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Thread ID: 136089	2014-01-18 20:42:00	Computer Upgrade	B.M. (505)	Press F1

Post ID	Timestamp	Content	User
1365462	2014-01-19 03:25:00	You can still run DOS programs in W8 8.1 -- Simple really, either install DOSbox, or set up DOS in a Virtual Machine, heres an example How-To-Install-DOS-622-Under-VirtualBox/ (www.instructables.com)	wainuitech (129)
1365463	2014-01-19 03:42:00	Yet another way to run MSDOS programs is to make up a ram drive on a boot CD. There are various tutorials around. One advantage is you can make a 'small' FAT DOS partition on your hard drive where you can put all your dos stuff like Qbasic, and DOS CAD programs etc, It can be accessed from either Windows, or from the ram drive where it will appear as a C:\ drive, and so you can keep and access hard copy/results from your DOS programs. You will also get full screen. There are ram drive option on the Hirens Boot CD, but they don't load ansi.sys AFAIK which is a useful thing to have.	Terry Porritt (14)
1365464	2014-01-22 19:45:00	Update. When I tried the Paragon programme to copy my XP Drive to a USB portable drive I kept getting “Delayed Write Failed” “All your Data has been lost”! Well that got my attention, but it seems the lost data was what it was trying to write to the portable drive. So that doesn’t seem to be working out as well as hoped. Plan “B” is to physically fit the drive with XP on it into the Win7 machine and then choose at boot time which drive to boot from. I may later install a 3rd drive with Linux on it just to have a play. When I tried Linux years ago it was a thoroughly forgettable experience as I never managed to even get on the Internet. However,I digress, so the question is, what is the best boot manager, where upon power on, I get asked which disk I’d like to boot from and it all starts there. :thanks	B.M. (505)
1365465	2014-01-22 19:59:00	Actually making a copy of the Drive to a USB Portable drive often fails, but make an Image of the drive and it should go fine ( two different things, Copy /Image) Boot Manager --- One I've used in the past is neosmart.net not to sure but I think its paid software now. If you are only going to be playing about with a OS, as mentioned in an earlier post, why not try a Virtual Machine, that way it doesn't matter if it screws up, as it wont have any effect on the Main OS, and as long as you have enough space no other drives needed. BUT on saying that I have a separate drive that simply holds the VM's. If you want to try a VM, then the links are in post 11 ( thats the one I use) then you dont have to worry about Dual booting, mucked up boot loaders etc. The pictures show loading in DOS, but I select a couple of different settings to what they show :2cents: There are other VM's but VirtualBox works fine. PS: I loaded Windows 98 in a VM on the weekend OMG - Lets say it didn't last to long before I deleted it again :D	wainuitech (129)
1365466	2014-01-24 03:35:00	There are other VM's but VirtualBox works fine. Ok, VirtualBox it is, so brace yourself Wainui for a shower of stupid questions. :D I have absolutely no knowledge of how the "virtual world" operates so I apologise at the outset. :o First up: Can I definitely run the already installed programmes that are on the XP HDD? Second up: Do I install VirtualBox on the new(ish) Win7 machine? That will do for now, but I have found a 150 odd page manual on line, so that should entertain me for a day or two. :lol:	B.M. (505)
1365467	2014-01-24 03:50:00	You can install virtualbox on W7 no problems at all ( famous last words) :rolleyes: PS : NO question is stupid if someone doesn't know :) You can use the default settings, theres nothing "tricky" or hidden thats gonna hurt anything ( Eg: malware, toolbars etc) Once you install VB, you'll get a window like the following ( apart from the OS's shown) 5505 To add in a new VM, you would click on the NEW Button top Left (more on that later). First up: Can I definitely run the already installed programes that are on the XP HDD? Are you referring to using an existing Install of XP OR a fresh one in the VM, then install the programs ? If its the First option - sometimes you can make a VM of an existing OS, but it can give troubles. If its the second option above then yes, shouldn't be any problems as its a stand alone install. Think of it as a section of your hard drive put aside from Windows 7 especially for XP. What I'll do is install XP on this one and do a Video / Screen shots of each step. Theres only a couple of settings I change. Are you going to have a seperate drive to hold the VM ( XP) or just use the one drive ( doesn't really matter either was, just being nosy)	wainuitech (129)
1365468	2014-01-24 04:13:00	Have got Windows 8.1 in Virtual Box running on Windows 7 32 bit 4 GB ram, think I would rather have it in a Dual boot config as it shares Ram and Video resources Probably better on Windows 7 64 Bit and 8 GB Ram	Lawrence (2987)
1365469	2014-01-24 04:53:00	The existing HDD with XP installed and a Zillion other programmes (applications) is my concern Wainui. I want to be able to use all those programmes and the reinstallation of all of them is not an option. I just can’t get my head around why one would reinstall XP when it already exists complete with working Registry. Anyway, here’s a shot of “some” of the programmes accumulated over the years, a lot of which have probably never been used. :o This might help explain my concern. :D 5507	B.M. (505)
1365470	2014-01-24 07:21:00	I just can’t get my head around why one would reinstall XP when it already exists complete with working Registry. You would have a separate install in a VM because its separate to the host operating system. Think of a VM as a operating system within a container. Bit like a bottle of milk bobbing in a sink of water, the water and milk are in the same area, but never touching / mixing because the bottle is keeping them apart. In a VM ( the V stands for Virtual) the OS has nothing to do with the host, it will share hardware ( network, graphics, memory, audio etc) But NOT the OS. This means it doesn't matter what you do to a VM it wont harm the host. Example. This PC is Windows 8.1, but I can run any of the listed VM's from within W8.1 and never harm it. 5508 Thats what Windows 7 XP mode is, a stand alone operating system. You may be able to reuse the XP currently if its on the same hardware by making a vhd file of it. BUT keep in mind you will need the space to put it, meaning if the OS, programs and data use lets say 80Gb you'll need that much space at least spare. The only XP I still have running is 120GB used, and its a 160GB drive so I cant make a vhd of it and save it to that drive, I'll have to locate an external drive. VM's work fine if the PC has enough power Its basically like running multi OS's all at the same time. If the original XP cant be made to work, then going the dual booting may, but the reason I dont like Dual boots ( its personal preference) is I've seen to many failures and to many troubles esp when mixing OS's :2cents: With the vhd's I have them stored as originals on another server, so if one screws up ( read I muck something up) its simply a case of copying the original back to the Host machine and its up and going again.	wainuitech (129)
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