DOS ain't dead

The Bochs Project released version 2.3.7 on 03 June 2008.

Brief summary of changes:
+ More optimizations in CPU code - Bochs 2.3.7 is more than 2x faster than Bochs 2.3.5 build!
- Implemented LBA48 support in BIOS
- Added memory access tracing for Bochs internal debugger
- Implemented Intel(R) XSAVE/XRSTOR and AES instruction set extensions
- Many fixes in CPU emulation and internal debugger (MenuetOS64 floppy images booting perfect again!)
- updated LGPL'd VGABIOS to version 0.6b

Home page: http://sourceforge.net/projects/bochs
Announcement: Bochs 2.3.7 released (may not work)
Download: http://sourceforge.net/project/showfiles.php?group_id=12580

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Forum admin

> The Bochs Project released version 2.3.7 on 03 June 2008.

But no Windows binary yet (meh).

> The Bochs Project released version 2.3.7 on 03 June 2008.



> But no Windows binary yet (meh).

I'll test (in DOS) as soon as it comes out

> More optimizations in CPU code - Bo 2.3.7 is more than 2x faster than Bo 2.3.5

Again ??? Evidence pending

> Implemented LBA48 support in BIOS
> Added memory access tracing for Bochs internal debugger

Good

> Implemented Intel(R) XSAVE/XRSTOR and AES instruction set extensions



> Many fixes in CPU emulation and internal debugger (MenuetOS64 floppy images booting perfect

Retesting the HX crash in Loooooooooooooong mode needed

> updated LGPL'd VGABIOS to version 0.6b

---
This is a LOGITECH mouse driver, but some software expect here
the following string:*** This is Copyright 1983 Microsoft ***

> The Bochs Project released version 2.3.7 on 03 June 2008.

> Announcement: ?

Not where it would be expected: http://bochs.sourceforge.net/

But change details are here.

> > The Bochs Project released version 2.3.7 on 03 June 2008.
>
> > Announcement: ?
>
> Not where it would be expected: http://bochs.sourceforge.net/
>
> But change details are
> here.

Compare my "changes" link in the original posting.

I already had a link to the official announcement, but SF.net has problems to display this message. So I omitted that link.

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Forum admin

> > The Bochs Project released version 2.3.7 on 03 June 2008.
>
> But no Windows binary yet (meh).

Windows binaries were announced for last night. Don't know, why these are not online. If you are keen on, I would build some unofficial binaries for you.

---
Forum admin

> > > The Bochs Project released version 2.3.7 on 03 June 2008.
> >
> > But no Windows binary yet (meh).
>
> Windows binaries were announced for last night. Don't know, why these are
> not online. If you are keen on, I would build some unofficial binaries for
> you.

That's okay, I can wait. No reason for you to busy yourself on that account.

*drool*

I love bochs.

rr wrote:

> Windows binaries were announced for last night.
> Don't know, why these are not online.

They are now 2.3.7 slowly leaking to public

sol wrote:

> *drool* I love bochs.

Me too ...

Minimal test:

+ Extracts with DLL-7-ZIP 4.58 on DOS, just 1'000'000 duplicates

* Main EXE of 2.37 hogs 1'658'880 bytes - exactly same size as 2.3.6

> - More than 100 bugfixes in CPU emulation correctness

- Comes with 1'000'000 BIOS'es ... but seems only 2 of them are required :

BIOS-bochs-latest BOXBIOLA 131'072
VGABIOS-lgpl-latest BOXVGAB 38'400

+ Still starts on HX

--- Very old BUG Can't deal with Read-only image files

- Occasionally some random startup trouble (not new ?)

- VESA trouble - fullscreen ??? kbd failure ??? Seems to occur in 2.3.6 also ...

- Faster than 2.3.6 just 1.15 times - PKZIP -exx on HDPMI32 ... yeah

> Bochs 2.3.7 is more than 2x faster than Bochs 2.3.5 build !

--- BUG "docs\user\guest-freedos.html" & "docs\user\guest-dos.html"

> Chapter 9. Guest operating systems
> ------------------------------------
> 9.6. FreeDOS Beta 8
> This has been contributed by Volker Ruppert.
> 1. Download FDB8_144.DSK and base1.zip

> You must read the message regarding software licenses
> before you install or use MS-DOS, OS/2, DR-DOS, or any other DOS
> and OAKCDROM.SYS that comes with several versions of Windows.
> device=himem.sys
> mscdex.exe /M:10 /D:CD001



- BUG "docs\user\supported-platforms.html"

No DOS and HX

REM Start BOCHS (BOX) on DOS

DPMILD32 -g b237.exe -f bbb.bo -q

rem * Supposing: "B237.EXE" is the BOCHS executable, BBB.BO" is the BOCHS config file
rem * "-g" is the "force-GUI" switch for DPMILD32 (same thing as with QEMU and many others)
rem * "-f" "file" : specifies the config file for BOCHS
rem * "-q" "quick start" : Makes BOCHS immediately run the GUI and start emulation/booting

