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w2000 and dos program

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4 replies

by plzhelp

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We run an old Dos based program on NT4. We have no problems accessing and running this program from 95/98. We are installing 2000 and when I try to access the program, it flicks on the screen for a split second and then goes away. Help! And Many Thanks....

4 replies

by timwalsh

Are you accessing the program from a shortcut or directly from a DOS window?

When a DOS executable is run from a shortcut, the executable runs and leaves the DOS window open only while the executable is running. When it completes it automatically exits the DOS window.

If the executable is run directly from a DOS window, the window stays open until you exit it.

What I think is happening is that you are running the program from a shortcut. The program starts (hence the DOS window opening momentarily), immediately generates an error message and then exits (which immediately exits the DOS window). All this happens so fast that you can't see that there is an error message. Try running the DOS executable from an open DOS window. This will at least allow you to see what is happening.

by kevin_b

Win 2000 does not run DOS. It has a command line processor, which looks like DOS, but it isn't DOS. Previous OSs were DOS based but 2000 isn't. You may have to get a seperate machine and load win98 to get your program to work.

by plzhelp

Sorry, I disagree with you. I have seen DOS programs run in Win2000! Besides getting a seperate machine is totally off base - I could run both win98 and 2000 off the same machine but prefer not to do that if I can get it to run under 2000.

by plzhelp

I tried what you suggested. I mapped to the Dos program. Then I opened a dos window, changed to that drive, and tried to run the program. It accesses the executeable, It says:
"loading program"
"Btrieve/n Record Manager version 5.10a"
"copywrite Novell 1982; 1992"
then I get a solid blue screen (where the sign on screen should appear) and then it closes and takes me back to my prompt.
This is an old Dos app that originally ran on Novell servers, but was successfully moved over to NT4servers and works fine from Win95, and 98 as long as we set files and buffers up in the config.sys. And yes I did that in the config.nt on the 2000 workstation. Any other ideas. Someone suggested I increase the NTVDM? but I don't know how to do that.

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