F.A.Q. / help

About abandonware games

1. What is abandonware?
2. Are there many abandonware sites?
3. Where can I learn more about abandonware?
4. How can I find legal/original abandonware games?
5. Why are some games protected?

Help

1. How can I run DOS games on my PC?
2. Why [game] crashes before launch?
3. Where can I find the manual for [name a game]?

About AbandonwareDOS

1. I own the rights of [any game], remove the download from your site!
2. I'd like to lend a hand, what can I do?
3. Who created Abandonware DOS?
4. I can't see Abandonware DOS using [name a browser]
5. Will you exchange a link with my website?
6. I think you made a mistake there...

About abandonware games

1. What is abandonware? Abandonware is software no longer supported by its creators and no longer available for sale. All abandonware games are still subject to copyright laws. 
   Others have tried to provide a more accurate answer by better defining the abandonware phenomenon: 
   - wikipedia
   - mobygames
   - computer glossary
   - abandonware definition
   - whatis.com
2. Are there many abandonware sites? Yes, there are quite a few. There are portals which lists abandonware sites (ie. www.abandonwarering.com), blogs discussing abandonware gaming, and sites that offer abandonware downloads. 
   Here is a comprehensive list of abandonware websites.
3. Where can I learn more about abandonware? Many have written about it and there are several articles that discuss abandonware software as well as old games. 
   Here are some of them:
   - Warez, Abandonware, and the Software Industry
   - Abandonware In A Nutshell: Why Nobody Wins
   - Why History Needs Software Piracy
   - Why Resurrect Abandoned Games? An Industry Analyst's Perspective and a Watchdog's View
4. How can I find legal/original abandonware games? The most obvious source is e-bay: there are dozens of games, some good, some not. It's also a good idea to search on abandonware-specific forums. 
   Ask your friends or colleagues, some of them could have old games in the attic he doesn't even remember. Just ask!
5. Why are some games protected? Some old games were never released for free or liberated. Many old software companies are still in business and prefer to protect their intellectual property. Some of these games may be still sold in online stores, in a different form (mobile apps, for example.

Help

1. How can I run DOS games on my PC? A DOS game needs a DOS emulator. The most popular is DOSbox, which does not come with a graphical user interface.
   Personally, I use and I strongly recommend D-Fend Reloaded, a very nice GUI for DOSbox. Download D-Fend Reloaded from the official site.
2. Why [game] crashes before launch? The reasons can be many and can vary from game to game. Some tips for D-Fend Reloaded users: 
   - access the profile editor of the malfunctioning game
   - select "DOSBOX settings"
   - disable the "Close DOSBOX when program closes" checkbox
   This will help you see what is the error causing the crash.
3. Where can I find the manual for [name a game]? If you do not own the original game, pay a visit to Replacement Docs and browse the huge database of manuals.

About AbandonwareDOS

1. I own the rights of [any game], remove the download from your site! Ok, no problem. Just tell me and I'll remove the game. I try not to put online games still sold or supported, but I don't know everything. If I made a mistake, I'll fix it and I offer to link directly to the site of the owner of the rights.
2. I'd like to lend a hand, what can I do? I prefer to work on Abandonware DOS by myself, but I can think of a couple of things:
   - Write reviews. As you can see, Abandonware DOS lacks reviews... I really need them
   - Donate! I'm not selling anything, but I do have server costs. Your money would help paying the hosting bill
3. Who created Abandonware DOS? Me! All by myself.
   I work as a web designer and php programmer and I spend my time between games and web designing (and my girlfriend, yes). I live in northern Italy... my english is not YET very good.
4. I can't see Abandonware DOS using [name a browser] I usually test Abandonware DOS on Internet Explorer (7+), Google Chrome and Firefox. Abandonware DOS is not mobile friendly and is not tested on any tablet PC. Feel free to contact me if you see something wrong on Abandonware DOS.
5. Will you exchange a link with my website? Sure! We can exchange links and/or a small banner. I keep affiliate sites here on the right. The list is visible from the Abandonware Dos homepage and in other pages as well. 
   If you want to put my banner on your site, please use the html code on this page.
6. I think you made a mistake there... Prove me I'm wrong, tell me what's right and I'll be ready to correct anything on abandonware DOS. (And please, be patient and forgive me for any error I could make...).