Setting up your MiSTer FPGA for DOS Gaming - AO486 Core

Here is a video to setup the AO486 core for MiSTer. I will guide you through preparing the AO486 core, installing DOS and configuring DOS.
Fixing EMS in DOS:
Replace the EMM386.exe lines in config.sys with this:
device=c:\dos\emm386.exe 4096 RAM FRAME=e000 d=256 x=a000-c7ff i=c800-efff
Source: [www.atari-forum.com/viewtopic...](www.atari-forum.com/viewtopic...)
Sound Blaster Settings
SET BLASTER text for autoexec.bat:
SET BLASTER=A220 I5 D1 H5 T6
Game Settings
MIDI Sound Blaster: Port 220
MIDI Adlib: Port 388
Digital Audio: Sound Blaster or Sound blaster 16
Port: 220
IRQ: 5
DMA: 1
High/16 bit DMA: 5
Other links:
AO486 Github Page:(github.com/MiSTer-devel/ao486...)
Required files and software:
AO486 boot roms:(github.com/MiSTer-devel/ao486...)
misterfs.exe:(github.com/MiSTer-devel/ao486...)
Microsoft mouse DOS driver(Download MOUSE820.ZIP):(www.uwe-sieber.de/util_e.html)
MS-DOS Starter Pack from Phil's Computer Lab(www.philscomputerlab.com/ms-d...)
AOMEI Partition Assistant: (www.diskpart.com/free-partiti...)
Shareware CD collection(optional):(archive.org/details/GAMEPACK2)
Other videos on how to get files onto AO486
Floppy images: ( • Creating floppy images... )
VHD's: ( • Creating DOS formatted... )
MisterFS: • Easily copy files to t... )
Music from games used:
Descent
Might & Magic IV
Chapters:
0:00 Intro
0:27 Requirements
3:17 Creating Virtual Hard Disks
7:59 Installing DOS 6.22
11:14 Configure DOS with MS-DOS Start Pack
14:16 Fixing EMS
17:35 Configuring Sound
22:02 Transferring your own games using misterfs.exe
26:16 Using CD ISO's
28:06 Testing games
30:31 Final Thoughts

[@bstar777777]

Fantastic video. I've been meaning to rebuild my AO486 image from scratch and this video covers everything. Thanks!

[@LusRetroSource]

Glad to help!

[@danielsanti9906]

The best video so far, you explain step by step and very easy to understand. I got it running thanks to you. Thank you

[@LusRetroSource]

Thanks! Great to hear it worked for you!

[@schlarptarf3675]

Incredibly helpful video, thanks for that! I wouldn't have made it without you. Seems like the core does not need re-allocating virtual memory like back then where literally every game needed different configs. I remember there was a game I have spent three days to figure out the right configs

[@TheDanielSpies_Arcades]

Great video, very clear and well made. Will try it out later today. Greetings from the Nerherlands

[@LusRetroSource]

Greetings and thanks! Let me know how it goes.

[@phillk7522]

As an alternative to AOMEI Partition Assistant, I was able to use Minitool Partition Wizard to format my VHD files as FAT with no issues. Minitool also has a free version just like Partition Assistant. With your help I got DOS all set up and was playing Raptor Call of the Shadows in no time. Thanks Lu!

[@user-mf1kf7ky1h]

Dude thanks, this was super helpful!

[@mikegreiling]

awesome, thanks for putting this together 👍🏻

[@LusRetroSource]

Glad you liked it!

[@beefquiche]

Thank you for this, you're a gentleman and a scholar 👍😁

[@LusRetroSource]

Glad to help!

[@isunshin999]

Dude you are awesome thank you for this

[@NinjaRunningWild]

"Mem /c |more" gives you more info. If you add another DIR to the path (something like Utils), you can just make a batch file there called m.bat with that command & be able to easily call it at will. Excellent tutorial BTW!

[@LusRetroSource]

Thanks!

[@AkioAkemi]

Thank you so much for this!

[@LusRetroSource]

You're welcome! Happy to help!

[@Charlie-Cat.]

Oh wow! That sounds interesting seeing I love those DOS Games growing up Lu. This will be a real treat for sure. 8^) Anthony..

[@LusRetroSource]

So many DOS classics, glad to have another way of enjoying them.

