Are DOS programs installed differently than Windows programs,
especially since XP doesn't have DOS? If so, what's the difference?
Which one is more likely to screw up your computer - DOS programs or
Windows programs?

Mike S. wrote:
> Are DOS programs installed differently than Windows programs,
> especially since XP doesn't have DOS? If so, what's the difference?
> Which one is more likely to screw up your computer - DOS programs or
> Windows programs?

Yes - they install differently, if they install at all.

Badly written ones are more likely to screw up your computer... After poor
maintenance.

--
Shenan Stanley
MS-MVP
--
How To Ask Questions The Smart Way
http://www.catb.org/~esr/faqs/smart-questions.html

"Mike S." <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:

>Are DOS programs installed differently than Windows programs,
>especially since XP doesn't have DOS? If so, what's the difference?
>Which one is more likely to screw up your computer - DOS programs or
>Windows programs?

DOS program write to autoexec.bat and config.sys (If they write to any
file) now called autoexec.nt and config.nt in XP.

Windows programs can write anywhere.

If a DOS program screws up your computer it's much easier to fix than
a windows program.

If you want to run old DOS games http://www.abandonia.com/index2.php
use DOSBOX http://tinyurl.com/create.php







--
http://www.iiiiiiii.com/?

Most DOS programs do not really install at all. All the install routine does
is unpack the files to a newly created folder. You then have to run the
program executable from within that folder. You can create a shortcut to the
executable on your desktop to run the program.

To remove a DOS program, just delete the program's folder. It will be gone.

Clean - simple - elegant, for it's day.

Do DOS programs work within Windows XP? You'll have to try each individual
program to find out.

--

Regards,

Richard Urban
Microsoft MVP Windows Shell/User
(For email, remove the obvious from my address)

Quote from George Ankner:
If you knew as much as you think you know,
You would realize that you don't know what you thought you knew!

"Mike S." <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:(E-Mail Removed)...
> Are DOS programs installed differently than Windows programs,
> especially since XP doesn't have DOS? If so, what's the difference?
> Which one is more likely to screw up your computer - DOS programs or
> Windows programs?
>

Mike S. wrote:

> Are DOS programs installed differently than Windows programs,
> especially since XP doesn't have DOS?


Yes, but it has nothing to do with XP's not having DOS.


> If so, what's the difference?


Installing a Windows program normally involves bunch of things: copying the
executable file(s) and supporting files to a folder on your hard drive,
copying dll files to \windows\system32, creating entries in the registry,
creating shortcuts in various places, etc.

Installing a DOS program normally involves only a single thing: copying
program's files (often just a single executable file) to a folder on your
hard drive


> Which one is more likely to screw up your computer - DOS programs or
> Windows programs?


Neither. If a program screws up your computer, it's because it was either
poorly-written or written with malicious intent. Either of those can be true
with both DOS or Windows programs.

--
Ken Blake - Microsoft MVP Windows: Shell/User
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