XP compatibility

[Bob Shoring]

I am currently running Win 98SE on a 5 year old machine that is showing
its age. I want to buy a new PC, but I want to be able to run all my
favorite old programs, which were written for Win 95, 98 and some in DOS.

I have received conflicting information on whether Win XP will be
compatible with my present applications. I have everything working the
way I want it now. Updating all my software to XP versions would be for
me like buying all new furniture just because I bought a new house.
Plus some favorites and no longer being offered.

How can I find out if they will work?

Thanks,
Bob

 

[Will Denny]

Hi Bob

Windows XP has no 'DOS', so those programs may not run at all. The Windows 95 and 98 'may' run, but might have to be used under 'Compatibility Mode'. Have you been to the respective web sites for those programs to see if there is any info. on running them on an XP machine?

--

Will Denny
MS-MVP Windows - Shell/User


| I am currently running Win 98SE on a 5 year old machine that is showing
| its age. I want to buy a new PC, but I want to be able to run all my
| favorite old programs, which were written for Win 95, 98 and some in DOS.
|
| I have received conflicting information on whether Win XP will be
| compatible with my present applications. I have everything working the
| way I want it now. Updating all my software to XP versions would be for
| me like buying all new furniture just because I bought a new house.
| Plus some favorites and no longer being offered.
|
| How can I find out if they will work?
|
| Thanks,
| Bob
|

 

[Jim Macklin]

Keep your old W98 computer as it is. Buy a nice new fast
computer with XP installed. Have two computers.

Most of your old programs will run just fine under XP, some
may require the compatibility mode of XP.

You can go to www.pcpitstop.com and run the XP readiness
test (on a sidebar) which will examine your machine to
determine whether the hardware and software is XP
compatible. You can also download a XP test from Microsoft
or if you have a friend with an XP CD the test is on the CD,
but the on-line test may be more current.


--
The people think the Constitution protects their rights;
But legislators see it as an obstacle to be overcome.


| I am currently running Win 98SE on a 5 year old machine
that is showing
| its age. I want to buy a new PC, but I want to be able to
run all my
| favorite old programs, which were written for Win 95, 98
and some in DOS.
|
| I have received conflicting information on whether Win XP
will be
| compatible with my present applications. I have
everything working the
| way I want it now. Updating all my software to XP
versions would be for
| me like buying all new furniture just because I bought a
new house.
| Plus some favorites and no longer being offered.
|
| How can I find out if they will work?
|
| Thanks,
| Bob
|

 

[Brian Coats]

I would just go to a computer shop and see if the can fix your
computer first. If not, Some computer shop still have windows 98se
and can install it. I can tell you one thing-Which has turned me off
of buying any Pc computer. Is the power supply fan is really noisy.
I sitting here with earphones on. That covers up to 22 decibels. I
can still here it. I have tried different power supplies. One thing
don’t let them replace your power supply until it dies.

Brian

 

[Old Guy]

Why buy a NEW computer to run OLD software on it? I'm
sure people hated to give up their horses when cars came
along. If I am correct, you hesitate to change because
you know that trying to get your current software to run
on a new computer will be time consuming, aggravating and
frought with problems.

There must be current programs that are definitely
compatible with XP and accomplish the same tasks as your
old programs. Once you install them and use them, you
will become comfortable with them and start to like them
the way you like the current ones.

Then when you upgrade again in 5 years, you will feel the
same way you do now!

If you are going to upgrade, then upgrade software and
all!

Good luck.

 

[Plato]

I have received conflicting information on whether Win XP will be
compatible with my present applications. I have everything working the

The reason you have received conflicting information is that you really
cant know for sure unless you test your old apps on an XP PC.

 

[Plato]

Keep your old W98 computer as it is. Buy a nice new fast
computer with XP installed. Have two computers.

I'm with you on that.

 

[Bob Shoring]

Thanks, everyone for your input. I've gotten some good tips and
interesting ideas. After reading the different postings, I guess I am
inclined to keep my (5 year old) Presario, which just got serviced and
given a clean bill of health by CompUSA, and perhaps buy a notebook with
XP. That way I can transition to XP at my own pace, and continue using
my favorite old programs, while trying out new ones on the notebook and
also seeing if it will run some of my favorite older ones.

Regards,
Bob

 

[Alex Nichol]

I am currently running Win 98SE on a 5 year old machine that is showing
its age. I want to buy a new PC, but I want to be able to run all my
favorite old programs, which were written for Win 95, 98 and some in DOS.

I have received conflicting information on whether Win XP will be
compatible with my present applications. I have everything working the
way I want it now. Updating all my software to XP versions would be for
me like buying all new furniture just because I bought a new house.
Plus some favorites and no longer being offered.

Some old DOS programs can run in XP - others were allowed to run in
Win98 by leaving a very large loophole, that contributed to instability
of the system and inability to recover from troubles in applications.
XP has closed this. As a guide:

If a DOS (or old Win3.x) program will run in a 'DOS window' of Win98 and
does not need any real mode driver/TSR loaded in config.sys or
autoexec.bat then there is a fair chance it will run in the DOS
emulation of XP. But even then, if it tries to handle hardware direct,
by accessing the IO areas and IRQs for itself, it will be killed
immediately. The only sure way is to try.

You will ultimately have to get rid of such programs and get
replacements , or accept continuing to run a Win98 system for ever -
with inability probably to run new programs