C:\DOS|AUTOEXEC.BAT? it should be C:\DOS\AUTOEXEC.BAT
there is definitely something wrong. what's your operation system? Win2k or WinXP?

Okay....

Firstly, Thank you alllllllllll who contributed to this thread, you've got me running a game I've missed for so very very long...



EDIT: I posted this after testing the game, but then after playing it a little more I realise VMDS seems to make it crash and random things, so I'm going back to everything that was said before...

TRY THIS AT YOUR OWN RISK IF YOU WANT, BUT I RECOMMEND BACKING UP YOUR ARENA.BAT if you are thinking about editing it. I think I'll just start a new post and see if anyone has any ideas about the sound...

---------------------------------

The man called Joe! I had exactly the same problem as you, got everything working (including music) FINE except the sound....


Here's what I did..

1) Download and install the newest version of VMDSound. I know the purpose of this thread was to get it working without, but this worked for me...

2) SAVE YOUR CURRENT ARENA.BAT FILE AS A BACKUP. SOMEWHERE. ANYWHERE. JUST IN CASE.

3) Make new Arena.bat in notepad or whatever with this as the line:

@A -sa:220 -si:7 -sd:1 -ma:220 -mq:7 -md:1 -ssbpdig.adv -msbfm.adv

4) Run Arena.bat by RIGHT CLICKING on it and selecting "Run with VDMS..." That should now be an option once having installed - from step 1.

5) Now that worked for me for sound. Might wanna play around with the install options if it doesn't for you, fiddle with it to set it to soundblaster pro or something...

6) Let me guess, your mouse don't work. Take the

LH c:\dos\mousectl.com 4,5,6,7,9,10,11,12

line from your c:\dos\autoexec.bat (or wherever you stuck the dos files from the beginning, and add it somewhere into the Autoexec.VDMS in your c:\program files\vdmsound (or wherever you installed VDMS...)


It should now look like this:

@echo off

REM Free up some environment space
set classpath=
set include=
set lib=
set msdevdir=
LH c:\dos\mousectl.com 4,5,6,7,9,10,11,12


REM Install CD ROM extensions - to enable, uncomment the line immediately below:
REM lh %SystemRoot%\system32\mscdexnt.exe

REM Install DPMI support
lh %SystemRoot%\system32\dosx.exe

The bolded is the important line. It runs the mouse program earlier in the thread WITH VDMS. Now simply go back to your original Arena.bat, and run with VDMS...

Worked great for me...

Can any one help me with black screen of death I have tried every thing on this post to get it off but it still comes up after the lady talks.

Doesn't anybody know anything about how to get this black screen to stop? My posts and topics go ignored; I just want to play the game, though I keep getting the same black screen that tons of people here have mentioned. Doesn't anybody have a full-proof method of getting the horrible black screen to stop?!

The fact that all your posts and topics go ignored seem to point towards NO!

There is a guide to running arena in DosBox in my sig, and as DosBox is my speciality I'm afraid that's all I can help you with. This is a very very helpful and friendly forum, and I'm sure if anyone here could help you they would.

Here is all of what I did to get Arena to work on Windows XP. (In order)


I installed Arena from this website from the 10th Anniversary Downloads.

Then, after that, I copied all of the arena files by clicking on one file in the folder that I installed Arena in, then pressed CTRL + A, to select them all. I clicked on copy all selected files on the left menu. Then I moved it to a folder named DOs in c:\ ( which is c:\DOS\ ) - *If you haven't already created the folder, c:\DOS, then it will create automatically when you move all of the Arena files in that file* Now forget about c:\ARENA, I use it for back-up files for Arena incase if I mess anything up.

Now, all of the Arena files are in c:\DOS\. Next, I downloaded the mouse program Mousectl, which can be downloaded from the first page that Rabish12 had mentioned, along with other people that also has links that lead to that file.

Then, I went ahead and right-clicked my "ARENA" file in c:\DOS and clicked EDIT. *(Back-up any file that you edit just in case if these methods don't work for you) * After you click EDIT, erase everything in the notepad, and replace it with this: @A -sa:220 -si:9 -sd:1 -ma:330 -mq:2 -md:1 -ssbpdig.adv -mgenmidi.adv

Next, I intalled the other file that Rabish12 also mentioned about, into c:\DOS\: emm386

Now, take the AUTOEXEC file, Right-click it, and click on EDIT. Now, erase everything and type this:
SET BLASTER=A220 I7 D1 H5 T6
REM SET SOUND=C:\SB16
SET MIDI=SYNTH:1 MAP:E
LH C:\DOS\MOUSECTL.COM 4,5,6,7,9,10,11,12

Next, right-click all Arena files (only the ones that let you play the game) and go to properties. If it has a Compatability Tab, click it and make sure it says Run only for Windows 95. Then, click on Memory, and turn everything on auto.Now, click on Program tab, and click on Advanced. Make sure it says AUTOEXEC reads: c:\dos\AUTOEXEC.BAT. Now make sure CONFIG reads: c:\dos\CONFIG.SYS.
Now click on APPLY.

