WINDOWS XP GOING TO DIE (no more support) 2014

[ATSMAN]

That is why I said if you have a spare computer for DOS purpose.

I still have a 486DX2 computer in my attic with DOS. It has 640kb memory and a 20MB Seagate hard drive. Those old computers are hard to kill no matter how much you abused them. My kids did a job on it but it survived.

[FEDUKE404]

Need to think about this option!

If you have a old computer that still works try the Free DOS http://www.freedos.org/download/

to run old DOS programs that you may still have for old times sake.

The other day I was showing a friend my very first Tax spreadsheet created on a Lotus knockoff called the TWIN.

The following would tend to worry me a bit. . . .

"FreeDOS is a complete operating system. If you choose to install this on your computer, you may overwrite the operating system you have now (for example, Windows.) If this is not what you intend, please stop now."

FE

[ATSMAN]

Free DOS

If you have a old computer that still works try the Free DOS http://www.freedos.org/download/

to run old DOS programs that you may still have for old times sake.

The other day I was showing a friend my very first Tax spreadsheet created on a Lotus knockoff called the TWIN.

[BOB W]

Unanswered question.... Can my network server be Windows 7 or 8 or 8.1 and my workstations be XP without any problems? If so, I only have 1 computer to upgrade next year.

[ChEAr$]

No-no Harlan.
That's John of PA running Lotus 1-2-3.

OOps! My apologies to John of PA. (grin

[ChEAr$]

I do have Win7 Home Premium installed, and Win XP on an older (or is it newer??) laptop. Neither will run PFS First Choice, even when starting at the Command Prompt. Perhaps part of the problem is that Win7 is a 64-bit operating system, far advanced from whatever came with the old Win 98 system. I read things like this ( http://support.microsoft.com/kb/324767 ) and my eyes immediately glaze over. Is something like this procedure a possible solution??

FE

In able to run MSDOS programs, the Windows 7 must be the Professional edition, and not the home or home premium edition.

That help?

[FEDUKE404]

Repair

To RLymanC -

I've felt all along (most of) the problem was related to the PATH command. (The error message was something related to "runtime error.") I just checked and there is already a lengthy PATH command in place on my C: drive.

I may first try FC on a flash drive, then deal with related FC PATH changes for drive D: E: or whatever it will be. If that works, I may try to put relevant files onto the main hard drive.

My concerns are two: 1) messing up operating structure for main files on computer and 2) having to deal with a start/stop (reboot) scenario whenever FC would be accessed. Either would be counterproductive!

Thanks for your input. Hopefully I will soon be on the right.....path !!

FE

[RLymanC]

PFS First Choice

I wish I knew what ChEAr$ knows.

As for PFS First Choice, I have done everything I possibly know trying to get it to run in a Win7 environment. Simplest was to create a new subdirectory on the hard drive, and then copy all relevant related subdirectories "beneath" it. FAIL. Also went to Win 98 system, copied the entire directory tree (intact) of PFS First Choice software/data files from hard drive onto a flash drive, and then inserted said flash drive into appropriate location on Win7 system. Using command prompt, went to root directory of the flash drive, typed appropriate word..... FAIL.

My experience has been exactly that as described by ATSMAN. While it is true some "simple" DOS programs might work (to include some old timey DOS commands we knew and loved from the days of 5 1/4" floppy disks) in Win7, that does not mean you have a fully functioning MS-DOS system you can use.

Or stated more succinctly: The mere presence of the Command Prompt found under the Accessories folder of Win7 does not equate with the software processing actions available when you select "MS-DOS Prompt" from the Programs folder of Win 98.

I would love to be at least 100% wrong in my conclusion (so I could send the old computer to a suitable cushioned cardboard box in the sky) but from everything I've been able to do....I think there is simply no way to run PFS First Choice in a Win7 system, regardless of the presence of the Command Prompt and the Exit function and whatever else.

P-L-E-A-S-E prove me wrong!

I do have Win7 Home Premium installed, and Win XP on an older (or is it newer??) laptop. Neither will run PFS First Choice, even when starting at the Command Prompt. Perhaps part of the problem is that Win7 is a 64-bit operating system, far advanced from whatever came with the old Win 98 system. I read things like this ( http://support.microsoft.com/kb/324767 ) and my eyes immediately glaze over. Is something like this procedure a possible solution??

FE

http://www.theeldergeek.com/forum/in...showtopic=6549
http://www.tomshardware.com/forum/19...rogram-choice#.

In summary, the solution is to create a .CMD (Command) file which will set the environment variables for PFS: First Choice. Once the environment variables have been established, run command prompt, switch to the PFS: First Choice folder (cd\first) then run first1.exe. Unless there is a another environment variable interfering with PFS: First Choice environment variables, the program should run.

