DOS with XP

[demonicus]

I started building files and databases 20 years ago; and
many of them still require DOS for access. No problem with
Win 98. But, what happens when I upgrade my OS to XP
Professional? Advice appreciated. Thanks.

[HentaiPockyStick]

XP DOSen't do DOS.

"demonicus" > wrote in message
...
> I started building files and databases 20 years ago; and
> many of them still require DOS for access. No problem with
> Win 98. But, what happens when I upgrade my OS to XP
> Professional? Advice appreciated. Thanks.

[Sharon F]

demonicus wrote:
> I started building files and databases 20 years ago; and
> many of them still require DOS for access. No problem with
> Win 98. But, what happens when I upgrade my OS to XP
> Professional? Advice appreciated. Thanks.

While XP can run many DOS programs, there are some that just won't work. All
you can do is try running these programs in XP and find out what happens. If
you rely on these programs for production, you may want to set up a dual
boot system. Test your programs. If everything works out, then keep the dual
boot setup or go ahead with the upgrade. May even want to take the dive for
a clean install. Your choice.

--
Sharon F
Microsoft MVP, Windows - Shell/User

[Walter Hawn]

Please excuse Hentai* He/she is confused. XP does DOS just fine, in most
cases. Exception: When the app wants to access memory/video directly.
dBaseII is finicky that way, but Alpha4, which uses the same file formats,
doesn't seem to be. Don't know about DOS FoxPro or Paradox.

The big difference w/XP is that it uses a DOS emulator which works on top
of, rather than under, the GUI/OS. This means that a DOS session can run in
any memory segment -- which is why direct memory calls fail. It's also a
little slower than native DOS on the same machine.

I have a dual boot setup, w/DR-DOS7, but mostly I run DOS apps in the
emulator. It'll even run most batch files (exept those using DR-DOS
exclusive commands).
--
Hope this is helpful,

Walter Hawn
Associate XPert
The Expert Zone - www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/expertzone


"demonicus" > wrote in message
...
> I started building files and databases 20 years ago; and
> many of them still require DOS for access. No problem with
> Win 98. But, what happens when I upgrade my OS to XP
> Professional? Advice appreciated. Thanks.

[HentaiPockyStick]

Interesting...,

XP can do DOS, yet, most of the DOS programs (games and softwares, most of which was destroyed by a flood) I do want to run can't run at all... hmmmm. Some of which also requires EMS, and I had to make this into a shortcut to DOS on the main desktop or folder of the application I want to run back during the '95 era.

So XP uses an "emulator"... you are still telling me that XP still can't do DOS natively, w/out help.
You also stated that XP does DOS "in most cases", how many at times would you suggest that it has worked w/out being "finnicky". So all in all, it still does not do DOS.

Sorry... unless XP, is not using emulators or using dual boots to access DOS, to me, In My Opinion, XP... can't do DOS.

Now DOeSn't that add up?

Sorry... I'm Male, can't see any self-respecting anime fan... especially a girl insult herself w/the name "Hentai" added in as part of her monicker.

"Walter Hawn" > wrote in message ...
> Please excuse Hentai* He/she is confused. XP does DOS just fine, in most
> cases. Exception: When the app wants to access memory/video directly.
> dBaseII is finicky that way, but Alpha4, which uses the same file formats,
> doesn't seem to be. Don't know about DOS FoxPro or Paradox.
>
> The big difference w/XP is that it uses a DOS emulator which works on top
> of, rather than under, the GUI/OS. This means that a DOS session can run in
> any memory segment -- which is why direct memory calls fail. It's also a
> little slower than native DOS on the same machine.
>
> I have a dual boot setup, w/DR-DOS7, but mostly I run DOS apps in the
> emulator. It'll even run most batch files (exept those using DR-DOS
> exclusive commands).
> --
> Hope this is helpful,
>
> Walter Hawn
> Associate XPert
> The Expert Zone - www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/expertzone
>
>
> "demonicus" > wrote in message
> ...
> > I started building files and databases 20 years ago; and
> > many of them still require DOS for access. No problem with
> > Win 98. But, what happens when I upgrade my OS to XP
> > Professional? Advice appreciated. Thanks.

[Walter Hawn]

1) DOS is as DOS does. Most any DOS app that actually does something
useful
will run on XP. This includes WordPerfect, WordStar, Alpha4, TAPcis,
Borlund C++ 5, and many, many more. It does not include
"Wolfowitz's Dungeon Tomb Simulator."
a) Any program, DOS-based or otherwise, run on XP, that tries to access
main memory or video memory directly, rather than using relative offsets,
will likely fail.
b) That is to say: Those written using improper programming techniques
will
not run properly.

2) The emulator is, to all intents and purposes, MSDOS, on top of XP rather
than holding it up. You may specify EMS support, if you wish, in the
Autoexec.nt file, which can be global and/or program specific.

3) I am appalled by 'anime,' hence I'm not familiar with the jargon. My
apologies on the gender confusion.

Regards,

\\'alt



"HentaiPockyStick" > wrote in message
...
Interesting...,

XP can do DOS, yet, most of the DOS programs (games and softwares, most of
which was destroyed by a flood) I do want to run can't run at all... hmmmm.
Some of which also requires EMS, and I had to make this into a shortcut to
DOS on the main desktop or folder of the application I want to run back
during the '95 era.

