Don't panic! (FreeDOS works!) (Users)
Like Tom said, unload any unnecessary drivers (including EMM386 or software cache) or even mouse or keyboard drivers (unless forced). But RAM drive is probably okay.
Like Eric said, try using DOS32A.EXE instead of (often built-in) DOS4G (e.g. Doom, "DOS32A DOOM.EXE"), and see if that helps. (Yes, some games choke on too much RAM.)
It's probably best to focus on simple games first: PSR Invaders (8086 + VGA, no extra files), BioMenace (286, EGA), or Paku Paku (CGA text mode, runs on original IBM PC). All of those also support PC speaker.
It could be a BIOS or cpu microcode bug, but let's not get too paranoid.
Oh, you could try loading a TSR to see what files it's trying to find: KGB, then check the resulting C:\HISTORY.DAT file.
No one ever uses it, but I still think my MetaDOS (FreeDOS) floppy is a good, simple starting point for testing things out.
Complete thread:
- FDOS works fine, but Old Games not! - liljames2k, 13.11.2021, 20:50
- FDOS works fine, but Old Games not! - Laaca, 13.11.2021, 22:51
- FDOS works fine, but Old Games not! - rr, 13.11.2021, 23:35
- FDOS works fine, but Old Games not! - Rugxulo, 14.11.2021, 06:37
- FDOS works fine, but Old Games not! - liljames2k, 20.11.2021, 05:48
- FDOS works fine, but Old Games not! - Zyzzle, 20.11.2021, 09:03
- FDOS works fine, but Old Games not! - mceric, 20.11.2021, 11:25
- FDOS works fine, but Old Games not! - Rugxulo, 21.11.2021, 14:35
- FDOS works fine, but Old Games not! - Japheth, 20.11.2021, 11:27
- FDOS works fine, but Old Games not! - tom, 20.11.2021, 12:09
- FDOS works fine, but Old Games not! - jhall, 20.11.2021, 18:30
- FDOS works fine, but Old Games not! - jhall, 20.11.2021, 18:34
- FDOS works fine, but Old Games not! - tom, 20.11.2021, 19:04
- FDOS works fine, but Old Games not! - tom, 20.11.2021, 19:14
- FDOS works fine, but Old Games not! - tom, 20.11.2021, 19:28
- FDOS works fine, but Old Games not! - Khusraw, 21.11.2021, 16:54
- FDOS works fine, but Old Games not! - tom, 21.11.2021, 17:17
- FDOS works fine, but Old Games not! - mceric, 21.11.2021, 18:35
- FDOS works fine, but Old Games not! - Zyzzle, 22.11.2021, 06:18
- FDOS works fine, but Old Games not! - Rugxulo, 21.11.2021, 19:03
- FDOS works fine, but Old Games not! - Japheth, 22.11.2021, 14:36
- FDOS works fine, but Old Games not! - tom, 22.11.2021, 22:00
- FDOS works fine, but Old Games not! - rr, 23.11.2021, 21:15
- FDOS works fine, but Old Games not! - glennmcc, 24.11.2021, 04:16
- FDOS works fine, but Old Games not! - rr, 23.11.2021, 21:15
- FDOS works fine, but Old Games not! - tom, 22.11.2021, 22:00
- FDOS works fine, but Old Games not! - mceric, 23.11.2021, 01:07
- FDOS works fine, but Old Games not! - rr, 23.11.2021, 21:07
- FDOS works fine, but Old Games not! - Japheth, 22.11.2021, 14:36
- FDOS works fine, but Old Games not! - tom, 20.11.2021, 19:14
- FDOS works fine, but Old Games not! - rr, 21.11.2021, 12:38
- FDOS works fine, but Old Games not! - rr, 21.11.2021, 13:24
- FDOS works fine, but Old Games not! - Rugxulo, 21.11.2021, 14:44
- FDOS works fine, but Old Games not! - tom, 20.11.2021, 19:04
- FDOS works fine, but Old Games not! - jhall, 20.11.2021, 18:34
- Don't panic! (FreeDOS works!) - Rugxulo, 20.11.2021, 19:34
- Don't panic! (FreeDOS works!) - tom, 20.11.2021, 19:46
- Don't panic! (FreeDOS works!) - mceric, 20.11.2021, 20:12
- Don't panic! (FreeDOS works!) - tom, 20.11.2021, 19:46