Hello and a windows 3.1 question...

IranianHobo · Post by **IranianHobo** » Sun Oct 10, 2004 6:14 pm

Hey again everyone, don;t have a chance to troll so I don't know who still frequents these boards but I love all of you just the same. Started college this fall and everything's been going well.

Anywho the question... need to run Kiplinger's Simply Money on a Windows XP Pro box. Simply was originally porgrammed in 1992 for win 3.1, I used to run it on win98 using mscompat. Any idea how I can trick XP in letting me use this program? (compatibilty wizard hasn't been working)

Much thanks for your input, I'm hoping Norm sees this and posts a brilliant solution

Humboldt · Post by **Humboldt** » Sun Oct 10, 2004 6:23 pm

Hope this helps:

http://support.microsoft.com/default.as ... -us;314495

Humboldt · Post by **Humboldt** » Sun Oct 10, 2004 6:24 pm

Here's something else:

"Windows XP is backward compatible down to Windows 95 for program support.Windows 3.1 programs were left to run on any other Windows system you may have.It is not a bad idea to keep the Pentium I or II computers to run these programs when you change for the XP computer of your choice.Dual booting Win 98 and XP is also a solution if you have only one computer.Dual booting is easily done if you install Win 98 first to C drive followed by Win XP to D drive.Win XP is like Win NT and will install the dual booting feature.When you boot the computer with this setup you will be asked which one you want to boot to."

Brk · Post by **Brk** » Sun Oct 10, 2004 6:26 pm

I'm just curious as to why you'd NEED to run such an old program.

IranianHobo · Post by **IranianHobo** » Sun Oct 10, 2004 6:45 pm

yeah I am increasingly getting the feeling that I either need VirtualPC or just boot Win98 on a different computer.

I am using such an old program because old people don't like migrating thier accounting data until the very last second and I need to look at some past accounts

thnx for all the help gents

Jim · Post by **Jim** » Sun Oct 10, 2004 6:48 pm

IranianHobo wrote:I am using such an old program because old people don't like migrating thier accounting data until the very last second and I need to look at some past accounts

Until the last second? I think that would've been sometime around 1995...

While it would be a good idea to keep an old 3.1 box around for an emergency where you might need the original files, you'd probably be far better off importing the information into a newer (and probably more robust) program.

Norm · Post by **Norm** » Sun Oct 10, 2004 7:13 pm

I don't have a definite answer.
Have you read and followed the advice in the link posted?

If I had the program, and/or all it's files (less any private customer files of course) I'd be willing to bet I could get it to run. I like a challenge, and I love to prove the officials wrong too. If you would like to send me the program, and/or it's files I'd be happy to muck with it and get back to you.

Humboldt · Post by **Humboldt** » Sun Oct 10, 2004 7:15 pm

Norm!

Post by **YeOldeStonecat** » Sun Oct 10, 2004 8:34 pm

Windows XP also has a tool (I think on the cd-rom), calleed QFixApp
Part of the application compatibility tool kit.

http://support.microsoft.com/default.as ... -US;294416

May want to give it a shot...

Also refer to your softwares install documentation...it may need some higher Files and Buffers settings.
In Win9X, they get tossed in the config.sys file which is in the root of the C drive, along with autoexec.bat, it sets the DOS environment. In Windows NT, since there is no DOS, there is no config.sys or autoexec.bat, but there is a config.nt and autoexec.nt in the C:\%system%\System32 directory to help set the environment in the "virtual DOS machine" that Windows NT has, to help out with legacy apps.

May need something like
Files=151
Buffers=40

Perhaps refer back to the original ones on the old computer.

Sid · Post by **Sid** » Mon Oct 11, 2004 12:45 am

3.1 was nothing more than a gui for dos. Just create a stripped down dos boot disk with the program and fire the box off with that when you need it.