How can I execute my old DOS-only applications on a modern computer?

The first versions of my software that I developed back in 1991 were DOS-only versions that I wrote using Turbo Pascal. At the time, it never occurred to me that I would actually still be selling these products twenty years later. I never thought to create screenshots and document how the systems looked back then. Today, I'd love to have a visual record of what my software looked like through the ages.

How can I get these old DOS programs to run on a modern computer so I can take pictures of the screens to document and preserve the history of my software and its progression through time?

disk-operating-system

Michael Riley - AKA Gunny

Posted 2011-09-30T01:38:37.363

Reputation: 251

2Try the Linux program dosemu. – Paul Tomblin – 2011-09-30T01:43:06.637

Or if you're on Windows, dosbox

– None – 2011-09-30T01:44:04.870

You don't say what the modern OS is. If it's 32-bit then your 16-bit MS-DOS applications would work if they were text mode, graphical applications not so much. With 64-bit you could use DosBox or the other things mentioned here, or XP Mode if you have Windows 7 Professional. – Alan B – 2011-09-30T07:50:55.877

Coincidentally, I have done exactly the same thing recently with some TP3 programs I wrote circa 1990. The apps mostly work fine in an XP console window. I coded my graphics routines in assembler - using BIOS INT10 services rather than manipulating the video buffer directly. It's amazing that the old 'tiny' model .COM files still run (as does TP3 itself!). – MikeJ-UK – 2011-09-30T12:25:13.947

Answers

What you want, as mentioned in the comments, is DOSBox. DOSBox is an x86 emulator with DOS that can run all of those applications, even in full screen mode if desired.

Keep in mind that the primary target of DOSBox was for smooth gameplay for legacy games, so support for printing and networking are limited and still in development.

John T

Posted 2011-09-30T01:38:37.363

Reputation: 149 037

Do you know if DOSBox can handle direct video writes? I made heavy use of the video buffer back then. – Michael Riley - AKA Gunny – 2011-09-30T02:38:03.363

1@CapeCodGunny yes it does :) – John T – 2011-09-30T02:53:44.327

thank you... it works great. http://www.zilchworks.com/images/20years/DOS-ZILCH-v1.19.jpg

– Michael Riley - AKA Gunny – 2011-10-01T03:23:33.770

You can run FreeDos in a virtual machine.

user unknown

Posted 2011-09-30T01:38:37.363

Reputation: 1 623

I run Ubuntu Linux and have installed Qemu. SuperUser won't take my screen shot so I posted it at http://hk.pimco.mobi/andy/QemuDos.gif to show you. I had an old install disk for MS-DOS and read it into a disk image which I then used Qemu to install onto a hard disk image. It's not an emulator, it's the real thing.

AndyCanfield

Posted 2011-09-30T01:38:37.363

Reputation: 21

Microsoft Virtual PC 2007 is a good tool, you can install DOS or an older 32-bit Windows operating system in a Virtual machine and should be able to run dos programs in that.

Frank R.

Posted 2011-09-30T01:38:37.363

Reputation: 431