Can Windows XP Pro. run DOS programs?

[Art]

My question arises from the fact that can Windows XP Pro. run any
programs that Windows 98SE can? Backwards compatibility means a lot
to me and I enjoy programming in BASIC and use ancient DOS
applications. Thanks in advance for the reply and have a great day.

 

[Paul Smith]

My question arises from the fact that can Windows XP Pro. run any
programs that Windows 98SE can? Backwards compatibility means a lot
to me and I enjoy programming in BASIC and use ancient DOS
applications. Thanks in advance for the reply and have a great day.

It doesn't have native DOS, but it does have some basic emulation out of the
box.

For more advanced stuff you could check DOS box.
http://dosbox.sourceforge.net/information.php or even Virtual PC which
allows you to use any PC OS inside Windows
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/virtualpc/downloads/trial.asp

Hope that helps.

--
Paul Smith,
Yeovil, UK.
http://www.smirnov.demon.co.uk/
http://www.doom3portal.com/ A Doom 3 fansite.
http://www.dasmirnov.net/articles/sp2preview.htm Service Pack 2 is coming!

*Replace nospam with smirnov to reply by e-mail*

 

[David Candy]

No. But it can run Dos programs that 98 can't and it can't run some that 98 can. But most dos apps work on 98 or XP. But beaware that XP dos is based on Dos 5.

 

[Plato]

My question arises from the fact that can Windows XP Pro. run any
programs that Windows 98SE can? Backwards compatibility means a lot

Most all, but not every. Sometimes you have to update your software.
Sometimes the software author does not provide XP updates/versions. It
all depends.

 

[Ken Blake, MVP]

In

My question arises from the fact that can Windows XP Pro. run any
programs that Windows 98SE can?

"Most" but not all, Windows 98-era programs will run just fine on
XP.

Backwards compatibility means a lot
to me and I enjoy programming in BASIC and use ancient DOS
applications. Thanks in advance for the reply and have a great

day.


On the other hand, ancient DOS applications are less likely to
run in XP, although some of them will run too.

 

[NobodyMan]

No. But it can run Dos programs that 98 can't and it can't run some that 98 can. But most dos apps work on 98 or XP. But beaware that XP dos is based on Dos 5.

XP DOS isn't based on MS-DOS 5 because XP has zero MS-DOS code in it.
Spare me the rant I know is coming that XP has to have DOS to access
the HD. Everybody here knows that when a question is asked about DOS,
MS-DOS is implied.

 

[Art]

You are correct that MS-DOS is implied. I thought that the most
MS-DOS support that XP Pro. has is DOS in a shell user environment at
the command.com prompt. Please correct me if I am wrong.

: On Sun, 25 Apr 2004 07:01:55 +1000, "David Candy" <[email protected]>
: wrote:
:
: >No. But it can run Dos programs that 98 can't and it can't run some
that 98 can. But most dos apps work on 98 or XP. But beaware that XP
dos is based on Dos 5.
:
: XP DOS isn't based on MS-DOS 5 because XP has zero MS-DOS code in
it.
: Spare me the rant I know is coming that XP has to have DOS to access
: the HD. Everybody here knows that when a question is asked about
DOS,
: MS-DOS is implied.
:

 

[Art]

I was thinking of upgrading my computer and using a third party
program to have hidden partitions of XP Pro. and 98SE to allow for
full compatibility. Do you see a downside to this? Is it better to
have Virtual Emulation instead? Thanks for everyone's help.

: In : Art <[email protected]> typed:
:
: > My question arises from the fact that can Windows XP Pro.
: run any
: > programs that Windows 98SE can?
:
:
: "Most" but not all, Windows 98-era programs will run just fine on
: XP.
:
:
: > Backwards compatibility means a lot
: > to me and I enjoy programming in BASIC and use ancient DOS
: > applications. Thanks in advance for the reply and have a great
: day.
:
:
: On the other hand, ancient DOS applications are less likely to
: run in XP, although some of them will run too.
:
: --
: Ken Blake - Microsoft MVP Windows: Shell/User
: Please reply to the newsgroup
:
:

 

[David Candy]

Type
command /kver

The sub ver means it's specially modified to pass commands to cmd.exe for execution. But it supports the Dos 5 (and up to 6.22) 9 character file names. As windows does, Dos also has a published API. NT based systems support the Dos 5 API. Therefore NT/2000/XP can only run programs written for Dos 5 or earlier. As most Dos programs only require 3.3 or higher this is no problem.

