Identifying a Doom II CD

[Swift78]

Hi all,

 

I'm not sure if this forum is the right place to post this, but I recently came across a Doom II CD and was planning to sell it, but couldn't figure out which version the CD was.  The CD art isn't depicted anywhere as part of the official Doom II CD art, which has made me wonder if this is a bootlegged copy?  Have any of you ever seen this CD before, or could you help point me in the right direction in trying to identify it?  Imgur link: https://imgur.com/a/TxokT

 

Included in the pictures are images of some of the files on the CD, although I realized now I forgot to show extensions.

 

 

Thanks,

Swift

[fraggle]

I've never seen a CD like that before, and the jewel case also looks weird (front cover "label" is too small).

 

Usual CD case would look like this, though the exact design varies vary:

 

 

And the CD usually looks like this, though I expect a two-color print like the CD in your picture would be much cheaper:

 

 

[MegaZzZeux]

I might be making my facts up (After all the early/mid 90s were a long time ago)...but I THINK I've seen both versions posted above.

[Maes]

What's in the DOOM1CD directory? Is this a "two in one" edition? Can you calculate the MD5/SHA1 sums of the DOOM2.WAD file?

[DoomGater]

The cover from the booklet is a smaller version of the cover of the German D2 CD V 1.666.
UPDATE: Can also be found on some other versions, I guess.

I agree with Maes; why don't you install it and compare the checksums?

-Here- is a small table.

@Swift78: one quick question:Could you please post the content of the 'readme'?
Might be interesting for all of us :-)

 

BTW: This is the content of the 'regular'(=30th September 1994) german V 1.666:

 

Edited November 2, 2017 by DoomGater

[fraggle]

Maybe it's legit then. Some of the foreign releases do look very unusual.

[Nevander]

I want that CD so bad.

[Lüt]

For what it's worth, here's the American release of the original Doom 2 CD:

 

 

 

And the Windows 95 CD:

 

 

 

The cover is the same as Fraggle's, but the disc has a different logo and text arrangement.

 

Typically, when a packaged product is handed off to different distributors in different countries, those distributors inherit the design choices. It's generally in their best interest to match them with the original as close as possible, but I've seen different covers and disc designs on all kinds of CDs, and DVDs in particular. Sometimes it has to do with budget, as your duotone disc implies.

 

Regardless, your files exactly match the ones on my original Doom 2 CD:

 

 

It appears the "DOOM1CD" folder is simply the v1.666 patch, and not the full game itself.

 

So, looks legit.

 

And now that I think about it, I'm surprised the root directory contains the 1.44mb floppy disc install package, while the CD folder contains the actual CD version. I've been copying my installed folder from computer to computer for over 2 decades now, so I completely forgot what the CD file arrangement looked like.

[TheUltimateDoomer666]

I have seen that CD before on eBay once.  I could not determine if it was a bootleg.  Is there any copyright/region information in the manual, or is it literally just a reprint of the original full size manual's pages?

Here's what that CD's manual looks like (this photo is from eBay; I requested it from a seller):



And here are pages 14-17 of the official manual (Canadian IBM CD-ROM version, which is a big box that contains a jewel case [the jewel case from this version does not have a front cover insert]).  (These photos are mine):




(Some DOOM II manuals had a printing error where an incorrect price was listed for the DSCI-1 item.  The manual I have does not have the error.)

Edited November 3, 2017 by TheUltimateDoomer666

[Nevander]

I wish they still put full games on CDs in jewel cases and made manuals like that. RIP the times.

[Swift78]

Wow, I didn't expect so many responses so fast. :P

 

22 hours ago, fraggle said:

I've never seen a CD like that before, and the jewel case also looks weird (front cover "label" is too small).

 

That's actually not even a front cover, just the front of the small manual / booklet.  The jewel case looks to be non-original, and the collector I got it from inserted the manual and back cover.

 

22 hours ago, Maes said:

What's in the DOOM1CD directory? Is this a "two in one" edition? Can you calculate the MD5/SHA1 sums of the DOOM2.WAD file?

