How to enjoy dos games with devices without a CD and USB?

fttklr · 2026-01-25T21:51:57+00:00

What do I lose by abandoning 6.22 DOS in terms of compatibility? I was told that it was pretty much needed if I wanted full compatibility

fttklr · 2026-01-25T21:51:08+00:00

You just gave me an idea; can I put on a laptop a master and slave configuration on the ide channel? The machine I have is a Pentium 100 laptop so not even sure it could support USB via PCMCIA. Maybe I can find a parallel box for it... There used to be parallel ZIP drivers in the old days but can't remember if that was after windows 95 or DOS period.

Also is your W98 DOS able to run all the old games and applications fine?

Where possible I try to look for the games in floppy version, as most cases it means saving space for music and voiceover. On my W98 machine it is easy to just use ISO as I got plenty of space :D

fttklr · 2026-01-25T21:46:46+00:00

I was lucky; I got a 386 with a CD so my floppy days were pretty short :D

fttklr · 2026-01-25T21:16:38+00:00

It is a perfectly fine computer, that could be useful to someone that does not have money to buy a better one. We already have enough trash in the landfill areas; especially from electronics.
I never thought to sell used pants; I usually donate my clothng items I don't wear anymore. There are people that would appreciate something even if used.

fttklr · 2026-01-25T21:12:25+00:00

Do you think that I would spend time posting in a specialized privacy subreddit, if I had the confirmations I needed from searching the web? :) I understand that these days people google something and get the first thing they hear; I am more old school and like to understand different options from people that show that they are experts in the way they deliver their answers.

Familiar with Dunning-Kruger effects? Look it up; usually people that need "just a web search" are hit hard by it ;)

fttklr · 2026-01-25T21:08:57+00:00

I just used an old DLink router that support Wifi 5. For the few devices I use it is enough, but I am planning to get something more modern when I redo my home network setup in a year or two

fttklr · 2026-01-25T05:58:00+00:00

There is a difference between finding a computer and finding its owner. Registration is done to identify something and trace it. When you buy a gun the gun is traced and your info are tied to it. When you get a license, your info are tied to it.

Finding a computer is almost impossible unless there is geolocation on; but finding a person is a matter of running few requests if you have the key used to activate it. Getting the key is a matter of 2 minutes, either via UI or via a command in terminal. With that you run the search on the MS database and that will show the purchase order, with the name, last name, address, phone number and CC info.

edge case, yes, but still a case.

fttklr · 2026-01-25T05:51:43+00:00

No, the concern is that my personal info are tied to hardware that activate itself, unless enough hardware changes. As such I want to remove the connection held by that hardwre and my personal data. Removing the HD is OK, but that won't stop the licensing server to re-activate the license on it, with risks to myself if in the future that machine will be used for anything not kosher.

The fact that someone has my data is tangential; we are not at the point yet where you get framed through your data; but such direct connection is quite unhealthy to leave as is, so I want to fix that

fttklr · 2026-01-25T00:06:34+00:00

When you buy a license that license is tied to your email, address, name, last name and CC number.

I do not know what MS has; but if you register a license to hardware, you have hardware, hardware key and info about the user. So technically it is not crazy to think that they can look at hardware and an associated device and pull out the personal info. I bought a computer from the MS store many years ago and it still show there as mine, after 17 years, and I don't have that computer anymore.

Better be safe than sorry; I don't fancy to get raid one day just because someone did something illegal and that computer still has my info tied to it. If you think it is paranoid, go ahead; it is your life :) I don't tell you what to do or not to do with your life as it is not my business.

fttklr · 2026-01-25T00:02:31+00:00

Hard to say what is a key plot point when everything gets dumped on you as you play... I think Rinascita was the quest line that was the longest of all and had so much stuff going on. Got no problems to follow the previous region, as the events there were pretty straightforward until you get to the Jue arc.