[John of PA]

Lotus 123 DOS runs fine in XP, not sure about the PFS program, sorry it does not work well, it makes sense that the XP DOS has limitations, I think Microsoft put it in to appease programmers who still like doing some of thier functions from the dos prompt becasue it's much faster and more effecient thant the cluttered windows screens. 2 reasons I did not convert over the DOS Lotus files (I did convert some), I had over a huindred 123 files so it would be too big a task, and also I can "fly" on 123 DOS much faster then excel, It's just lightening fast on newer machines. The 123 files have been phasing out over the years and I'm down to just a few at this time, but the slow transition worked well for me.

[FEDUKE404]

Still hitting the wall with Win7 and MS-DOS

I wish I knew what ChEAr$ knows.

As for PFS First Choice, I have done everything I possibly know trying to get it to run in a Win7 environment. Simplest was to create a new subdirectory on the hard drive, and then copy all relevant related subdirectories "beneath" it. FAIL. Also went to Win 98 system, copied the entire directory tree (intact) of PFS First Choice software/data files from hard drive onto a flash drive, and then inserted said flash drive into appropriate location on Win7 system. Using command prompt, went to root directory of the flash drive, typed appropriate word..... FAIL.

My experience has been exactly that as described by ATSMAN. While it is true some "simple" DOS programs might work (to include some old timey DOS commands we knew and loved from the days of 5 1/4" floppy disks) in Win7, that does not mean you have a fully functioning MS-DOS system you can use.

Or stated more succinctly: The mere presence of the Command Prompt found under the Accessories folder of Win7 does not equate with the software processing actions available when you select "MS-DOS Prompt" from the Programs folder of Win 98.

I would love to be at least 100% wrong in my conclusion (so I could send the old computer to a suitable cushioned cardboard box in the sky) but from everything I've been able to do....I think there is simply no way to run PFS First Choice in a Win7 system, regardless of the presence of the Command Prompt and the Exit function and whatever else.

P-L-E-A-S-E prove me wrong!

I do have Win7 Home Premium installed, and Win XP on an older (or is it newer??) laptop. Neither will run PFS First Choice, even when starting at the Command Prompt. Perhaps part of the problem is that Win7 is a 64-bit operating system, far advanced from whatever came with the old Win 98 system. I read things like this ( http://support.microsoft.com/kb/324767 ) and my eyes immediately glaze over. Is something like this procedure a possible solution??

FE

[JohnH]

No-no Harlan.
That's John of PA running Lotus 1-2-3.

I'm running Excel 97.

And until about 1-1/2 years ago, I still had a client who was recording her sales reports and check register in an Appleworks spreadsheet & data base on an Apple IIe. Honest truth. I still have the floppy disks and dot matrix printouts I'm keeping until the SOL runs.

[Roberts]

DOS?

Computers pretty much peaked around 1987, all just a lateral movement since then I guess.

I remember my first spreadsheet and word processing program worked via DOS and both fit on a single 5.25" floppy.
My LOTUS 123 was on something like 25 x 3.5" disks and I bought it used. Took forever to load and was probably 35 MBs in size.

[ChEAr$]

ZOUNDS! JohnH still uses Lotus 1-2-3? EVEN I am amazed.

In fact I am consider archaic by some because I still use Microsoft's Works spreadsheet. If I ever do have a problem with an Excel file, there's always that "FREE" (my favorite word) Open Office spreadsheet.

Back to the issue though. Still ah XP user here on office computer. It still handles my good old DOS programs written in QBasic starting back in 1978. Windows 7 Professional edition does have MSDOS capability; one accounting uses my old DOS payroll programs which then mesh well with my own as far as file structure is concerned.

So, does Windows 8 also have this MSDOS capability same as Windows 7? What I'm thinking of maybe is a new computer and also running the XP machine side by side, with maybe switches to route the display. Also not sure if possible but multiple printer cables, the old serial (or is it parallel? I forget) for the XP to the Brother printer and a USB one from the new computer.

Opinions or advice anyone?

[ATSMAN]

That is correct. The XP DOS box lacks several functionality available in the actual DOS operating system. Windows 98 handles DOS programs much better.

But my question is why would you not convert your old spreadsheets in DOS to windows. When I first got Windows 98 that was one of the first things I did was to convert all the old DOS spreadsheets and documents to Windows. Since then each upgrade Excel and Word just reads directly the spreadsheet or document and when I go to save gives me the option to save in the new format. Just 1 click.

[FEDUKE404]

Running DOS in XP

I still use DOS, Lotus 123 DOS with some old spreadsheet files from 20 years ago that I still use. You can run DOS in XP, just click RUN then type the word COMMAND and a DOS window pops up. Type EXIT to get out. As for buying a new computer, I am going to go one more tax season with XP, then I will probably buy Win 8 next fall (after the bugs are out of it). Drake told me thier software is still running fine on XP. Hope it all works out well for you, thanks for those detailed sharings on this subject.

Sorry, that is just not true for PFS First Choice.

There is a distinct difference between the Command prompt in Win XP (or even Win7) versus the separate MS/DOS option available in Windows 98 or similar.

I will be glad to send you the software, and you can see what happens.

FE