Skip to content

Pandora with Dosbox

Pandora is made specifically for certain "events," to take place that cause the game to fast forward to the next "day." Using a walk through is one thing but if you flat out want to know what it is you HAVEN'T done all you have to do is click HINT in the game. Check each directory and see what you didn't do. It could be something as simple as not looking at something or not talking to someone.

In fact the internal hint system is a huge help for those minor inconveniences. If it is showing everything as checked then you might have a problem that is file related.

The best way around the cracked disk issue:

Make .ISO files of each disk and put them on your hard drive! DOSBOX is real easy to use to mount "fake," CD drives. Pandora is also incredibly easy to configure to use the 6 fake CD drives.

Also for the problem of using a different "drive," with dosbox that is easy. Download the latest DOSBOX. This version doesn't start with any mounted drives. So you have to mount your C: drive even. Mount the C: drive then mount the other DVD or CD drive as the drive letter that Pandora is currently using. That is a good way if you don't have 4gigs of free hard drive space. If you do... there is nothing better than playing a Tex game without having to swap CDs!

I still suggest making .ISO files for all 6 disks. Just do this:

http://isorecorder.alexfeinman.com/isorecorder.htm

download and install that file. Then goto "my computer," go to c: and click make a new folder. Name the folder DISKS. Then right click on the drive that has your Pandora CD. Click create image from CD. It should say copy image and have a from and a to location. Make the to location "C:\DISKS\pandora1.iso" and then make the image. Repeat this until pandora1.iso through pandora6.iso are in your DISKS directory. Now the not so hard part. Open up a text editor (should be in accessories called notepad). Type the following in your notepad:

imgmount D "C:\DISKS\pandora1.iso" -t iso
imgmount E "C:\DISKS\pandora2.iso" -t iso
imgmount F "C:\DISKS\pandora3.iso" -t iso
imgmount G "C:\DISKS\pandora4.iso" -t iso
imgmount H "C:\DISKS\pandora5.iso" -t iso
imgmount I "C:\DISKS\pandora6.iso" -t iso
pandora

Then click save file as and save it in your Pandora directory as "pdbat.bat" this is a batchfile that you will run to start Pandora from now on in DOSBOX. Remember to grab the latest version of DOSBOX. Just run DOSBOX and first thing you do is type:

mount C: C:\

Which will tell you on the new versions they don't recommend you do that. It's not a big deal. Then type

C:
cd pandora (figuring that is where your pandora directory is)
pdbat

and your game should start right up. Don't start from last spot. Go into configuration. There is a section called drives. You're going to tell it you're going to use all SIX of your new virtual CD drives. tell it disk 1 is in D:, 2 in e:, 3 in f:. 4 in g:, 5 in h:, and 6 in i:. Once you've done that just load your saved game.

First off the best part is no disk swapping! Second part is you can't hurt your TEX discs now or your backups. The game will play out much faster too. It really does rock!
lotus_j - Hey this all sounds like a real challenge and fun to do. Have copied your directions and will try to follow through. Thanks so very much for the instructions - keep you posted soon as I get back to playing. School starts soon and being a teacher am now busy getting ready for next college semester. Sure cuts into Tex Murphy time!:(
have entered the room in the cabin and proceeding on! Thanks to all. :mrgreen:
Great to hear! It was a totally new experience for me to play the game without dealing with the "Please Insert Disc X" and then waiting. It made it all really smooth... although I fondly remember 94 and playing it for the first time including those disc swapping sessions.

Just remember if you're getting stuck the in game help system kicks ass. Because you have to do X to get to day Y it always helps to see if you just need to talk to someone or worse yet look at something!

Good luck!
Been trying the link you offer to download a file but so far it says 'service unavailable'. Hopefully it is temporary? :o
Ah ha first time today that site opened up but now have another question but not sure it is up your expertise:) In a critical update from MS I now have SP3 and am running into problems about doing things because they call for SP2. When I try anyway I get message must use XP disc SP3.

I don't know why an MS critical update now requests one get a new disc! That is more money and think it is quite unfair for MS to update a system and then the update demands another disc and expense - if I am understanding this correctly.

Anyone on this site run into this kind of problem?

So until I get this resolved cannot tackle the program you outlined lotus_j
nondaj wrote:Ah ha first time today that site opened up but now have another question but not sure it is up your expertise:) In a critical update from MS I now have SP3 and am running into problems about doing things because they call for SP2. When I try anyway I get message must use XP disc SP3.

I don't know why an MS critical update now requests one get a new disc! That is more money and think it is quite unfair for MS to update a system and then the update demands another disc and expense - if I am understanding this correctly.

Anyone on this site run into this kind of problem?