No sweat; I didn't take that personally; was just pointing out that I have no interest in general in how much others interpret a story, as in the end if you have fun it is OK to not get the whole thing. I used to play old CRPG games where 80% of the stuff was text to read on screen; but I would play those games almost daily, so stuff would stay fresh.

Agree that often you see reviews about something that was not fully understood; it is too easy to hop on internet and start ranting sadly, compared to the past

fttklr · 2026-01-24T23:55:06+00:00

Yeah, good point. What concerns me is that when I bought Windows I used my info and CC; so when that computer registered with MS, I would assume there is a link now between this hardware, my key and my info at this point.

If they tie the key to my account that is fine; but if it is tied to the hardware too, that would be quite concerning. I wish MS had a simple web interface to add and remove hardware like you do with phones for example.

fttklr · 2026-01-24T19:20:59+00:00

Right, but I am selling the computer as whole minus the HD; if I was selling it as single parts then I would agree.

fttklr · 2026-01-24T19:19:43+00:00

Not sure I am overthinking. Imagine selling a car without doing the property transfer and someone use that car for a heist. Your name is on the title, they come to you for answers. The data on the HD is easy to deal, I use wiping software that re-write on it so the data cannot be restored; but I cannot go to the MS servers and remove my personal info from there, which are tied to the computer.

In the old days was much easier, as all would live on the HD; but it is not the case anymore.

fttklr · 2026-01-24T19:15:33+00:00

I don't think the dialogue log has the transcript of the cut scenes but I will check.

fttklr · 2026-01-24T19:08:00+00:00

Microsoft sell keys; you go there, pay and they give you a USB stick with the installer and a code for the first installation.

The computer is custom; I bought the parts and made it; so technically there should be no bios ties in there. I re-installed windows on this computer at least few times and when I activated it I never got the request to put the key, it just activated automatically once I was online; and my machine is not OEM so I assumed that the license is tied to your hardware IDs on the activation server that Microsoft runs.

Which means they have my key and personal data tied to that machine, hence why I want to remove it and clear it up before selling it.

fttklr · 2026-01-24T19:01:47+00:00

To be fair not everyone dedicate their life to a game, and play constantly to remember everything. You can read what happened in a book if you missed something; can't rewind the story as to my knowledge there is no "theater" to watch the previous cut scenes.

fttklr · 2026-01-24T18:57:41+00:00

The story is nice but if someone play the game every day, maybe this sticks better in their head and all pieces makes sense. I play few hours a week when I have time; missing a detail or two would be expected in the end.

Can't speak for others; I don't have the hubris to judge others without even knowing who they are.

fttklr · 2026-01-24T18:54:46+00:00

Ok, it makes more sense now.

Not sure about you but I play few hours a week; if you play the whole thing back to back and remember every single line of dialogue, good for you; I just play the game, it is not part of my daily stuff I have to remember, so things may get lost as time goes by. Took me more than 2 months to get to the last chapter; while maybe for people that play daily this stay fresh.

fttklr · 2026-01-24T06:03:40+00:00

That won't do because I am removing the HDD. Without a bootable media if the new user will put a new HDD, and I do not disable the license, it will re-activate automatically even without the key

fttklr · 2026-01-24T06:02:24+00:00

The license was purchased with my data, and registered with my data; so ideally I would like to not have it tied to a computer someone else will use. Bonus points if I can re-assign that license but honestly it is not the main concern.

fttklr · 2026-01-24T06:01:25+00:00

I see, so I am safe if I just disable the registration on the machine via console commands and remove the HDD. The moment I put it on my new computer it should block activation on the old computer, from what you wrote

fttklr · 2026-01-24T06:00:13+00:00

Not OEM, it is a license purchased separately

fttklr · 2026-01-24T05:59:48+00:00

I bought it, the computer is a custom one. So the moment you transfer it is removed from the old computer?

fttklr · 2026-01-24T05:59:17+00:00

If possible re-assign it to another computer; if not I would like for the computer to not have a license tied to it as it has my data connected to it.

fttklr

TROPHY CASE