• Win32SDK download and quick Win16 API reference?

    From Harry Potter@21:1/5 to All on Wed Jul 5 04:46:38 2023
    Hi! I want to have a downloaded version of the Win32SDK on my computers so I don't have to go online to look things up. I think I still have one from a long time ago, but it uses an obsolete help viewer. I want to be able to refer to it on a Win11/64
    laptop. I also want to quickly be able to create programs for Win16. Can anybody here provide some recommendations?

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  • From JJ@21:1/5 to Harry Potter on Wed Jul 5 22:23:04 2023
    On Wed, 5 Jul 2023 04:46:38 -0700 (PDT), Harry Potter wrote:
    Hi! I want to have a downloaded version of the Win32SDK on my computers
    so I don't have to go online to look things up. I think I still have one from a long time ago, but it uses an obsolete help viewer. I want to be
    able to refer to it on a Win11/64 laptop. I also want to quickly be able
    to create programs for Win16. Can anybody here provide some
    recommendations?

    Check archive.org

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  • From Charlie Gibbs@21:1/5 to All on Wed Jul 5 16:54:59 2023
    On 2023-07-05, Harry Potter <rose.joseph12@yahoo.com> wrote:

    [Added line breaks - please limit your lines to 72 chars. or less]

    Hi! I want to have a downloaded version of the Win32SDK on my
    computers so I don't have to go online to look things up. I think
    I still have one from a long time ago, but it uses an obsolete help
    viewer. I want to be able to refer to it on a Win11/64 laptop.
    I also want to quickly be able to create programs for Win16.
    Can anybody here provide some recommendations?

    You might still be able to find a copy of Borland C++ Builder
    version 5.5 floating around out there. They released it (minus
    the IDE) for free some time ago. I'm still using it for my Win32
    stuff. I have the help files as well; I can't remember whether
    they came with BCB55, or whether they're left over from the BCB4
    I originally started out with.

    I still have a copy of Turbo C++ 4.0 that I use for Win16 stuff.

    --
    /~\ Charlie Gibbs | You can't save the earth
    \ / <cgibbs@kltpzyxm.invalid> | unless you're willing to
    X I'm really at ac.dekanfrus | make other people sacrifice.
    / \ if you read it the right way. | -- Dogbert the green consultant

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  • From Harry Potter@21:1/5 to All on Wed Jul 5 16:38:06 2023
    I thank you for your advice. I believe I have Borland (or Turbo?) 3.0, and it supports Win16. I just need to know the differences between Win16 and Win32 and a reference to the Win32 C API. I could use a reference for Standard C functions for some
    projects, including a text compressor for old 8-bit computers. When I'm done with the compressor, I can port it to 16- and 32-bit systems if anyone here desires.

    --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
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  • From Auric__@21:1/5 to Harry Potter on Thu Jul 6 18:10:01 2023
    Harry Potter wrote:

    Hi! I want to have a downloaded version of the Win32SDK on my computers
    so I don't have to go online to look things up. I think I still have
    one from a long time ago, but it uses an obsolete help viewer. I want
    to be able to refer to it on a Win11/64 laptop. I also want to quickly
    be able to create programs for Win16. Can anybody here provide some recommendations?

    This page walks you through installing WinHelp on Windows 10 and 11 (watch
    the word wrap):

    https://www.winhelponline.com/blog/view-winhelp-hlp-files-windows-10-with- winhlp32-exe/

    I *think* OpenWatcom might still support Win16 as a development target. I'm
    not sure, but it wouldn't surprise me:

    http://openwatcom.org/

    If not, well, WinWorldPC has a bunch of Win16 devtools, but they won't run under Win64 without 3rd-party apps. (I use WineVDM.) WinWorldPC also has several 16- and 32-bit SDK versions.

    Also check archive.org, as JJ suggested.

    Personally, I have installs of 16- and 32-bit Windows (3.11, WinfWG 3.11,
    NT3, 95, 98, 2000, XP) under emulation and just use them instead. If your laptop is powerful enough (and it probably is), I suggest installing Win95
    or 98 in a VM and using that for your 16-bit development.

    (Backporting from 32/64 bits to 16 bits can sometimes be... difficult. I abandoned an attempt to do so around 10-15 years ago because I would have
    had to write my own versions of some 32-bit APIs that don't exist under
    Win16, and it wasn't worth it for a one-off port.)

    --
    Nothing in this text should be construed as a hamster.

