Using 16 bit program with Windows XP Professional

[Guest]

I am trying to run a FoxPro v2.8 program with Win XP Professional on a laptop
computer. The program runs a distance meter in a vehicle and records this
distance in the computer while I am collecting data about the condition of
the road.

Peridically, the FoxPro program has trouble saving the collected information
in a file and also has a problem accessing the distance meter. The FoxPro
program is a 16 bit program. Does Win XP Professional have an intollerance of
16 bit programs? Is there a switch in Win XP Professional I can turn on to
make it more acceptible for 16 bit programs?

The FoxPro program works great with Win Me and earlier versions of Windows.
It also seems to work fine with Windows XP Home although I have not done
extensive testing with the Home version.

Didrik

 

[Michael Solomon \(MS-MVP\)]

First, you need to understand, WinME and all earlier versions of Windows
were built and based on a DOS foundation. While there is certainly DOS code
in Windows XP, Windows XP is not a DOS environment. Windows XP is built on
the NT kernel and is separate and distinct from Windows 9x.

That said, there is DOS emulator in the form of the Command Prompt that can
be found on the Start Menu under Accessories. There is also a Program
Compatibility Wizard under Accessories in which you might try running and/or
installing the application to see if you get better results.

Does XP have an intolerance for 16-bit programs? This question usually
comes up with regard to games because there are so many legacy 16-bit DOS
games around and there's no all encompassing answer. The fact is, anyone
with a dependence on 16-bit applications or in cases where such applications
are mission critical should who need to move to XP, perhaps by virtue of
needing to purchase a new computer, should be prepared to set up a dual boot
system with an operating system that they know for sure will run those
applications as there are no guarantees which ones will run or run without
issue under XP. Even applications that run fine on one person's setup may
not run fine on another so that is not a guarantee either.

Bottom line, if none of the above help, your next move aside from migrating
to an application that will run under XP is install an operating system of
your choice on a separate partition and boot to that when you need to run
this application or use an application such as Virtual PC to so you can run
more than one desktop at once. Be aware, that setting up a dual boot system
after XP has already been installed will also require third party software
that includes its own boot manager such as Partition Magic, Bootit or System
Commander.

 

[Guest]

Michael,

Thank you for your response. I am not running a DOS program, FoxPro v2.8 is
a Windows program (or maybe pseudo-windows program). I think my problem
happens when my program directly accesses the serial port to send and receive
data. Is there a way of having XP allow my 16 bit program to access the
serial port without getting upset?

There also seems to be a program with my program (FoxPro) opens a datafile
to read and write data. On occasion when I start my program, I get an error
Didrik

 

[Michael Solomon \(MS-MVP\)]

XP will not allow direct access to the hardware and as far as I know, there
is no way to allow for that under XP. Your best solution would be to either
dual boot with an OS you know is compatible with the application or to use
one of the virtual PC apps that allows for running and switching between to
operating systems simultaneously. I would also point out, this situation is
only going to get worse as the Windows environment progresses with new
iterations so it would behoove you, especially if this application is
mission critical to find an XP compatible application to which you can
migrate.

 

[Colin Barnhorst]

I highly recommend using Microsoft Virtual PC 2004. There is also a
newsgroup for it, microsoft.public.virtualpc, and I suggest you visit it to
see how folks are using it.