Does this version of W7 support compatibility mode?

[John]

I am building a new comp and want Windows 7, but I don't want to spend
any more than I have to so will:

Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit 1-Pack for System Builders - OEM

offer compatibility mode and a DOS box to compile some old DOS software
that I need to support or do I need a more expensive version. This one
is $100 at Newegg.

The compiled DOS software works with text files. Dragging and dropping
the text file onto a shortcut icon on the XP desktop works great. But I
will need to be able to the same or something similar on a W7 desktop,
is this possible?

Thanks,
John

 

[Tim Slattery]

I am building a new comp and want Windows 7, but I don't want to spend
any more than I have to so will:

Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit 1-Pack for System Builders - OEM

offer compatibility mode and a DOS box to compile some old DOS software
that I need to support or do I need a more expensive version. This one
is $100 at Newegg.

DOS software will be 16-bit, and the 64-bit version of Win7 will not
run 16-bit software. You can use Virtual XP mode to do that (I think),
but VirtualXP mode is available only in Win7 Professional, Enterprise,
and Ultimate. There are other virtualization products available,
they'll cost you something.

I think you can also get around this by using DOSBox (www.dosbox.com).
But you should be aware that trying to work with 16-bit software in a
64-bit OS is going to complicate your life.

The compiled DOS software works with text files. Dragging and dropping
the text file onto a shortcut icon on the XP desktop works great. But I
will need to be able to the same or something similar on a W7 desktop,
is this possible?

AFAIK, Win7 will act the same as WinXP is this regard.

 

[Ken Blake]

I am building a new comp and want Windows 7, but I don't want to spend
any more than I have to so will:

Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit 1-Pack for System Builders - OEM

offer compatibility mode and a DOS box to compile some old DOS software
that I need to support or do I need a more expensive version. This one
is $100 at Newegg.

See Tim Slattery's reply to you, but let me add just one point: The
biggest disadvantage of an OEM version is that its lts license ties it
permanently to the first computer it's installed on. It can never
legally be moved to another computer, sold, or given away (except with
the original computer). That means that if your computer dies (or is
stole), the license dies with it.

 

[Stan Brown]

I am building a new comp and want Windows 7, but I don't want to spend
any more than I have to so will:

Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit 1-Pack for System Builders - OEM

offer compatibility mode and a DOS box to compile some old DOS software

No, Home Premium does not include Virtual PC and XP mode.

 

[Stan Brown]

DOS software will be 16-bit, and the 64-bit version of Win7 will not
run 16-bit software. You can use Virtual XP mode to do that (I think),
but VirtualXP mode is available only in Win7 Professional, Enterprise,
and Ultimate. There are other virtualization products available,
they'll cost you something.

There's Virtual Box from Sun. It's free and distributed under the
GPL.

http://www.virtualbox.org/

I've downloaded it, but haven't installed it yet.

 

[Gene E. Bloch]

There's Virtual Box from Sun. It's free and distributed under the
GPL.

http://www.virtualbox.org/

I've downloaded it, but haven't installed it yet.

VMware Player is also free and effective.

 

[Gordon]

VMware Player is also free and effective.

Player will not create VHDs AFAIR - you need the Server version which is
also free.

 

[UXD]

There's Virtual Box from Sun. It's free and distributed under the
GPL.

http://www.virtualbox.org/

I've downloaded it, but haven't installed it yet.

You need to install a good copy of XP inside VirtualBox - it doesn't
come free like the Windows 7 XP-Mode.

I had trouble with 16-bit software even in VirtualBox on my 64-bit
Windows 7.

The solution that REALLY works is DosBox, but I don't think you'll be
able to do the dragging of text files onto an icon with it.

 

[Gene E. Bloch]

Player will not create VHDs AFAIR - you need the Server version which is
also free.

No longer true.

To verify that (for myself, even) I just started VMware. The first item
on the start screen is "Create a new virtual machine".

 

[Gordon]

No longer true.

To verify that (for myself, even) I just started VMware. The first item
on the start screen is "Create a new virtual machine".

Then they've changed it. It certainly USED to be the case that the
Player would not create VHDs.

 

[Gene E. Bloch]

Then they've changed it. It certainly USED to be the case that the
Player would not create VHDs.

Thus my use of the phrase "no longer true"...

 

[John]

I am building a new comp and want Windows 7, but I don't want to spend
any more than I have to so will:

Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit 1-Pack for System Builders - OEM

offer compatibility mode and a DOS box to compile some old DOS software
that I need to support or do I need a more expensive version. This one
is $100 at Newegg.

The compiled DOS software works with text files. Dragging and dropping
the text file onto a shortcut icon on the XP desktop works great. But I
will need to be able to the same or something similar on a W7 desktop,
is this possible?

Thanks,
John

Thanks to all who replied. It looks like I will need to spend more than
I had hoped.

John

 

[Stan Brown]

You need to install a good copy of XP inside VirtualBox - it doesn't
come free like the Windows 7 XP-Mode.

True. But I have an unused OEM license I could install.

I had trouble with 16-bit software even in VirtualBox on my 64-bit
Windows 7.

The solution that REALLY works is DosBox, but I don't think you'll be
able to do the dragging of text files onto an icon with it.

I looked at the Dosbox site, but my impression is that it's just for
the command line, and you can't run 16-bit windows programs on it.
Did I miss something?

 

[Tim Slattery]

I looked at the Dosbox site, but my impression is that it's just for
the command line, and you can't run 16-bit windows programs on it.
Did I miss something?

I didn't know your 16-bitters were Windows programs.Your original post
says "some old DOS programs". DosBox should work fine for those. For
16-bit Windows programs, I guess you'd need to find an old version of
Windows to run in DosBox. Or use VMWare. Or go with Win7 Pro and use
Virtual XP mode.