Poor real time operation in DOS emulation mode

[Guest]

I have a data acquisition program written in Quick Basic V4.5 that I want to
run in the DOS emulation window of Windows XP. The program outputs 8 bits of
data at a continuous rate of 4 KSPS to a DAC for real time waveform
generation. The program works OK in a true, pure DOS environment where it
produces a smooth, continuous waveform. Under Windows XP the data comes out
in spits and spurts, not continuously. It appears as though Quick Basic V4.5
is getting about 1.25% of the microprocessor’s core time and the DAC output
is very choppy. Win XP’s Task Manager says there are 63 processes running in
the background. Is this intermittent, choppy operation because of the
multi-tasking nature of Win XP? Is there any way to make this DOS
application work in apparent real time under Win XP? I am using Tame-Dos to
speed up the DOS application and reduce the microprocessor loading.

 

[Jim]

I have a data acquisition program written in Quick Basic V4.5 that I want
to
run in the DOS emulation window of Windows XP. The program outputs 8 bits
of
data at a continuous rate of 4 KSPS to a DAC for real time waveform
generation. The program works OK in a true, pure DOS environment where it
produces a smooth, continuous waveform. Under Windows XP the data comes
out
in spits and spurts, not continuously. It appears as though Quick Basic
V4.5
is getting about 1.25% of the microprocessor's core time and the DAC
output
is very choppy. Win XP's Task Manager says there are 63 processes running
in
the background. Is this intermittent, choppy operation because of the
multi-tasking nature of Win XP? Is there any way to make this DOS
application work in apparent real time under Win XP? I am using Tame-Dos
to
speed up the DOS application and reduce the microprocessor loading.

To do actual real time data acquisition, you should be using a real mode
single program operating system.
The time slicing in Windows XP can cause your problems.
Virtual memory is not a performance option. The translations needed can
cause your problems.

If you expect to acquire real time data consistently, you need a real mode
operating system. Emulating DOS on a Windows XP machine is very far from a
real mode system. I should add that there is no apparent way to convert XP
to be a single user system.

My comments are based on experiences with VMS. What we finally had to do
was to develop the software with VMS. We converted the machine to be a
dedicated processor for this one task. The whole project died because it
was not cost effective.

Jim

 

[Mike Warren]

If you expect to acquire real time data consistently, you need a real
mode operating system. Emulating DOS on a Windows XP machine is very
far from a real mode system. I should add that there is no apparent
way to convert XP to be a single user system.

There are real-time solutions for Win XP but I doubt this will be
applicable to the OP.

http://whitepapers.silicon.com/0,39024759,60041759p-39000473q,00.htm

 

[HeyBub]

I have a data acquisition program written in Quick Basic V4.5 that I
want to run in the DOS emulation window of Windows XP. The program
outputs 8 bits of data at a continuous rate of 4 KSPS to a DAC for
real time waveform generation. The program works OK in a true, pure
DOS environment where it produces a smooth, continuous waveform.
Under Windows XP the data comes out in spits and spurts, not
continuously. It appears as though Quick Basic V4.5 is getting about
1.25% of the microprocessor's core time and the DAC output is very
choppy. Win XP's Task Manager says there are 63 processes running in
the background. Is this intermittent, choppy operation because of the
multi-tasking nature of Win XP? Is there any way to make this DOS
application work in apparent real time under Win XP? I am using
Tame-Dos to speed up the DOS application and reduce the
microprocessor loading.

No. By definition, XP is a pre-emptive multi-tasking operating system (Win98
was the first). XP will time-slice available CPU cycles between active
tasks, including those that are just waiting, such as checking to see if the
mouse moved in the last few nano-seconds.

You need a dedicated computer running DOS (not XP).

Pay no attention to those who swear a Linux box will do the job.

Fortunately for you, I have a COMPAQ Portable II (286) that I'll be willing
to let go for $200.