[@Vlad-1986]

man, I know at the time most of the cool games where using DOS, not Windows 3.1 But you still had really, really awesome AAA Windows games, like Sim Tower or Civilization 2!

[@rawisdan]

Thanks for posting this !

[@splugereport]

Super helpful thanks!

[@LusRetroSource]

You're welcome, glad it was helpful!

[@gabrieleriva651]

Thank you!

[@LusRetroSource]

You're welcome!

[@NML32]

Nice video,

[@LusRetroSource]

Thank you! Glad you liked it!

[@Fenyx4]

Yay Ultima6!

[@LusRetroSource]

Such a great series! Wish it was rebooted with modern tech.

[@Fenyx4]

@@LusRetroSource I bought the MiSTer primarily to get as many different ports of Ultima as I could onto it. So I did a major double take when Ultima 6 was your example game. ❤️ And, yes, a reboot would be glorious. Although at this point I would also take EA using Ultima as their retro RPG title.

[@NinjaRunningWild]

@@LusRetroSource They would ruin it (look up Shroud of the Avatar). Leave it alone. It's perfect how it is.

[@67fabs]

You have to do the same but for the Amiga core ! :)

[@LusRetroSource]

Yes! I definitely plan on creating a similar Amiga video.

[@vresi]

Exemplary tutorial video, long, detailed and nearly impossible to get a step wrong. Being versed in DOS myself, I of course knew most of this but having no knowledge of and contemplating getting a MiSTer, it's a good watch. I did however notice that both Black Cauldron and Ultima ran too fast. Is there a setting to deal with this?

[@LusRetroSource]

Thanks for the comments! There is an option to change the clock speed of the core's CPU and slow down games that need it. The options for clock speed are 15MHz, 30Mhz, 56MHz, 90Mhz .

[@OneAngryDeacon]

I imagine 15MHz will still be too fast for many games pre-1990, but you can still use speed utilities like Mo'Slo or the like

[@tonibahloni920]

Any ideas on how to get a mouse to work? My mouse acts like a joystick. If I move the mouse forward/backward playing Doom, I move forward/backward.

[@cfcrow]

thanks for the great tutorial. Only problem is when i get to putting the game in the shared folder on the moster its showing the directorys as empty. not sure how to fix this

[@LusRetroSource]

Have you tried downloading the latest misterfs.exe program? I heard there were some bugs that were eventually fixed.

[@Phille023]

What is the name of the game at 0:44? I used to play this game but for some reason I can't remember the name! Great video, just got me my MiSTer ordered. Really looking forward to adding DOS to it!

[@LusRetroSource]

It's called Raptor. That game blew me away the first time I saw it.

[@Phille023]

@@LusRetroSource Many Thanks! Just watched some gameplay footage and now I remember the game. Going to try and make this work on the MiSTer!

[@AxiomofDiscord]

Are you in the camp that believes there will be a future project that replaces Mister? I wonder if it is to be if they will be able to run a high end Pentium MMX with a Voodoo 3 ish level 3D accelerator. That would almost replace my window 98 machine since I imagine anything that needs more would run fine in XP and newer computers. Some talk about it being able to handle a PS2 and if that is the case I think it would be enough for such a system.

[@LusRetroSource]

I do think that eventually there will be hardware that will followup the current DE10 Nano. However, when that's going to happen is probably going to a long time and even then, a Pentium MMX with Voodoo 3 still might not be possible. That's some really complicated hardware and it may take a while for an FPGA at the DE10 Nano's price point to be able to do something so complicated. We wont know for sure until that hardware exists.

[@Andearoid]

did you tried some MS-DOS benchmarks to compare with a real PC hardware, then estimate whats its hardware counterpart ?

[@LusRetroSource]

It's something that I'm working to create a future video on.

[@kmcgui08]

When I save my "MyPC" vhd file, it defaults to a zipped up disc image file, not a VHD file even though I am saving it that way. I am following step by step. Any idea why that would be? My "temp" vhd just saves as a zipped up package of the three files inside of it.

[@LusRetroSource]

I've never seen that before. A VHD is not a zip file, so I don't understand how you are getting a zip file.

