I read this somewhere but I can't find it.

I just bought a new laptop to have, and I need DOS to run the E6K (Don't have yet, but am going to get) software. It's got XP on it, so there really isn't a DOS. What are you guys running software-wise on new computers to get the DOS stuff to run?

Also, I've got no serial port, only 3 USB ports, is there an adapter made?

 

I have a dos boot disk that I use when running the E6K software.

 

Does that actually work with the USB to Serial adapter?

I use Virtual PC with all DOS software installed on an XP Pro machine. But i do have a serial port.

 

http://dosbox.sourceforge.net/news.php?show_news=1

DOSBOX is a DOS emulator built to be run in XP. This should be the answer for running Haltek's DOS based software without needing to "boot" into DOS.

 

Installed DOSBOX and mounted the c drive. All I need to do now is get a serial adapter.

 

Muchas gracias!

 

Did you try this?

At start menu, select run. Then type in cmd.exe and hit OK.

Not sure if this is a "full" dos, but it does give you the prompt.

 

Yea, I tried the command line in XP. The haltech software isn't too fond of it. You get the COMM 1 error, typical for 32 bit XP. The only problem I have with the DOSBox is that you have to mount the hard drive every time you run it. I'm not sure if there's a save feature or not. Granted it's a 1-line command (mount c c:\dosprog) after you create the dosprog folder in your C:\ drive.

I think this emulator is the ticket to run the DOS Haltech software though. I've played with it, and loaded some maps into the software, and it works like a charm. Just don't try to connect to the Haltech without it connected, it hangs.