Re: DOS under XP

Tech-Archive recommends: Fix windows errors by optimizing your registry

From: Lem (lemp40_at_hotmail.com)
Date: 02/25/04 

Date: Wed, 25 Feb 2004 12:06:05 -0500

Don Phillipson wrote:

> "Alex Nichol" <alexn.mvpdts@ntlworld.delete.com> wrote in message
> news:065p30dgqesoo3mrselpv464qq9v635lum@4ax.com...
> Re: How to open a file in DOS . . .
>
> > If you are working in the DOS emulation of the Command Prompt (cmd.exe)
> > - Start - All Programs - Accessories - Command Prompt, then . . .
>
> This looks like an unambiguous statement that XP
> includes (emulates) MS-DOS -- which is clearer than
> any documentation yet found on the MS web site.
>
> I need to use one DOS app (Borland Sprint = EMACS)
> so have not yet adopted XP. Will XP run this app OK
> (including formatting and printing via DOS-capable
> Brother 1050 printer) ?
>
> --
> Don Phillipson
> Carlsbad Springs (Ottawa, Canada)

The bottom line, as always, is "maybe." Unless someone has specific
experience with your app, this is unfortunately the best answer you're likely
to get. As for printing from DOS-based apps, see MS MVP Bruce Sanderson's
advice at http://members.shaw.ca/bsanders/printfromdos.htm

As I understand it, XP provides a 16-bit DOS emulator (command.com) and a
32-bit DOS emulator (cmd.exe). These (I believe) are implemented using
something MS calls the Virtual DOS Machine ntvdm.exe.

The emulation of DOS is not, however, identical to the use of DOS in Win9x
(which were DOS-based). XP will not let users directly manipulate the
hardware. See
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;314106&Product=winxp
for various limitations, which MS sums up as "This means that Windows does
not support 16-bit programs that require unrestricted access to hardware. If
your program requires this, your program will not work in Windows NT, Windows
2000, or Windows XP."

See also "How to Identify A 16-bit Program in Windows XP"
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;320127&Product=winxp
and "How to Troubleshoot 16-Bit Windows Programs in Windows XP"
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;EN-US;314495 (e.g., "Note
that if the program requires a virtual device driver (VxD), it will not work
properly under Windows XP").

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