Use of DOS-based programs on XP

[Chancyone]

I have several DOS-based programs that I have been using
on Windows 98. They have a lot of data that I still need
to use. One program to which I refer is "PFS:First
Choice". How to I set-up Windows XP so I can still access
these programs?

[Norm]

Have you just tried running it, it may just work? I have several old dos
programs that run just fine.
"Chancyone" > wrote in message
...
> I have several DOS-based programs that I have been using
> on Windows 98. They have a lot of data that I still need
> to use. One program to which I refer is "PFS:First
> Choice". How to I set-up Windows XP so I can still access
> these programs?
>

[Ron Martell]

"Chancyone" > wrote:

>I have several DOS-based programs that I have been using
>on Windows 98. They have a lot of data that I still need
>to use. One program to which I refer is "PFS:First
>Choice". How to I set-up Windows XP so I can still access
>these programs?

Many DOS programs work perfectly when run under Windows XP. I have
quite a number that I use on occasion and they all work just fine.

However your PFS First Choice is not one that I use and I have no
direct experience with it under XP. A quick search of newsgroup
posts (Google) reveals that a number of people have reported that they
are unable to run First Choice under Windows XP.

Here are a couple of suggestions that may help to get your First
Choice running under Windows XP.

1. Create a desktop shortcut to launch the program.
2. Right-click on the shortcut, select Properties, go to the
Compatibility tab and set it to run in Windows 95 compatiblity mode.
3. Modify c:\windows\command\cmdinit.bat by adding the following line
to it:

SHELL=C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\CMD.EXE /E:4096 /P

If XP accepts this command then it may avoid the main error that seems
to have been encountered by users trying to run PFS First Choice under
XP.

I would really like to have you confirm the results of this in a
response back to the newsgroup as there are undoubtedly others who
could also use the information.

And if it does not work then here is a web site that offers a
conversion utility for PFS files: http://www.acii.com/fcdb.htm

Good luck


Ron Martell Duncan B.C. Canada
--
Microsoft MVP
On-Line Help Computer Service
http://onlinehelp.bc.ca

"The reason computer chips are so small is computers don't eat much."

[Rick \Nutcase\ Rogers]

Hi,

Many of them will run unaided in the dos emulator (start/run cmd). You might
also try compatibility mode for the pickier ones - start/all
programs/accessories/program compatibility wizard.

If you need to set environmental variables, do so from control panel/system
properties/advanced tab, there is an option there where you can add them to
the system or the user.

--
Best of Luck,

Rick Rogers aka "Nutcase" MS-MVP - Win9x
http://mvp.support.microsoft.com/
Associate Expert - WinXP - Expert Zone
www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/expertzone
Win98 Help - www.rickrogers.org

"Chancyone" > wrote in message
...
> I have several DOS-based programs that I have been using
> on Windows 98. They have a lot of data that I still need
> to use. One program to which I refer is "PFS:First
> Choice". How to I set-up Windows XP so I can still access
> these programs?

[Michael Solomon \(MS-MVP Windows Shell/User\)]

There's no guarantee. DOS applications in XP are problematic as XP has no
DOS. It has an emulation. It works fine for some but not all.

The easiest way around this is to setup your system as dual boot with a
Windows 9x OS in which you know you had such functionality, then install XP
using the New Install option. It will create a boot menu, allow you to
choose into which OS you wish to boot, thereby allowing you to access those
applications and their data on your previous operating system.

--
Michael Solomon MS-MVP
Windows Shell/User
Backup is a PC User's Best Friend
DTS-L.Org: http://www.dts-l.org/

"Chancyone" > wrote in message
...
> I have several DOS-based programs that I have been using
> on Windows 98. They have a lot of data that I still need
> to use. One program to which I refer is "PFS:First
> Choice". How to I set-up Windows XP so I can still access
> these programs?

[Ron Martell]

"Rick \"Nutcase\" Rogers" > wrote:

>Hi,
>
>Many of them will run unaided in the dos emulator (start/run cmd). You might
>also try compatibility mode for the pickier ones - start/all
>programs/accessories/program compatibility wizard.
>
>If you need to set environmental variables, do so from control panel/system
>properties/advanced tab, there is an option there where you can add them to
>the system or the user.

Can you set the Environment Size from there Rick? That seems to be
the hangup with this particular DOS app under XP. At least the user
reports that I saw included an error message about not enough
environment space.

The only way I know of to set this is with the /E:nnnn parameter on
the SHELL= line.


Ron Martell Duncan B.C. Canada
--
Microsoft MVP
On-Line Help Computer Service
http://onlinehelp.bc.ca

"The reason computer chips are so small is computers don't eat much."

[Rick \Nutcase\ Rogers]

Hi Ron,

Don't know - I haven't worked with that program, nor have I tried messing
with that parameter.

--
Best of Luck,

Rick Rogers aka "Nutcase" MS-MVP - Win9x
http://mvp.support.microsoft.com/
Associate Expert - WinXP - Expert Zone
www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/expertzone
Win98 Help - www.rickrogers.org

"Ron Martell" > wrote in message
...
> "Rick \"Nutcase\" Rogers" > wrote:
>
> >Hi,
> >
> >Many of them will run unaided in the dos emulator (start/run cmd). You
might
> >also try compatibility mode for the pickier ones - start/all
> >programs/accessories/program compatibility wizard.
> >
> >If you need to set environmental variables, do so from control
panel/system
> >properties/advanced tab, there is an option there where you can add them
to
> >the system or the user.
>
> Can you set the Environment Size from there Rick? That seems to be
> the hangup with this particular DOS app under XP. At least the user
> reports that I saw included an error message about not enough
> environment space.
>
> The only way I know of to set this is with the /E:nnnn parameter on
> the SHELL= line.
>
>
> Ron Martell Duncan B.C. Canada
> --
> Microsoft MVP
> On-Line Help Computer Service
> http://onlinehelp.bc.ca
>
> "The reason computer chips are so small is computers don't eat much."