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  • From Harry Potter@21:1/5 to All on Thu Jul 6 12:14:03 2023
    I just downloaded the indicated file and extracted the particular content specified. However, the instructions say to type in "md d:\test" in Command Prompt I have a D: drive, and it's a flash drive. Can I still type in the instruction and the
    following instruction?

    --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
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  • From Harry Potter@21:1/5 to All on Thu Jul 6 11:26:01 2023
    On Thursday, July 6, 2023 at 2:10:04 PM UTC-4, Auric__ wrote:
    This page walks you through installing WinHelp on Windows 10 and 11 (watch the word wrap):

    https://www.winhelponline.com/blog/view-winhelp-hlp-files-windows-10-with- winhlp32-exe/

    Thank you. Is there a way for me to just get the help viewer?

    I *think* OpenWatcom might still support Win16 as a development target. I'm not sure, but it wouldn't surprise me:

    http://openwatcom.org/

    The last time I updated OW, the Win16 target was supported. I have a WIn16 setup on DOSBox but not Win98 on DOSBox-X. I should work on the latter. :)

    If not, well, WinWorldPC has a bunch of Win16 devtools, but they won't run under Win64 without 3rd-party apps. (I use WineVDM.) WinWorldPC also has several 16- and 32-bit SDK versions.

    I actually use and like WinWorldPC. WHich tag do I use to get development tools?

    Also check archive.org, as JJ suggested.

    Personally, I have installs of 16- and 32-bit Windows (3.11, WinfWG 3.11, NT3, 95, 98, 2000, XP) under emulation and just use them instead. If your laptop is powerful enough (and it probably is), I suggest installing Win95 or 98 in a VM and using that for your 16-bit development.

    I have a real Win98SE computer at my mother's house. I used to have a DOS laptop with a Win3.1 install, but that laptop is missing. :(

    (Backporting from 32/64 bits to 16 bits can sometimes be... difficult. I abandoned an attempt to do so around 10-15 years ago because I would have had to write my own versions of some 32-bit APIs that don't exist under Win16, and it wasn't worth it for a one-off port.)

    Well, I just want to port simple tools that could work on Win16 but not right now.

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  • From Auric__@21:1/5 to Harry Potter on Thu Jul 6 18:41:10 2023
    Harry Potter wrote:

    On Thursday, July 6, 2023 at 2:10:04 PM UTC-4, Auric__ wrote:
    This page walks you through installing WinHelp on Windows 10 and 11
    (watch the word wrap):

    https://www.winhelponline.com/blog/view-winhelp-hlp-files-windows-10-wit
    h-winhlp32-exe/

    Thank you. Is there a way for me to just get the help viewer?

    I'm sure there is, but I wouldn't trust anything that doesn't actually come from Microsoft. Follow the site's instructions, it's not hard.

    If not, well, WinWorldPC has a bunch of Win16 devtools, but they won't
    run under Win64 without 3rd-party apps. (I use WineVDM.) WinWorldPC
    also has several 16- and 32-bit SDK versions.

    I actually use and like WinWorldPC. WHich tag do I use to get
    development tools?

    Library -> DevTool, then at the bottom Platforms... -> Windows. You'll need
    to look through the results because you can't filter specifically for Win16.

    Personally, I have installs of 16- and 32-bit Windows (3.11, WinfWG
    3.11, NT3, 95, 98, 2000, XP) under emulation and just use them instead.
    If your laptop is powerful enough (and it probably is), I suggest
    installing Win95 or 98 in a VM and using that for your 16-bit
    development.

    I have a real Win98SE computer at my mother's house. I used to have a
    DOS laptop with a Win3.1 install, but that laptop is missing. :(

    You should be able to get a 9x-capable machine for US$50-100 on ebay.
    Literally anything will do as long as it works.

    --
    Conversation is not only the vehicle of thought,
    it is a tremendous and efficient instrument in thinking.

    --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
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  • From Auric__@21:1/5 to Harry Potter on Thu Jul 6 19:30:33 2023
    Harry Potter wrote:

    I just downloaded the indicated file and extracted the particular
    content specified. However, the instructions say to type in "md
    d:\test" in Command Prompt I have a D: drive, and it's a flash drive.
    Can I still type in the instruction and the following instruction?

    Try it and find out. (Yes.)

    --
    I hate to break it to you, but if you're counting on the trees and
    rocks for help, you're gonna be a pile of radioactive disappointment.

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