Hi.

Does anyone know of a way I can run MS DOS applications under Windows XP Home without getting the following message?


C: \WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\COMMAND.COM
C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\AUTOEXEC.NT, The system file is not suitable for running MS-DOS and Microsoft Windows applications. Choose 'close' to terminate this application

I personally suspect it's a Service Pack 2 issue, as prior to installing SP2 I had limited DOS support in Windows... Now even the command prompt option in accessories doesn't work :(

I need DOS o run the ECDL application from College so that I can revise for an exam I've got tomorrow.

cant really understand why your are getting this problem.

the engraver i use at work runs from dos and i have had no problems since installing xp although it is the pro edition.

good luck!!!!!!!!!!

Hmm, can you get to command prompt by Start -> Run -> cmd ?

If so, try running it straight from the DOS prompt?

I've had problems with some DOS applications under XP - the most ercent one was a Clipper application - compiled dBase III code.

I think it is an SP2 issue.

Unfortunately the only solution I found was keep an NT or 98 machine on the client's network...:)

And, of course, advise they get a contractor in to re-write teh program, in, say, VB or .NET. ;)

Joe

Originally posted by steev
Hmm, can you get to command prompt by Start -> Run -> cmd ?

If so, try running it straight from the DOS prompt?

I've tried that as well, but I get the message quoted in the opening post... :?

Try downloading VDMS.

http://sourceforge.net/projects/vdmsound/

It's primarily a soundcard fix for XP and 2000 but I find that it lets me play a whole host of old DOS games.

Install it and then right-click on the DOS program and then choose RUN WITH VDMS.

Your other option is to download a free trial of Microsoft's Virtual PC and get a copy of DOS from one of the many sites that host the floppy disk images.

your probably getting it as ms-dos isn't included in windows xp.