Give me my DOS back!

[Guest]

Just spent all day reading posts about problems running dos in XP, nothing
helps.
PRE 1987 dos program that is indispensible. Runs on XP professional fine.
Machine fried, new machine came packaged with XP home. Dos program works
except when you hit the F10 button, which should switch you from the text
page to a graphics page, the program crashes. Error message: "The NTVDM CPU
has encountered an illegal instruction CS:9196 IP:e682 OP:ff ff fc ff ee
Choose 'Close' to terminate the application'. the message window allows
cancel or ignore, either of which cancels the application. This is an old
coordinate geometry program that is light years ahead of all the fancy-smancy
stuff they want you to buy, and SIMPLE to run. The autoexec.np file is cool,
compatability options do nothing. Dont want a dual drive system, we switch
back and forth from the DOS to windows application constantly. Looked at
Dosbox, too much hoopla ... there must be a setting I'm missing, or maybe
Home XP just doesnt support the graphics screen.
Any HELP would be appreciated

 

[LittleMoo]

Just spent all day reading posts about problems running dos in XP, nothing
helps.
PRE 1987 dos program that is indispensible. Runs on XP professional fine.
Machine fried, new machine came packaged with XP home. Dos program works
except when you hit the F10 button, which should switch you from the text
page to a graphics page, the program crashes. Error message: "The NTVDM
CPU
has encountered an illegal instruction CS:9196 IP:e682 OP:ff ff fc ff ee
Choose 'Close' to terminate the application'. the message window allows
cancel or ignore, either of which cancels the application. This is an old
coordinate geometry program that is light years ahead of all the
fancy-smancy
stuff they want you to buy, and SIMPLE to run. The autoexec.np file is
cool,
compatability options do nothing. Dont want a dual drive system, we
switch
back and forth from the DOS to windows application constantly. Looked at
Dosbox, too much hoopla ... there must be a setting I'm missing, or maybe
Home XP just doesnt support the graphics screen.
Any HELP would be appreciated

You can try putting your program in Windows 95 Compatibility Mode.
Run Older Programs on Windows XP:
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/using/helpandsupport/learnmore/appcompat.mspx

But as it is probably a memory access problem it would be surprising if that
worked.

However you could get Microsoft Virtual PC as it is now free:
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/using/helpandsupport/learnmore/appcompat.mspx
And then from there you could put Windows 95/98 on Virtual PC (granted that
you still have a 95 or 98 disk laying around somewhere that isn't installed
on a machine).
If you actually want DOS then you can put FreeDOS on Virtual PC:
http://www.freedos.org/

Or you could run DOSBox which is a DOS emulator that runs on XP:
http://sourceforge.net/projects/dosbox (this might be the easiest option)

-Dan

 

[ronald.phillips]

This is a new machine? Then that's the problem. XP Home/XP Pro have no
differences in NTVDM (DOS emulation). When your running in a console
window you are not accessing your video card directly and operating in
text mode which is very compatible with NTVDM. When you run in
fullscreen graphics mode you are accessing your video card directly
which can cause problems.

What kind of video card does this machine have? An Nvidia card?

Also what's your problem with DosBox?

 

[David Sanders]

Just spent all day reading posts about problems running dos in XP, nothing
helps.
PRE 1987 dos program that is indispensible. Runs on XP professional fine.
Machine fried, new machine came packaged with XP home. Dos program works
except when you hit the F10 button, which should switch you from the text
page to a graphics page, the program crashes. Error message: "The NTVDM CPU
has encountered an illegal instruction CS:9196 IP:e682 OP:ff ff fc ff ee
Choose 'Close' to terminate the application'. the message window allows
cancel or ignore, either of which cancels the application. This is an old
coordinate geometry program that is light years ahead of all the fancy-smancy
stuff they want you to buy, and SIMPLE to run. The autoexec.np file is cool,
compatability options do nothing. Dont want a dual drive system, we switch
back and forth from the DOS to windows application constantly. Looked at
Dosbox, too much hoopla ... there must be a setting I'm missing, or maybe
Home XP just doesnt support the graphics screen.
Any HELP would be appreciated

You might want to try Virtual PC from Microsoft.

 

[Harry Ohrn MS MVP]

There isn't any difference between XP Pro and XP Home when it comes to
running programs. The main differences between Pro and Home have to do with
networking and some file security issues. You may need to set Compatibility
mode. Select whichever program launches your application. If that is through
start button->Programs menu or if it is a shortcut on your Desktop or
wherever just right click the icon and select Properties->Compatibility Tab.
change to Windows 95 and you may also need to change the Display to 256 or
640X480.

Also check through some of the info here and see if anything fits
http://www.google.ca/search?hl=en&q...illegal+instruction++&btnG=Google+Search&meta

 

[ronald.phillips]

He's running a DOS program. Compatibility mode doesn't apply.

I've tested over 700+ DOS programs in NT4/2K/XP/2003. Compatibility
mode was never used ...EVER.

