DOS program in XP

superdave1984 · 09-28-2007, 02:18 PM

We have a patient database here that is a DOS application. We have never upgraded it because we really just never bothered since it works fine. Anyway, we are getting concerned with the old PC it is on. I tried copying the files and installing on XP. No luck. Tried slaving the drive and running it that way. No luck. Tried running in compatibilty mode. No luck. Trying to find a third party app to convert the data into something useful that my CFO will approve. Any suggestions?

veedubfreak · 09-28-2007, 03:03 PM

Is it on an old 98 machine or what? Would it be possible to just set up a virtual machine running whatever OS is on the old one?

superdave1984 · 09-28-2007, 03:17 PM

Yeah it's 98. And corporate wants all non XP machines gone by end of the year. Haven't thought about a virtual machine, nor have I ever done that. I'll have to do some research in that area.

veedubfreak · 09-28-2007, 04:15 PM

Ya i figured it was 98 since 2k had the same issues with certain Dos programs. Running a virtual machine is probably going to be the safest bet without having to convert/upgrade the software. If you can get a virtual machine up and running you should just be able to swap the old drive in also.

superdave1984 · 09-28-2007, 04:23 PM

OK, downloaded virtual PC from microsoft and installed it. Createded the virtual pc, ran the wizard and started the virtual pc. Now it wants a CD for win 98? I will have to get one from a torrent site if it needs that. I did however copy the entire contents of the other drive to a network share so all the data and stuff is safe. Any way I can install from there?

veedubfreak · 09-28-2007, 04:25 PM

Nah, does the old machine still have a windows 98 cd key on it? If so just look for a copy of that cd somewhere.

Vaanish · 09-28-2007, 04:47 PM

You could always give DOSbox a try. Its free, and its compatibility is awesome.

bla!! · 09-28-2007, 08:28 PM

If you want that old machine exactly the way it is, just ghost (or any other drive copying software) the old machine and then ghost it back into the virtual. Works perfectly

forrestcupp · 09-28-2007, 09:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Vaanish

You could always give DOSbox a try. Its free, and its compatibility is awesome.

I agree. That is what I was thinking. Why not just use DOSbox to run the DOS program in XP? With DOSbox you don't have to install a whole OS, it just emulates dos for you very well.

09-28-2007, 02:18 PM	#1 (permalink)
superdave1984 Repeat Offender Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Union City, TN Posts: 1,824	DOS program in XP We have a patient database here that is a DOS application. We have never upgraded it because we really just never bothered since it works fine. Anyway, we are getting concerned with the old PC it is on. I tried copying the files and installing on XP. No luck. Tried slaving the drive and running it that way. No luck. Tried running in compatibilty mode. No luck. Trying to find a third party app to convert the data into something useful that my CFO will approve. Any suggestions? __________________

09-28-2007, 03:03 PM	#2 (permalink)
veedubfreak Official DFI Bricker Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 5,944	Re: DOS program in XP Is it on an old 98 machine or what? Would it be possible to just set up a virtual machine running whatever OS is on the old one? __________________ Asus Rampage Formula Q6600@3.6gz 1.4v (1.2VID) 4870 Crossfire 2x2gb OCZ Reaper DDR2-800 @4-4-4-12 Corsair 750TX MountainMods Ufo Horizontal 2x Swiftech 320 2x Swiftech 655 2x MM 3bay res 2x DD Maze5 Swiftech GTZ Have you heard? http://www.tech-forums.net/pc/f6/hav...-heard-187280/

09-28-2007, 03:17 PM	#3 (permalink)
superdave1984 Repeat Offender Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Union City, TN Posts: 1,824	Re: DOS program in XP Yeah it's 98. And corporate wants all non XP machines gone by end of the year. Haven't thought about a virtual machine, nor have I ever done that. I'll have to do some research in that area. __________________

09-28-2007, 04:15 PM	#4 (permalink)
veedubfreak Official DFI Bricker Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 5,944	Re: DOS program in XP Ya i figured it was 98 since 2k had the same issues with certain Dos programs. Running a virtual machine is probably going to be the safest bet without having to convert/upgrade the software. If you can get a virtual machine up and running you should just be able to swap the old drive in also. __________________ Asus Rampage Formula Q6600@3.6gz 1.4v (1.2VID) 4870 Crossfire 2x2gb OCZ Reaper DDR2-800 @4-4-4-12 Corsair 750TX MountainMods Ufo Horizontal 2x Swiftech 320 2x Swiftech 655 2x MM 3bay res 2x DD Maze5 Swiftech GTZ Have you heard? http://www.tech-forums.net/pc/f6/hav...-heard-187280/

09-28-2007, 04:23 PM	#5 (permalink)
superdave1984 Repeat Offender Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Union City, TN Posts: 1,824	Re: DOS program in XP OK, downloaded virtual PC from microsoft and installed it. Createded the virtual pc, ran the wizard and started the virtual pc. Now it wants a CD for win 98? I will have to get one from a torrent site if it needs that. I did however copy the entire contents of the other drive to a network share so all the data and stuff is safe. Any way I can install from there? __________________

09-28-2007, 04:25 PM	#6 (permalink)
veedubfreak Official DFI Bricker Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 5,944	Re: DOS program in XP Nah, does the old machine still have a windows 98 cd key on it? If so just look for a copy of that cd somewhere. __________________ Asus Rampage Formula Q6600@3.6gz 1.4v (1.2VID) 4870 Crossfire 2x2gb OCZ Reaper DDR2-800 @4-4-4-12 Corsair 750TX MountainMods Ufo Horizontal 2x Swiftech 320 2x Swiftech 655 2x MM 3bay res 2x DD Maze5 Swiftech GTZ Have you heard? http://www.tech-forums.net/pc/f6/hav...-heard-187280/

09-28-2007, 04:47 PM	#7 (permalink)
Vaanish Monster Techie Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Yorkshire, UK Posts: 1,692	Re: DOS program in XP You could always give DOSbox a try. Its free, and its compatibility is awesome.

09-28-2007, 08:28 PM	#8 (permalink)
bla!! Monster Techie Join Date: May 2004 Location: /usr/root/mn/us Posts: 1,113	Re: DOS program in XP If you want that old machine exactly the way it is, just ghost (or any other drive copying software) the old machine and then ghost it back into the virtual. Works perfectly __________________ Its a frigging Laptop, not a Labtop!!!!

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