[Ham-Computers] RE: Flash drives, DOS, etc

Thu Oct 19 22:04:20 EDT 2006

Aaron,

I was told by a very good computer tech that Windows DOS, as we are used to, 
would not work on a XP machine due to the system changes after Win 98 SE. 
The drivers were not supported and the hardware was not useable.  That is, 
no CD or other devices.

I have flash memory and the DOS etc. While it 'may' allow some DOS programs 
to run, many will not because they can not use the CD, printer, modem etc.

So make it clear, please: What are the limitations using any kind of DOS in 
any type of way on a XP machine?

Thank you.

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Hsu, Aaron (NBC Universal)" <aaron.hsu at nbcuni.com>
To: "I>Ham-Computers" <Ham-Computers at mailman.qth.net>
Sent: Thursday, October 19, 2006 7:21 PM
Subject: [Ham-Computers] RE: Flash drives, DOS, etc

>>>> KO6BB wrote:
>
> I DO still have my old DOS 6 disk set.  I wonder if it's possible to use a 
> flash drive as a virtual machine UNDER Win-XP and set it up with DOS 6, 
> while still running other apps in WinXP. To be honest, this doesn't sound 
> do-able to me as it seems like you'd be running two OS's at the same time, 
> but then I'm no expert either.  If not then I'll just set the program up 
> on the Win95 machine and forget it (though it'd mean running two computers 
> simultaneously on an already cluttered listening bench).
>
>>>> My reply:
>
> Sure it's possible...that' what virtual machines (VM's) are!  VM's allow 
> you to run a a "virtual computer" inside of a "host" operating system. 
> With Microsoft's Virtual PC 2004, Windows 2K/XP is your "host" and the VM 
> run whatever other Microsoft OS (the "guest) you wish to run.  In fact, 
> you can run several guest VM's at once (if your system has enough RAM and 
> horsepower).  VMWare works the same way, but there are flavors that allow 
> the host to be a Windows based OS or Linux based (the highest end VMWare 
> "ESX" server is Linux based).  For flexibility, VMWare is much better, but 
> Virtual PC is easier to use.
>
> So, Phil, what you would do to get that old app running is to create a VM 
> "guest (let's stick with VPC for now), assign it 64 or 128MB RAM, create a 
> dynamic virtual drive, and then "boot" from your DOS 6 floppy (you'll 
> "capture" the floppy drive so the VM can use it).  All of this is done 
> while you're in WinXP.  Once DOS 6 finishes booting, you'll be at the DOS 
> prompt in the VM session.  BTW, the VM session runs as a window, so you 
> can still work on other things while the VM is running.  In the DOS 6 VM, 
> do an FDISK and FORMAT of the virtual HD and you're all set.  You can now 
> remove the floppy, "reset" the VM, and it will boot to DOS 6.
>
> Basically, you're doing everything the same way you would have done on a 
> different computer.  The only difference is that you're doing it in a VM 
> session - a window while in WinXP.  If you want, you can 
> <Right-ALT><Enter> and the VM session will now be full-screen (repeat to 
> go back to a window).  With Virtual PC, once you're done installing the 
> "guest" OS, you run the "VM Additions" to add specific Virtual PC support 
> to the VM session (such as drag-n-drop to the "host" OS, VM specific video 
> drivers, network share support, etc).  A similar option is available in 
> VMWare.
>
> And, since Microsoft's Virtual PC 2004 is free, you've really got nothing 
> to lose by trying.  Everything in a VM session is self contained - it's 
> near impossible to "blow up" anything in your "host" OS unless you decide 
> to use a physical HD as the virtual HD (not recommended).  BTW, the 
> virtual HD is a file created on your "host" system.  It just shows up as a 
> file.  By default, VPC uses dynamically sizing virtual HD's, so the 
> filesize will change, but it will never be larger than the "max" size you 
> specified when you created the virtual HD.
>
> There's no guarantee that the app will work, but many of the "pesky" DOS 
> apps I have that refuse to run in Win2K/XP work fine in a virtual DOS 
> session under VPC.  This includes a graphics viewer (SEA) that uses VESA 
> graphics modes.  I've yet to try some old games, but I'm pretty sure 
> they'll work too.
>
> If you have any questions about setting up the VM, post a message or 
> e-mail me.  Someone in the group will have answers.
>
>
> 73,
>
>  - Aaron Hsu, NN6O (ex-KD6DAE)
>    {nn6o}@arrl.net
>    {aaron.hsu}@nbcuni.com
>    No-QRO Int'l #1,000,006
>    . -..- - .-. .-   ".... . .- ...- -.--"
>
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