Re: Can Windows XP Pro. run DOS programs?

Tech-Archive recommends: Repair Windows Errors & Optimize Windows Performance

From: David Candy (david_at_mvps.org)
Date: 04/27/04 

Date: Tue, 27 Apr 2004 10:18:31 +1000

Plus many Dos programs allow switching of the video mode, Direct Access / BIOS Access / Dos Access as not all computers were IBM compatable. 

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http://www.g2mil.com/Dec2003.htm
"David Candy" <david@mvps.org> wrote in message news:ekWSjr%23KEHA.3012@tk2msftngp13.phx.gbl...
XP or previous versions of windows did NOT absolutely forbid access to hardware. A dos program in XP running full screen has full control of the video card, running in a window it thinks it has full access to a video card (but only standard BIOS video modes are supported). Windows automatically detects an attempt to switch the dos screen to a non BIOS mode and switches to full screen and gets out of the way. A dos program can access hardware via vxd. Vxds pretend that the hardware exists. XP comes with a lot of builtin vxds, such as LPT and Com ports.
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http://www.g2mil.com/Dec2003.htm
"Ron Martell" <ron@onlinehelp.bc.ca> wrote in message news:khqq80talgip91te0khhki7utued9e63q1@4ax.com...
> "Art" <smileart@spamyou.net> wrote:
> 
> >   My question arises from the fact that can Windows XP Pro. run any
> >programs that Windows 98SE can?  Backwards compatibility means a lot
> >to me and I enjoy programming in BASIC and use ancient DOS
> >applications.  Thanks in advance for the reply and have a great day.
> >
> 
> Most 32 bit applications written for Windows 98 will run okay on
> Windows XP, although there are a few exceptions.  Most common of these
> are hardware utilities, diagnostic programs, and antivirus software.
> 
> Many 16 bit (Windows 3.x) and DOS applications work just fine under
> Windows XP although again there are exceptions.  With these apps the
> most common cause of problems is that the app was programmed to bypass
> the operating system function calls by working directly with the
> hardware.  Windows XP absolutely prohibits applications from directly
> controlling the hardware and therefore any apps programmed in this way
> will fail.  Unfortunately there is no easy way, other than installing
> the app and trying it, of determining which ones have done this sort
> of shortcut.   Most common instances of this are with games (direct
> control of video), communications programs (direct control of serial
> port/modem), and custom programs that use a parallel port "dongle"
> authorization plug and therefore work directly with the parallel port.
> 
> Good luck
> 
> 
> Ron Martell     Duncan B.C.    Canada
> -- 
> Microsoft MVP
> On-Line Help Computer Service
> http://onlinehelp.bc.ca
> 
> "The reason computer chips are so small is computers don't eat much."

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