Next, click CONFIG.SYS, and open it with Notepad. Make sure it says this. If it dont,erase it and replace it: DEVICE=C:\DOS\HIMEM.SYS
DEVICE=C:\DOS\EMM386.EXE RAM 1024
DOS=HIGH,UMB
FILES=30
BUFFERS=20

Now, click on all fo the Arena files that activates the game (or tries to) and right-click them and go to the Properties, then compatibility tab and make sure they all say: Run this program in compatability mode for: Windows 95. (if you havent already)
Then click APPLY.

Now click on ARENA (which I renamed this file optionally: ARENA XP) and it works for me. So if it doesnt work for you, then I dont know.Look for another answer. Press - or + during gameplay if you want to mess with the speed. Seems very fast but its almost right really.

Instructions for the game:

Getting passed the sewers: When you beat the sewers, you will enter your hometown of your race, BUT before you enter, you will be asked a question. Press ALT + TAB and go to your c:\DOS\Docs\ and click on Passwords for the answer of the spell they are asking you for. (If you can't however, escape by pressing ALT + TAB, go to the Arena game file you use to play the game, right-click it, and go to Properties. Go to the Misc. tab and make sure the phrase ALT + TAB is check-marked. If this dont work then I dont know.)

Preferred classes: You really need both magic and fighting skills in this game. So choose a spellsword, battlemage or what-not that has both spells, but beware that certain classes can only wear certain armor.But if you want to you can be anything else you want, just saying it would be easier if you were capable of casting magic as well as fighting too.(most people prefer Spellsword)

How to fight: click the Sword icon and click and hold down the right mouse button onto the game screen and move the mouse back and forth. Different ways you drag the mouse, shows different attacks, (which may vary in which attack, gives the most damage to the enemy)

Spells: Click on the star, then double-click a spell in the bottom right hand corner you wish to cast, then click on the screen if nothing happens.

Jumping: Hold down SHIFT + J to jump.

Sleep: Click on the camp-fire icon to rest. Preferabbly on a raised up wall you can stand or jump onto to reast more and easier.

Map of town and traveling Tamriel: Left click the map to look at the local map. Right click the map to see the whole country, choose the region you want to go to, select a town then go there. (I wish I had Daggerfall, its a bit like this as well)

Journal: The LOG or JOURNAL are your quests that you are doing or that you have done so far.

Equipment: Click on your picture of your character at the bottom left, during gameplay, to equip armor if you have any. You can also equip magical items, which most of them needs to be identified at a Mages Guild.(Depending on how good the item is, depends on how much the identification of that certain item costs.) Then you can equip that item that gives special bonuses to many things.

Armor Rating: The armor rating goes negative, which is good, not bad like other games. The higher the number with a Negative sign behind it, the better. ( example: -18 is a whole lot better than -9) and ( +9, or just 9 is worse than 4) It works like integers, if you know what that is. If you dont then forget I said it...

That is all I know on how to get this game to work and to help you out. This post should be stickied, if it works for everyone.Have fun!

As the seasonal crop of Arena install problem posts has bloomed yet again, I'm bumping this thread. Er....bump!

Once again I arrive late to the prom. Man! Why couldn't I find this thread two years ago?! Yeesh! The procedure on the first page worked great for me first time 'round. Any idea how to make it play in a window instead of fullscreen? (I know, that seems weird, but that's what I want). No luck with Daggerfall yet on my end.

Great thread! Much better for me than using DosBox/D-Fend which was always sluggish.

-Coroth

Wow, a 2-year bump. Now everywhere I look all the links to the mousectrl.com or w/e is either dead or down. Is there anyother place I can get it?
I am also sort of sorry for making this very dead thread arise from the ashes to lurk once more.
Thanks,
TraderEddy

-Edit 1: I got that working but until the lady starts speaking, then just darkness. Could someone help.
As well why didn't Bethesda fix all of this before the published it for free

As well why didn't Bethesda fix all of this before the published it for free

Good one...and that's why we'll likely never see DF for free.