I actually can't run any of the .exe files on this 64bit Win10 PC. Even in Win95 compatibility mode. I don't know much about getting old software to run, so maybe I'm missing something?  Running it from CMD prompt just tells me it's not compatible with the 64bit OS.  I copied the .WAD file and calculated the MD5/SHA1 sums that way, hopefully that comes out the same. (see pics below, I'm not sure how to embed them in the text)

 

22 hours ago, DoomGater said:

@Swift78: one quick question:Could you please post the content of the 'readme'?
Might be interesting for all of us :-)

See above, any suggestions on how to open / read it? Just opening with notepad understandably doesn't result in anything readable.

 

17 hours ago, Nevander said:

I want that CD so bad.

Well, I am looking to sell it. :P

 

6 hours ago, TheUltimateDoomer666 said:

I have seen that CD before on eBay once.  I could not determine if it was a bootleg.  Is there any copyright/region information in the manual, or is it literally just a reprint of the original full size manual's pages?

I'll attach some pics of the booklet.  Seems to match exactly, except doesn't have any of the pricing / advertisement info in the back. It just ends after the enemy ID section. Also, I did notice in the system requirements (see pic) it mentions it's for an IBM machine.  Copyright info in the booklet seems to list contact info for the US.

 

Thanks for all the replies so far.

 

[Gez]

16 minutes ago, Swift78 said:

I actually can't run any of the .exe files on this 64bit Win10 PC. Even in Win95 compatibility mode. I don't know much about getting old software to run, so maybe I'm missing something?  Running it from CMD prompt just tells me it's not compatible with the 64bit OS.

You'll have to try something like DOSBox or PCem if you want to run them.

[Swift78]

58 minutes ago, Gez said:

You'll have to try something like DOSBox or PCem if you want to run them.

That did the trick, the readme seems to mostly be about multiplayer troubleshooting?  Is there an easy way to copy the text in order to upload here in a text file or something? Or is it ok to upload the .exe file in a zip format?

[ASD]

9 hours ago, Nevander said:

I wish they still put full games on CDs in jewel cases and made manuals like that. RIP the times.

Maybe they'll do a bunch of new Doom2 CDs in 2019 for the 25th year celebration.

[IMX]

15 hours ago, ASD said:

Maybe they'll do a bunch of new Doom2 CDs in 2019 for the 25th year celebration.

We could definitely use another physical release of the game.

[LogicDeLuxe]

23 hours ago, Swift78 said:

That did the trick, the readme seems to mostly be about multiplayer troubleshooting?  Is there an easy way to copy the text in order to upload here in a text file or something? Or is it ok to upload the .exe file in a zip format?

Is it the shareware episode of Doom I by any chance? You might compare it to this: https://www.doomworld.com/idgames/historic/dm1666sw

[Swift78]

Spoiler

TABLE OF CONTENTS
Introduction & Quickstart.................................
Running DOOM II From the Command Line.....................
        Network Play
        Modem Play
        General Parameters
        Multiplayer Demo Recording
        Adding More Phone Numbers to Your List
Troubleshooting Addendum..................................

-------------------------------------------------------------
INTRODUCTION
-------------------------------------------------------------

Welcome to DOOM II's README section. This section contains all
of the commands for running DOOM II from the command line, as
well as manual updates and technical support information.
    If you're the kind of person that likes to peruse the
README file before loading and playing the game, you're in the
right section. To load and run DOOM, read the manual.
    Don't be daunted by the troubleshooting information
contained herein. Most users of DOOM II have no problems at
all. But if you're one of the unlucky few, this information
should save the day.

-------------------------------------------------------------
RUNNING DOOM II FROM THE COMMAND LINE
-------------------------------------------------------------
Much of the information you give to DOOM2 through the SETUP
program can be provided by passing program parameters to
the appropriate device driver on the command line.

