[ros-general] dos support in reactos

[Power User]

Gunnar Andre Dalsnes -> [my e-mail] for 'Power User': "RE: [ros-general]
dos
support in reactos" @ 28-Feb-2004, 02:26:03

>  > And btw, there is also DOS support for Linux
> exists.Hey, what do you
> > expect users to do to launch "old apps" with ROS?Reboot into
> > FreeDOS?:\
> > What a f.....g way to reboot each time you need to run "old app" :((
GAD> No need to reboot. Just run freedos in an emulator like bochs. Both
GAD> are free/open source. This solution will be fast enought for most dos
GAD> apps.
JFYI I already have bochs for quite long time and unfortunately I have to
mention the following things:

- x86 CPU\periferial emulated in software and this is SLOW AS JERK
compared to NT's VDM for example (I'm silent about Win'9x\ME :-P).
Yeah, SOME programs can work acceptable in this way but really this
is quite f....g way too and let's say I doubt any normal user will use
this solution.For me I'm only using bochs when testing some potentially
harmful stuff (so it can crush only his sandbox) or when it is hard
to avoid using it (for example to boot ROS kernel and to see\store
debug msgs since on real HW this generally requires 2nd PC and serial
cable - bochs is good thing here).For anything else like normal use
as dos VM, bochs is unfair choice IMHO.

- Bochs not emulates _all_ HW features or not exactly,etc.I'm understanding
that NT's VDM not perfect here too but I'm still rather preferring NT's
VDM - at least it is fast enough.

- Does BOCHS capable to switch into fullscreen?I'm unhappy with its window
in GUI environment while using for text mode apps.There is rather small
font, etc.I'm like to see text mode in FULL screen.And NT's VDM allows it.

Let's say that when NT4 arrived it counted as OS which is not very easy
to use and rather poorly compatible since VDM still not a DOS and not
Win'9x dos box.But it is still better than noting and rather many DOS
apps can run in NT.In '2k\XP DOS support was improved a bit, i.e. even
sound via soundcard works in games, etc.Still not perfect but slightly
more usable than bochs in this role.

P.S.This is repost.To Gunnar Andre Dalsnes:pls sorry for posting
this into your private mailbox instead of ROS list,there was smth
wrong\strange im mail headers %-\

Good Bye, Gunnar.See you later.
... Automatically generated by Fidolook SL&My macro ... :P