DOS applications

[Bonnie]

If I use Windows XP, will I be able to install and work in
DOS programs, such as WordPerfect 5.1 for DOS?

 

[CS]

If I use Windows XP, will I be able to install and work in
DOS programs, such as WordPerfect 5.1 for DOS?

Most DOS programs will work OK using the DOS emulator provided in
WinXP. The ones which will not work are those that try to access
hardware directly, usually video and sound. Typical of older DOS
games.

As for WP 5.1, it reportedly works OK in XP, however, I have not tried
to use my copy so I can not verify if that is true or not. You'll
just have to try for yourself.

 

[Bob Harris]

If you need a word processor, try open office, free from
http://www.openoffice.org.
Their office also includes a spreadsheet and a slide/presention maker. It
is compatible with XP, and most other modern operating systems. Be sure to
download the right version for your OS.

 

[Alex Nichol]

If I use Windows XP, will I be able to install and work in
DOS programs, such as WordPerfect 5.1 for DOS?

THat will probably work, running under the DOS emulation (either by
making a shortcut to its exe, or invoking it from All Programs -
Accessories - Command Prompt. What will not work is any DOS program
that needs a real mode driver or TSR loaded in config.sys or
autoexec.bat, or which tries to handle hardware direct (so you might get
in trouble with WP printer drivers - I don't know). For best DOS
conventional memory, edit the windows\system32\config.nt and autoexec.nt
files.

In config.nt have (apart from the large number of REM lines) just
EMM = B=4000 RAM
(note the exact spaces - either side of the first = and before RAM,
none next to the second =) and

dos=high, umb
device=%SystemRoot%\system32\himem.sys
files=40
(or higher files= if needed)

and in autoexec.nt have

REM Install DPMI support
lh %SystemRoot%\system32\dosx

with other earlier lh lines REM ed out, and then any SET or PATH lines
that may already be present at the end.

This should give about 612K for a program, run from a shortcut made to
its .exe file. R-click the shortcut, Properties and on the Memory page
you can set an explicit value - rather than Auto - for any EMM or XMS
memory it may need, and for initial environment space

 

[Please reply to news group.]

You can run DOS programs in XP. However, I don't think XP has an
autoexec.bat or config.sys that it uses for DOS sessions. I don't see
why you'd want to use that old version of WordPerfect. Why don't you
get a Windows version?

 

[LisaLevitt]

The old DOS versions of WordPerfect can be much easier to use than the
Windows versions, especially if you're used to them and you are a very fast
typist. The DOS versions don't require that your fingers ever leave the
keyboard to use the mouse (using the mouse slows you down). Most of the
necessary functions are just a few keystrokes. Also the DOS versions of
WordPerfect handle macros in a faster way than the Windows versions.

For a very good, very fast typist, the DOS versions of WP are the fastest
way to get a document created. If you then want all the fancy stuff (like
graphics, etc.), you can simply directly import your DOS WP document in any
later Windows version.

To get WordPerfect 5.1 to look right in XP, I had to tweak it using the
Properties options (i.e., window size, font, etc.) It's not as easy to
access as on a non-XP machine, but it can be done.

Hope this helps.
Felicia Levitt

 

[Wesley Vogel]

C:\COMMAND.COM
%SystemRoot%\SYSTEM32\AUTOEXEC.NT
%SystemRoot%\SYSTEM32\CONFIG.NT

 

[Alex Nichol]

You can run DOS programs in XP. However, I don't think XP has an
autoexec.bat or config.sys that it uses for DOS sessions. I don't see
why you'd want to use that old version of WordPerfect.

You can do a limited amount in windows\system32\config.nt and
autoexec.nt

But the problem with very old programs like such a WordPerfect is likely
to be printing: if there are printer drivers that the program has of its
own, they will almost certainly not be allowed in XP