NETWORK PLAY
------------
When you want to run a network game, you use IPXSETUP.EXE which
is the device driver for DOOM2's network mode. The parameters
are as follows:

-NODES starts DOOM2 as a network game and sets the number of
players who are going to play. If you don't specify the number
of nodes, the default is 2.
-nodes <# of players>

-PORT sets the port from which to play DOOM2 multiplayer on
the network. By setting a different port, more than one
group of players can play DOOM2 on a single network.
-port <# of the port>

MODEM PLAY
----------
When you want to play a modem or null-modem game, you need to
run SERSETUP.EXE which is the device driver for DOOM2's serial
communications mode.  The parameters are as follows:

-DIAL tells the program which number to dial, if you're going
to do the calling.
-dial <phone number>

-ANSWER puts your modem into Answer mode so someone can call
you and play DOOM2.
-answer

-COM1, -COM2, -COM3, -COM4 specifies which COM port your modem
or serial cable is connected to. Very important!
-com1

-8250 tells SERSETUP to set the UART to 8250.  Just in case your
16550 UART is acting up at the higher speed.
-8250

-IRQ sets the IRQ for the COM port.
-irq <irq number>

-PORT sets the COM I/O port that SERSETUP uses to communicate
with your modem.  To use hexadecimal, such as the number 0x3f8, you
would type "-port 0x3f8".
-port <port number>

-<#> sets the baud rate of your COM port, overriding the value in
the MODEM.CFG if you're running a modem game.  Legal values are
9600, 14400, 38400, 57600.
Example: -14400

Note that to run a null-modem game, you must have a null-modem
cable plugged into a serial port on both computers and each
computer runs SERSETUP.EXE with a -COM# parameter as well as
any General Parameters.  Do not use the -ANSWER or -DIAL
parameters, or SERSETUP will think you're using a modem. To get
a null-modem cable, go to CompUSA or Radio Shack and say,"I need
a null-modem cable to run a DOOM II multiplayer game."

VERY IMPORTANT!
You will need to run the SETUP program and select Choose Modem
from the Network/Modem/Serial menu so you can set your modem
init string correctly.  Merely select the modem and press Enter
and SETUP will create a new MODEM.CFG file that corresponds to
your modem (the MODEM.CFG file is used by SERSETUP for initing
the modem.)

If your modem is not in the list, you will most likely need to
edit the MODEM.CFG file in the DOOM2 directory.  The first line
of the file is an initialization string that:
    * Turns off error-correction
    * Turns off data-compression
The MODEM.CFG file has a Hayes-standard init string like this:
AT Z S=46 &Q0 &D0
You just add your own commands after the "AT Z " if your modem
doesn't work with these settings -- dig up your modem manual for
the correct settings.

The second line is a hangup string used when you quit DOOM2.

The third line is the baud rate at which you want your COM port set.
The legal settings are: 9600, 14400, 38400, 57600.

If the modem connection isn't working when you call your friend,
have him call you instead.  Try setting the modem to GENERIC (in the
SETUP.EXE program) if your modems don't connect.

If you STILL can't get the modems to connect, both of you should
run your favorite COMM programs and connect with 9600, no error
correction and no data compression.  Then quit the COMM program
and keep the connection going.  Then just run SERSETUP with a -COM#
parameter (as if you were running a null-modem game) since you're
already connected.

GENERAL PARAMETERS
------------------
These parameters can be passed straight to DOOM II, or passed
to IPXSETUP or SERSETUP, which then pass them to DOOM II.

