Comments on: Windows 3.1 lies athwart my future http://www.thewormbook.com/hlog/?p=1637 Cognitive Assonance Fri, 10 Sep 2010 13:21:28 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Duncan Lock http://www.thewormbook.com/hlog/?p=1637&cpage=1#comment-3129 Duncan Lock Fri, 04 Jul 2008 22:42:14 +0000 http://www.thewormbook.com/hlog/?p=1637#comment-3129 That sounds like a lot of work - VirtualBox would be a lot easier and quicker, I would think. Just create a Virtual Machine, install DOS on it (and Windows 3.1, if you can 'obtain' a copy) then just install your software. The software running on the virtual machine can't tell the difference - it's just like running on a real PC, but in a window. As installing stuff on VM's if often quite a bit quicker than doing it on real hardware due to the way virtual disks work - and modern PC's are ridiculously quick - this solution would probably occupy no more than 1/2 hour, even if you've never done one before. That sounds like a lot of work – VirtualBox would be a lot easier and quicker, I would think. Just create a Virtual Machine, install DOS on it (and Windows 3.1, if you can ‘obtain’ a copy) then just install your software.
The software running on the virtual machine can’t tell the difference – it’s just like running on a real PC, but in a window. As installing stuff on VM’s if often quite a bit quicker than doing it on real hardware due to the way virtual disks work – and modern PC’s are ridiculously quick – this solution would probably occupy no more than 1/2 hour, even if you’ve never done one before.

]]> By: acb http://www.thewormbook.com/hlog/?p=1637&cpage=1#comment-3073 acb Tue, 24 Jun 2008 04:24:39 +0000 http://www.thewormbook.com/hlog/?p=1637#comment-3073 davemack: I'm getting a 404 on that. I have managed to get the splash screen running; I think I may be able to circumvent the requirement for Windows 3, though not for Dos. These disks contain a mixture of .exe files, indexes and data, and batch files, some of which call a program that neither I nor Google have ever spoken to called "profed". Examination of the batch source suggests that profed copies files while substituting stuff -- a sort of poor man's sed. (That's absolute poverty.) In other words, the batch files on theCD are templates, and the installation scripts use profed to copy them to the hard disk while changing the values to the real ones. Somehow in this process one of them generates the "Indp" batch script which actually runs the program. So my current plan, time willing, is to rewrite the installation scripts in python, which I understand, and lets me rewrite all the calls to profed. Then try to run the dos version of the program under dosbox. davemack: I’m getting a 404 on that.

I have managed to get the splash screen running; I think I may be able to circumvent the requirement for Windows 3, though not for Dos.

These disks contain a mixture of .exe files, indexes and data, and batch files, some of which call a program that neither I nor Google have ever spoken to called “profed”. Examination of the batch source suggests that profed copies files while substituting stuff—a sort of poor man’s sed. (That’s absolute poverty.) In other words, the batch files on theCD are templates, and the installation scripts use profed to copy them to the hard disk while changing the values to the real ones. Somehow in this process one of them generates the “Indp” batch script which actually runs the program.

So my current plan, time willing, is to rewrite the installation scripts in python, which I understand, and lets me rewrite all the calls to profed. Then try to run the dos version of the program under dosbox.

]]> By: davemack http://www.thewormbook.com/hlog/?p=1637&cpage=1#comment-3072 davemack Mon, 23 Jun 2008 23:17:34 +0000 http://www.thewormbook.com/hlog/?p=1637#comment-3072 A long-shot, but the JPC Project might be worth a look: http://www-jpc.physics.ox.ac.uk/index.html A long-shot, but the JPC Project might be worth a look: http://www-jpc.physics.ox.ac.uk/index.html

]]> By: Rafe http://www.thewormbook.com/hlog/?p=1637&cpage=1#comment-3070 Rafe Mon, 23 Jun 2008 15:48:41 +0000 http://www.thewormbook.com/hlog/?p=1637#comment-3070 Virtualbox is a free alternative to VMware. You can also get DOS boot disks at: http://www.bootdisk.com/bootdisk.htm I would think that some combination of the two may get you close to where you want to be. Virtualbox is a free alternative to VMware. You can also get DOS boot disks at:

http://www.bootdisk.com/bootdisk.htm

I would think that some combination of the two may get you close to where you want to be.

]]> By: jim http://www.thewormbook.com/hlog/?p=1637&cpage=1#comment-3068 jim Mon, 23 Jun 2008 15:08:32 +0000 http://www.thewormbook.com/hlog/?p=1637#comment-3068 Do you have a copy of DOS (5 or earlier)? If so, then VMware might be your friend. Do you have a copy of DOS (5 or earlier)? If so, then VMware might be your friend.