[@Kilterofficial]

Is there a way to get game saves working? I was able to save King's Quest 4 but not Secret of Monkey Island or Loom.

[@Kilterofficial]

Someone on Discord was able to help me. Thanks!

[@LusRetroSource]

Glad someone was able to help you!

[@mzetzs]

When I run the "misterfs f" I get the f: prompt but when I type dir it says "file not found". It did create a shared folder. when I put a dos game folder (doom2) in the shared folder it does not show up in the f: directory and I get the same "file not found" I am unable to copy it over.

[@Lazarus404]

I'm getting this issue, too, and it's driving me nuts!

[@Lazarus404]

Did you put your AO486 files on the internal SD card, or did you use an external drive?

[@mzetzs]

@@Lazarus404 Its on the internal SD drive. Driving me nuts too!!!

[@atsz.]

I'm also having this issue, can't imagine what this could be. I hope it's not an issue with the SD card, because I'm using a pretty nice one.

[@LusRetroSource]

Havent used this feature in a while. I'll try it out again to see if I get the same issue.

[@alexshakhnovich8072]

I am stuck at EMS step. After my edit the file config.sys looks exactly as yours, modifications in 3 places are saved. Run option 1 and get same error - no EMS. What may be wrong?

[@LusRetroSource]

Strange, I never had this problem.

[@alexshakhnovich8072]

@@LusRetroSource Thanks for your quick response. The issue was solved by removing spaces in the statements XX = YY (need XX=YY). Obviously DOS editor does not like extra spaces. Everything works now.

[@LusRetroSource]

@@alexshakhnovich8072 Great that you got it working! Little things like that make it difficult to diagnose a problems. Luckily DOS wasn't case sensitive or things would be worse.

[@tonyt611]

I got be sick to do 😂all that for playing games Feel like when loses your car key and trying opening. Toothpick 😆. Thanks your patience and time

[@sonar2033]

I've a question I've Sony multiscan G220 with a Scan rate of 31 kHz..It can display Only From 31 kHz To UP.. Is MISTer on AO486 limitated on 15khz via analogue output VGA?

[@LusRetroSource]

I believe you can change the output to 31KHz using the scan doubler. I don't have a VGA crt to test but check out this forum post on the MiSTer FPGA forums. They talk about getting 31KHz in AO486. misterfpga.org/viewtopic.php?t=367

[@sonar2033]

Can I Ask You If With MISTer Core Ao486 you can play to Moneky Island in native resolution 320*200?

[@gcolombelli]

​@@sonar2033 I haven't tried the monkey island games, but I've tried other games that run at 320x200 with no issues. Just notice that, although many VGA monitors don't like native TV resolutions, they'll happily accept many hsync values lower than 31kHz, such as the 720x400 text mode with it's ~27kHz hsync or the 320x200 you mentioned with a hsync of ~13.5kHz. MiSTer has quite a range of resolutions and timings it will output through the VGA port. It really depends on what the core is capable of generating, some of the arcade cores have some really weird resolutions and framerate combinations that I've never seen used anywhere else. Some cores, like Amiga, ao486, X68000 and PDP-1 can output some pretty high resolutions on VGA. For the odd resolutions you CRT doesn't like, you can try enabling the scandoubler or enabling the VGA scaler, it will introduce some lag, but will ensure it can work with pretty much any VGA monitor out there if you select the right settings.

[@spiritualastralsoul]

Hi, I'm getting a black screen every time although I've followed your guide, I can always get into the MiSTer menu but I see nothing else other than a black screen.

[@LusRetroSource]

Have you added the boot roms from the AO486 github?

[@spiritualastralsoul]

@@LusRetroSource yeah I had them in the wrong place and now it works, thanks.

[@Ravenna_Black]

I don't understand where the media/fat/AO486 is... the only 486 folder i have is in games. I can't find the fat folder.

[@LusRetroSource]

Are you accessing the SD Card through the network or plugging it directly to a PC?

[@SoftBank47]

The starter pack isn't showing up on my VHD.