-LOADGAME allows you to start DOOM II from a specified save
game. Instead of using the saved game name, simply enter the
number that corresponds to the slot you saved the game to on
the SAVE GAME screen (0-5).
-loadgame <# of the game>

-DEATHMATCH starts DOOM II as a DeathMatch game. If you don't
enter DEATHMATCH as a command line parameter, DOOM II will
default to the Cooperative mode.
-deathmatch

-ALTDEATH specifies respawning items during DEATHMATCH.
NOTE: Invulnerability and Invisibility do not respawn.
-deathmatch -altdeath

-SKILL sets the skill level (1-5) you wish to play.   Only useful
with -warp -- see below.
-skill <# of skill level>

-CONFIG allows you to use your configuration file from any
directory you choose. This is primarily for diskless workstations
that don't have a C: drive to save config information to. You
need to rename the default.cfg file created by the SETUP program
to a directory and name of your choosing to avoid conflicts.
-config <pathname>  ex. -config f:\DOOM2\data\myconfig.cfg

-NOMONSTERS allows you to start playing with NO MONSTERS running
around!  This is great for DeathMatch where, really, the monsters
just get in the way.  Only useful with -warp -- see below.
-nomonsters

-NOJOY isn't what it sounds like. It just disables your joystick.
-nojoy

-NOMOUSE disables your mouse.
-nomouse

-NOSOUND turns off the sound while DOOM II is playing.
-nosound

-NOMUSIC turns off the music while DOOM II is playing.
-nomusic

-NOSFX turns off special effects sounds (like monsters growling,
guns firing, etc.) while DOOM II is playing.
-nosfx

-PLAYDEMO runs a demo you've previously recorded, using -RECORD.
-playdemo <filename>

-RECORD tells DOOM II to record as a demo the game you are
starting. Demo files will be saved as <filename>.lmp.
-record <filename>

-MAXDEMO xxx If you want to record a demo bigger than 128k, use
this option. xxx will be the size (in kilobytes) of the demo.
example -MAXDEMO 1024 will record a 1 megabyte demo.
-record <filename> -maxdemo xxx

-RESPAWN tells DOOM II that, yes, you are Bad, and yes, you
want all the monsters to respawn around 8 seconds after you kill
them.  The NIGHTMARE skill level already does this. Note that
using -respawn and -nomonsters at the same time is a dumb thing
to do.  Only useful with -warp -- see below.
-respawn

-TURBO xxx gives you a speed boost. This is great in DeathMatch!
The value xxx can be from 0 to 250. The other player(s) will be
notified of your speed increase!  THIS IS CONSIDERED CHEATING
IN SINGLE PLAYER MODE!
-turbo xxx

@<filename> will allow you to specify a Response file that DOOM II
will read additional command-line parameters from.  For example,
typing 'DOOM2 @MYPARMS' will tell DOOM II to look in the MYPARMS file
for additional command-line parameters.  The file format is simply
one parameter per line with a carriage return to terminate the line.
Each parameter is typed exactly as you would type it on the DOS
command-line.

-FAST will make the monsters move and shoot up to 3 times faster,
just as if you were playing in Nightmare mode, but without the
respawning.  Only useful with -warp -- see below.
-fast

-TIMER <# of minutes> will make DOOM II exit the current level after
the specified amount of minutes, when it goes to the intermission.
This option is only useful in DeathMatch mode.
-timer xxx

-WARP <# of level> starts DOOM II out right at the level you specify.
For instance, to start at the first level, you'd type "-warp 1".
The following command-line parameters are ONLY available while using
the -WARP parameter: -fast, -nomonsters, -skill, -respawn.
-warp xx

An example line for entering the above information would be:
DOOM2 -loadgame 3 -deathmatch -skill 4 -timer 10

MULTIPLAYER DEMO RECORDING
-------------------------------------------------------------
You can record your tournaments for posterity!  To record multi-
player demos, add the line "-record demoz" to the command-line.
Make sure the other player is recording also, or it won't work.
If you need more time, add the "-maxdemo <K>" option to increase
demo buffer space.  Make sure both of you specify the same amount.
DOOM2 defaults to 128K of demo buffer space, to specify 1meg you
would type "-maxdemo 1024" on the command-line.

IF DOOM II BOMBS TO DOS WITH A "Z_MALLOC" ERROR, YOU DON'T HAVE
ENOUGH MEMORY FOR THE MAXDEMO AMOUNT SPECIFIED!

