DOS apps on Windows XP

[allan]

Is there a way to run old DOS applications, specifically
Lotus 123 Rev 2.4, under Windows XP, Home Edition?

[Admin]

Heres a little info:

The following functions do not work in Windows XP:
All MS-DOS functions except task-switching API (application programming interface) functions are supported.
Block mode device drivers are not supported. Block devices are not supported, so MS-DOS I/O control (IOCTL) APIs that deal with block devices and SETDPB functions are not supported.
Interrupt 10 function 1A returns 0; all other functions are passed to read-only memory (ROM).
Interrupt 13 calls that deal with prohibited disk access are not supported.
Interrupt 18 (ROM BASIC) generates a message that says that ROM BASIC is not supported.
Interrupt 19 does not restart the computer, but cleanly closes the current virtual DOS machine (VDM).
Interrupt 2F, which deals with the DOSKEY program callouts (AX = 4800), is not supported.
Microsoft CD-ROM Extensions (MSCDEX) functions 2, 3, 4, 5, 8, E, and F are not supported.
The 16-bit Windows subsystem on an x86 computer supports enhanced mode programs; it does not, however, support 16-bit virtual device drivers (VxDs). The subsystem on a non-x86 computer emulates the Intel 40486 instruction set, which lets the computer run Enhanced-mode programs, such as Microsoft Visual Basic, on reduced instruction set computers (RISC).
This means that Windows does not support 16-bit programs that require unrestricted access to hardware. If your program requires this, your program will not work in Windows NT, Windows 2000, or Windows XP.

Basically it will not work.

switch

[Greg]

Those old apps took over the hardware. Don't think XP or Win2k will allow that.

[Dave420]

only the newest version of lotus will run on xp -but the good news is lotus is so antiquated now that even the newest version can be had for around $60 if you shop around.

[allan]

Thanks to switch,noppid, and Dave420 for the replies. I was hoping there might be a way to do it, even if it used all the resources. The later versions of Lotus, also Excel, do not have the same look and feel of the original Lotus. Lots more features, but not nearly as easy to use.

[Mojo_Joe]

I don't know as much about all of the internal software stuff that's going on with Windows XP, but, I figure that there is always some creative way to do stuff when others tell you that it can't be done...

I found the following on the Internet...


http://www.allexperts.com/previousqv.asp?QuestionID=3238102

I am not sure how this guy is actually running Lotus, (the post does not elaborate), but the cost of an old hard drive (maybe $20) and a six pack of beer for your local computer geek to set this all up, might be a good investment for the ability to run your beloved "dinosaur" application... Assuming, of course, that it actually will work when all is said and done...

Just my 2 cents...

[Dave420]

from that artical it looks like it would work(even if in a cripled fasion)-if it is already installed on a hard drive.if you were willing to reinstall everything you could fdisk the drive using the win 98 boot disk(warning this will delete everything from the drive)make 2 partitions -format the first one (make it smaller-maybe 5 or 10 gigs)with the win98 disk and install win98 on it -then put the winxp disk in when win 98 is up and running with all its drivers loaded.when it pops up drop down the menu that says "upgrade" and choose fresh install -then put a check in let me decide where to install.when the time comes durring install choose the second partition-this will create a duel boot system -and at boot you will have the choice of booting to xp or 98-problem solved.

[PATHOS]

Just get a 512 meg thumb drive, install win98 on it and just boot to the thumb when you want to run DOS or 98.

Or just get a 500meg or 1gig HD make it a slave install your OS.
Use the bios to tell it what drive to boot to. When your done switch it back to your xp drive....:)

Just a few thoughts....:)

[Anaconda]

Not sure you can boot to a thumb drive, but I'm not sure on this one. I don't know of any BIOS's that have the capability to boot from a USB peripheral. That's not to say that they don't exist, I jsut haven't seen one yet.

Also, trust me on this one, Windows on a flash disk is terribly slow, you will need to do a lot of tuning to make it work right. Most notably, after you spend 3-4 hours installing it, you will want to turn off virtual memory... otherwise you might as well be trying to run windows on an Altair. Also the USB transfer rate is terribly slow compared to a hard drives rate, so even if you do get it to boot.. it will be painfully slow.

[Zero Tolerance]

I agree 110% with snake...with the USB boot idea as well as access speed of the OS from a flash storage device

you done alot better with recommending the dual boot partion or 2 drives as far as reliability and speed goes

[PATHOS]

I have an intel 865 perl board that will boot USB.
Yes the OS will run slow.....but with a little stripping down of the os and some tweeking it is not that bad. Making sure it is also USB V2.0.

But for the most part Zero Tolerance & Anaconda are correct on the slowness.................:)

[Mojo_Joe]

Hmm..., this whole thing started with a simple question from a perplexed user and somehow got twisted into a really involved discussion of the many theoretically possible (albeit way too complicated for normal people) ways to run old DOS Apps on XP.

If all the experts are to believed, there is no easy way to do this. Well, no easy way other than simply buying a 386 at a garage sale for $20 so that you can run the "magic in a box" that is Lotus 123 for DOS.

I guess you could also "get with the 20th century," now that we are in the 21st, and simply buy the latest version of Excel.