How to run a non installable Dos Program

ik8ozv · 21 Nov 2011

Hi to the list,
i am new on this forum.
I have passed from a couple of weeks from Windows XO
to Windows 7 at 64 Bit.
Since i used Windows XP, i could run two Dos programs, but as i have Windows 7 on this new PC i cannot run them.I need that two programs desperatly.
I have descovered searching on the web, Windows virtual PC and the Windows XP
mode programs.I have noticed that it works ok but i have just one problem about
these two programs.As they are not installabel but just a folder with all the files and also the executable file, i wan to know if it is possiible to run them also if they are not installable.
If yes, what do i need to do?
Which is the procedure?
Please anybody can post me a step by step procedure.
Any help will bne realy appreciated.
Enzo

Corazon · 21 Nov 2011

In the days of DOS, it was actually common to just 'cd' to a program folder and run the main .exe file within. So yes, just running without installing should work.

Since your Windows is a 64-bit version, it can run 32-bit software but not pure DOS programs as they're written for 16-bit systems. (A 32-bit version of Windows can still deal with 16-bit emulation via NTVDM or "NT Virtual DOS Emulation".)

It would be helpful to know what exactly these two programs are, but lacking that knowledge I would recommend DOSBox which is a complete "true DOS" emulator capable of running DOS software which Windows' command shell can't.
It's actually designed to emulate an entire DOS hardware platform and run classic games, but should serve your purpose too.

DOSBox, an x86 emulator with DOS

ik8ozv · 21 Nov 2011

Corazon said:

In the days of DOS, it was actually common to just 'cd' to a program folder and run the main .exe file within. So yes, just running without installing should work.

Since your Windows is a 64-bit version, it can run 32-bit software but not pure DOS programs as they're written for 16-bit systems. (A 32-bit version of Windows can still deal with 16-bit emulation via NTVDM or "NT Virtual DOS Emulation".)

It would be helpful to know what exactly these two programs are, but lacking that knowledge I would recommend DOSBox which is a complete "true DOS" emulator capable of running DOS software which Windows' command shell can't.
It's actually designed to emulate an entire DOS hardware platform and run classic games, but should serve your purpose too.

DOSBox, an x86 emulator with DOS

Hello Corazon,
Thanks for your replay.
I know that in the days of DOS, it was actually common to just 'cd' to a program folder and run the main .exe file within, but where to place the folder or the executable file so i can see it in the Windows XP Mode?
Wait forward for your help.
Thanks in advance.
Enzo

strollin · 21 Nov 2011

If you have XP Mode installed and running you can treat that just like a physical machine so you would copy the folder containing the program you want to run to a folder on the VM's disk drive just as you would with a physical disk drive. Alternatively, you could share the folders from the Win 7 disk drive so that they could be accessed from the virtual XP machine.

ik8ozv · 21 Nov 2011

strollin said:

If you have XP Mode installed and running you can treat that just like a physical machine so you would copy the folder containing the program you want to run to a folder on the VM's disk drive just as you would with a physical disk drive. Alternatively, you could share the folders from the Win 7 disk drive so that they could be accessed from the virtual XP machine.

Thanks also to you for help,
but as it is a new O.S. for me can you be so kind to tell me
step by step procedure.
I mean where to put the Dos Folder with the executable
program inside so i can run it from the Windows 7?
Sure in your help.
Enzo