DosUae FAQ

Updated: 27 Apr 2019

1. What do I need to run DosUae?

You need a copy of DOS such as MS DOS 6.22, PCDOS, DRDOS, FreeDos or DosBox. DOS boot disks are available from Bootdisk. DOS supplied with Windows 95 or 98 may also work (Windows should not be loaded). DOSUAE is run from the DOS prompt, so typing UAE.EXE will start the emulator and will use the default configuration in the UAE.RC file.

Download DosUAE from here.

2. What options can I use to configure UAE?

The following options are available, which you can specify when you run UAE:

Kickstart (ROM)

-r file : Specify the kickstart rom file e.g. UAE -r kick31.rom.
-K file : Specify the Kickstart key file e.g. UAE -K rom.key

Memory (RAM)

-s n : Specify n * 256K slow memory e.g. UAE -s 4 will emulate 1Mb of Slow Memory.
-F n : Specify n Megabytes of Fast Memory (Processor only memory) e.g. UAE -F 8 for 8Mb Fast RAM.
-Z n : Specify n Megabytes of Zorro III Fast Memory like the A3000 or A4000 e.g. UAE -Z 8
-c n : Specify n * 512K of Chip memory (for Chip RAM) e.g. UAE -c 4 will emulate 2Mb of Chip RAM
-4 n : Specify n=1 for 24 bit address space for 68020. Only use for special kickstart images.

Processor

-A n : Specify emulator accuracy where n=2 by default.
-w n : Sets emulation speed from n=1 (CPU priority) to 4 (Chipset priority)
-C specs : Specifies the processor ( 0 = 68000, 1 = 68010, 2 = 68020, 3 = 68020 & 68881(FPU)). You can
also specify a 'c' for a slower but more compatible 68000 or an 'a' for 24 bit addressing for the 68020 (see -4).

The kickstart, memory and processor settings can be changed via the UAE menu. Select Memory/cpu settings to change
fastmem size, chipmem size, slowmem size, select ROM image and change cpu.

Floppies

-0 file : Specify the adf file for the internal drive DF0: (default is df0.adf)
-1 file : Specify the adf file for the first external drive DF1:
-2 file : Specify the adf file for the second external drive DF2:
-3 file : Specify the adf file for the third external drive DF3:

The ADF file can be load via the UAE menu. See Disk Settings, Change DF0: etc.

Hardfiles and Directories

-m VOLUME:path Mount the directory as a read/write volume. e.g. -m WORK:C:\amiga\harddir.
-M VOLUME:path Mounts the directory as a read only volume. Use a Unix type path e.g. -M CDROM:D:\
-W secs:heads:nr:file Mounts a hardfile specifying the number of Sectors, Heads, Surfaces and Reserved blocks (nr)
e.g. -W 32:1:2:work.hdf which works out at 512 (byte blocks a sector) * 1 (head) * 32 (sectors) * 512 tracks = 8.38 Mb
hard file. See Readme.txt for more info.

The Hard file can be configured via the UAE menu. See Hard disk Settings to enable or disable harddisks or fastmem,
add a mounted virtual volume (or r/o volume), add a mounted volume (or r/o volume), add a hard file or delete a mounted volume.

Chipset and Display

-f n : Sets framerate to 1/n. Only nth screen will be drawn.
-n specs : Sets the blitter specification. Specs can be a '3' for 32 bit blitter operations or 'i' for immediate blitting . You can
specift both e.g. -n 3i.
-H mode : Specify the color mode. Mode is 0 (256 colors, default); 1 (32768 colors); 2 (65536 colors)
3 (256 colors, with dithering to improve color quality) or 4 (16 colors, dithered); 5 (16 million colors).
-O width:height:modifier : Specify the display mode in pixels for width and height and optional modifier. Modifier can be
l for lowres graphics (e.g 320x200), x to fit the display into the screen horizontally, y to fit the screen in vertically, d to draw
every line twice esp for interface modes and c to correct the aspect.
-U n : To use Picasso 96 graphics card modes using n Mb of memory

These settings can be changed via the UAE menu. See Video Settings to change width, height, color mode, pre-defined mode,
toggle low resolution, X or Y centering, line doubleing, aspect correct, framerate and Picasso 96 mode.

Sound

-S n:stereo:bits:frequency:minimum buffer size:maximum buffer size
The n parameter specifies emulation mode: n=0 for no sound emulation, 1 for emulated sound but not output, 2 to emulate the
hardware and the sound, and 3 for exactly emulating the hardware. You can specify 8 or 16 bit quality for bits. The Frequency
can be 22050 or 44100 Hz. The Buffer size can be a size of memory to buffer sound before playing to improve quality.

These settings can be changed via the UAE menu. See Sound Settings to change the emulation accuracy, min or max sound buffer
size, number of bits, output frequency, adjust frequency or stereo.

Input and Output

-J xy : Specifies the Joystick parameters for Port 0 (x) and Port 1 (y). The value can be 0 for Joystick 0, 1 for Joystick 1, M for
mouse, and a b or c for one of three keyboard configurations. e.g. -J M1
-p cmd : Enables printing where cmd is printer port.
-I dev : Enables serial port where dev is COM1 or COM2 etc.

These settings can be configured via the UAE menu, Use Other Settings to toggle joystick port 0 or 1 emulation and set the
CPU emulation speed.

Misc

-h : Gives more help information on the options.
-a : Adds no expansion devices. This will free up more memory when emulating 512K Amigas for example.
-l lang : Specify language which can be us (US English), se (Swedish), fr (French), it (Italian), es (Spanish) or
de (German).
-G : Disable user interface.
-D: Enable debugger. See Readme.txt with UAE for commands.
-i : Print illegal memory access (if they occur).

3. How do I save my configurations to a file?

Load the EDIT or Notepad program to create your configuration file and enter each option (see above) on a seperate file and save it with an
extension of rc. You can create as many configuration files as you like and just copy it to uae.rc (or .uaerc for unix systems)
before running UAE.

You can Save Settings from within the UAE program menu.

4. How can I boot from hard file with Kickstart 1.3?

You cannot boot from hardfiles using kickstart 1.3, you should use directory structures or boot off a floppy images and mount
the hardfile from a mountlist (in devs:mountlist) and then type mount uae0: to mount it before using it. Please use later kickstarts
for hardfiles.

5. How do I change UAE options while running the emulator?

Unlike WinUAE you have to use the uae_control and uaectrl program supplied with UAE to change the options. Use the
uae_Control for kickstart 2 or later as it has a GUI frontend. Use this program to change floppies or other settings as above.
Copy these programs to your workbench disk or hardfile to use them.

6. What can DosUae emulate?

DosUae can emulate an Amiga A500 with either a 68000 or 68020 processor and OCS chipset (supports big blits from the
ECS chipset). It supports upto 2Mb Chip Ram, 8Mb Fast Ram, 1Mb Slow Ram and 64Mb Zorro III Fast Ram. It does not support
full ECS or AGA chipsets but can support Picasso 96 modes using the PCs graphics card. The Serial port does not work very well and
the MMU is not supported.

7. How do I use DosUAE with DOSBox?

Create a folder for your DosUAE e.g. C:\DosUAE and extra the DosUAE files there, copy any ROM and ADF files there you want to use,
then load up DosUAE. On the Z: prompt enter:
a) MOUNT Y "C:\DOSUAE" to mount your folder as the Y: drive
b) Y:
c) UAE.EXE to run the emulator.
d) Select Disk Settings, the Change DF0: and select your ADF file.
e) Select Run UAE to begin the emulation.