]]> By: Tim Anderson’s ITWriting - Tech writing blog » Windows 3.1 in a Virtual Machine – Virtual PC wins this one http://www.thewormbook.com/hlog/?p=1637&cpage=1#comment-3066 Tim Anderson’s ITWriting - Tech writing blog » Windows 3.1 in a Virtual Machine – Virtual PC wins this one Mon, 23 Jun 2008 13:57:17 +0000 http://www.thewormbook.com/hlog/?p=1637#comment-3066 [...] Andrew Brown asked about how to run Windows 3.1. [...] [...] Andrew Brown asked about how to run Windows 3.1. [...]

]]> By: Tim Anderson http://www.thewormbook.com/hlog/?p=1637&cpage=1#comment-3065 Tim Anderson Mon, 23 Jun 2008 11:10:41 +0000 http://www.thewormbook.com/hlog/?p=1637#comment-3065 Second recommendation for VirtualBox. Blogged about it recently: http://www.itwriting.com/blog/660-virtualbox-is-amazing-50-faster-than-virtual-pc-on-my-pc.html Actual software is here: http://www.virtualbox.org/ You still need Windows 3.1. It's still downloadable from Microsoft, but you need an MSDN subscription. But there must be lots of them kicking around. Tim Second recommendation for VirtualBox. Blogged about it recently:

http://www.itwriting.com/blog/660-virtualbox-is-amazing-50-faster-than-virtual-pc-on-my-pc.html

Actual software is here:

http://www.virtualbox.org/

You still need Windows 3.1. It’s still downloadable from Microsoft, but you need an MSDN subscription. But there must be lots of them kicking around.

Tim

]]> By: acb http://www.thewormbook.com/hlog/?p=1637&cpage=1#comment-3062 acb Mon, 23 Jun 2008 05:33:37 +0000 http://www.thewormbook.com/hlog/?p=1637#comment-3062 Nick: I tried disbox; it balked on the command to Xcopy, and I can't see how to pass it environment variables. Xcopy I can fake by reading the batch file which installs the program. But I need also to set up the environment for the query program. It can't be impossible, but it may take more time than it is worth. Rupert. I have no copy of Win 3.1, and have never heard of virtualbox. sth: yes -- they are very proprietary and cleverly compressed. There is no chance in hell the Indie would replace the disks, since they came from the original company, three changes of ownership ago. On the other hand,. I hope to see Andreas at my book launch on Thursday, so I might ask if he has them too. Nick: I tried disbox; it balked on the command to Xcopy, and I can’t see how to pass it environment variables. Xcopy I can fake by reading the batch file which installs the program. But I need also to set up the environment for the query program. It can’t be impossible, but it may take more time than it is worth.

Rupert. I have no copy of Win 3.1, and have never heard of virtualbox.

sth: yes—they are very proprietary and cleverly compressed. There is no chance in hell the Indie would replace the disks, since they came from the original company, three changes of ownership ago. On the other hand,. I hope to see Andreas at my book launch on Thursday, so I might ask if he has them too.

]]> By: sth http://www.thewormbook.com/hlog/?p=1637&cpage=1#comment-3060 sth Mon, 23 Jun 2008 00:11:06 +0000 http://www.thewormbook.com/hlog/?p=1637#comment-3060 Are the data files themselves in a proprietary format? Crucially, are they binary? If not, the data could be parsed by a reasonably simple shell script without a huge amount of difficulty. Taking a completely different tack, is there any chance the Independent will replace your old CD-ROMs with newer media, considering you can prove that you own them. Are the data files themselves in a proprietary format? Crucially, are they binary? If not, the data could be parsed by a reasonably simple shell script without a huge amount of difficulty. Taking a completely different tack, is there any chance the Independent will replace your old CD-ROMs with newer media, considering you can prove that you own them.

]]> By: Rupert http://www.thewormbook.com/hlog/?p=1637&cpage=1#comment-3059 Rupert Sun, 22 Jun 2008 21:48:34 +0000 http://www.thewormbook.com/hlog/?p=1637#comment-3059 I'd be thinking about Virtualbox and Windows 3.1. Not that I've tried that, but it may be the least painful way (it may also be the most). I’d be thinking about Virtualbox and Windows 3.1. Not that I’ve tried that, but it may be the least painful way (it may also be the most).

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