[@BillyRosendale]

First thing first, I did restart this process from scratch on my Mister. The only difference is the AO486 folder is in my media/fat/games folder instead of media/fat OK, so when I get to the step at 9:39 I don't have the Configure Unallocated Disk Space. Instead, I have "Configure the first hard disk (recommended)". If I go through this process I have an error of "Setup cannot install MS-Dos 6.22 on your computer A disk error was detected while writing a new boot record to your first hard disk. Press enter to exit setup. This takes me to a dos screen with "Memory allocation error Cannot load COMMAND, system halted" Did I miss something? I definitely have the two Boot files from GitHub in the main folder and followed the VHD portions of the video. Wondering where I went wrong if anyone can assist.

[@LusRetroSource]

Did you try recreating the VHD in Windows? Maybe some issue happened while trying to create it. Also try to see if formatting the VHD before installing DOS helps. Like I show at 5:38 for the secondary VHD.

[@BillyRosendale]

@@LusRetroSource I'll give it a shot.

[@BillyRosendale]

@@LusRetroSource Finally got around to retrying and went without a hitch sir. I believe what I had was an upgrade instead of the initial release of DOS6.22. Thanks for the reply and video.

[@LusRetroSource]

@@BillyRosendale That's awesome that you got it working! Glad you figured that out. Enjoy!

[@ryangavigan2049]

I'm stuck at the misterfs step (~23:45), i'm getting 'Program too big to fit in memory' when trying to run 'misterfs f'

[@ryangavigan2049]

hm, well I figured out 'why' by seeing that the link for the misterfs github takes me to where the current misterfs.exe which is 121k rather than 7 that is showing as the example in the video.

[@LusRetroSource]

@@ryangavigan2049 There's been several updates to misterfs after I created this video. Have you got it working? I just checked the link I provided and the misterfs program is 6.84KB so I don't know why you are getting over 100KB.

[@ryangavigan2049]

@@LusRetroSource I got the one the correct size. now the main problem is that though i copy folders into the /shared folder, though the files inside the game folders show as being there in winscp, when going to that particular f: folder inside of ao486, it shows the folder as being empty with no files

[@gcolombelli]

​@@ryangavigan2049 I'll have to carefully review the config.sys options of some tutorials, the one I followed previously I just copied and pasted the config.sys and autoexec.bat into a disk image mounted on my PC to avoid stupid spelling mistakes, then copied it back to MiSTer. Managed to get the CD driver working and a few games running as well, but misterfs never worked for me. It either lists no files or just lists a few files on the shared folder. Trying to copy files to/from the shared folder always errors out as well. Whats even weirder is that sometimes the virtual CD drive also doesn't work reliably after loading misterfs.

[@shopminer2308]

Where can I find ready to use .vhd files?

[@LusRetroSource]

There's a premade FreeDOS VHD in the MiSTer forums, but it only contains the OS. You'll have to provide your own games. It's located here. misterfpga.org/viewtopic.php?t=843

[@20windfisch11]

If you put DEVICE=C:\DOS\EMM386.EXE NOEMS into the XMS config sections, it’ll free up some more conventional memory.

[@LusRetroSource]

Thanks for the tip. Configuring the autoexec.bat and config.sys can be an entire lecture on itself.

[@3dhYT]

Why didn't you use ctmouse?

[@LusRetroSource]

I also use Windows 3.1 in AO486, and the mouse wouldn't work with Win3.1 when using the ctmouse driver. Now that you've reminded me, I'll have to check if any of the recent AO486 updates fixed that.

[@Nuevo_El_Nagual]

How does Warcraft2 work on it?

[@LusRetroSource]

You install it like you would any other game in DOS. Obtain the Warcraft 2 ISO or floppies and run its installer.

[@TheSulross]

MiSTer is ripe for a book - MiSTer, The Missing Manual

[@skideric]

The Boot Roms Link Is NOT AVAILABLE.... 404 Error EDIT: Nevermind,Found Them Under RELEASES...

[@LusRetroSource]

Thanks for letting me know! I updated the link.

[@Muda_Muda_Muda_Muda__]

How to get Duke Nukem to work?

[@LusRetroSource]

Just copy the game to an AO486 DOS installation and run the command for it. I have three different videos showing how to get files onto AO486. Video on using Floppy images: kzbin.info/www/bejne/nmLIgJdjl9iaaKc Video on using Hard disk images: kzbin.info/www/bejne/n5-qXnxojq6Ie6s Video on using the misterfs program: kzbin.info/www/bejne/h2Oll3V7oreUoc0

[@cosmickatamari]

Dude's hating on Wacky Wheels and Hocus Pocus :(

[@LusRetroSource]

Aww sorry. I never got to play those games when I was younger. It's hard to compete with the likes of Sonic, Mario and Mario Kart.

