Once I saw "firmware" in the output, I start to wonder if this program requires a dongle to operate. That was not uncommon for dictionary programs at the time, and is still seen today with USB dongles. Did you run this software on MSDOS previously, and did it require a hardware device?
jh On Dec 28, 2011, at 4:07 AM, Shérab <sebastien.hinde...@ens-lyon.org> wrote: > Hello, > > thanks so much for having taken the time to respond with several tracks > to explore ! > >> It will be hard to fix when the software isn't freely available. Most >> of us aren't willing to download random (still copyrighted) >> "abandonware." :-/ > > Understood. > >>> I was wondering whether dosemu wouldn't offer some debugging facilities >>> that could be useful here... >> >> It does, but I don't know what or how to use it, sadly. You'll have to >> wait for (or nag) Eric Auer or Bart Oldeman or similar to chime in. Or >> just read the online manuals: >> >> http://www.dosemu.org/docs/ > > Will give the manuals a try, thanks. > > Incidentally: does dosemu have an (active) IRC channel ? > There is one mentioned on the web site but I was unable to connect to > the server... > >> But here's two horribly wimpy suggestions to isolate the problem. >> >> 1). Download File 5.09: >> http://sites.google.com/site/rugxulo/file509.zip?attredirects=0 > Done. > >> Put file.exe in your %PATH% > > C:\>path C:\FILE;%PATH% > C:\>path > PATH=C:\FILE;z:\bin;z:\gnu;z:\dosemu >> and "set MAGIC=/dev/c/fdos/magic.mgc" (or >> similar, /dev/c/ means C:\). > > C:\>set MAGIC=C:\FILE\MAGIC.MGC > > >> Now try "file dictionary.exe" (or whatever, etc.) to see if it uses >> any special .EXE format or DOS extender. > > It seems something has not been set up appropriately: > C:\>file ROBERT\MENU.EXE > C, 0: Warning: using regular magic file `\FILE\MAGIC.MGC' > \FILE\MAGIC.MGC, 1: Warning: offset `◈◈↑' invalid > \FILE\MAGIC.MGC, 1: Warning: type `◈◈↑' invalid > \FILE\MAGIC.MGC, 6: Warning: offset `Firmware v' invalid > \FILE\MAGIC.MGC, 6: Warning: type `Firmware v' invalid > \FILE\MAGIC.MGC, 7: Warning: offset `◈' invalid > \FILE\MAGIC.MGC, 7: Warning: type `◈' invalid > \FILE\MAGIC.MGC, 8: Warning: offset `◈' invalid > \FILE\MAGIC.MGC, 8: Warning: type `◈' invalid > file.exe: could not find any magic files! > > Note: I downloaded the archive under Linux. > I went to ~/.dosemu/drive_c > Created a FILE directory there, went into it and unpacked the archive > there with unzip, I hope that was right. > >> 2). Download KGB 1.04: >> http://archives.scovetta.com/pub/simtelnet/msdos/sysutl/kgb104.zip >> >> kgb.exe (start the TSR) >> dictionary.exe (run the program) >> kgb /u (unload TSR) >> edit c:\history.dat (see what files it tried to open) > > Here is history.dat: > > OpenFile-R : robert > OpenFile-R : menu.exe > OpenFile-R : menu.exe > Exec : E:\ROBERT\MENU.EXE > OpenFile-R : kgb.COM > OpenFile-R : kgb.EXE > OpenFile-R : kgb.EXE > Exec : D:\KGB\KGB.EXE /u > > It seems it does not even try to execute the file... ? > >> Who knows, maybe one of those two things will help somehow. :-/ > > Thanks again. So I guess solution one has to be tuned before it can be > said whether it can or can't help. > > Cheers, > Sébastien. > > ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ > Write once. Port to many. > Get the SDK and tools to simplify cross-platform app development. Create > new or port existing apps to sell to consumers worldwide. Explore the > Intel AppUpSM program developer opportunity. appdeveloper.intel.com/join > http://p.sf.net/sfu/intel-appdev > _______________________________________________ > Freedos-user mailing list > Freedos-user@lists.sourceforge.net > https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/freedos-user ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Write once. Port to many. Get the SDK and tools to simplify cross-platform app development. Create new or port existing apps to sell to consumers worldwide. Explore the Intel AppUpSM program developer opportunity. appdeveloper.intel.com/join http://p.sf.net/sfu/intel-appdev _______________________________________________ Freedos-user mailing list Freedos-user@lists.sourceforge.net https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/freedos-user
