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Best way to run DOS programs (specifically WordPerfect) in Windows 7
The forum system suggested that as this related thread (Is there a way to make a DOS program work on Windows 7?) is 286 days old, that I should start anew.
I have a friend who, like so many, has recently upgraded from Windows XP to Windows 7.
She has a preference for WordPerfect 6.1, which is a DOS program and therefore will not run on 64bit Windows 7.
I believe there are three options:
1) A specially modified version of DOSBox
(see WPDOS - WPDOS for 64-bit Windows: the DOSBox-Based WP-64 Method)
2) Install 'XP mode' (a full XP SP3)
running within 'Windows Virtual PC'.
3) Install VirtualBox with an XP guest.
(I do have a spare new copy of XP)
Option 1) is most likely the smallest and possibly the most efficient in terms of system resource usage. And it allows for startup by dragging a file onto the desktop shortcut.
Option 2) has the downside of running a full copy of XP which will become increasingly vulnerable,
and is a lot of bloat for one application.
Option 3), like Option 2), is a lot of system for one small program.
Option 2) (via Windows updates) and Option 3) (assuming VB on Windows offers updates like it does on GNU/Linux) will receive semi-automatic updates to the virtualization system. Option 1) will require manual updates, but is arguably less vulnerable as it only runs DOS software.
I'm leaning towards Option 1).
And this comment also suggests Option 1) is 'best':
(https://superuser.com/questions/2701...-on-new-laptop)On the other hand, some oddness does occur when you run old software on new systems (like things running VERY fast, so dosbox is considered to be a better way to run dos era applications on modern systems - even good old games uses it for their commercial releases.
Option 2) might seem the next best until you read this from Microsoft:
I don't know if turning off networking within XP will be enough to keep it secure....to keep your Windows 7 PC secure after April 8, 2014, we recommend that you only use Windows XP Mode if your PC is disconnected from the Internet.
Also, is 'XP mode' so tightly integrated with W7 that a successful breach in XP will expose W7?