Re: Running DOS Programs on an XP or Vista (Windows) Computer.
April 9, 2009 skipp025 at yahoo.com
Hello Sailors,
Let me share what I've found to be one of the more practical methods
to operate some (not all) DOS Radio Programs on a Windows XP or Vista OS
Computers. Please keep in mind there probably are a modest number
of possible paths to reach a similar end result. Right now I don't
want to burn a lot of time going into very minor detail. Please
accept this overview as the method I used to receive predictable,
useful end results.
Notable requirements:
1 A computer capable of booting from a USB port, configured in bios
as an external hard drive. The computer is configured to boot to the
external USB flash/thumb drive as the first boot device.
2 A USB "thumb" drive, suggested size would be 2GB. I would caution
against using really large capacity USB drives to avoid potential
hardware conflicts I will not try to explain at this time.
A utility was used to format (where required) and make the
flash/thumb drive bootable in with DOS 5.0. Classic DOS Plain-Jane
Autoexec.bat and Config.sys files were made and installed on
the Flash (thumb)*. You must of course supply your own copy of DOS.
DOS based Radio Software is pre-loaded onto the thumb drive. Don't
expect normal operation from the computers floppy or CD-Rom while
booted to the USB Flash Drive. I would hope but not expect the
floppy drive to function.
The computer is power on re-started (booted) to the flash/thumb
drive. Radio software is opened, installed and or configured (paths
and selected com ports).
Test each of the installed software packages for proper operation.
NOT ALL DOS RADIO SOFTWARE WORKS USING THIS method.
The below DOS programs run on almost any PC that will boot from a
DOS bootable flash drive.
Mastr 2E and Mastr 3/3-P25 Control Shelf
Mastr 2E/3/3-P25 MS Edit
These DOS programs run from Virtual PC or DOS bootable flash drive.
GEPC GE S825 Sprectra MSF5000
MT1000 MPA SyntorX 9000
This DOS program will not run on all, but will run on many PC's that
will boot from the flash drive.
MT2000
These two programs will run only on an older PC, such as the
Toshiba Satellite 110 with Windows 95.
Midland XTR & 8 CH Mobiles Midland SYN-Tech II Mobiles
These DOS programs have been replaced with current available Windows based
programs.
GE Orion Kenwood King Astro
MTS2000 DX Sprectra Engineering
****
Below is a copy of the autoexec.bat file used on the flash drive.
Although shown, the CD Rom drivers were not completely installed
or tested.
[autoexec.bat file contents just below]
echo off
cls
prompt $p$g
path=c:\;c:\dos
[config.sys file contents just below]
device=c:\dos\setver.exe
device=c:\dos\himem.sys
rem device=c:\dos\emm386.exe ram
files=30
buffers=30
dos=high,umb
shell=c:\dos\command.com c:\ /p /e:1024
****
We also have a similar project using a virtual hard disk on the
same XP Machine (computer), but the end results are less optimal
versus using an external flash thumb drive. I was not expecting
the external flash drive solution to work as well as it looks.
But of course I'm still sorting out glitches.
I'll be happy to provide additional details as time allows. Your
results will vary...
Cheers,
skipp