 

[Incognitus]

98 can. But most dos apps work on 98 or XP. But beaware that XP dos is based
on Dos 5.

XP DOS isn't based on MS-DOS 5 because XP has zero MS-DOS code in it.
Spare me the rant I know is coming that XP has to have DOS to access
the HD. Everybody here knows that when a question is asked about DOS,
MS-DOS is implied.

Perhaps you can explain the results of a MEM command from a cmd prompt?

 

[Malke]

98 can. But most dos apps work on 98 or XP. But beaware that XP dos is
based on Dos 5.

Perhaps you can explain the results of a MEM command from a cmd
prompt?

Just to get back to the Original Poster's question for a moment - find a
friend with Windows XP and try your program on their machine. Since
it's DOS, it won't need to be installed and you can just copy the
executable (and associated files, if necessary) to the hard drive. I
had a client who was using 3 very obscure DOS programs. I warned her
ahead of time that they might not work. To my amazement, the programs
run perfectly, with just a little tweaking of the printer settings. So
give it a try and see!

Malke

 

[Art]

Thank you for your comment. Gary Terhune, MVP Windows 9x wrote that
XP Pro does not use MS-DOS and only uses a shell with a command.com
prompt. Is this correct?

: Incognitus wrote:
:
::
:: ::: On Sun, 25 Apr 2004 07:01:55 +1000, "David Candy" <[email protected]>
::: wrote:
:::
:::: No. But it can run Dos programs that 98 can't and it can't run
:::: some that
:: 98 can. But most dos apps work on 98 or XP. But beaware that XP
:: dos is based on Dos 5.
:::
::: XP DOS isn't based on MS-DOS 5 because XP has zero MS-DOS code in
::: it. Spare me the rant I know is coming that XP has to have DOS to
::: access the HD. Everybody here knows that when a question is
::: asked about DOS, MS-DOS is implied.
:::
::
:: Perhaps you can explain the results of a MEM command from a cmd
:: prompt?
:
: Just to get back to the Original Poster's question for a moment -
: find a friend with Windows XP and try your program on their
: machine. Since it's DOS, it won't need to be installed and you can
: just copy the executable (and associated files, if necessary) to
: the hard drive. I had a client who was using 3 very obscure DOS
: programs. I warned her ahead of time that they might not work. To
: my amazement, the programs run perfectly, with just a little
: tweaking of the printer settings. So give it a try and see!
:
: Malke

 

[Steve N.]

Yes it's true but many DOS apps will run fine in the emulated
environment. The only way to find out is to try it and see on an XP
machine as Malke suggested.

Steve

 

[Art]

Thanks, many of my DOS applications will work in an XP Professional
environment but some will not. That is why I plan on having a
dual-boot system with two different hidden partitions. Have a great
day!!

: Yes it's true but many DOS apps will run fine in the emulated
: environment. The only way to find out is to try it and see on an XP
: machine as Malke suggested.
:
: Steve
:
: Art wrote:
:
:: Thank you for your comment. Gary Terhune, MVP Windows 9x wrote
:: that XP Pro does not use MS-DOS and only uses a shell with a
:: command.com prompt. Is this correct?
::
:: ::: Incognitus wrote:
:::
::::
:::: ::::: On Sun, 25 Apr 2004 07:01:55 +1000, "David Candy"
:::::
:::::: No. But it can run Dos programs that 98 can't and it can't run
:::::: some that
:::: 98 can. But most dos apps work on 98 or XP. But beaware that XP
:::: dos is based on Dos 5.
:::::
::::: XP DOS isn't based on MS-DOS 5 because XP has zero MS-DOS code
::::: in it. Spare me the rant I know is coming that XP has to have
::::: DOS to access the HD. Everybody here knows that when a
::::: question is asked about DOS, MS-DOS is implied.
:::::
::::
:::: Perhaps you can explain the results of a MEM command from a cmd
:::: prompt?
:::
::: Just to get back to the Original Poster's question for a moment -
::: find a friend with Windows XP and try your program on their
::: machine. Since it's DOS, it won't need to be installed and you can
::: just copy the executable (and associated files, if necessary) to
::: the hard drive. I had a client who was using 3 very obscure DOS
::: programs. I warned her ahead of time that they might not work. To
::: my amazement, the programs run perfectly, with just a little
::: tweaking of the printer settings. So give it a try and see!
:::
::: Malke

 

[Ron Martell]

My question arises from the fact that can Windows XP Pro. run any
programs that Windows 98SE can? Backwards compatibility means a lot
to me and I enjoy programming in BASIC and use ancient DOS
applications. Thanks in advance for the reply and have a great day.