When you wish to stop recording, press the Q or F10 keys and both
players will exit to DOS.  To play the demo back, merely type,
"DOOM2 -playdemo demoz" and the demo will play back.  To see the
other player, press the F12 key.  Press F12 to toggle between all
players in the demo.  The TAB key will display the automap.

You can set the name of the demo file to anything you want. "demoz"
was just an example name.

ADDING MORE PHONE NUMBERS TO YOUR LIST
-------------------------------------------------------------
You must use a text editor (such as EDIT that comes with DOS)
to edit the MODEM.NUM file.  The format is simple.  The first line
is the Person's name (which will appear in the list), the second
line is the phone number.  The third line should be blank.

-------------------------------------------------------------
TROUBLESHOOTING ADDENDUM
-------------------------------------------------------------
If you require technical assistance to run DOOM II, call GT
Interactive Software's technical support line at (212) 951-3126.

If possible, please be near your computer when calling
technical support. Please have information regarding your
system setup and configuration available.

Before changing your system or software setup we recommend
that you review your system manuals to ensure that your
modifications will not endanger any existing information or
hardware on you system or network. Modifying your system or
your software setup can be dangerous, and we cannot help you
with any resulting problems.

-------------------------------------------------------------
* NOTE * The following CMOS settings have been known to cause
a problem with DOOM II:

Hidden Refresh
 This setting must be disabled.

Turbo Switch Function
 This setting must be disabled.

-------------------------------------------------------------
When DOOM II runs, I get an "Insufficient Memory" error or DOOM II
just doesn't run.

You don't have enough free RAM to run DOOM II.  This usually
happens with 4Mb RAM machines -- you need about 3Mb of free
RAM to run DOOM II. If you have DOS 6 or later, boot your system
and hold the left-shift key as the "Starting MS-DOS..."
message appears. This will bare-boot your system and you must
change to the DOOM2 directory and run DOOM2. Your best bet is
to make a CONFIG.SYS menu for a custom DOOM II boot -- see
page 97 in your MS-DOS 6 User's Manual.
If you have DOS 5.0 or earlier, you must create a bare boot disk.

Note: Do not use memory managers like EMM386, QEMM, etc.
Do not use disk caching programs like SMARTDRV, etc.

-------------------------------------------------------------
I get a "WRITE ERROR" while DOOM II is decompressing.

You are using a disk compression program such as STACKER or
DOUBLESPACE. These utilities try to make an "educated" <ahem>
guess as to how much disk space you have left.  Obviously,
they're wrong.  Delete some big games that are chewing up
hard drive space, like any Wolf-alikes. :)

-------------------------------------------------------------
The Windows SETUP program runs after installation.

DOOM II did not install to your hard drive, probably due to
insufficient disk space.  See above answer for a solution.

-------------------------------------------------------------
My GUS doesn't work.

The default IRQ for a GUS is 11. DOOM II doesn't handle IRQ's
above 7.  Change this with your GUS setup program.

-------------------------------------------------------------
I can't get digital sound from my Sound Blaster compatible
sound card.

You are experiencing a DMA conflict. You may have a CD-ROM
or hard drive on the same DMA channel that you specified in
DOOM II's SETUP program. Change the DMA channel of the sound
card or offending device.

-------------------------------------------------------------
DOOM II locks up before I see the title screen or at the title
screen.

You need to turn "Hidden Refresh" off in your CMOS Advanced
Chipset settings. If you're using RAMBIOS.SYS, you must
remove it from your CONFIG.SYS. Make sure you also turn off
any Hardware Video Shadowing (also found in CMOS settings.)

-------------------------------------------------------------
DOOM II runs really slow, locks or "pauses" on a fast system.

Some systems have a option in the CMOS setup for switching
the speed of the PC from the keyboard. This is the
"Turbo Switch" or "Turbo Switching" option. Disable this
setting and your problem should be fixed.

-------------------------------------------------------------
I hear static when listening to DOOM II with my Sound Blaster
(or compatible) card.

