How do you install Master of Orion on a Mac?

July 10, 2009 6:56 PM

Question about installing old school Microprose games on a modern system.

Trying to run Master of Orion under Dos Box, the DOS emulator for OS X.

The install program doesn't seem to want to work right, but maybe I'm doing something wrong. I mounted the game directory as Drive A: but when I try to run INSTALL.EXE, I'm told to "Please Insert Disk #1 in drive 'A'." Hitting return, I just get the same message.

The other issue is getting Sound Blaster emulation to work right. Is there anything else I will need to do to make my Mac run this nerdy space conquest game?

posted by johngoren to computers & internet (7 comments total)

Did you download the game from an abandonware site? If so, the game may already be preinstalled and not require running install.exe. Try running the game executable and see if it runs.

If you're trying to install off original discs (or a disc image) you don't mount the entire game directory as A:/ Rather, you would mount the game floppy (or the disc image) as A:, mount a folder as your C: drive, switch to the A: drive and install from there.
posted by fearthehat at 7:08 PM on July 10 [1 favorite]

Also, you'll want to read the listing for the game at the Dosbox site for info on sound, frame skip settings and other matters.
posted by fearthehat at 7:11 PM on July 10

Yeah, that sounds like it makes a lot of sense. This could be pre-installed, as I can run it off the extracted directory. Except then there's no sound, so I thought maybe installing was necessary to set up my Ad Lib / Sound Blaster / Mockingboard, etc.
posted by johngoren at 7:12 PM on July 10

With some of those old DOS games, sometimes there is a separate setup file--Assuming that DosBox is configured correctly, look through that directory and see if there is a setup.exe or config.exe file, and try running that to change the sound options. Generally it would allow you to choose between like EGA and VGA, and then select a sound system or PC speaker.

Additionally, sometimes with some of those old games, the first time they run (or the first time the installation/setup routine is run, at least), it would generate a configuration file that would be in the root of the game's install directory--something like setup.cfg, or config.cfg, or whatever. I remember on a few occasions if I didn't have sound, I could delete that .cfg file and the next time the game would launch, it would ask for sound/video options again before starting.

Good luck!
posted by Jinkeez at 7:22 PM on July 10

Thanks! There is a config file but it seems to be binary :(
posted by johngoren at 10:30 PM on July 10

If all else fails, FreeOrion might help you scratch that galactic conquest itch.
posted by zamboni at 2:51 PM on July 11

Oh hey, I found another image that was of the four install disks, rather than a pre-installed version. And now I am hearing the cheesy music for the first time. Thanks!
posted by johngoren at 9:00 PM on July 12