Try downloading memmaker. It's an old dos program to maximize the lower 640K and configure EMS. Unzip it to the c:\windows folder. Run msconfig. Choose 'advanced' and check 'enable startup menu'. Then 'apply', 'OK' and reboot. When the menu comes up choose 'command prompt only'. At the dos prompt type memmaker and enter. Follow the instructions. The computer will reboot twice before memmaker is done. Each time it reboots choose 'command prompt only'. When it's done configuring config.sys and autoexec.bat, reboot again and choose 'normal mode'. Run msconfig--advanced again and uncheck the start menu option. 'Apply' and 'OK' again. When it reboots you won't get the startup menu and it'll go straight to normal mode.

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Is there a version thats in english? I would like to use this myself, but it appears to be in german.

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Sorry, I didn't check that. You can download 'olddos.exe' from here. It has several dos files that weren't originally included with 95. Memmaker needs all the memmaker.* files as well as sizer.exe and chkstate.sys from that group in order to run. After I run memmaker I remove any buffers files FCBS stacks lastdrive lines as windows defaults for those are usually adequate, although you should probably check your original config.sys to see if any added software has changed those figures.

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Thanks, DAVEINCAPS - everything looks normal in the EMM386 now. Unfortunately, World of Xeen is STILL not working - same error: Illegal operation - invalid page exception: Fault location: 0028:CO2A7BEB Faulting Component: IFSMGR(04) + 000092FF Interrupts in service: None Is IFSMGR.vxd causing this?.. Its located in C:\Windows\System\VMM32 - the 'virtual device driver'. Do I need a new one?... Also, the sound for other old games still isn't working.. Any ideas?

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Every time I start up the computer now, it accuses me of having started the Memmaker with the '/SESSION switch' - which is apparently 'the incorrect use of this switch'. Can I get it to stop doing that?

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The game may not run in a dos window. It may need to run in pure dos. After you run memmaker it will remove the files it uses from config.sys. Apparently the process was interrupted and those files are still running. Post back contents of config.sys and autoexec.bat so we can see what's going on with them.

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Thanks, The Config Sys contains: DEVICE=C:\WINDOWS\HIMEM.SYS DEVICE=C:\WINDOWS\EMM386.exe RAM BUFFERS=12,0 FILES=30 DOS=UMB LASTDRIVE=Z FCBS=4,0 DOS=HIGH Autoexec cotains: C:\WINDOWS\MEMMAKER.exe /SESSION:30431 The game can work within Windows - it does on a similar computer with the following config.sys contents: DEVICE=C:\WINDOWS\HIMEM.SYS DEVICE=C:\WINDOWS\EMM386.exe ON RAM 4096 DEVICE=C:\WINDOWS\COMMAND\DISPLAY.SYS,CON=(EGA,,1) COUNTRY=044,850, C:\WINDOWS\COUNTRY.SYS DEVICE=C:\WINDOWS\PANNING.SYS I hope you understand these... :)

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Edit config.sys so it just has these lines: DEVICE=C:\WINDOWS\HIMEM.SYS DEVICE=C:\WINDOWS\EMM386.exe RAM 4096 DOS=HIGH,UMB The other lines from the second computer on which the game works probably don't influence it. Then edit autoexec.bat to remove the memmaker line. To edit these lines you can use notepad (and open c:\config.sys and c:\autoexec.bat) or SYSEDIT. Or from dos you can use EDIT.

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Thanks again, system turns on properly now. EMM386 says 0kb upper memory available again though, but it isn't having a negative effect on the games. 'Swords of Xeen' is the same format as 'world of xeen', and works, but does not require the CD - Is the cd-rom causing the problem? (other games have no trouble). 'World of Xeen' does not require any data from the CD to run. Is there a way to make the game play without it, if I'm allowed to ask? :)

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Some games may give an option for a complete install where everything is installed to the hard drive or a simpler install where the game is played from the cd. Or some may require the cd just as verification you actually have the game. I'm not sure if yours fits either category but I'd think you'd get a message about inserting the game cd if that was the case. I don't know if there's a way around that but you might consult some gaming sites abou it. I'm assuming you're running this from a dos windows and not pure dos. A dos window will have cdrom support; pure dos won't. If you need cdrom support in pure dos then you need to add a cdrom driver in config.sys and mscdex in autoexec.bat.

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Hrm.. This game seems to always need the CD. Though I find it odd that my Libretto can run the game in a dos window, but this Picturebook can't. Grr :)

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Is there anyway to copy the CD to the hard-drive, then change whatever instruction/entry in the registry that points to/looks for the CD to go to the hard-drive location instead?

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Seems not.. Everything from the CD is already copied. Accroding to some googl'ed sites, the XEEN.DAT file (which is an .exe file) has been compressed with "PKlite" to avoid fiddling/cracking. After PKlite is removed, I'm to do something like: Remove password check (Run UNP -K XEEN.DAT before!) XEEN.DAT 0001A6ED: 15 00 Or apparently I need a RAZOR crack, and not a TDT crack which doesn't work... Grr.. I wish it would just work. I actually own 3 copies of this game in CD-version. Is anyone aware how to remove PKlite? Am I going to get into trouble for talking about this? :)

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... could be. Go here and try this old PkLite unpacker (UNP) Saying that XP is the most stable MS OS is like saying that asparagus is the most articulate vegetable

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Thanks, Jboy. Its unpacked, though unfortunately I have varying accounts of what should be done next. I can't find any of the lines I've been asked to change... GRRR. Its ludicrous that a 30mb, 13-year-old game needs 2cd's to run.

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Just be thankful it doesn't demand/require a cassette-tape... - chuckles...

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Heh... Well, I'd be tolerant of cassette tapes if they made the game work. In this case the CD's are the problem that prevents the game working...

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