Run SBP-MIX (in your SBPRO directory) and turn down Line and
Mic volumes to 0.

-------------------------------------------------------------
I still hear static, or my sound effects are breaking up.

Disconnect any parallel port devices. (Sound cards,
to work with DOOM II, must use IRQ5 or IRQ7, which are
used by LPT2 and LPT1 -- where printers are connected.)

-------------------------------------------------------------
I can't get sound on my ATI Stereo FX card.

Contact ATI for a BIOS upgrade.

-------------------------------------------------------------
DOOM II is too dark to see anything.

On some monitors, DOOM II may be too dark to play. Press F-11
to improve the view.

-------------------------------------------------------------
Why can't I get music or sound effects?

If you're not hearing sound effects and/or music, DOOM II may
have incorrect information regarding your sound card. Run
the SETUP program to check if DOOM II has the correct
information on your sound card.

Note: DOOM II only supports IRQ numbers which are 7 or below.
Be sure you set your sound card to an IRQ number which
is 7 or below. Refer to your sound card manual for details
on setting your IRQ number.

Note: This is particularly important for Gravis Ultra Sound
users because the standard default for the GUS card is 11.

-------------------------------------------------------------
I was playing DOOM II and my screen went black, but I can still
hear the game playing.

This can be fixed by changing the wait state jumper on your
video card from 0 to 1. This will cause no noticeable decrease
in your systems performance. Please refer to your video card
manual for further details.

-------------------------------------------------------------
How can I run DOOM II under OS/2?

The ideal DOOM II-OS/2 system is a 486 with at least 8MB of RAM.

In order to get DOOM II up and running, first copy a program object
to the desktop from the templates folder. For details on this
procedure, please refer to your OS/2 Manual.

Once you have the program path and optional command line arguments
set up for the program object, you will need to edit the DOS session
settings. DOOM II will NOT run in a DOS window.

The DOS settings are as follows:

Setting:                        Value:
AUDIO_ADAPTER_SHARING           REQUIRED
COM_DIRECT_ACCESS               ON
COM_HOLD                        OFF
COM_RECEIVE_BUFFER_FLUSH        NONE
COM_SELECT                      ALL
DOS_AUTOEXEC                    *DRIVE:\AUTOEXEC.BAT
DOS_BACKGROUND_EXECUTION        OFF
DOS_BREAK                       OFF
DOS_DEVICE                      *DRIVE:\OS2\MDOS\LPTDD.SYS
DOS_FCBS                        16
DOS_FCBS_KEEP                   8
DOS_FILES                       20
DOS_HIGH                        OFF
DOS_LASTDRIVE                   Z
DOS_RMSIZE                      640
DOS_SHELL                       *DRIVE:\OS2\MDOS\COMMAND.COM
    *DRIVE:\OS2\MDOS
DOS_STARTUP_DRIVE               ***
DOS_UMB                         OFF
DOS_VERSION                     ***
DPMI_DOS_API                    DISABLED
DPMI_MEMORY_LIMIT               4
DPMI_NETWORK_BUFFER_SIZE        64
EMS_FRAME_LOCATION              NONE
EMS_HIGH_OS_MAP_REGION          0
EMS_LOW_OS_MAP_REGION           0
EMS_MEMORY_LIMIT                0
HW_NOSOUND                      OFF
HW_ROM_TO_RAM                   OFF
HW_TIMER                        ON
IDLE_SECONDS                    0
IDLE_SENSITIVITY                100
INT_DURING_IO                   ON
KBD_ALTHOME_BYPASS              ON
KBD_BUFFER_EXTEND               ON
KBD_CTRL_BYPASS                 NONE
KBD_RATE_LOCK                   OFF
MEM_EXCLUDE_REGIONS             ***
MEM_INCLUDE_REGIONS             ***
MOUSE_EXCLUSIVE_ACCESS          ON
**NETWARE_RESOURCES             GLOBAL
PRINT_SEPERATE_OUTPUT           ON
PRINT_TIMEOUT                   15
VIDEO_8514A_XGA_IOTRAP          OFF
VIDEO_FASTPASTE                 OFF
VIDEO_MODE_RESTRICTION          NONE
VIDEO_ONDEMAND_MEMORY           OFF
VIDEO_RETRACE_EMULATION         OFF
VIDEO_ROM_EMULATION             OFF
VIDEO_SWITCH_NOTIFICATION       OFF
VIDEO_WINDOW_REFRESH            1
**VIPX_ENABLED                  ON
XMS_HANDLES                     0
XMS_MEMORY_LIMIT                0
XMS_MINIMUM_HMA                 0

