Way to run a Win98 dos program from WinXP cmd?

[Skyhawk]

Is there any way to run a Win98 DOS keyboard loader program from a WinXP Pro cmd window? Maybe an emulation program?

[John64]

keyboard loader?

You could try Bochs, VMWare Server/player or dosbox (i think its only linux) to run a virtual copy of dos.

This will not effect your host os (the XP you are running).

What does this program do?

[Skyhawk]

Originally Posted by John64

keyboard loader? ...snip... What does this program do?

Have a Gateway 2000 "anykey" keyboard which has on-board memory which can store user created keyboard macros. Can then save the macros to a floppy disc and reload the macros if necessary. The keyboard macro program run off DOS on the floppy and will not run in WinXP's cmd mode.

Sometimes after I boot WinXP Pro I find that the keyboard macros have been lost so I have to reboot the floppy, upload the macros to the keyboard, and then reboot WinXP Pro which is a pain. So I'm looking for an easy way to do that from within WinXP Pro with out having to reboot.

The Gateway 2000 anykey keyboard is sold on Ebay. Here's a link:

http://search.ebay.com/search/search...ard&category0=

Or go to ebay and do a search on "anykey keyboard".

The 12 function keys on the left side are indispensible when programmed for Photoshop or Video editing programs. Left hand does keyboard shortcuts and right hand never has to leave the mouse. Programming those 12 left side function keys do not affect the 12 function keys at the top of the keyboard. Any key can be programmed to do any sequence of keystrokes. Can use shift, alt and ctrl modifiers for any key to really expand the number of macro keys available.

One example of indispensible use is to program the left side F8 key (right next to the left shift key) as the delete key. When deleting a group of stuff using the left hand shift key and right hand on the mouse, just tap the left side F8 (now delete key) with the left hand. No need to move the left hand way over to the right side to tap the real delete key.

The anykey keyboard is the bomb and I bought a spare off ebay just to be sure I have one in case my in use keyboard should fail. But I got my first one when 386 PCs were king and it still works perfectly.

Skyhawk

[Skyhawk]

Originally Posted by John64

...snip... You could try Bochs, VMWare Server/player or dosbox (i think its only linux) to run a virtual copy of dos.
This will not effect your host os (the XP you are running). ...snip...

Looked at dosbox and it might do the job for free. Downloaded a copy and will give it a try after I finish my current deadline job and post the results.

Thanks John,
Skyhawk

[John64]

np, VMWare server is also free, but you have to register.

If you want, i can make an empty virtual machine for you as per your specs and you can use it for free with VMWare Player.

all i need to know is the amount of ram, the hard drive space.

[John64]

http://www.vmware.com/download/player/ <--Windows Version

Here is one with 500mb virtual hard drive (it only uses space as you use it in the Virtual Hard Drive, and 16mb of ram.

[Skyhawk]

Originally Posted by John64

http://www.vmware.com/download/player/ <--Windows Version
Here is one with 500mb virtual hard drive (it only uses space as you use it in the Virtual Hard Drive, and 16mb of ram.

Hey John, thanks!

I downloaded VMWare player and will try it before I try the DosBox. I downloaded the VMWare documentation and will read it to figure out how to use the file you created for me.

EDIT: >>If you want, i can make an empty virtual machine for you as per your specs and you can use it for free with VMWare Player. all i need to know is the amount of ram, the hard drive space. <<
I have 1GB of ram and 18.9 GB free on my C: system drive. 34 GB free on another drive and 100 GB free on a third drive.

Keep rocking!
Skyhawk

[John64]

ok.

UnRAR it with WinRAR from www.rarlabs.com

next download and install VMWare Player

Launch VMWare Player

It will ask for a .vmx file, thats in the RAR file that you unziped earlier

[John64]

what exactly does this program your trying to run do?

EDIT: In case you are unaware, anything you do in that virtual machine will not effect your host (windows XP). Its like having a totally seperate computer. If you need a new one that supported Windows XP, http://www.klm32.com/loader/index.html

[Skyhawk]

Originally Posted by John64

ok.
UnRAR it with WinRAR from www.rarlabs.com
next download and install VMWare Player
Launch VMWare Player
It will ask for a .vmx file, thats in the RAR file that you unziped earlier

Glad you told me to unRAR the RAR file that you posted. I'm not familiar with RAR files so I would have just tried to load it into VMWare Player as is. I see now that RAR files are compressed like zip files are.

I assume after loading the .vmx file that I should be able to load and run the DOS on the floppy and then run my keyboard loader program from the floppy and execute as if I had loaded the DOS from the floppy.

Thanks,
Skyhawk

[Skyhawk]

Originally Posted by John64

what exactly does this program your trying to run do?

It is just a DOS based program named "Anykey20.exe". After creating macros on the Anykey keyboard, I use Anykey20.exe to download the macros from the keyboard to a file. Usually the macros stay intact in the keyboard even if I power my PCs off and are ready to use the next time I boot the PC. But when I unplug power from my PCs, the Anykey keyboard can lose the macros stored in it. So I run Anykey20.exe again and upload the macro file to the keyboard.

The problem is I usually forget and discover that the macros in the Anykey keyboard are gone after I open up Photoshop. Then I have to:

- Close Photoshop.
- Do a restart to boot from the floppy.
- Run Anykey20.exe and upload the macro file to the keyboard.
- Do a restart back into WinXP Pro.
- Open Photoshop.

I'm hoping that with the virtual PC I can load Anykey20.exe and my keyboard macro files on the hard drive. Then when i discover that my keyboard macros are lost I can just run Anykey20.exe from the hard drive and upload a keyboard macro file from the hard drive to the keyboard from within WinXP Pro.

Thanks,
Skyhawk

[John64]

its iffy. The VMWare thing will load a PS/2 Driver that is abstracted from the physical one. Basically what happens is the host os is the only thing with raw, unadulterated access to the PS/2 port. You MIGHT be able to do it with USB, but its iffy.

Unfortunately, it seems that the only way to truely do what you need is with the dos floppy thing, but try out VMWare and see if i am right.