Backward compatability

[Alan]

I am considering purchasing a computer with Windows XP
professional as Op Sys. I understand that this will not
support DOS based programs. A lot of my work has been
programming and using QBasic. Is there any way that I can
continue to use my work with XP, or do I have to purchase
a machine with an older Op Sys, such as ME?

One salesperson said that XP could be used to emulate an
older system such as Win 98, but he seemed unsure.

Any suggestions will be appreciated.

 

[René]

I understand that this will not support DOS based programs.

Many DOS programs run just fine in a either a DOS window or full
screen.

A lot of my work has been programming

Safe and all inclusive answer: programming is possible under XP

and using QBasic.

I don't know about that.

Is there any way that I can continue to use my work with XP

If all else fails, there's always the Compatibility Mode. Try before
you buy. There's also a Compatibility Check applet you can run from
the XP CD.

or do I have to purchase
a machine with an older Op Sys, such as ME?

To be quite honest, if Me was the best available version of Win
available, I'd switch to Linux or Mac in a New York second. Avoid Me
like the plague, it was worse than Win 2.0

One salesperson said that XP could be used to emulate an
older system such as Win 98, but he seemed unsure.

As a rule, sales people could be replaced by lobotomized lab rats and
nobody would know the difference. Maybe the rats would smell better.

Any suggestions will be appreciated.

Find a buddy, co-worker, acquantaince who already has XP installed and
give it a try. Or buy a computer from a vendor that has a "no
questions asked your money back" return policy.

 

[anonymous]

I have a copyright 1992 DOS program that works great in
the XP-DOS-emulator. Have to use my win3.1(36Mhz)
computer to print the data but editting data is no
problem. Yes the win3.1 is still working great.

 

[Rick \Nutcase\ Rogers]

Hi,

The only DOS programs that have trouble are those that use direct hardware
access, which is not allowed under WinXP. Most others run just fine. In
fact, WinXP's compatibility mode sometimes does better than the original
Operating System.

--
Best of Luck,

Rick Rogers aka "Nutcase" MS-MVP - Win9x
Windows isn't rocket science! That's my other hobby!

Associate Expert - WinXP - Expert Zone

 

[kennmary]

We have this problem at work as Motorola still uses a lot of older dos only
software, some which even has trouble running in Win95 but we also have
programs that require XP.
We have heard some of the shops are doing a dual partition and partitioning
one as FAT16 and installing DOS on it and XP on the other partition.
Not sure if this will work but I am going have to find out quick cause my
laptop is dying fast

 

[Lorne Smith]

Such a scenario will work perfectly... Alternatively, you could purchase
some Virtual Machine software such as VMWare which will allow you to run a
"virtual pc" within windows, with pretty much any OS you need...

Lorne

 

[Lorne Smith]

XP runs most DOS apps fine as long as they don't make direct access to the
hardware, which XP will not permit. Most QBasic apps should work OK, though
you won't be able to print anything. XP has the VBScript language built in,
though no real editor for it, so you could easily rewrite your apps in that
if you needed to, as long as they're not doing anything too complex...

Lorne