*DRIVE = The drive your OS/2 system files are located on.
**Only required for Network play
*** Leave as default

-------------------------------------------------------------
During startup, the DOOM II startup stops at "looking for player..."

This occurs when you enter a number of players greater than
the amount of players actually entering the game. For
example, if you only have three players playing, but you
tell DOOM II to expect four players, it will wait until the
fourth player starts the game. Press ESC to exit and restart
the game with the correct number of players.

-------------------------------------------------------------
I'm receiving the error, "IPX NETWORK NOT DETECTED."

Currently, DOOM II only supports a network that uses the IPX
protocol. If you receive this message, check your network
manual to ensure your network uses the IPX protocol.

-------------------------------------------------------------
I've received the message, "CONSISTENCY FAILURE" while
running DOOM II.

For DOOM II to run properly as a multiplayer game, all of the
machines that are running DOOM II must maintain a nearly
identical status of the game during network play. If you
receive this message, something has occurred which caused
the multiplayer game on one computer to be different from
the multiplayer games running on the other systems. If this
occurs, all of the players must quit from DOOM II and restart
the game.

-------------------------------------------------------------
Why isn't the animation smooth?

If the animation isn't running smoothly on your system you
should try reducing the window size and/or play DOOM II in LOW
DETAIL mode. Refer to your DOOM2 manual for instructions on
these options.

-------------------------------------------------------------
Why doesn't my mouse work with DOOM II?

If you renamed or commented-out information in your
AUTOEXEC.BAT you may have removed the command which loads
your mouse driver. Loading your mouse driver into DOS can be
as simple as typing MOUSE and pressing ENTER at the command
prompt.

-------------------------------------------------------------
Special thanks to Tom Klok for the GUS instrument mapping.
-------------------------------------------------------------
SPECIAL SOUND OPTIONS:
These options are normally disabled for stability reasons, but
the features may work on your computert.  Setting the environment
variable DMXOPTIONS to -opl3 may, if you have a modern SB
compatible card, give you stereo music.  Setting the same
environment variable to -phase will enable phase-shifted sounds
which is most easily heard with headphones.  This deepens the
stereo effect of sound effects.

-------------------------------------------------------------
DOOM II, the DOOM II logo and DOOM II likenesses are trademarks
of id Software, inc.,(C)1994. GT Interactive is a trademark of
Goodtimes Entertainment. IBM is a registered trademark of
International Business Machines, inc. Sound Blaster is a
registered trademark of Creative Labs, inc. All other
trademarks are the property of their respective companies.

I found this elsewhere online, but seems to be an exact match for the text from the readme file in my Doom 2 folder of the CD.  Any thoughts?

[Swift78]

On 11/4/2017 at 0:24 PM, LogicDeLuxe said:

Is it the shareware episode of Doom I by any chance? You might compare it to this: https://www.doomworld.com/idgames/historic/dm1666sw

I checked the md5 sums of the files and they're different, so doesn't appear to be the shareware version in the Doom1 folder.

[Maes]

1 hour ago, Swift78 said:

I checked the md5 sums of the files and they're different, so doesn't appear to be the shareware version in the Doom1 folder.

Which files did you check? The only file that matters is the DOOM1.WAD file, which only appears once you install the package somewhere, which you can only do with a 32-bit version of Windows, DOS or DOSBOX. There are no checksums of the installation/DEICE files, AFAIK.