 

[Guest]

I have a HP Pavilion 6465 (Circa 1999) desktop that runs on Win98. If I hold
down the "F8" key on bootup I have a choice of booting in Win98, Win98 safe
mode or "Command Prompt Only". Is the Command Prompt Only selection a real
DOS or an emulated DOS? It loads very fast (less than 1 second). Typing VER
at the prompt returns Windows98 (Version 4.10.1998). It seems that my data
acquisition program written in QB V4.5 runs with a less choppy output, but
not perfect.

 

[V Green]

Try making a floppy "Startup Disk" in W98,
boot off that and try your app again.

If it's still choppy, you need to jump into the
Wayback Machine and find "real" DOS somewhere.

 

[Guest]

My Compaq Presario V2000 laptop does not have a floppy drive. I made a DOS
6.2 start up CD-ROM for the Presario on my old HP Pavilion 6465 desktop
(Circa 1999) which runs on Win98. I set the Presario's BIOS to look first
at the CD-ROM. The laptop did boot but the C: drive was not available as it
is NTFS. I put QB V4.5 and the data aquistion program, written in QB, on the
boot CD. Although the program sort of ran, it could not access the PCMCIA to
IEEE-1284 card. This is not the way to go. So, I will run the QB program on
the old HP Pavilion under a true DOS boot as it's C: drive is not NTFS. This
is progress?

 

[V Green]

My Compaq Presario V2000 laptop does not have a floppy drive. I made a DOS
6.2 start up CD-ROM for the Presario on my old HP Pavilion 6465 desktop
(Circa 1999) which runs on Win98. I set the Presario's BIOS to look first
at the CD-ROM. The laptop did boot but the C: drive was not available as it
is NTFS. I put QB V4.5 and the data aquistion program, written in QB, on the
boot CD. Although the program sort of ran, it could not access the PCMCIA to
IEEE-1284 card. This is not the way to go. So, I will run the QB program on
the old HP Pavilion under a true DOS boot as it's C: drive is not NTFS. This
is progress?

Yeah, I know...

On older laptops with PCMCIA cards, there were DOS drivers
for the PCMCIA controller and then another driver for whatever
card you stuffed into it.

Those days are long gone, I am afraid, unless you can find a combo
of old stuff that will work. Ebay might be your friend here...

 

[junkawat]

To do actual real time data acquisition, you should be using a real mode
single program operating system.
The time slicing in WindowsXPcan cause your problems.
Virtual memory is not a performance option. The translations needed can
cause your problems.

If you expect to acquire real time data consistently, you need a real mode
operating system. EmulatingDOSon a WindowsXPmachine is very far from a
real mode system. I should add that there is no apparent way to convertXP
to be a single user system.

My comments are based on experiences with VMS. What we finally had to do
was to develop the software with VMS. We converted the machine to be a
dedicated processor for this one task. The whole project died because it
was not cost effective.

Jim-äñúø è÷ñè îöåèè-

-äøàä è÷ñè îöåèè-

For a complete solutions Checkout
http://www.taocomputers.com/english.asp
their company is called Tao Computing Solutions. They have a product
called Tao ExDOS, it's basically a DOS emulator that solves all these
problems on Windows 2000/Windows XP/Windows 2003 and Windows Vista.

All printing problems including USB printers, Win only printers that
do not support text ROM fonts. Terminal Server Printing redirection,
support for all codepages, direct access to hardware, parallel
dongles, parallel ports, serial ports, full screen font/s, CPU
Resource manager, Terminal Server full support, Terminal Server
Printing redirection, Full screen emulation on Vista's Aero interface,
Printing to LPT1-LPT9, Support for console applications, They have a
Lite version which captures all printing from DOS applications 100%
with no TSR's to bug you and use up memory. MINIMAL CPU USAGE ! ! The
software takes care of all CPU issues. You will never get 100% CPU
Used with this software.There is an option to directly from DOS to
Microsoft Word, HTML, RTF, TXT using the correct codepages, fonts and
pagination. AMAZING!!! everything I needed in one product. we can all
keep working with DOS for several years more.

 

[junkawat]

Yeah, I know...

On older laptops with PCMCIA cards, there wereDOSdrivers
for the PCMCIA controller and then another driver for whatever
card you stuffed into it.

Those days are long gone, I am afraid, unless you can find a combo
of old stuff that will work. Ebay might be your friend here...








