Running DOS in Windows ME

Hi Joanne,
You could try the tip in this article to see if it will do the job for you. Starting DOS from WinME.
Steve

Joanne,

Are you receiving ANY error messages when you attempt to open your program? ("insufficient file handles", etc?)

I have a DOS based database (Alpha4) that I have been using for more than ten years and was not going to give it up. There was a fix for me, although not a conventional edit of config.sys, etc but the database works as good as ever now. MS does not WANT you to be able to use DOS programs in ME and there is a very reliable rumor that the next edition of Windows will not support a DOS program in any way.

If you are receiving any error messages, please post them. What program are you using?

One of the messages says "an exception OE has occurred at 0028:cofcacac in Vxd ....This was called from 0028:coo14551 in Vxd Vmm (01) + ooo1355! It may be possible to continut normally" That's just one of the many messages it gives. Other times when I go to open up a client in the program, the screen goes blank, computer freezes, and I have to turn the screen back on with the monitor button.

The program is called AME software. Would it be hard to wipe out ME and replace with win 98. Still suppose to be under Dell warranty, but unfortunately, it's past the 30 days (however I just found out this problem) otherwise I would just return for a refund. But since I seem to be stuck with it, any suggestions???

Thanks,
Joanne

Joanne,

I'll be the first to tell you I don't have a clue what your posted error message indicates. However, you should be able to boot on startup to the command prompt (C:\) and run your program as a normal DOS program. A little inconvenient if you need Windows ME running too. I have not attempted this (or needed to) with the DOS database but my parameters for satisfactory operation through Windows ME were much different than yours.

Wiping out Windows Me with a new install to Windows 98 is a possibility but you would need the appropriate drivers for all your new hardware plus a reinstall of every other program you have that did not come with the new computer.

OK, I now go to the MSdos icon and can access my dos program.......no problem. But..................it's still not that easy. Now I am having a problem printing from that program. Have to restart the computer several times before I can finally print. Then when I exit the dos prompt to go back to windows, the monitor goes blank, and I have to turn the button back on for the monitor.


ANYBODY HAVE ANY CLUES AS HOW I CAN PRINT WITHOUT PROBLEMS, OR WHY THE MONITOR KEEPS GOING BLANK????

I'm pulling my hair out.

Dell is no help.

Thanks,
Joanne
Rolling Thunder wrote:
- Joanne,
-
- I'll be the first to tell you I don't have a clue
- what your posted error message indicates. However,
- you should be able to boot on startup to the command
- prompt (C:\) and run your program as a normal DOS
- program. A little inconvenient if you need Windows
- ME running too. I have not attempted this (or
- needed to) with the DOS database but my parameters
- for satisfactory operation through Windows ME were
- much different than yours.
-
- Wiping out Windows Me with a new install to Windows
- 98 is a possibility but you would need the
- appropriate drivers for all your new hardware plus a
- reinstall of every other program you have that did
- not come with the new computer.
-
-

can you just type in "command" in the Start/Run dialog box?

Joanne,

No, access your program in DOS only, not thru Windows.

Take your Windows startup (boot) disk .... you DO have one don't you?

Insert it in your floppy drive and "restart." This will take you to the A:\ drive. Type C: and enter. This will take you to your C:\drive. Then (as an example) type CD (change directory) AME and "enter."

When you have your directory specifically named for your AME program, type the excecutable that runs it (as an example) ame.exe. Your program should open and run as if Windows is not present.

The "AME" is only an example since I don't know exactly what this program is listed as on your hard drive and I don't know exactly what your executable command is. This can be found thru Windows Explorer. Look to see exactly what this directory is called and exactly what the executable program is in the right hand window.

This should not be a Dell Support problem but one of your software vendor's.