Assembly Lab Exercises and Lessons Setup Guide

This repository contains assembly files from our Computer Organization and Architecture lessons. Follow the instructions below to set up DOSBox, TASM, and run the assembly programs on your machine.

Prerequisites

• DOSBox: A DOS emulator to run 16-bit programs like TASM and TLINK.
• TASM: Turbo Assembler, a tool used to assemble the assembly language files.
• TLINK: Turbo Linker, used to link the object files to create executables.

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1. Installing and Configuring DOSBox

Step 1: Download DOSBox

• Download and install DOSBox from the official DOSBox website.

Step 2: Set Up TASM in DOSBox

• Download or copy TASM and TLINK to a directory on your computer (e.g., C:\TASM).
• Add the assembly files from this repository into the same directory (C:\TASM\).

Step 3: Configure DOSBox to Access TASM

• Open DOSBox and mount the directory where TASM and your assembly files are stored.
• Use the following command in DOSBox to mount the directory:

  mount C C:\TASM
  

• Switch to the newly mounted directory by typing:

  C:
  

Now, DOSBox will recognize the C:\TASM directory as the C: drive in DOSBox, where you'll be working with your assembly files.

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2. Running and Editing Assembly Code

Step 1: Assemble the Code Using TASM

• To assemble an assembly file (filename.asm), type the following in DOSBox:

  TASM filename.asm
  

  • This will create an object file (filename.obj) if there are no syntax errors in the code.

Step 2: Link the Object File Using TLINK

• After successfully assembling the .ASM file, use TLINK to generate an executable:

  TLINK filename.obj
  

Step 3: Run the Executable

• If the linking is successful, an executable file (filename.exe) will be created. Run it using the command:

  filename.exe
  

Step 4: Edit the Assembly Files

• To edit any assembly code, open the .ASM file in a text editor. After making changes, save the file and re-run the above commands to assemble and link again.

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3. Automating the Build Process (Optional)

• Create a batch file (compile.bat) to automate assembling, linking, and running the code. The contents of the batch file should look like this:

  @echo off
  TASM %1.asm
  TLINK %1.obj
  %1.exe
  

• To use the batch file, type:

  compile filename
  

  This will assemble, link, and run your code in one step.

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4. Example

If you have an assembly file named example.asm, follow these steps:

1. Assemble: TASM example.asm
2. Link: TLINK example.obj
3. Run: example.exe

You can now experiment with your assembly exercises and learn from the lessons provided in this repository!

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This setup should enable you to efficiently run and edit assembly language programs using DOSBox, TASM, and TLINK for your Computer Organization and Architecture exercises.