-äøàä è÷ñè îöåèè-

For a complete solutions Checkout
http://www.taocomputers.com/english.asp
their company is called Tao Computing Solutions. They have a product
called Tao ExDOS, it's basically a DOS emulator that solves all these
problems on Windows 2000/Windows XP/Windows 2003 and Windows Vista.

All printing problems including USB printers, Win only printers that
do not support text ROM fonts. Terminal Server Printing redirection,
support for all codepages, direct access to hardware, parallel
dongles, parallel ports, serial ports, full screen font/s, CPU
Resource manager, Terminal Server full support, Terminal Server
Printing redirection, Full screen emulation on Vista's Aero interface,
Printing to LPT1-LPT9, Support for console applications, They have a
Lite version which captures all printing from DOS applications 100%
with no TSR's to bug you and use up memory. MINIMAL CPU USAGE ! ! The
software takes care of all CPU issues. You will never get 100% CPU
Used with this software.There is an option to directly from DOS to
Microsoft Word, HTML, RTF, TXT using the correct codepages, fonts and
pagination. AMAZING!!! everything I needed in one product. we can all
keep working with DOS for several years more.

 

[junkawat]

Yeah, I know...

On older laptops with PCMCIA cards, there wereDOSdrivers
for the PCMCIA controller and then another driver for whatever
card you stuffed into it.

Those days are long gone, I am afraid, unless you can find a combo
of old stuff that will work. Ebay might be your friend here...








-äøàä è÷ñè îöåèè-

For a complete solutions Checkout
http://www.taocomputers.com/english.asp
their company is called Tao Computing Solutions. They have a product
called Tao ExDOS, it's basically a DOS emulator that solves all these
problems on Windows 2000/Windows XP/Windows 2003 and Windows Vista.

All printing problems including USB printers, Win only printers that
do not support text ROM fonts. Terminal Server Printing redirection,
support for all codepages, direct access to hardware, parallel
dongles, parallel ports, serial ports, full screen font/s, CPU
Resource manager, Terminal Server full support, Terminal Server
Printing redirection, Full screen emulation on Vista's Aero interface,
Printing to LPT1-LPT9, Support for console applications, They have a
Lite version which captures all printing from DOS applications 100%
with no TSR's to bug you and use up memory. MINIMAL CPU USAGE ! ! The
software takes care of all CPU issues. You will never get 100% CPU
Used with this software.There is an option to directly from DOS to
Microsoft Word, HTML, RTF, TXT using the correct codepages, fonts and
pagination. AMAZING!!! everything I needed in one product. we can all
keep working with DOS for several years more.

 

[V Green]

Yeah, I know...

On older laptops with PCMCIA cards, there wereDOSdrivers
for the PCMCIA controller and then another driver for whatever
card you stuffed into it.

Those days are long gone, I am afraid, unless you can find a combo
of old stuff that will work. Ebay might be your friend here...






if

-äøàä è÷ñè îöåèè-

For a complete solutions Checkout
http://www.taocomputers.com/english.asp
their company is called Tao Computing Solutions. They have a product
called Tao ExDOS, it's basically a
-----------------------
with XP DOS is do you?
SPAM post is.
----------------------

that solves all these
problems on Windows 2000/Windows XP/Windows 2003 and Windows Vista.

All printing problems including USB printers, Win only printers that
do not support text ROM fonts. Terminal Server Printing redirection,
support for all codepages, direct access to hardware, parallel
dongles, parallel ports, serial ports, full screen font/s, CPU
Resource manager, Terminal Server full support, Terminal Server
Printing redirection, Full screen emulation on Vista's Aero interface,
Printing to LPT1-LPT9, Support for console applications, They have a
Lite version which captures all printing from DOS applications 100%
with no TSR's to bug you and use up memory. MINIMAL CPU USAGE ! ! The
software takes care of all CPU issues. You will never get 100% CPU
Used with this software.There is an option to directly from DOS to
Microsoft Word, HTML, RTF, TXT using the correct codepages, fonts and
pagination. AMAZING!!! everything I needed in one product. we can all
keep working with DOS for several years more.