How much free base memory do you have? Boot without a memory manager (e.g. EMM386), run mem/c/p and post a screenshot.

Minimal set of bat/sys from back then I used:
config.sys:

1device=c:\dos\himem.sys /TESTMEM:OFF
2dos=high
3FILES=40
4BUFFERS=25
5DEVICE=C:\PROGRAMS\CREATIVE\CTCM.EXE

autoexec.bat

1PATH C:\DOS;C:\DOS\BAT;C:\PROGRAMS\MAUS
2SET MGA=C:\PROGRAMS\MATROX\MON\
3SET TEMP=C:\DOS\TEMP
4set sound=c:\PROGRAMS\CREATIVE
5set blaster=a220 i5 d1 h5 p330 e620 t6
6set Midi=synth:1 Map:e MODE:0  
7SET CTCM=C:\PROGRAMS\CREATIVE
8set lmouse=c:\PROGRAMS\maus
9prompt $p$g
10Mouse.exe

Don't remember which Creative card I used back then. Some SB16 or already an AWE.
Maybe the soundcard needs some software run, that needs EMS (and Ultima VII really hates EMS)?

I know that it’s a Vibra16 and it’s running off the Unisound drivers. I can get you the rest of the info later when I get home!

I had the same issues getting Ultima VII working on my 386DX/25, back in the early 1990s. Ultima VIII is even more difficult, I could never get it enough conventional RAM.

- Alex

In comparison U8 is much easier as you can use emm386 again.

Ultima 7 used a built-in memory manager that was a PITA back in the day.
The last time I played it, I think I used the EXULT mod to play it in Windows instead.

https://ultima7.ultimacodex.com/exult/

Or just go directly to Exult‘s site https://exult.info 😉
(I‘ve been involved with that for the last 24 years 😉)

Honestly, I'm surprised nobody has asked about the Unisound or what version of DOS he's using (FreeDOS, Ms-DOS, DR-DOS, etc...).

Getting VII working on actual hardware is a royal PITA. It's all because of that VooDoo Memory manager which requires the computer be in "real mode" before it loads (hence the no EMM386.EXE) - since the memory driver throws the PC into a "Flat model" memory mode called "Unreal Mode" or "VooDoo Mode".

If you're using FreeDOS I found a hack/workaround to get it running on there, since either FreeCOM, HimemX, or XMGR are refusing to see memory correctly or in a way that U7 likes. Basically, you have to run the u7 module directly with P ie

U7 c150 p

or

U7 p

The problem with this though is you'll have to use whatever name you have in the game to get it working, and if there's already a savegame in progress, it'll start the last savegame. It's the same as typing "Game" for Ultima 6. I believe the "P" switch bypasses the check for starting Ultima7.exe.

I'm trying ot figure out if Ultima7.exe, intro.exe, or mainmenu.exe are what does the memory check. I think if this can be hacked/bypassed, 7 might work properly on FreeDOS finally, because I've had it running excellently with the trick I used above (using U7 p or Serpent p)

Okay this is my current config.sys and autoexec.bat. I commented out the line about EMM and ran the memory command.

RE: Exault, I don't use Windows, all my daily drivers are Macs 😁

I am using MS-DOS 6.22 and the Unisound drivers for the Vibra 16.

I am a girl-user 😜

Exult, I don't use Windows, all my daily drivers are Macs

Exult is a multiplatform program, running beautifully on macOS (as I am a mac user myself).

In your config.sys, disable emm386, ifshlp.sys and the CD driver (put REM in front of the lines).
In autoexec.bat disable smartdrv and mscdex.
You need as much conventional memory as possible.

And just to make sure, did you setup the soundcard in Ultima 7‘s install.exe?

Dominus wrote on 2024-02-08, 05:44:

Exult is a multiplatform program, running beautifully on macOS (as I am a mac user myself). […]
Show full quote

Exult, I don't use Windows, all my daily drivers are Macs

Exult is a multiplatform program, running beautifully on macOS (as I am a mac user myself).

In your config.sys, disable emm386, ifshlp.sys and the CD driver (put REM in front of the lines).
In autoexec.bat disable smartdrv and mscdex.
You need as much conventional memory as possible.

And just to make sure, did you setup the soundcard in Ultima 7‘s install.exe?

Okay that seems to have worked - I assume that every NOPC does not have spoken lines, I don't think we were there yet but I can load in and walk around and it is hell on a hard drive, wow does the drive put in work. It's a 486DX/50 so I know it has the power to run this, but it feels slower than U6 was on the same machine. (I don't know what the min spec was for U6 tho....)

Thank you!!

Now that you have it working, try getting smartdrive to work as well. That should work better if it doesn‘t take too much memory again

So re-enable that line and see what it does? I’m also looking at a list of arguments for that command to see what I can maybe optimize.

Yes!
Back in the days I was able to use UMBPCI to load EVERYTHING and still have enough conventional memory for Ultima7 😉

Should it be looking in DOS for Smartdrive? I see that my autoexec is looking in C:\Windows and this is a DOS game, do I need to point it at the version in the DOS directory?

🤷‍♂️ if it works, it works 🤷‍♂️

Dominus wrote on 2024-02-09, 22:39:

🤷‍♂️ if it works, it works 🤷‍♂️

Excellent point 😁 In the pursuit of learning let's not really mess this up!