So XP uses an "emulator"... you are still telling me that XP still can't do
DOS natively, w/out help.
You also stated that XP does DOS "in most cases", how many at times would
you suggest that it has worked w/out being "finnicky". So all in all, it
still does not do DOS.

Sorry... unless XP, is not using emulators or using dual boots to access
DOS, to me, In My Opinion, XP... can't do DOS.

Now DOeSn't that add up?

Sorry... I'm Male, can't see any self-respecting anime fan... especially a
girl insult herself w/the name "Hentai" added in as part of her monicker.

"Walter Hawn" > wrote in message
...
> Please excuse Hentai* He/she is confused. XP does DOS just fine, in most
> cases. Exception: When the app wants to access memory/video directly.
> dBaseII is finicky that way, but Alpha4, which uses the same file formats,
> doesn't seem to be. Don't know about DOS FoxPro or Paradox.
>
> The big difference w/XP is that it uses a DOS emulator which works on top
> of, rather than under, the GUI/OS. This means that a DOS session can run
in
> any memory segment -- which is why direct memory calls fail. It's also a
> little slower than native DOS on the same machine.
>
> I have a dual boot setup, w/DR-DOS7, but mostly I run DOS apps in the
> emulator. It'll even run most batch files (exept those using DR-DOS
> exclusive commands).
> --
> Hope this is helpful,
>
> Walter Hawn
> Associate XPert
> The Expert Zone - www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/expertzone
>
>
> "demonicus" > wrote in message
> ...
> > I started building files and databases 20 years ago; and
> > many of them still require DOS for access. No problem with
> > Win 98. But, what happens when I upgrade my OS to XP
> > Professional? Advice appreciated. Thanks.

[HentaiPockyStick]

No prob. w/gender confusion, though I am sorry you are appalled w/anime...
their in lies some great animation and stories that can match any great
movies out there (and some are not just for kids). Yes I know there are some
that just beyond description..., ahem.... but anyways.

Well... "too my opinion" and "my trials and errors"... apps and games that I
enjoyed using in DOS... doesn't work..., though thanks for clearing things
up.

"Walter Hawn" > wrote in message
...
> 1) DOS is as DOS does. Most any DOS app that actually does something
> useful
> will run on XP. This includes WordPerfect, WordStar, Alpha4, TAPcis,
> Borlund C++ 5, and many, many more. It does not include
> "Wolfowitz's Dungeon Tomb Simulator."
> a) Any program, DOS-based or otherwise, run on XP, that tries to
access
> main memory or video memory directly, rather than using relative offsets,
> will likely fail.
> b) That is to say: Those written using improper programming
techniques
> will
> not run properly.
>
> 2) The emulator is, to all intents and purposes, MSDOS, on top of XP
rather
> than holding it up. You may specify EMS support, if you wish, in the
> Autoexec.nt file, which can be global and/or program specific.
>
> 3) I am appalled by 'anime,' hence I'm not familiar with the jargon. My
> apologies on the gender confusion.
>
> Regards,
>
> \\'alt
>
>
>
> "HentaiPockyStick" > wrote in message
> ...
> Interesting...,
>
> XP can do DOS, yet, most of the DOS programs (games and softwares, most of
> which was destroyed by a flood) I do want to run can't run at all...
hmmmm.
> Some of which also requires EMS, and I had to make this into a shortcut to
> DOS on the main desktop or folder of the application I want to run back
> during the '95 era.
>
> So XP uses an "emulator"... you are still telling me that XP still can't
do
> DOS natively, w/out help.
> You also stated that XP does DOS "in most cases", how many at times would
> you suggest that it has worked w/out being "finnicky". So all in all, it
> still does not do DOS.
>
> Sorry... unless XP, is not using emulators or using dual boots to access
> DOS, to me, In My Opinion, XP... can't do DOS.
>
> Now DOeSn't that add up?
>
> Sorry... I'm Male, can't see any self-respecting anime fan... especially a
> girl insult herself w/the name "Hentai" added in as part of her monicker.
>
> "Walter Hawn" > wrote in message
> ...
> > Please excuse Hentai* He/she is confused. XP does DOS just fine, in
most
> > cases. Exception: When the app wants to access memory/video directly.
> > dBaseII is finicky that way, but Alpha4, which uses the same file
formats,
> > doesn't seem to be. Don't know about DOS FoxPro or Paradox.
> >
> > The big difference w/XP is that it uses a DOS emulator which works on
top
> > of, rather than under, the GUI/OS. This means that a DOS session can
run
> in
> > any memory segment -- which is why direct memory calls fail. It's also
a
> > little slower than native DOS on the same machine.
> >
> > I have a dual boot setup, w/DR-DOS7, but mostly I run DOS apps in the
> > emulator. It'll even run most batch files (exept those using DR-DOS
> > exclusive commands).
> > --
> > Hope this is helpful,
> >
> > Walter Hawn
> > Associate XPert
> > The Expert Zone - www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/expertzone
> >
> >
> > "demonicus" > wrote in message
> > ...
> > > I started building files and databases 20 years ago; and
> > > many of them still require DOS for access. No problem with
> > > Win 98. But, what happens when I upgrade my OS to XP
> > > Professional? Advice appreciated. Thanks.
>
>
>
>