Trouble installing King's Quest VI on XP

[mbizzle]

So I just recently got my hands on King's Quest VI and I have windows xp on my computer. I know i need to go through DosBox to make the game work but when i put the cd in my computer nothing shows up. It doesnt even read the cd. I tried going through dosbox and mounting it through there but i have no idea how to do it. Can anyone help me?

[Rowne]

There's no reason that XP shouldn't be able to read the CD. Readers support formats from yonks ago and my oldest DOS CDs still read fine from my latest model of DVD writer.

So we have to assume that the problem is elsewhere, let's take this a step at a time. Your first step should be to try cleaning the CD in question, you don't need to buy fluids for that, you can make your own (http://www.ehow.com/how_9888_make-own-cd.html). Read up on how to make some cleaning fluid from that site and further, how to use it. Once you're sure that the CD is clean, if it still doesn't work, we'll have to assume that the problem is elsewhere.

Our next step would be to assume the possibility that the laser responsible for handling CDs in your reader/writer become warped or damaged and it's having difficulty reading the CDs. In cases like this, it can be quite possible for a damaged reader/writer to read some CDs but not others. The only way to verify this is to try the CD in another reader/writer on another computer. If it works then you can assume that the CD is fine and that it's likely time to replace your reader/writer (or that there's a problem elsewhere in your computer). If it doesn't then we'll move onto the next likelyhood.

If by this time, the CD still doesn't work then it's safe to assume that it's probably damaged, most CDs at this point would be ready for the bin but I wouldn't say that you should give up yet. Instead, buy a device that strips away and replaces the protective layer of the CD. Something like this repair kit (http://www.max.tv/product-detail.asp?number=467GB), not exactly that though as you'd likely find a better deal elsewhere and there's the possibility you're not in the UK. Once you have such an item, try running your CD through it and then try it in your computer again.

If your CD works by this point, hooray! If not, it might be ready for the bin. See if you can get any kind of replacement from the person you've bought it from and failing that, under the fair use laws of most countries, you're entitled to a backup providing you have the legal version of a game. Track down a friend or someone you could obtain these files from and make a backup of their disc. Providing you keep your original game, there should be no legal quarrels, as far as I'm aware.

That's the best I can think of. Good luck!

[mbizzle]

I have been trying to install KQ6 through dos on my computer. I know how to mount the d: drive but after that every time I type in the wrong information and it says illegal command. I just need help figuring out what exactly i need to be typing in when mounting the game in my computer. Can anyone help?

[Dale Baldwin]

Through dos, or through Dosbox?

[mbizzle]

Well I know its not my cd rom drive cause i tried putting King's Quest VII in there and it runs just fine. I know its not the cd either because my brother and i played it recently on his computer. The only reason it works on his and not mine is because his friend set it up for him through dos but I have tried doing that and I get as far as mounting the d: drive and then i'm lost on what to type next. Before his friend set up KQ6 through dos the cd was doing the exact same thing it did on my computer. Do you have any experience mounting games through dos?

[mbizzle]

dosbox

[Dale Baldwin]

(Threads merged)

Right, had to clarify that since there is a difference. :)

To mount a d: drive as drive d: in dosbox you would type (at the most basic level):
mount d d:\ -t cdrom
Typing 'intro cdrom' in dosbox shows further steps you can try.

[mbizzle]

Awesome...Okay got that....what next

[Dale Baldwin]

You should now be able to access drive d (and therefore the cdrom) in dosbox. I don't know what's on the disc though ;)
Do a directory listing while on drive d (with 'dir'), and see what .exe files are displayed. You're probably after 'install' or something similar.

[mbizzle]

Okay i mounted drive d: and then i tried using the 'intro cdrom' and it has steps but im so confused on the coloring of the steps. I know weird question but i'm not sure what to type and what not to type. Theres red, blue and yellow colors. And also it asks for number of my cd drive. I"m not sure the number. I also tried typing 'dir' but it said file not found. I really appreciate you helping me on this even though im sure it can get frustrating.

[Sotaria]

Okay i mounted drive d: and then i tried using the 'intro cdrom' and it has steps but im so confused on the coloring of the steps. I know weird question but i'm not sure what to type and what not to type. Theres red, blue and yellow colors. And also it asks for number of my cd drive. I"m not sure the number. I also tried typing 'dir' but it said file not found. I really appreciate you helping me on this even though im sure it can get frustrating.

Dosbox does have their own forums if you need more help, but here is what I would do first.

Run dosbox:

Assuming you only have one harddrive (C for HDD and D for CD) you should try this:

Mount c c:\ (ignore the warning it gives)
Mount d d:\ -t cdrom
type "d:"
type "install"

When this is through you should be able to run the game, but to run it again, you will need to create a "bat" file which will execute all the Dosbox commands automatically. It would read something like

"dosbox.exe C:\SIERRA\KQ6.BAT -c "mount D D:\ -t cdrom" -fullscreen -exit"

[mbizzle]

okay so all your directions worked amazingly up until i had to type install and then it said this is an illegal command. Do you know why this might be...everything else worked great though before that

[Dale Baldwin]

We need to know what's on the disc (as I said before type 'dir' when on drive d). If it really is saying file not found then, then the CD isn't working.