DOS emulation failure

[chessnic]

I was very disappointed at the performance of the DOS window in XP
Home, which came with the new computer I just purchased. XP does not
live up to the promise, even after years of debugging.

I have run the DOS TELEMAGIC database contact manager since the 1980s.
It provides features that windows programs have not dreamed of.
Naturally, I have accumulated thousands of records, correspondence,
etc., etc. [As a Telemagic reseller, I tested the Telemagic for Windows
functionality through several builds and was disappointed enough to
drop out. Telemagic was eventually dropped by Sage. It is no longer
supported.]

Clipper-compiled Telemagic ver 14.5 "Professional" runs fine on Win 98
and prints like a wiz through LPT1.

In the XP DOS window, TM first loses the menus located at the bottom of
the screen and considerable funcationality. Then the word processor
function barely works until it crashes the program entirely. The script
function is absent. The database rebuild does not pack the records. I
have not gotten close to trying to print.

In the XP Dos properties, none of the Compatibility choices in the DOS
properties make any difference. I tried Memory options at auto and
maximum settings.

In Win 98, my config.sys reads in part:
device=c:\windows\emm386.exe noems novcpi
dos=high,umb,auto
files=250
buffershigh=4-,4
devicehigh=c:\windows\system\cpqidecd.sys /d:idecd001
shell=c:\command.com /p /e:2048

My autoexec.bat reads in part:

path c:\windows;c:\windows\command;c:\tm
set temp=c:\windows\temp

I have put these into the \system32\config.nt and autoexec.nt with no
success.

My question is why should I not replace XP with Windows 98 on my new
computer?

Thanks in advance.

 

[Ron Martell]

My question is why should I not replace XP with Windows 98 on my new
computer?

For the same basic reasons that you shouldn't replace the engine in a
new car with one from a Model T Ford.

There are other solutions to your problem.

Perhaps the most efficient would be to install Virtual PC
http://www.microsoft.com/windows/virtualpc/default.mspx and use that
to run Windows 98 whenever you need to access this program.

Good luck

Ron Martell Duncan B.C. Canada
--
Microsoft MVP (1997 - 2006)
On-Line Help Computer Service
http://onlinehelp.bc.ca
Syberfix Remote Computer Repair

"Anyone who thinks that they are too small to make a difference
has never been in bed with a mosquito."

 

[Dave B.]

That's not a DOS window, it's a command prompt, there is no DOS in XP. Old
DOS apps may or may not work in XP, if yours doesn't and you must use it,
you'll need to find a solution whether it be a DOS emulator, a virtual PC,
or a new OS.

 

[chessnic]

Thanks. Virtual PC would be a good idea, except my new computer runs on
XP Media Center (ver 5.1 build 2600.xpsp.051011-1528; service pack 2),
not XP Professional.

chessnic

 

[Galen]

In chessnic had this to say:

My reply is at the bottom of your sent message:

Thanks. Virtual PC would be a good idea, except my new computer runs
on XP Media Center (ver 5.1 build 2600.xpsp.051011-1528; service pack
2), not XP Professional.

It still should work? If not:

DOSBox, an x86 DOS emulator:
http://dosbox.sourceforge.net/

Now...

Here comes the fun...

Your problem isn't (I don't think) the DOS or the XP or even the
application. Instead it's wanting to be able to fully use the contact
information you've saved? As it is DOS it is likely flatfiled somewhere -
hopefully not in machine language so not compiled or the likes - is there a
converter from that to another app that's updated still? Scouring
sourceforge might turn you on to it or if the datasets are well defined just
authoring a small DB reader - you could even make it PHP and force 'em into
SQL tables and run it locally or upload it so that you can convert it -
might turn something up.

We recently had to do this for about 1.3 million books for a client. Well
no, we didn't have to, we wanted to help and then offered to do it once we
saw a simple way. In that case - and this may not be what will work for
you - we were able to do a direct conversion of their original flatfile to
CSV and then assign the rows an ID. From there we were able to import it
into MySQL fairly simply by just using a conversion app and, sure enough -
we named the tables the same of course - the client had their bookstore
online pulling even the correct image files in less than a week. It looked -
and even sounded - complicated but it was really easy.

Why the extra questions? DOS is long since gone for the most part as is
support for your application and while your program might be light,
effective, and already bought and paid for it might be time for an upgrade
and it might not be that hard (and even free) to do the conversion. That
and, well, if you automate the conversion you can go to the people you sold
it to before and sell them your converter this many years later.

--
Galen - MS MVP - Windows (Shell/User & IE)
http://dts-l.org/ http://kgiii.info/

"Chance has put in our way a most singular and whimsical problem, and
its solution is its own reward." - Sherlock Holmes

 

[chessnic]

Thank you for the suggestion. I will try it.

As for upgrading to a more recent program, I considered that when
Telemagic for Windows was introduced and several times thereafter. The
loss of features in the DOS program is significant enough to call it a
downgrade.

An important feature already lost is the program's ability to dial my
phone using a hardware modem. I curse computer makers every time my
fingers dial a wrong number.

Thanks again and best wishes,