[@MrBorderdown]

This is too old, you're only using 4MB of ram, and it has 256MB available. EMM can only handle 64MB I believe but it's probably worth using. There's also multiple configs flying around using FRAME=E000 and FRAME=D000, with absolutely no documentation on which is correct. You can easily create a menu that allows for all configuration options, but no one seems to have done that.

[@LusRetroSource]

Thanks! This is good to revisit with your suggestions.

[@OneAngryDeacon]

You refer to Adlib/FM synth & music in DOS games generally as MIDI throughout this video and unfortunately that's not accurate at all. MIDI is a standard for organising musical instruments amongst devices, FM synth does not conform to that standard and does not use it. Some DOS games could use some proprietary MIDI devices, most famously the MT-32 but that is separate to FM. Further General MIDI is not compatible with non-GM devices like the MT-32 either, but I guess I can't say you said that - I was just throwing that in as a bonus fact. Also for games where MIDI devices are available, you will find General MIDI with a good sound font or an MT-32 emulator might be preferable to Adlib/Soundblaster FM for music - but some people might find the FM more nostalgic or charming

[@LusRetroSource]

Your definition of MIDI is inaccurate too. MIDI is actually a communications protocol. It was developed as a standard for sound devices to communicate with each other. It wasn't just about musical instruments it can also involve controlling devices.

[@OneAngryDeacon]

@@LusRetroSource Well yes it's protocol that standardised communication for inter-device instructions. By instruments I meant it lets you define musical instruction per channel, where each channel is called an instrument as devices can generate multiple sounds simultaneously. By 'amongst devices' I think it's intrinsic that I meant devices communicating with one another so I don't really feel what I said was inaccurate, broad maybe but I wasn't writing a definition I was just genuinely trying to be helpful to you as efficiently as possible. If that's not welcome then I won't bother you anymore.

[@LusRetroSource]

@@OneAngryDeacon ​ I do appreciate these responses, and please don't take this as me being offended. I do know that when I try to simplify things, it's not going to be a complete definition. However, your definition is still inaccurate. Talking about MIDI only in the context of defining musical instrument is inaccurate. It's like saying MIDI is just music files (which many believe it is). You also said that FM doesn't conform to the standard and that's not true. If that was the case then FM cards wouldn't be able to play MIDI music files. MIDI doesn't care about FM, wave table, etc. If there's a MIDI driver saying that an FM algorithm is a piano, then a MIDI application is going to play that algorithm as a piano. MIDI is only a protocol so it only follows the instructions it’s given and it can receive instructions from FM hardware. It's possible to create a GM midi card out of a C64 SID chip, just as long as you define a sound for each GM instrument.

[@OneAngryDeacon]

@@LusRetroSource That's where you aren't understanding, I'm afraid. Just because you can play MIDI with FM doesn't mean FM works via MIDI, it doesn't. That's not what is happening at the metal. OPL chips are not MIDI compliant, otherwise, the Sega Mega Drive would be a MIDI device. If you sent an actual MIDI signal directly to OPL metal or a SID chip and nothing would happen. The situation you're talking about with a SID chip would be it would be in a chain with a MIDI controller. Lots of old modular synths can be controlled via MIDI, which doesn't make the actual synth MIDI, it's just 'being played' by an external controller. The FM drivers for DOS games don't use MIDI at any stage of the process. You're not understanding there's a difference between a media player interpreting a .mid source before sending it to an FM card via an FM driver and an actual MIDI device receiving an actual MIDI signal via a MIDI cable (or internally). That doesn't magically make the FM card a MIDI device. What's actually happening is the .mid playback is being converted by software into a signal that is compatible with the FM drivers. It's totally misleading to call all DOS gaming music "MIDI". The first games to use MIDI required users to have an MPU-401 installed so that it could transmit via MIDI cable. I think it's a bit of a shame because this is otherwise an excellent video, and many new players arriving at DOS for the first time via the FPGA are going to see this.