Archived from groups: microsoft.public.vb.general.discussion,microsoft.public.vb.dos,microsoft.public.windowsxp.help_and_support (
More info?)
On Thu, 15 Sep 2005 07:13:27 -0500, Ralph wrote:
> "MikeD" <nobody@nowhere.edu> wrote in message
> news:udVzK$XuFHA.3720@TK2MSFTNGP14.phx.gbl...
>>
>> "Stan Hilliard" <usenetreplyMS@samplingplansNOTSPAM.com> wrote in message
>> news:gq3hi1934tl3d9tf1v7aeqm0b6hpia63p6@4ax.com...
>>>I have a legacy program written in VBDOS that runs in a DOS window.
>>> One of my customers using Windows XP can't print. The attempt to print
>>> just hangs the DOS window.
>>>
>>> The internal code is like
>>> OPEN "O", #1, "PRN"
>>> PRINT #1, etc.
>>>
>>> It has printed from windows 98 and 2000. Could it be windows XP
>>> related?
>>>
>>> It is not practical to change the program. (The program seems to work
>>> well in XP otherwise.)
>>>
>>> What could be the problem?
>>
>>
>> With every new version of Windows, you can expect less and less support
> for
>> 16 bit apps. You're talking about a DOS app (which WinXP probably
> suppports
>> even less than a 16 bit Windows app). It wouldn't surprise me at all that
> a
>> DOS app can't print, let alone "see" some printers, particularly newer
>> printers that use USB. You say it has printed from Win98 and Win2000. On
>> these systems, what kind of printer is installed? Is this a network
> printer
>> and are these Win98 and Win2000 systems on the same network and using the
>> same printer as the WinXP system that won't print?
>>
>> IMO, there's no reason to expect a DOS program to work 100% under WinXP.
> You
>> might be able to work-around things, but it's probably trial and error and
>> hacks at best.
>>
>> --
>> Mike
>> Microsoft MVP Visual Basic
>>
>>
>
> To amplify "DOS" command line commands are not even supported on 64-bit
> Windows. I don't know if this is just part of the 'prototype' or if it is a
> sign of things to come.
>
> -ralph
Currently XP (32bit) emmulates DOS, XP64 does not. I strongly suspect that
this will not change. Solutions abound however with virtualization. Some
time ago MS bought VirtualPC. I would not be at all surprised to find that
in the future, DOS support will come through this scenario. It may require
an additional purchase, or MS might just bundle a very lite version for
legacy support.
--
HK