Check out the ACT. Although there are a few things that apply to NTVDM
they are more in relation to 16bit Windows programs NOT DOS programs.


To the above poster read this thread:
http://vogons.zetafleet.com/viewtopic.php?t=1659

I doubt it will fix your issue since it's highly doubtful your program
uses VESA but it could be related. Just be aware that it modified your
VGA.SYS so make sure you have a backup. Oh and don't use the attachment
in the first post since it's pre XP -SP2. Go to the website at the end
of the thread and download the latest ver.

There isn't any difference between XP Pro and XP Home when it comes to
running programs. The main differences between Pro and Home have to do with
networking and some file security issues. You may need to set Compatibility
mode. Select whichever program launches your application. If that is through
start button->Programs menu or if it is a shortcut on your Desktop or
wherever just right click the icon and select Properties->Compatibility Tab.
change to Windows 95 and you may also need to change the Display to 256 or
640X480.

Also check through some of the info here and see if anything fits
http://www.google.ca/search?hl=en&q...illegal+instruction++&btnG=Google+Search&meta

--


Harry Ohrn MS MVP [Shell\User]

Just spent all day reading posts about problems running dos in XP, nothing
helps.
PRE 1987 dos program that is indispensible. Runs on XP professional fine.
Machine fried, new machine came packaged with XP home. Dos program works
except when you hit the F10 button, which should switch you from the text
page to a graphics page, the program crashes. Error message: "The NTVDM
CPU
has encountered an illegal instruction CS:9196 IP:e682 OP:ff ff fc ff ee
Choose 'Close' to terminate the application'. the message window allows
cancel or ignore, either of which cancels the application. This is an old
coordinate geometry program that is light years ahead of all the
fancy-smancy
stuff they want you to buy, and SIMPLE to run. The autoexec.np file is
cool,
compatability options do nothing. Dont want a dual drive system, we
switch
back and forth from the DOS to windows application constantly. Looked at
Dosbox, too much hoopla ... there must be a setting I'm missing, or maybe
Home XP just doesnt support the graphics screen.
Any HELP would be appreciated

 

[Kerry Brown]

Just spent all day reading posts about problems running dos in XP,
nothing helps.
PRE 1987 dos program that is indispensible. Runs on XP professional
fine. Machine fried, new machine came packaged with XP home. Dos
program works except when you hit the F10 button, which should switch
you from the text page to a graphics page, the program crashes. Error
message: "The NTVDM CPU has encountered an illegal instruction
CS:9196 IP:e682 OP:ff ff fc ff ee Choose 'Close' to terminate the
application'. the message window allows cancel or ignore, either of
which cancels the application. This is an old coordinate geometry
program that is light years ahead of all the fancy-smancy stuff they
want you to buy, and SIMPLE to run. The autoexec.np file is cool,
compatability options do nothing. Dont want a dual drive system, we
switch back and forth from the DOS to windows application constantly.
Looked at Dosbox, too much hoopla ... there must be a setting I'm
missing, or maybe Home XP just doesnt support the graphics screen.
Any HELP would be appreciated

Someone else has already mentioned it but I'll say it again. Try Virtual PC
it's free. You create a virtual machine and install DOS in it. As it's DOS
it doesn't need a lot of resources. You can create a very small virtual
machine.

http://www.microsoft.com/windows/virtualpc/default.mspx

 

[Bob I]

Sorry, but it requires Windows Pro or Tablet editions.

 

[Kerry Brown]

Running Virtual PC on XP Home is not supported but it does work.

 

[Guest]

It is a brand new Compac using a Nvidia card. Does that mean there is no
quick fix? I may have to go the dosbox or virtual PC route, but I just want
the simpliest option... I dont have time to become a computer genius, just
want to get back to work. Thanks to everyone for their feedback
Mike

 

[Bob I]

Thanks, good to know, as it says "requires".

 

[JerryMouse]

It is a brand new Compac using a Nvidia card. Does that mean there
is no
quick fix? I may have to go the dosbox or virtual PC route, but I
just want the simpliest option... I dont have time to become a
computer genius, just
want to get back to work. Thanks to everyone for their feedback
Mike

Yeah, there's a quick fix: Replace the video card with something that's not
beyond the bleeding edge.

 

[Guest]

Really? 'cause I just might try that.
Thanks
Mike

 

[Guest]

Older video sounds like the way to go. The machine has no AGP slot, only a
PCIe x16 slot, which will handle a video card. My question is this: before I
spend $60 on a PCIexpress video card, will it be as advanced as the Nvidia
onboard that I have now? Ive read reviews, and it looks like PCIe has been
around at least a couple years, so it might not be quite as cutting edge, and
might let me run the graphics screen.

 

[Guest]

Thanks Ronald.
You were right on with your analysis, the new computer has nvidia onboard
and no AGP slot, so older generation vc was not an option. I don't know why
I was scared of dosbox, its righton simple, attacks the problem at it's root,
and is so easy.
Thanks again, keep up the good work.
Mike