Dos Mode?

  • Thread starter Thread starter JoeF
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J

JoeF

I am still using an old computer with Windows95 and 98, and am considering
buying a new computer with Windows XP home.
I use the DOS mode often with the old system, and write some small programs
with GWBASIC. Does the XP operating systems include a DOS mode, and have a
utility for using the 'Basic' format to create small programs?
I lost half my hair getting where I am, and suspect that XP will take the
rest of it off my head.
Thanks.

Joe
 
While XP certainly has DOS code within it, there is no DOS mode. There's a
DOS emulator but there are no guarantees and with each new iteration of
Windows operating system, we move further and further away from DOS, making
compatibility more problematic as time goes on.

The best way to go would probably be to hang on to your current computer
even after buying a new one. That way, you can move forward to better
hardware, later software while being able to continue with your DOS apps and
coding for whatever purpose that serves for you. Conversely, you could dual
boot XP on your new system with a version of Windows that contains a true
DOS environment with which you know you can continue to work. This can be
more problematic because you may not always find DOS drivers for hardware
that you might need to use if that hardware is current.

--
In memory of our dear friend, MVP Alex Nichol.

Michael Solomon MS-MVP
Windows Shell/User
https://mvp.support.microsoft.com/communities/mvp.aspx
Backup is a PC User's Best Friend
DTS-L.Org: http://www.dts-l.org/
 
Hi,

Besides doing a dual boot, you could always use a virtual PC program on the
new XP computer. MS Virtual PC 2004 is pretty good. I have it installed on
my XP Pro SP2 computer. Whenever I want to use programs made for DOS,
Win3.1, 95, and 98, I just start them up in the Virtual PC.

Jeff
 
I'm using an old true DOS program called MS Basic version 7.0, without any
problems on XP Pro. The only difficulty may be in trying to access a
'device' such as a COM port, due to the 'driver' technique used by XP. Even
TSR's are no problem. The DOS emulator in XP is pretty smart.
Opa.
 
JoeF said:
I am still using an old computer with Windows95 and 98, and am considering
buying a new computer with Windows XP home.
I use the DOS mode often with the old system, and write some small programs
with GWBASIC. Does the XP operating systems include a DOS mode, and have a
utility for using the 'Basic' format to create small programs?
I lost half my hair getting where I am, and suspect that XP will take the
rest of it off my head.
Thanks.

Joe
Click to expand...


There is no way to reboot a WinXP PC into Real Mode DOS unless
you've set up a dual-boot system. The WinNT family of 32-bit
graphical operating systems, of which WinXP is the latest generation,
has never used, included, or "ridden upon" MS-DOS. The Recovery
Console's CLI (Command Line Interface) is the closest you can come to
the old "DOS mode."


--

Bruce Chambers

Help us help you:



You can have peace. Or you can have freedom. Don't ever count on having
both at once. - RAH
 
JoeF said:
I am still using an old computer with Windows95 and 98, and am considering
buying a new computer with Windows XP home.
I use the DOS mode often with the old system, and write some small programs
with GWBASIC. Does the XP operating systems include a DOS mode, and have a
utility for using the 'Basic' format to create small programs?
I lost half my hair getting where I am, and suspect that XP will take the
rest of it off my head.
Thanks.

Joe
Click to expand...

XP has an emulated dos more that may or may not run your DOS apps.
also note: a new machine running XP is going to have a much faster cpu
than your win9x machine...and the higher cpu speed alone can
cause your apps not to work. I've had to re-write some timimg loops
in some old qbasic "programs" (games) .

So you probably just want to keep your old machine even if you get a
new one
 
If you want DOS, stay where you are with your present operating system. Or,
get Windows XP and dual boot with Windows 98se.

--
Regards,

Richard Urban

aka Crusty (-: Old B@stard :-)

If you knew as much as you think you know,
You would realize that you don't know what you thought you knew!
 
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