Running Dos program in VMWare/Windows XP environment

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Level 1

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Running Dos program in VMWare/Windows XP environment

My wife's PC bit the dust, and we're trying to determine if Mac could be a solution. The thought is to load VMware Fusion on a new Mac (and load XP). The dos application needs to be able to connect to handheld barcode scanner device (on Com 1 or Com 2), and be able to print to a printer on LPT!. I know we can buy RS232 serial PCIe cards, and would imagine could find a parallel port (LPT1), but haven't checked. My concern is the mapping of the I/O running under VMWare would not allow the ports to look like Com 1 and LPT1 to the Dos Application.
Anyone have any thoughts whether this could be a solution, or are we better off looking for a Non Mac solutions.

Mac Pro 8 core, Mac OS X (10.5.5), 14 G ram, 320 GB Boot, 3 Caviar 1 TB

Posted on Nov 5, 2010 5:41 PM

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Answer 1

etresoft

Level 9

56,990 points

Nov 6, 2010 7:52 AM in response to NibblesNBits

I'm a big fan of Parallels myself. However, in this case I would recommend the free VirtualBox: http://www.virtualbox.org/

Add to that FreeDOS: http://www.freedos.org/

and you should good to go

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Answer 2

NibblesNBits Author

Level 1

1 points

Nov 6, 2010 12:52 PM in response to etresoft

etresoft wrote:
I'm a big fan of Parallels myself. However, in this case I would recommend the free VirtualBox: http://www.virtualbox.org/

Add to that FreeDOS: http://www.freedos.org/

and you should good to go

Thanks for the links - I'll check them out more. Are the benefits of Virtualbox cost, or better compatibility? I have a copy of VMWare I haven't installed, so cost wouldn't be an issue.

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Answer 3

NibblesNBits Author

Level 1

1 points

Nov 6, 2010 12:56 PM in response to benc1

benc1 wrote:
I use a usb to serial port cable (prolific). The com ports appear as com3 and com4 under windows xp in fusion.

The software only supports com1 and 2. Is there a way to remap the USB port to com 1 or 2?

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Answer 4

Nov 6, 2010 1:40 PM in response to NibblesNBits

Instead of trying to make modern operating systems support very old technology (your bar code reader) is there any possibility you can get a new USB or wireless bar code reader? Then you won't have to go through these gyrations with the computer.

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Answer 5

NibblesNBits Author

Level 1

1 points

Nov 6, 2010 2:09 PM in response to BobTheFisherman

BobTheFisherman wrote:
Instead of trying to make modern operating systems support very old technology (your bar code reader) is there any possibility you can get a new USB or wireless bar code reader? Then you won't have to go through these gyrations with the computer.

If it was just a barcode scanner, then a new solution would be easy - the scanner portion is the mobile part of the inventory management system. It has been programmed to, among other things, identify product needing to be pulled/replaced, suggesting replacements, reports in the field, etc.

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Answer 6

etresoft

Level 9

56,990 points

Nov 6, 2010 4:26 PM in response to NibblesNBits

NibblesNBits wrote:
Thanks for the links - I'll check them out more. Are the benefits of Virtualbox cost, or better compatibility? I have a copy of VMWare I haven't installed, so cost wouldn't be an issue.

Then go with VMWare. You should be able to run FreeDOS on it.

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Answer 7

benc1

Level 1

0 points

Nov 6, 2010 6:15 PM in response to NibblesNBits

Are you sure it only supports 1+2? Reason I ask is I thought the windows app I used had that limitation but in reality it only showed 1+2 as on my old pc those were the only com ports available. When I installed it under vmware with the adaptor connected it only showed 3+4.

To answer the question though - Windows device manager, ports, select prolific usb, properties, advanced, then you can specify com port. (I think that's right - doing this from memory as not near the mac atm!). I'm the other side of the pond so alas I can't recommend a supplier. When I researched this the advice I got was just get one with a prolific chipset. It just worked. Hopefully if you go this route you will find the same.

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Answer 8

NibblesNBits Author

Level 1

1 points

Nov 6, 2010 8:00 PM in response to benc1

benc1 wrote:
Are you sure it only supports 1+2? Reason I ask is I thought the windows app I used had that limitation but in reality it only showed 1+2 as on my old pc those were the only com ports available. When I installed it under vmware with the adaptor connected it only showed 3+4.

To answer the question though - Windows device manager, ports, select prolific usb, properties, advanced, then you can specify com port. (I think that's right - doing this from memory as not near the mac atm!). I'm the other side of the pond so alas I can't recommend a supplier. When I researched this the advice I got was just get one with a prolific chipset. It just worked. Hopefully if you go this route you will find the same.

Thanks for the tip. This particular Dos software only knows how to be configured to Com 1 (address 0x3F8) or Com 2 (0x2F8), but if between VMware and Windows they get remapped there may be a chance. I saw in the FAQs (below) you can assign it to Com 1 or 2. The cost of the adapter you talked about is relatively cheap, so worth trying.
http://sewelldirect.com/usbtoserial_questions.asp

Thanks again.

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Answer 9

doh1231

Level 2

210 points

Nov 12, 2010 4:12 PM in response to NibblesNBits

Dunno if it will support what you need.... but I'd look into using DOSBox for dos software... no Virtual Machine needed. I use it for many old games, but haven't ever tried using it to access any ports.

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Answer 10

Nov 6, 2010 7:35 AM in response to NibblesNBits

Questions regarding whether or not a device will work with Fusion are probably better asked on the VMWarea communities at http://communities.vmware.com

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Answer 11

benc1

Level 1

0 points

Nov 6, 2010 7:54 AM in response to NibblesNBits

I use a usb to serial port cable (prolific). The com ports appear as com3 and com4 under windows xp in fusion.

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Answer 12

NibblesNBits Author

Level 1

1 points

Nov 6, 2010 12:45 PM in response to Templeton Peck

Thanks. Will check VMWare forum.

Message was edited by: NibblesNBits

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