtScrn pasted into MSPaint.
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Sir MMPD Radick
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Re: MechWarrior 2 DOS on XP/2000

Post by Sir MMPD Radick »

The colors for the real rainbow world are different, but you are right that it does happen on LCD screens as well.

The thing is the color's are not the same for the Rainbow world encountered in real DOS.
James 3:5-10: My Reminder
And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue among our members, that it defileth the whole body. Out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not so to be.
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Re: MechWarrior 2 DOS on XP/2000

Post by Datum »

It claims I have not enough hard drive space...
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Sir MMPD Radick
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Re: MechWarrior 2 DOS on XP/2000

Post by Sir MMPD Radick »

Try using DOSBOX to install it. Sometimes ya just cannot get that bug to cooperate.
James 3:5-10: My Reminder
And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue among our members, that it defileth the whole body. Out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not so to be.
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Re: MechWarrior 2 DOS on XP/2000

Post by Datum »

well, I tried that, and the Disk navigation is a bit screwy...
EDIT: Also, I tried opening the installed one with dosbox, after mounting the cd with it, and got the message "Can't find the disK". error message.
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Re: MechWarrior 2 DOS on XP/2000

Post by npsbre »

You need to rip a bin/cue image of your disk and mount that in DOSBox. If you do this, it'll work and DOSBox runs the DOS version very reliably. Mounting an ISO will not work, nor will mounting the disk directly.

viewtopic.php?f=8&t=547
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Re: MechWarrior 2 DOS on XP/2000

Post by lawndartleo »

Before I go and waste time... what about GBL and Mercs using this same method? The latest version of MechVM is not working for me (and at least one other who I can only imagine is quite knowledgeable on the subject).
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Re: MechWarrior 2 DOS on XP/2000

Post by Sir MMPD Radick »

yes, this method does work on mercs and gbl, but the patch at the top does not work with anything else besides mech2...
James 3:5-10: My Reminder
And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue among our members, that it defileth the whole body. Out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not so to be.
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