Dos differences in Windows NT and Windows XP

Ruchikar · 09-17-2003, 05:41 AM

Are there any differences in DOS in Windows NT and Windows XP. I have a small application running in Windows NT DOS. Could there be any issues while taking it to Windows XP?

TIA.

**Bubba** · 09-17-2003, 05:52 AM

Yes. XP is based on 2000 architecture and only has a small DOS emulator that is extremely limited and will cause a lot of old DOS code multitudes of problems. Loading device drivers for sound output is one area that comes to mind. XP simply will not do this correctly - in my experience.

Waldo2k2 · 09-17-2003, 12:04 PM

NT was a DOS emulator box too. How would programming for nt's emulator be any different? The only things i know they would have changed is adding new commands. I doubt they'd redo the entire emulator, xp is still based off nt, 2000 was based off nt. Why do you think the xp version number is an nt number?

**Bubba** · 09-17-2003, 09:57 PM

Are you asking me or telling me??

Ruchikar · 09-17-2003, 10:34 PM

To clarify a bit more, the application is running in the 16 bit COMMAND.COM emulation shell of VDM. It's *not* running in 32 bit cmd.exe.

Do you anticipate any problems if this application is made to run in Windows XP 16 bit COMMAND.COM shell?

Perhaps the underlying question is - are there any differences between NT and XP's 16 bit emulation COMMAND.COM shells?

Waldo2k2 · 09-17-2003, 11:36 PM

>>Are you asking me or telling me??

telling i suppose, but im not an MS employee so i don't know for 100%, but im 90+% sure.

>>are there any differences between NT and XP's 16 bit emulation COMMAND.COM shells?

Well xp is newer, and you'd hope they would have improved 16 bit app support but who knows, i don't forsee any trouble...why don't you just make a dummy app and check it out?

Oh yeah btw, I've made some 16 bit apps with open watcom and xp has never had a problem with them thus far.

09-17-2003, 05:41 AM	#1
Ruchikar Registered User Join Date: Apr 2002 Posts: 39	Dos differences in Windows NT and Windows XP Are there any differences in DOS in Windows NT and Windows XP. I have a small application running in Windows NT DOS. Could there be any issues while taking it to Windows XP? TIA. __________________ <Signature name="Ruchikar" quote="discussions are forgotten, only code remains"/>
Ruchikar is offline

09-17-2003, 05:52 AM	#2
Bubba Super Moderator Join Date: Aug 2001 Posts: 7,472	Yes. XP is based on 2000 architecture and only has a small DOS emulator that is extremely limited and will cause a lot of old DOS code multitudes of problems. Loading device drivers for sound output is one area that comes to mind. XP simply will not do this correctly - in my experience. __________________ If you aim at everything you will hit something but you won't know what it is.
Bubba is offline

09-17-2003, 12:04 PM	#3
Waldo2k2 PC Fixer-Upper Join Date: May 2002 Posts: 2,001	NT was a DOS emulator box too. How would programming for nt's emulator be any different? The only things i know they would have changed is adding new commands. I doubt they'd redo the entire emulator, xp is still based off nt, 2000 was based off nt. Why do you think the xp version number is an nt number? __________________ PHP and XML Let's talk about SAX
Waldo2k2 is offline

09-17-2003, 09:57 PM	#4
Bubba Super Moderator Join Date: Aug 2001 Posts: 7,472	Are you asking me or telling me?? __________________ If you aim at everything you will hit something but you won't know what it is.
Bubba is offline

09-17-2003, 10:34 PM	#5
Ruchikar Registered User Join Date: Apr 2002 Posts: 39	To clarify a bit more, the application is running in the 16 bit COMMAND.COM emulation shell of VDM. It's not running in 32 bit cmd.exe. Do you anticipate any problems if this application is made to run in Windows XP 16 bit COMMAND.COM shell? Perhaps the underlying question is - are there any differences between NT and XP's 16 bit emulation COMMAND.COM shells? __________________ <Signature name="Ruchikar" quote="discussions are forgotten, only code remains"/>
Ruchikar is offline

09-17-2003, 11:36 PM	#6
Waldo2k2 PC Fixer-Upper Join Date: May 2002 Posts: 2,001	>>Are you asking me or telling me?? telling i suppose, but im not an MS employee so i don't know for 100%, but im 90+% sure. >>are there any differences between NT and XP's 16 bit emulation COMMAND.COM shells? Well xp is newer, and you'd hope they would have improved 16 bit app support but who knows, i don't forsee any trouble...why don't you just make a dummy app and check it out? Oh yeah btw, I've made some 16 bit apps with open watcom and xp has never had a problem with them thus far. __________________ PHP and XML Let's talk about SAX
Waldo2k2 is offline

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Virtual keys	Arkanos	Windows Programming	4	12-12-2005 10:00 AM
dual boot Win XP, win 2000	Micko	Tech Board	6	05-30-2005 02:55 PM
XP Sucks	Darkman	A Brief History of Cprogramming.com	26	01-19-2004 07:54 PM
getting to true DOS with windows NT	major_small	A Brief History of Cprogramming.com	4	11-05-2003 05:23 PM
FlashWindowEx not declared?	Aidman	Windows Programming	3	05-17-2003 02:58 AM