Most 32 bit applications written for Windows 98 will run okay on
Windows XP, although there are a few exceptions. Most common of these
are hardware utilities, diagnostic programs, and antivirus software.

Many 16 bit (Windows 3.x) and DOS applications work just fine under
Windows XP although again there are exceptions. With these apps the
most common cause of problems is that the app was programmed to bypass
the operating system function calls by working directly with the
hardware. Windows XP absolutely prohibits applications from directly
controlling the hardware and therefore any apps programmed in this way
will fail. Unfortunately there is no easy way, other than installing
the app and trying it, of determining which ones have done this sort
of shortcut. Most common instances of this are with games (direct
control of video), communications programs (direct control of serial
port/modem), and custom programs that use a parallel port "dongle"
authorization plug and therefore work directly with the parallel port.

Good luck


Ron Martell Duncan B.C. Canada
--
Microsoft MVP
On-Line Help Computer Service
http://onlinehelp.bc.ca

"The reason computer chips are so small is computers don't eat much."

 

[David Candy]

XP or previous versions of windows did NOT absolutely forbid access to hardware. A dos program in XP running full screen has full control of the video card, running in a window it thinks it has full access to a video card (but only standard BIOS video modes are supported). Windows automatically detects an attempt to switch the dos screen to a non BIOS mode and switches to full screen and gets out of the way. A dos program can access hardware via vxd. Vxds pretend that the hardware exists. XP comes with a lot of builtin vxds, such as LPT and Com ports.

 

[Art]

Thanks for the information but which setup is better for my needs a
dual-boot hidden configuration setup of 98SE and XP Professional or a
Virtual Environment setup? I am interested in which is more
compatible with older programs.

:
:: My question arises from the fact that can Windows XP Pro. run any
:: programs that Windows 98SE can? Backwards compatibility means a
:: lot to me and I enjoy programming in BASIC and use ancient DOS
:: applications. Thanks in advance for the reply and have a great
:: day.
::
:
: Most 32 bit applications written for Windows 98 will run okay on
: Windows XP, although there are a few exceptions. Most common of
: these are hardware utilities, diagnostic programs, and antivirus
: software.
:
: Many 16 bit (Windows 3.x) and DOS applications work just fine under
: Windows XP although again there are exceptions. With these apps the
: most common cause of problems is that the app was programmed to
: bypass the operating system function calls by working directly with
: the hardware. Windows XP absolutely prohibits applications from
: directly controlling the hardware and therefore any apps programmed
: in this way will fail. Unfortunately there is no easy way, other
: than installing the app and trying it, of determining which ones
: have done this sort of shortcut. Most common instances of this
: are with games (direct control of video), communications programs
: (direct control of serial port/modem), and custom programs that use
: a parallel port "dongle" authorization plug and therefore work
: directly with the parallel port.
:
: Good luck
:
:
: Ron Martell Duncan B.C. Canada

 

[David Candy]

Plus many Dos programs allow switching of the video mode, Direct Access / BIOS Access / Dos Access as not all computers were IBM compatable.

 

[Ron Martell]

Thanks for the information but which setup is better for my needs a
dual-boot hidden configuration setup of 98SE and XP Professional or a
Virtual Environment setup? I am interested in which is more
compatible with older programs.

If you have older programs that are proven to be not compatible with
Windows XP then your best option, in my opinion, is a dual boot
configuration.

Good luck



Ron Martell Duncan B.C. Canada
--
Microsoft MVP
On-Line Help Computer Service
http://onlinehelp.bc.ca

"The reason computer chips are so small is computers don't eat much."

 

[Art]

Thank you very much. I have come to the same conclusion and will
implement the upgrade with a dual-boot of Microsoft Windows 98SE and
XP Professional on two separate and hidden partitions. Would you
suggest having the XP partition as Fat 32 or NTFS? Thanks again for
all of your help.

:
: >Thanks for the information but which setup is better for my needs a
: >dual-boot hidden configuration setup of 98SE and XP Professional or
a
: >Virtual Environment setup? I am interested in which is more
: >compatible with older programs.
: >
:
: If you have older programs that are proven to be not compatible with
: Windows XP then your best option, in my opinion, is a dual boot
: configuration.
:
: Good luck
:
:
:
: Ron Martell Duncan B.C. Canada
: --
: Microsoft MVP
: On-Line Help Computer Service
: http://onlinehelp.bc.ca
:
: "The reason computer chips are so small is computers don't eat
much."