Running DOS app in WinXP

[BJ]

I have a few applications that run in a DOS window under
WinXP Pro. When I try to run one of these by double-
clicking from Explorer, I see the DOS window flash open
and then close right away. The window does not stay open
to allow me to enter parameters. The only way to run one
of these programs is to manually open a DOS window at the
program folder (DOS Prompt Here) and then type in the name
of the program to run.

Is this normal operation in WinXP?

 

[David Candy]

Yes

Comspec is set to cmd.exe a win32 program. If you set it to command.com you can change the default properties of a dos window to not Close On Exit. Cmd.exe is not a dos program but a win32 program, so doesn't have these options.

However command.com is from Dos 5 (10 years old) and doesn't know what long file names are.

Create a shortcut to your program

Preface it with
cmd /k

eg to do a dir
cmd /kdir

To do Ipconfig
cmd /kipconfig

To copy a file
cmd /kcopy file1.txt file2.txt

 

[sqr]

Instead of clicking on it try and open the command window first and typing
in the correct syntax.