So until I get this resolved cannot tackle the program you outlined lotus_j
hmmm. I have SP3 as well and I had no problem installing the ISO update. Perhaps you already have an ISO maker installed? Right click on your CD/DVD drive with the disc in it and see if you get a "make image from," option.

From there we can try and figure it out. Hopefully that is the problem that you already got one. If not we'll try to figure it out, but I'll need details of what is asking for what and when.
sorry so late in getting back to you. But semester is starting and I am super busy at this point so have to squeeze in PC issues especially game playing:(

Anyway I tried ascertaining if I have the 'make image' option and no I do not.

From reading comments about my E drive just think I will replace it and be done with it. Every time I turn around there seems to be some issue with it. May I ask what you would suggest when I buy a new drive what to get? I know someone suggested high speed - any brand name that is particularly good?

Have also been trying to squeeze in a bit of play time in Pandora and am at the Evidence Room in the game. Having one heck of a time because I keep getting thrown back to the dos screen where I have to retype Pandora again in order to continue the game.

Also am noticing that whenever I use one of Nilo's game I seem to be losing something in inventory and I am thrown into Gamer's Mode. His saved games must all be in this mode. Guess I do not know how to use same. I keep retyping in that I want to go back to Entertainment mode and that is when I seem to lose something in inventory.

Right now busy hunting for an Asian map to combine with another item. Not sure where to look for the map or where I picked it up.

Eventually all will come around to resolutions of problems. Think first issue is to settle on a new CD Rom drive and then tackle other problems.

Again thanks for the ideas presented - will follow through as time and purchase of new drive permits.

Re my tech - he is a regular tech that has become a friend. So he gives me a break on labor but like all of us - needs to charge something as it is his work and can't do for free:)

Keepin' on keepin' on.:)
lite-on is a good manufacturer.
Lite on - will remember that when I look for same.

Also have come up with yet another cracked disc! This makes three within the last several months. One was an original game disc, the other two were burned game discs. Now would a malfunctioning CDRom drive have anything to do with that?

I know my tower sits high on my desk and I have to feel about putting discs in and often the stick so that I know I did not seat them right - is that causing them to crack? If so need to see what I can do about locating tower in more convenient place.
Still plugging away with Pandora. I finally restarted the game determined to do it on my own since I believe when I use Nilo's games, he is playing in Gamer's Mode and I am on Entertainment mode and I lose inventory items I find.

So have been doing fine until I hit the spot where Tex is now involved with Regan Madsen, Malloy's daughter. Tex has found the box and retrieved from NSA and is to call Regan to arrange a meeting with her. I have been trying now for couple of days to get Regan 'at home' so the meeting can be set up. Tex continually says 'she must not be at home will have to try again.' Have combed WTs to see what I might have missed along the way but to date have found nothing.

Can point me in a direction? :mrgreen:
Before meeting with Regan I believe you need to talk to Fitz... Also before meeting with Regan you should have already found her father... You have been to the Garden House, Correct??? And the Warehouse???
The Paved Straight Road, Won't Always Get You Farther Than The Winding Dirt Road...


Can You Run Your Game??? Click Here And Find Out...

*Note, Not All Games Have Been Tested & Therefore May Not Be Listed...
Yes, have been to the Garden and Warehouse and done all in both places re collecting things. Have also been to Autotech and degaussed the box. I can't talk with Fitzgerald as his name is not on the listing of the vidphone unless I missed something to put it there.

I do not follow a WT when playing but do try to do a scene and then check to see if I got it all done correctly.

Hey guess what I finally after many tries got to get the Black Arrow Killer on Rusty's rooftop! Been trying that for some days now but finally made it!

RE calling Regan, just running out of ideas but will keep plugging away. I checked Nilo's site for saved game and do not want to use same as miss too much by using the game I would need. So back to the drawing board!

Thanks for ideas and if you have anymore let me know.
Examine the card Fitzpatrick gives you at the start of the game. It has his vid-phone number. You know it's the right card when Tex muses "Hmm... Fitzpatrick is staying at the Savoy."

-Fred
Pirates, vampires, zombies, ninjas, ghouls, aliens, goblins, monsters, robots, sorcerers, undead, werewolves, demons, mutated dinosaur-cyborgs and those pesky phone salesmen! The shotgun is a one-size-fits-all solution!
Hey Fred: Good idea - off to do so. I was sort of beginning to think in that direction but had not yet figured out how to get to Fitzpatrick - had forgotten the card the offered TEx at beginning of game. Thanks so much. Have been working on the three main Tex games for months it seems - bet everyone will be glad when I finally get through them all. Done Overseer and Under a Killing Moon. All out of order but on the first go round did do them so. Just enjoying them all over again.