How to install DOSBox on a Chromebook

In this guide, we'll walk you through the process of installing DOSBox on your Chromebook. DOSBox is an emulator that allows you to run MS-DOS based programs on modern computers, including Chromebooks. This can be particularly useful for running classic games or legacy software that may not be compatible with current operating systems.

Enabling Linux Apps on Your Chromebook

Before we begin the installation process, we need to ensure that Linux apps are enabled on your Chromebook. Here's how to do it:

  1. Go to your Chromebook's System Settings
  2. Click on the "About Chrome OS" section on the left panel
  3. Under the Developer section, choose to set up Linux
  4. Follow the prompts to turn on Linux

Once Linux apps are enabled, we can proceed with the installation of DOSBox.

Installing DOSBox

We'll be using Flatpak to install DOSBox. Flatpak is a utility for software deployment and package management for Linux. It allows us to install applications in a sandboxed environment, which is ideal for Chromebooks. Follow these steps carefully:

  1. Open a terminal session from your app menu
  2. Update your Linux apps repositories by running:
    sudo apt update
  3. Install Flatpak:
    sudo apt install flatpak
  4. Add the official Flathub repository:
    sudo flatpak remote-add --if-not-exists flathub https://flathub.org/repo/flathub.flatpakrepo
  5. Install DOSBox:
    sudo flatpak install flathub com.dosbox.DOSBox
  6. Set the necessary permissions:
    sudo chown root:root /usr/bin/bwrap && sudo chmod u+s /usr/bin/bwrap

After following these steps, DOSBox should be successfully installed on your Chromebook.

Using DOSBox

Once installed, you can launch DOSBox from your app menu. Remember that any content you want to use with DOSBox must be in your Linux files in your file manager. This is because DOSBox runs within the Linux environment on your Chromebook.

For more detailed instructions on using DOSBox, you can refer to the Google Doc used in the tutorial.

Video Tutorial

Additional Resources

For more information about DOSBox and its capabilities, you can visit the official DOSBox website. If you're interested in exploring more applications available through Flatpak, check out the DOSBox page on Flathub.

Chromebook Resources

If you're new to Chromebooks or looking to expand your knowledge, here are some helpful resources:

We hope this guide helps you successfully install and use DOSBox on your Chromebook. Enjoy exploring classic DOS applications and games!

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