# configuration file generated by Bochs
config_interface: textconfig
display_library: win32
megs: 32
romimage: file="BOXBIOLA"
vgaromimage: file="BOXVGAB"
boot: floppy
floppy_bootsig_check: disabled=0
floppya: 1_44="FD.IMA", status=inserted
# no floppyb
ata0: enabled=1, ioaddr1=0x1f0, ioaddr2=0x3f0, irq=14
ata0-master: type=disk, mode=flat, translation=auto, path="HDIMAGE.IMG", cylinders=0, heads=0, spt=0, biosdetect=auto, model="Generic 1234"
ata1: enabled=1, ioaddr1=0x170, ioaddr2=0x370, irq=15
ata2: enabled=0
ata3: enabled=0
parport1: enabled=1, file=""
parport2: enabled=0
com1: enabled=1, mode=null, dev=""
com2: enabled=0
com3: enabled=0
com4: enabled=0
usb1: enabled=0
i440fxsupport: enabled=1
vga_update_interval: 40000
vga: extension=vbe
cpu: count=1, ips=2000000, reset_on_triple_fault=1
text_snapshot_check: enabled=0
private_colormap: enabled=0
clock: sync=none, time0=local
# no cmosimage
ne2k: enabled=0
pnic: enabled=0
sb16: enabled=0
# no loader
log: -
logprefix: %t%e%d
debugger_log: -
panic: action=ask
error: action=report
info: action=report
debug: action=ignore
pass: action=fatal
keyboard_type: mf
keyboard_serial_delay: 250
keyboard_paste_delay: 100000
keyboard_mapping: enabled=0, map=
user_shortcut: keys=none
mouse: enabled=0, type=ps2

---
This is a LOGITECH mouse driver, but some software expect here
the following string:*** This is Copyright 1983 Microsoft ***

> + Extracts with DLL-7-ZIP 4.58 on DOS, just 1'000'000 duplicates

That must be a problem of 7-Zip@DOS, because it looks fine on Windows.

> * Main EXE of 2.37 hogs 1'658'880 bytes - exactly same size as 2.3.6
>

That's called padding.

> - Comes with 1'000'000 BIOS'es ... but seems only 2 of them are required :

"Required" is not the right word. It depends on your needs.
1) "BIOS-bochs-legacy" is smaller than "BIOS-bochs-latest". It should give you more upper memory.
2) "VGABIOS-elpin-2.40" is from a different vendor. This is good for examining graphics bugs.
3) "VGABIOS-lgpl-latest-cirrus" has Cirrus Logic BIOS extensions.
4) Another PC BIOS for Bochs (ported from BCC to GCC by Kevin O'Connor) is at http://linuxtogo.org/~kevin/legacybios/ and http://git.linuxtogo.org/?p=kevin/legacybios.git.

> --- Very old BUG Can't deal with Read-only image files

Does a bug report on SF.net exist?

> - Occasionally some random startup trouble (not new ?)

What do you mean?

> - VESA trouble - fullscreen ??? kbd failure ??? Seems to occur in 2.3.6
> also ...

What do you mean?

> --- BUG "docs\user\guest-freedos.html" &
> "docs\user\guest-dos.html"

Why do you think it's a bug?

> > Chapter 9. Guest operating systems
> > ------------------------------------
> > 9.6. FreeDOS Beta 8
> > This has been contributed by Volker Ruppert.
> > 1. Download FDB8_144.DSK and base1.zip
>
> > You must read the message regarding software licenses
> > before you install or use MS-DOS, OS/2, DR-DOS, or any other DOS
> > and OAKCDROM.SYS that comes with several versions of Windows.
> > device=himem.sys
> > mscdex.exe /M:10 /D:CD001
>
>

What's your problem?

> - BUG "docs\user\supported-platforms.html"
>
> No DOS and HX

Because Bochs developers don't support this plattform. It may work, but there's no guaranty.

---
Forum admin

> That must be a problem of 7-Zip@DOS

It's not a problem, it's your preferred problem with L.F.N.'s

> because it looks fine on Windows.

As usual ...

> That's called padding.

Thanks for the hint ... but usually every new version of "serious" software (for "good" Windows) increases the size by factor at least 1.5

> "Required" is not the right word. It depends on your needs.
> 1) "BIOS-bochs-legacy" is smaller than "BIOS-bochs-latest". It should give
> you more upper memory.
> 2) "VGABIOS-elpin-2.40" is from a different vendor. This is good for
> examining graphics bugs.
> 3) "VGABIOS-lgpl-latest-cirrus" has Cirrus Logic BIOS extensions.
> 4) Another PC BIOS for Bochs (ported from BCC to GCC by Kevin O'Connor) is
> at http://linuxtogo.org/~kevin/legacybios/ and
> http://git.linuxtogo.org/?p=kevin/legacybios.git.

OK

> Does a bug report on SF.net exist?

No idea ... maybe I'll create one

> > --- BUG "docs\user\guest-freedos.html" &
> > "docs\user\guest-dos.html"

> Why do you think it's a bug?
> What's your problem?

Have been sleeping for last 8 years ?

> Because Bochs developers don't support this plattform. It may work,
> but there's no guaranty.

COOL. It's probably cheaper and easier to get the $$$ for Vista + the $$$ for the hardware able to boot it up at all than install DOS ...

---
This is a LOGITECH mouse driver, but some software expect here
the following string:*** This is Copyright 1983 Microsoft ***

> > That must be a problem of 7-Zip@DOS
>
> It's not a problem, it's your preferred problem with

This is a minor cosmetical issues, but not a real problem. You could still port Bochs to DJGPP and prepare its makefiles to rename long names to short ones.

> L.F.N.'s

By the by: There's no apostrophe for plurals in English. This is not Dutch. This can also be seen at Club Dr-DOS Wiki very often.

> > That's called padding.
>
> Thanks for the hint ... but usually every new version of "serious"
> software (for "good" Windows) increases the size by factor at least 1.5
>

Bochs is unusual in every way.

> > Does a bug report on SF.net exist?
>
> No idea ... maybe I'll create one

Please do so! Otherwise it will probably never get fixed.

> > > --- BUG "docs\user\guest-freedos.html" &
> > > "docs\user\guest-dos.html"
>
> > Why do you think it's a bug?
> > What's your problem?
>
> Have been sleeping for last 8 years ?

I still don't see the problem. Are you referring to the ancient version number of FreeDOS?

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Forum admin