DOS doesn't like my ISO files...

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DeBedenHasen
Posts: 7
Joined: 13. Sep 2016, 17:47

DOS doesn't like my ISO files...

Post by DeBedenHasen »

Hello, dearest VirtualBox community!

I'm coming up with the first of many unfixable problems on the forums. So, current status:
  • DOS 6.22 successfully installed by image files
  • ISO file with user created data inserted in the secondary master slot of the machine as a second disk (state: non-bootable)
  • 4 GB of base hard drive memory (Virtual Hard Disk) | 2 GB have been allocated to the system memory
I tried out EVERY drive label (except A: and C:) but none of them lead to the ISO file. Even restarting the VM didn't help.

Have you encountered the same problem? Could you fix it? If yes, please, let me know!

DeBedenHasen
Yes.
mpack
Site Moderator
Posts: 39156
Joined: 4. Sep 2008, 17:09
Primary OS: MS Windows 10
VBox Version: PUEL
Guest OSses: Mostly XP

Re: DOS doesn't like my ISO files...

Post by mpack »

DOS does not have native support for CD drives. Have you installed the appropriate DOS device drivers?
DeBedenHasen
Posts: 7
Joined: 13. Sep 2016, 17:47

Re: DOS doesn't like my ISO files...

Post by DeBedenHasen »

mpack wrote: Have you installed the appropriate DOS device drivers?
Drivers? I didn't even know there were drivers for this... Where can I get them from?
Yes.
mpack
Site Moderator
Posts: 39156
Joined: 4. Sep 2008, 17:09
Primary OS: MS Windows 10
VBox Version: PUEL
Guest OSses: Mostly XP

Re: DOS doesn't like my ISO files...

Post by mpack »

It's a long time since I set up a CD drive in DOS.

There are two drivers required: at the device level you need something to control the CD hardware: ISTR the Oak CDROM driver works for the VirtualBox simulated drive.

You also need MSCDEX, which is the higher level driver that allows DOS to talk to the low level driver. This is bundled with later DOS releases, but not configured by default.

Google is your friend for the details.

This YouTube vid might help: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FCvSp1Ea-YM.
mpack
Site Moderator
Posts: 39156
Joined: 4. Sep 2008, 17:09
Primary OS: MS Windows 10
VBox Version: PUEL
Guest OSses: Mostly XP

Re: DOS doesn't like my ISO files...

Post by mpack »

I have a DOS 6.22 VM on my home PC, which I've now checked. I put all my CD drivers in a folder called CDROM on the C drive.

Here is my CONFIG.SYS text file.
cfgsys.png
cfgsys.png (4.47 KiB) Viewed 27430 times
Here is my AUTOEXEC.BAT
autox.png
autox.png (3.18 KiB) Viewed 27430 times
DeBedenHasen
Posts: 7
Joined: 13. Sep 2016, 17:47

Re: DOS doesn't like my ISO files...

Post by DeBedenHasen »

This was not exactly what I wanted to do, but the I tried making a real CD out of my data, but I suddenly realized that my CD-ROM device can NOT burn disks...
I had to reinstall the driver several times because DOS removed it over and over again. Every restart of the machine deleted the driver files for some unknown reason...
At least moving the driver into [C:\CD] worked immediately. (Wow...)

Summary:
Driver installed.
Couldn't create the CD.

How to fix:
Insert CD into CD-ROM drive.
Shut down the PC.
Throw it out of the window...
Yes.
DeBedenHasen
Posts: 7
Joined: 13. Sep 2016, 17:47

Re: DOS doesn't like my ISO files...

Post by DeBedenHasen »

DeBedenHasen wrote: Throw it out of the window...
Or just find your rusty old notebook and create the CD there... I think I should rather do that...
Yes.
mpack
Site Moderator
Posts: 39156
Joined: 4. Sep 2008, 17:09
Primary OS: MS Windows 10
VBox Version: PUEL
Guest OSses: Mostly XP

Re: DOS doesn't like my ISO files...

Post by mpack »

You're welcome.
DeBedenHasen
Posts: 7
Joined: 13. Sep 2016, 17:47

Re: DOS doesn't like my ISO files...

Post by DeBedenHasen »

mpack wrote:You're welcome.
Oh dear, I'm sorry!

Thank you! I'm sorry for the inconvenience!
Yes.
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