Resolving MS-DOS Application Problems
Although most MS-DOS applications run better in Windows 9x, Windows 2000 and Windows XP than in Windows 3.1x, Windows 9x , Windows 2000 and Windows XP can still experience problems running MSDOS applications. MS-DOS applications refuse to run under Windows because they cannot find a version of MS-DOS they recognize. Some older MS-DOS applications make use of system resources in ways that are not compatible with Windows 9x, Windows 2000, or Windows XP and will not run.
One of the most common causes for MS-DOS and Windows application crashes in Windows 9x is that many applications check the version number of MS-DOS before running. If the software reads the wrong version number or a version number in the wrong range, an error occurs and the program crashes. To get around this, Windows 9x can use the setver.exe application to determine what MS-DOS version number the application requires and can pass that version number to applications. This requires that the config.sys file contain the line device=c:\windows\setver.exe.
itself. By using the Properties tab of a program's .exe file, you can modify many of the settings that cause your program to fail. To perform this modification: open WINDOWS EXPLORER and find the problematic MS-DOS .exe file. Then, right-click the file and select PROPERTIES from the popup menu. Click the PROGRAM tab and click ADVANCED to display the Advanced dialog box. The Advanced dialog box as a number of options:
- Prevent MS-DOS-Based Programs From Detecting Windows. This hides Windows in memory so MS-DOS programs cannot detect it.
- Suggest MS-DOS Mode As Necessary. If Windows 9x detects an application that is likely to run better in MS-DOS, it starts a wizard so that you can customize the application to run in MS-DOS.
- MS-DOS Mode. This setting has three additional options that determine how the application runs in
MS-DOS mode. These are:
Warn Before Entering MS-DOS. When entering MS-DOS mode, you should close any open Windows applications and files. This warns you to save files and close any applications that are running.
Use Current MS-DOS Configuration. This uses all the current system settings that have been passed along, including settings in config.sys, autoexec.bat, io.sys, and the Registry.