Author Topic: newb question  (Read 6071 times)

Offline nortron

  • New Member
  • Posts: 1
newb question
« on: March 27, 2011, 02:49:50 AM »
hey guys, i have windows xp, I'd prefer to use cmd prmpt if possible, not sure how to get up and compiling though.  I've used tasm about three years ago, for a class, which was great, a tutorial or some steps for nasm would be very helpful.  Which and what do i need to install and using cmd prmpt blah blah blah...................thanks

Offline Bryant Keller

  • Forum Moderator
  • Full Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 360
  • Country: us
    • About Bryant Keller
Re: newb question
« Reply #1 on: March 27, 2011, 03:19:33 AM »
The Manual should cover all that. As for where to get NASM itself, check out the Downloads Page and find the version you want. The current stable version is version 2.09.07.

About Bryant Keller
bkeller@about.me

Offline Frank Kotler

  • NASM Developer
  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 2667
  • Country: us
Re: newb question
« Reply #2 on: March 27, 2011, 06:20:56 AM »
Mmmm... does he want the .zip file or the installer.exe? I ASSume the "installer" is self-explanitory(?). I created an "installer" once... I considered it a joke, actually - there really isn't much to "install". I think it ended by dumping you off in the Friendly Manual, whether you wanted to or not! :)

The Manual will cover "installation":

http://www.nasm.us/doc/nasmdoc1.html#section-1.3.1

While you remember how to set environment variables, you might want to look at the NASMENV variable:

http://www.nasm.us/doc/nasmdoc2.html#section-2.1.28

You don't need to use this, but it can come in handy to set "default" command line switches - particularly, locating "%include" files without having to have the full path in the .asm file or typing it in on the command line every time. You may want to leave this for later, but keep in mind that it's available.

I don't think the Manual will tell you how to get a cmd prompt. "start->run->cmd" used to do it. There may be preferable methods. This isn't a "Nasm question", of course, but an "OS question"... but I can't see sending you off to Microsoft just for that...

Then, you'll need a file to assemble. I guess XP still supports dos, so a dos .com file will be easiest. This one will do...

http://home.myfairpoint.net/fbkotler/clueless.html

That's old and lame, but still works. To do anything more "modern" than a dos .com file, you'll probably want a linker... and that's a whole different question. You may want to look into the "NASMX" package...

http://sourceforge.net/projects/nasmx/

... and just go with what's there...

Best,
Frank