How to run a DOS (16 bit app) in a Windows XP environment

[Sillygirl]

How do you run a DOS based app in a Windows XP environment? The application is called RodePC. It is a very old data entry application developed in early 90s. Why don't we upgrade it to something new? No money. Any help would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks!

 

[trojanman]

Start > Run > type 'cmd' then browse to the .exe of the program.

 

[Sillygirl]

Thanks for the reply trojanman - however that has already be done - the application shows the main menu and when you select an option, the app. just sits there for about 10 minutes - no kidding. The app also comes with a sentinel key. On a PC with 95 OS, the app runs fine, when you take the sentinel key off, the app faults out. However when run under XP, the app just sits there - could careless if the key is installed and eventually gets to the option you want it to go to. Not acceptable. When using a keypunch like app, it needs to be fast.

Thanks!

 

[guitarzan]

Changing the Compatibility Mode may help; If you have a shortcut for the program, right-click it and click "Properties", then look at the "Compatibility" tab.

For more info:

http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/using/helpandsupport/learnmore/appcompat.mspx

 

[Freestone]

Though primarily designed for old DOS games, you may want to give the freeware program DOSBox a try. It does a very good job of emulating old DOS and hardware. Not sure how well it will handle the Sentinel key though.

http://dosbox.sourceforge.net/information.php?page=0

 

[trojanman]

guitarzan, compatability mode doesnt work for DOS apps.

 

[guitarzan]

OK, my bad then.

But isn't there a way to specify a config.sys/autoexec.bat to be used for a DOS app? I can't find how at the moment.

 

[guitarzan]

OK, if you right-click the shortcut to the DOS app, click "Properties", go to the Program tab, and click "Advanced", it shows you the location of the MS-DOS initialization files used (autoexec.nt and config.nt, in your windows\system32 folder), which can be tweaked. This is how I got through some DOS app issues in the past.