Windows7 - anyone tested ?

[Mike Doty]

Okay, your applications don't work for some reason.

[Brice Manuel]

Okay, your applications don't work for some reason.

No, not for some reason, for the reason that DOS programs are not supported under Windows 7. The emulator was designed to emulate simple text-based programs.

[Mike Doty]

Do your programs run on XP?
Do your applications require high resolution graphics?
You agree text mode is supported (they don't have to be simple applications.)
Are you talking about 32-bit Windows 7?


http://www.windowsbbs.com/windows-7/...lications.html

[Brice Manuel]

You agree text mode is supported (they don't have to be simple applications.)

No, I can't agree as your statement is incorrect. It is not supported, it will only run under emulation.

I am not stating opinion, I am merely stating fact and I have provided reference links for those who under the false assumption that Windows 7 supports DOS programs and do not understand that emulation is actually being used to allow these archaic programs to run.

[Mike Doty]

Windows 7 does not support DOS. If you want to run DOS software under Windows 7, you should look into DOSBox . DOSBox works great and it is free.

To tell people DOS programs won't run on 32-bit Windows 7 is incorrect.
The 16-bit subsystem is part of 32-bit Windows 7 and doesn't work with your programs.
The majority of programs you use don't work.

[Brice Manuel]

To tell people DOS programs won't run on 32-bit Windows 7 is incorrect.

But I have not done that, have I? Please do not say I said something I did not say. I have continually said that DOS is NOT supported on Windows 7 (or any NT version for that matter) which is a undeniable fact. I have continually said if you want to use DOS programs under Windows 7 it will only run under emulation which is also an undeniable fact. I have provided MSDN links to 100% reaffirm what I have said.

To claim that Windows 7 supports DOS is just as silly as claiming Windows 7 supports C64 software or Apple II software just because they can run under emulation on Windows 7. Emulation does not equal support. Emulation is what you use when your hardware or software will no longer support something. Even Microsoft clearly admits that DOS programs now run under emulation and Microsoft has provided extensive information (which I gave links to) on how the emulator actually works and its limitations.

This thread reminds me of some of the conversations I have had on game development forums where somebody is complaining about getting reports from some testers that mouse or keyboard control is not working in the game they are writing. You try and explain to them the mistake is because they are using DirectInput which Microsoft says you should no longer use for keyboard or mouse control. They say you are wrong, you point them to the MSDN articles, the whitepapers, the videos and the powerpoints from the conferences MS has put on, and they are still convinced they are right and MS is wrong.

[Mike Doty]

Windows 7 32-bit comes with a 16-bit subsystem so many DOS programs will work.
We are not talking about running DOS, but running 16-bit applications.
Your second posting talks about using DOSBOX which may not be necessary.

[Brice Manuel]

Windows 7 32-bit comes with a 16-bit subsystem so many DOS programs will work.

They will only work under emulation. You can only run DOS programs under emulation on Windows 7. DOS programs are NOT supported on Windows 7. If you don't believe me, please read up on NT Virtual DOS Machine which is the emulator that Microsoft uses on Windows 7. I have provided links with full details on the emulator.

Your second posting talks about using DOSBOX which may not be necessary.

The emulator that Microsoft uses is very limited and has compatibility issues. Microsoft's emulator was designed for text based programs, not graphics based programs. As Roger pointed out, Microsoft's emulator even has problems with certain text based programs.

[Mike Doty]

Emulation is automatic for 16-bit programs using Windows 7 32-bit.
There are 11 different compatibilty modes (none may be needed.)
If anyone is having a problem, please post it.
Mentioning DOS will be considered the same as using a 16-bit program.

[Brice Manuel]

Emulation is automatic

All of the emulation that Windows 7 uses is automatic, which is why so many do not realize something is actually running under emulation until it is pointed out to them.

[Bill Parker]

Windows 7 - anyone tested

I managed to haul out my old PB 3.0c for DOS 3.5" floppies (which were still readable after seventeen (17) plus years in a external USB floppy drive.

I do most of the development on older DOS code in VirtualBox under windows 7 64-bit ultimate edition. I have managed to get it working in PC-DOS 7, MS-DOS 5.0, and as of today, FreeDOS 1.x (which is free and available as a image for use under VirtualBox).

I must say that while it's not PB 3.5 for DOS, the 3.0c version has held up well, and I can compile and run code which operates correctly in DOS (either in a stand alone DOS machine or in a VM with the above mentioned O/S).

While it would be nice if PB 3.5 for DOS was designed to operate in Windows 7 (32/64), it works quite well the way I'm using it, and if I need GUI support, I can always get PB for Windows (so far, it is working well for maintaining old code or testing some new stuff).

[Barry Erick]

Isn't the question not of how it does it but if it'll run on "my/his" machine? Wether or not it is doing emulation is besides the point.

I have Win7/64 on my main desktop and win7/32 on my other 3 laptop/netbooks and there is a difference on even windows programs that run on XP or Vista but no lower that will not run on the 64 bit.(Sonicart) But on this machine I have a VM to check them out on. I would never use a program that will only run under vm, however. Except for my PDA backup as my PDA is down and the information I have is there.
Anyway, if it does not run on the 64bit machine, I won't have it run on my other machines. I don't care why it won't, but some even send me to the task manager as windows thinks they run and let them.

[Bernhard Fomm]

Will it give PB-DOS for the cloud?

[Scott Turchin]

I tried under 64x, no joy.

I have not tried under 32 bit, but even if it runs, definitely not supported, definitely COULD run weird.

I'm running a DOS based BBS on Windows XP right now though, you can do more with XP than I thought you could

[Scott Slater]

I run VMWare under Windows7 x64 and run DOS 6.22 under it. It works great for all of my DOS programming needs.