Pete's QBASIC Site

Hello,
I'm half guessing this is somewhere in an FAQ or asked a million times already, if so I apologize...
I have some old QB 4.5 code that makes use of lots of pset, line, paint, circle, etc. commands in graphics screen mode 12. This was all well and good in the old days with either DOS or in some flavors of DOS windows. It seemed to get really bad when I upgraded to some LCD panels (pair of Samsung 225BW). Now things get really ugly, like freezing. Running it on my laptop is functional, but I'm thinking there must be a better way... Is there a simple way to run my QB 4.5 code in a window in XP?

based on certain user experiences it seems that the best way to get the most of QB in XP or Vista is to run them under DOSBox.

http://www.dosbox.com/

hope this helps.

MysticShadows:
I tried DosBox some three years ago, and found it to be extremely slow for the graphics I was trying to run. As to running QB graphics in XP, there are many folk who report no problem, while others have had problems, me included.

dkobayas:
Today, using QuickBASIC 4.5 under Windows XP, Home Edition, Service Pack 2, I can run graphics in SCREEN 12 (or any other) fine. At the beginning, the screen would minimize as soon as it started to run, but, I finally was able to fix that. If this is your problem, I think I can help. Otherwise, I would advise you to post your specific problem(s). Maybe we can still help you to run smoothly in XP.

DosBox can be configured to run faster! Read the documentation!

Ted

Ted:

Isn't it easier to use QuickBASIC directly in XP, rather that using DosBox to run QB? And, does DosBox/QB allow faster program running than QB/XP? I ask you, because I would have o start by getting DosBos up and running, and learning the ropes. So, it would certainly be much better if someone with experience and knowledge in such things, such as you, would give us the information.

But 64 bit XP machines cannot display graphic modes. TheBob has one of those monsters and has to use DosBox. I have rarely even tested it, but it does have settings you can change permanently or in the command line.

Stick with XP if it works well. 64 bit machines can only display Screen 0!

Ted

Thanks for the help.
Right now what happens in a 'Command Prompt' window in XP Pro is it will appear to minimize, then go full screen, then blank frozen screen, not responding to anything except ctrl-alt-del to task manager. From there I can either kill off the window or shift to the window which is still functional, just in a full screen mode back to the dos prompt and showing qb had crashed. I can type exit to recover to my normal windows screen. And this happens with even a one line program 'screen 12' just by hitting F5, or anything other than 'screen 0'.
Hmmm I don't even know if I'm running a 64 bit system...
My system specs are:

EDIT: I've inquired with our tech guys, and I'm positive I don't have 64 bit XP or processor, so if there is a non-DOSbox solution, I'd love to hear it or get pointed that direction. Thanks.

There may be help on the NET. You have to verify if some of XP's files for NTVDM are installed correctly. I have the info somewhere if I can find it.

One thing you can try is to make a shortcut to QB.EXE. Then XP may recognize it better. For some reason, it worked for me.

Ted

Current versions of DOSbox are MUCH faster than the old ones... I could even get more or less acceptable speed out of my Celeron1000

I was checking some stuff on NTVDM and other stuff, and stumbled on this:
http://vogons.zetafleet.com/viewtopic.php?t=14331
I have an NVIDIA GeForce 7950 GT running 2 Samsung 225BW LCD panels.
I am now suspecting that its my NVIDIA card which is causing the crashes. I tried making a QB shortcut and playing with the settings, no luck. I haven't tried everything that was posted or sent to me (thanks all!) but its looking to me to be the card...

dkobayas: Have you tried Start, Run, msconvig, then the Startup tab, then the disable all button at the bottom, Apply (or OK). Now, restart you computer. Does QB now accept the graphics screens (1,2,7-13)? This worked for me. More later, if this works for you.

Ralph wrote:dkobayas: Have you tried Start, Run, msconvig, then the Startup tab, then the disable all button at the bottom, Apply (or OK). Now, restart you computer. Does QB now accept the graphics screens (1,2,7-13)? This worked for me. More later, if this works for you.

I was able to disable all but 3 things due to permission issues (this is my work system...)

No change. If I start QB from command prompt and run 'screen 1' as a single line program it crashes leaving that command prompt window in full screen mode, requiring user clean up via task manager. If I run as a shortcut it crashes and just goes away without a trace left.
My previous system worked fine for QB graphics under xp and dual CRT monitor setup, so I am more and more suspecting my NVIDIA card... My old system was running a very old card, specs not available but I'm pretty sure it was an old NVIDIA, pretty low end, with 2 outputs.
Should I try to install the omega drivers?

You could try it the old way, but that means no access to internet while programming... and you need a 1,44mb diskdrive or a bootable USB-stick with MS-DOS...

Just a try...

grtz

I have DOS installed on all my flash sticks Very very nice alternative IMO.
Now if there would be a way to have NTFS support in DOS...

Try this:
http://www.freewarefiles.com/NTFSDOS-re ... 11100.html

It works for me. Full NTFS Read/Write in DOS

This is excellent, Thank you

Install VirtualBox, create a virtual disk image about 1GB, install Windows 95 or 98, or just MS-DOS 6 into the disk image, and boot the virtual machine.

I run Ubuntu 64 bit as my main OS, and I run everything else I need in VirtualBox.

It works quite well.

just my $0.02