I am looking to run multiple programs at the time on a DOS laptop.
What program online can do that, and where can I find it?
I am looking to run multiple programs at the time on a DOS laptop.
What program online can do that, and where can I find it?
On 11/23/19 3:23 PM, Harry Potter wrote:
I am looking to run multiple programs at the time on a DOS laptop.
What program online can do that, and where can I find it?
MS-DOS Shell had a multi-tasking feature.
I don't recall the particulars. Something about task switching and /
or task swapping. I think one was time slicing between multiple
programs in a way that seemed like they were running concurrently and
the other switched to only the selected program while suspending the
other programs.
Quarterdeck had DESQview.
IBM had TopView.
I'm sure there were others.
I suspect that Mr Potter's requirements would be best met with a newer laptop; one capable of running a multi-tasking OS.
Well, it *does* run Win3.1. I will try T. Ment's suggestion. I used to have DOS shell. It can do what I need it to do: switch between tasks. I don't think I have it anymore. :(
I downloaded DOSSHELL. I can't get graphics mode or change colors, though, and prefer Star Commander, a Norton Commander clone.
I suspect that Mr Potter's requirements would be best met with a
newer laptop; one capable of running a multi-tasking OS.
Well, it *does* run Win3.1. I will try T. Ment's suggestion.
I used to have DOS shell. It can do what I need it to do: switch
between tasks. I don't think I have it anymore. :(
When I try to open a program with muti-tasking enabled, I get an
error message stating that the computer couldn't load command.com
or dosswap.exe. What's wrong?
On 11/23/19 3:23 PM, Harry Potter wrote:
I am looking to run multiple programs at the time on a DOS laptop.
What program online can do that, and where can I find it?
MS-DOS Shell had a multi-tasking feature.
I don't recall the particulars. Something about task switching and / or
task swapping. I think one was time slicing between multiple programs
in a way that seemed like they were running concurrently and the other >switched to only the selected program while suspending the other programs.
Quarterdeck had DESQview.
IBM had TopView.
I'm sure there were others.
--
Grant. . . .
unix || die
On Sunday, November 24, 2019 at 5:41:21 AM UTC-5, Kerr-Mudd,John wrote:
I suspect that Mr Potter's requirements would be best met with a newer
laptop; one capable of running a multi-tasking OS.
Well, it *does* run Win3.1. I will try T. Ment's suggestion.
OS/2 can run with a pentium and 16 megabytes of
memory. And from version 3 on, is probably the best
MS-DOS multitasker.
Well, it *does* run Win3.1.
OS/2 is like Frankenstein. A monster. Don't go near it.
On 11/24/19 9:45 AM, T. Ment wrote:
OS/2 is like Frankenstein. A monster. Don't go near it.
Why do you say that?
I've had quite good luck with OS/2 (Warp 4(.52)).
… GEM.
Just look at config.sys.
I've wasted enough time on OS/2 to know better. Never again.
On Sunday, November 24, 2019 at 8:24:44 AM UTC-5, Harry Potter wrote:
I downloaded DOSSHELL. I can't get graphics mode or change colors, though, and prefer Star Commander, a Norton Commander clone.
When I try to open a program with muti-tasking enabled, I get an error message stating that the computer couldn't load command.com or dosswap.exe. What's wrong?
On 11/24/19 9:18 AM, Steve wrote:
… GEM.
I forgot about GEM.
I don't think about it, or really know anything about it, as I've never
run it myself.
On 11/24/19 9:45 AM, T. Ment wrote:
OS/2 is like Frankenstein. A monster. Don't go near it.
Why do you say that?
I've had quite good luck with OS/2 (Warp 4(.52)).
I'm also forced to choose between OS/2 and AIX for something I'm doing. >Seeing as how I don't have an RS/6000 to run AIX on, I'm sort of forced
to run OS/2.
Hi,
Interesting. What sort of project?
I am still using OS/2 at times, so if I can add support?
On 11/24/19 5:40 AM, Harry Potter wrote:
Well, it *does* run Win3.1. I will try T. Ment's suggestion. I used to
have DOS shell. It can do what I need it to do: switch between tasks. I >> don't think I have it anymore. :(
I believe that DOS Shell is included with MS-DOS 6.22. It may be on the 4th optional utilities disk.
It's my understanding that DOS Shell was introduced in MS-DOS 4.0 and included through 6.22.
I had an MS-DOS 5 machine, and DOS Shell was included already
installed. I never really used it, but I got the idea that it was task switching, not truly multitasking. But that was years ago, and I could
be wrong.
AFAIR, it *was* task-switching, but that's good enough for me. :)
BTW, I don't like DOSShell: it looks kind of ugly, and the UI is not
the best.
I had an MS-DOS 5 machine, and DOS Shell was included already
installed. I never really used it, but I got the idea that it was
task switching, not truly multitasking. But that was years ago,
and I could be wrong.
On 11/25/19 6:14 AM, Paul Bartlett wrote:
I had an MS-DOS 5 machine, and DOS Shell was included already
installed. I never really used it, but I got the idea that it was
task switching, not truly multitasking. But that was years ago,
and I could be wrong.
I seem to recall that MS-DOS Shell had two modes of multi-tasking; task switching, and task swapping. I don't recall the specifics of the differences.
I think one would time slice between programs (switching?) and the other would simply change between the foreground program when the user changed (swapping?).
I'd have to dig out my MS-DOS book to look it up. Or check the help
included with MS-DOS Shell.
BTW, I keep getting an error message stating that COMMAND.COM or
DOSSWAP.EXE is not found whenever I try to multi-task. :( Also,
I *really* want to use graphics mode and change color schemes, but
the options are not available for some reason. :(
I found an old DOS 5 manual and looked in the chapter of DOSShell.
There is a section on emabling and using Task Swapper, but I don't
see anything on task switching. To be honest, I'm not sure just what
the difference is, if any. But it does not seem to b e multitasking.
On Sun, 24 Nov 2019 04:40:43 -0800 (PST), Harry Potter wrote:wrote:
On Sunday, November 24, 2019 at 5:41:21 AM UTC-5, Kerr-Mudd,John
newerI suspect that Mr Potter's requirements would be best met with a
laptop; one capable of running a multi-tasking OS.
Even a lowly 386 laptop should run IMS REAL/32. It worked for IBM, they licensed it for POS terminals.
Well, it *does* run Win3.1. I will try T. Ment's suggestion.
Windows 3.11 is stable when configured right. A virtual memory bug hit Pentium and later chips. They fixed it in Windows 98. I can't find the reference now, but it was online at one time. Probably gone now.
For me, Windows 3.11 is stable without virtual memory. With plenty of
RAM it's not a problem. If you only have 4 MB, that may not work.
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