Ive done this:
"# Lines in this section will be run at startup." and add the following lines:
mount c c:\dosgames -freesize 1000
c:
cd dagger
fall z.cfg
then saved it as dagger.conf Ive done this and edited my shortcut so it says " "C:\Program Files\DOSBox-0.72\dosbox.exe" -conf dagger.conf -noconsole "
but when I double click the short cut it just starts dosbox as usual without the second window (from typing noconsole) but the autorun of daggerfall doesn't happen. any help would be much appreciated!
(@ Freddo I know i have yet to upgrade to 73...I'm getting too it haha )

You need a - before the conf. So
"C:\Program Files\DOSBox-0.72\dosbox.exe" -conf dagger.conf -noconsole

okay I have changed it so it reads
"C:\Program Files\DOSBox-0.72\dosbox.exe" -conf dagger.conf -noconsole
but it still just starts dosbox as usual.

This line is missing :\

I believe that you want

Edit: for clarification, my first line does not include emoticons...those are the literal symbols which are missing from the command.

yeah i noticed that for me to run daggerfall it's

mount c c:\dosgames -freesize 1000
c:
cd dagger
fall z.cfg

which ive set it too in the dagger.conf but still no luck

I don't know what I'm doing wrong here....but ti's got to be painfully easy to resolve if i could just figure out what it is!!!

having to type it all out itn't that bad I suppose...just tedius

A better idea, if you don't mind, Cut and Paste the Autoexec section here...as well as the script for the shortcut that you've created. One extra space can make the difference, so it's helps if we can see exactly what you have put in the command lines.

Also, are you using XP or Vista?

I use vista.

autoexec section:

[autoexec]
# Lines in this section will be run at startup.
mount c c:\dosgames -freesize 1000
c:
cd dagger
fall z.cfg

shortcut script:

"C:\Program Files\DOSBox-0.72\dosbox.exe" -conf dagger.conf -noconsole

(if that's what you meant by shortcut script)

Geez, I just went back and read your first post. According to that, you named the new conf file as "daggerfall.conf"...not dagger.conf. If that's true, that may very well be the problem.

Try:
C:\Program Files\DOSBox-0.72\dosbox.exe" -conf daggerfall.conf -noconsole

no it's dagger.conf
man I should have paid more attention writing my first post. I apologize.

EDIT* i went back and edited my first post so now everything is correct again I apologize.

Note one: The latest version of DOSbox is 0.73, and you may encounter one or more compiled DOSBox CVS builds(caution: usually CVS or SVN is not supported by developers).
Note two: Get any DOSBox frontend and try if it makes your life easier. There're some nice frontends, but I haven't used them for ages....

No worries. I just switched to my Vista machine and tested this...it worked perfect. I'm going to C&P my autoexec and shortcut to compare (it's easier that way). Disregard the extra directory....

C:\DOS\DOSBox\dosbox.exe -conf dagger.conf -noconsole

mount c C:\dos\dosgames -freesize 1000
C:
cd/dagger
fall z.cfg

Edit: Yeah, I used to have .72, but got .73 for Daggerfall....we might be going apples to oranges here.

well I grabbed Dosbox.73 and there is no dosbox.conf file? or maybe it's just not out in the open haha

such a simple thing has became so complicated. *sigh*

The dosbox.confg file got moved to your user profile in the new on. On XP it's usually c:\documents and settings\user\Local Settings\Application Data\Dosbox\dosbox.conf and on Vista instead of "Documents and Settings" it'll be somewhere under c:\users\user\... Just have Windows search for the file if you can't find it. It's there.

In my case all the autoexect does is:
mount c d:\games
c:

The reason for this is I have a whole load of games I run in there. The commands to run Daggerfall I dropped into a file called dagger.bat and left that in my games folder.

It's getting late for me, and Bethesda doesn't pay me, so I'll check back with you in the AM.

RE: No .conf...search for *.conf to see if you can locate the wayward conf file.

well no luck with the search.... .72 FOR LIFE!!! (I also tried re-installing dos.73)

haha well anyway Goodnight and thanks for all your help