Running MS-DOS-Based Games with DoubleSpace (103554)


The information in this article applies to:

  • Microsoft MS-DOS operating system 6.2
  • Microsoft MS-DOS operating system 6.22
This article was previously published under Q103554

SYMPTOMS

This information applies to both Microsoft DoubleSpace and Microsoft DriveSpace. For MS-DOS 6.22, use DRVSPACE in place of DBLSPACE for commands and filenames.

Some MS-DOS-based games may not display video output correctly when the DoubleSpace component (DBLSPACE.BIN) is loaded.

CAUSE

The DoubleSpace decompression code requires the buffer it is reading into to be readable so that it can scan back for expanding repeated strings. Some games read directly into video RAM, which is not guaranteed to be readable.

WORKAROUND

To work around this problem, install your MS-DOS-based games on your uncompressed host drive. Then, when you start MS-DOS, press CTRL+F5 or CTRL+F8 when the "Starting MS-DOS" prompt is displayed to start your computer without loading DBLSPACE.BIN.
Modification Type:MajorLast Reviewed:12/2/1999
Keywords:KB103554
©2002 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.