Pegasus (MVP) wrote:
> "Bill in Co." <not_really_here@earthlink.net> wrote in message
> news:%23QTkwV%23tIHA.2188@TK2MSFTNGP04.phx.gbl...
>> Pegasus (MVP) wrote:
>>> "Bill in Co." <not_really_here@earthlink.net> wrote in message
>>> news:OV%237Jl8tIHA.2292@TK2MSFTNGP03.phx.gbl...
>>>> Has anyone played around with this extensively to know just what DOS
>>>> applications "command.com" (16 bit shell) will run successfully, that
>>>> "cmd.exe" (32 bit shell) cannot (under XP)?
>>>>
>>>> Note: "cmd.exe" is newer and more "featured", of course (and also
>>>> handles
>>>> long filenames), but isn't quite as compatible for running some DOS
>>>> apps.
>>>>
>>>> Just wondering if anyone has any personal experiences they can share on
>>>> this. I seem to have noticed a few already, but was curious.
>>>
>>> Cmd.exe is the Windows XP command processor. Command.com
>>> is a legacy processor that you should only use for 16-bit applications
>>> that won't run properly under cmd.exe. Avoid it if you can!

(well, that's a bit "dramatic". :-)
(I've used both, and don't mind (too much) the limitations of each, and it
keeps me from getting too rusty - with DOS. :-)

>> I know that, but I was curious as to which apps someone had problems with
>> (that worked fine under "command.com" under XP, but not under "cmd.exe")
>>
>> There are plenty of apps that won't work with either, however (and HAVE
>> to
>> run under REAL DOS).
>
> Consider installing DOS in a Virtual PC. It's free.
> http://www.microsoft.com/windows/virtualpc/default.mspx

I've thought of that. Or "VirtualBox" (also free), which I hear (at least
from some reviews) is even better, in many respects. But I haven't really
found the need to go quite that far just yet! (I'm thinking using a VPC
would be more appropos for another windows operating system, or Linux, but
not so much for just using DOS, on occasion) A bit overkill, IOW.

Right now I also have a 1 GB Flash USB stick with DOS, which I can boot up
on, if needbe.

And - in case anybody's interested, there is also a good DOS emulator (free)
called DOSBox, which works well for some of the older DOS games.