[Swift78]

11 minutes ago, Maes said:

Which files did you check? The only file that matters is the DOOM1.WAD file, which only appears once you install the package somewhere, which you can only do with a 32-bit version of Windows, DOS or DOSBOX. There are no checksums of the installation/DEICE files, AFAIK.

You're right, I didn't check the WAD file for Doom 1 (although I did check the Doom2 WAD file as you asked earlier and the results checked out to v1.66, see above), but the MD5 sums for the install files were different, for what that's worth.  Installing it via DosBox right now, and will let you know in a sec.

[Swift78]

It does check out to be the Doom1 Beta 1.666 shareware version after all according to this list: https://soulsphere.org/random/doom-hashsums.csv

 

MD5 value: c428ea394dc52835f2580d5bfd50d76f

 

For the Doom2.WAD I checked it just copying it to my hard drive from the CD.  That would still yield a valid result, right?

[Swift78]

Well, thank you all for your time and info, but since it doesn't seem like I'm making too much more headway in figuring out what this CD is, I'm just going to throw it up for auction on Ebay and see where it ends up. The collector had a bunch of Doom accessory CD's (level packs, editors, hints / tips, etc) that I'll put up as well.  If any of you would be interested in those, let me know and I'd be happy to toss you a link (I don't know what rules this forum has about linking things like that on threads, but figured people here might be some of the most interested).

 

I'm still curious about the CD, so if someone figures out something more, please do share to sate my curiosity. :P

[Maes]

It would be interesting if you specified what country you or the collector livedin -is this a USA release, or from somewhere else? There's no ESRB rating on it, for one.

[Lüt]

1 hour ago, Swift78 said:

(I don't know what rules this forum has about linking things like that on threads, but figured people here might be some of the most interested).

Fine by me, go for it.

[Swift78]

40 minutes ago, Maes said:

It would be interesting if you specified what country you or the collector livedin -is this a USA release, or from somewhere else? There's no ESRB rating on it, for one.

Both in the US, although I have no way of saying for certain that his copy was from the US.  Obtained his collection after he had passed away, so really don't know much for certain at all. I noticed the lack of ESRB rating right away as well and was one of the reasons I wondered if it was legit, but is it possible that some of the first releases didn't have it since ESRB was founded right around the time Doom II was released?

 

Link to Doom II CD auction: https://www.ebay.com/itm/253247171750

Link to accessories: https://www.ebay.com/itm/253245767107

[Bauul]

3 hours ago, Swift78 said:

is it possible that some of the first releases didn't have it since ESRB was founded right around the time Doom II was released?

Quite possibly.  Doom 2 was released on 30th September 1994 and ESRB was founded about two weeks earlier, so it's highly likely the first run of Doom 2 CDs won't have any ESRB information on.

[Maes]

So this could be one of the earliest retail or mail-order releases of Doom II?

[Nevander]

On 11/4/2017 at 7:28 AM, IMX said:

We could definitely use another physical release of the game.

I'd love to see a 2019 re-issue/re-release of a full classic Doom collection in big-box form. If they wanted to be even cooler they'd keep the directory structures intact and didn't add any anti-piracy measures. It's not like they'd be stopping anything since the game is like, you know, old already. This item would be for collectors and people who lost their old boxes. LIKE THE IDIOT I AM.

[Swift78]

7 hours ago, Maes said:

So this could be one of the earliest retail or mail-order releases of Doom II?

I guess I have no way of knowing for certain unless someone else can confirm the cover art, but I wouldn't be surprised given how religiously this guy collected games from that era.  I think he worked in some sort of a gaming store and so was up to date on new releases, etc, and seemed to make it his life goal to collect and play as many games as possible, lol.

 

He started with PC related gaming pretty early... from the AMIGA / Commodore programming days onward.

[Maes]

Other things to check: the matrix/runout code on the CD-ROM itself, and the weight of the CD jewel box. In the 80s and early 90s, they were up to 3 times heavier than what you can find new today.