Windows 7 and dos

I am wanting to purchase an i7 64 and i was told a dos program won't work on it. I have a very important program that i keep my dj music quick search in that i have in excel and export it to a csv file. Then dos reads those songs when i search quick for them. Any suggestions on what windows program can do that like read all of my excel file and let me export it as csv and find songs quickly? Or a way around the dos not working in windows 7? I am trying to get my options first before i purchase the laptop. Thanks

 

Since I don't know the specifics of your software, I'll start with the history of Microsoft Operating Systems:

The early versions of Windows (3.1, 95) basically ran in a DOS environment. With the release of Windows XP, the ties to DOS were cut; Windows became a stand-alone OS.

Although XP/Vista/Win 7 have a "cmd" (command prompt) option that looks like and uses DOS commands, my understanding is it will not run older software specifically written for DOS.

Now, back to your software and new notebook PC...

* What operating system are you currently using? If it requires true DOS, you're better off scrapping your current software and look for something new. If this only involves searching for songs and creating playlists, Windows Media Player may do - it will automatically search for and index all the music (.mp3, .wma) on your hard drive(s).

* If your existing software works with XP, you may be able to set up a dual-boot option (both Win 7 and XP on the main hard drive). Check with the manufacturer's tech support first to be sure the BIOS supports XP, 32-bit - some newer PCs/motherboards don't. The downside is you'll have to purchase a separate XP 32-bit license/CD (about $100) and boot into XP to run the program. Since this sounds like a very old program, I would not attempt to use the "Virtual XP" option available in Win 7 Pro/Ultimate.

Hope this helps.

 

If your getting Windows 7 pro I'd try the virtual XP or use MS Virtual PC, or vbox, or vmware player. How are you running the program now on a pure DOS machine or in an XP console (cmd) window?

 

I am wanting to purchase windows 7 pro. But can i send you my little dos file and see if you know of a way? or do you know of any one who would be willing to try it in their system it has no virus. It very small. I have little trombone i click on and up comes this dos box that i can change the color of and make links to any files from excel saved as csv files. I have looking all over the net for a windows based program that would allow this with a quick search but haven't had any luck.

 

My experience with Virtual XP has been about 50/50. Even though it claims it will work with all legacy XP apps, I've had a few that crashed and burned when attempting to run them in Virtual XP mode (not arguing, just sharing personal experience).

halfpint: If you have any friends who have Win 7 Pro or Ultimate, maybe you could talk them into installing Virtual XP (a free Microsoft download) and testing your software on their PC. This would be the best way to see if your current program will work using Windows 7.

 

So all this program does is search a csv file?
Excel has a find function. CRTL-F.
Maybe if you could describe the csv.

 

Or use itunes or winamp, both have library type systems included.

 

Though, I wonder if the dos program is really a script. That is ran, based on what it is given to it.

 

I currently run windows xp pro. This program is a 16bit. I type all my files in excel, then i say save as lets say music, then i choose type as csv. Ok then on my computer it goes in to a folder called ret which houses a file called music.csv, also in there is the program called m-search.exe and and ini file and a trombone that is the shortcut to the program. and of coarse a read me file. The program is endless. The m-seach is only 56kb the ini file is 1.17kb the read me file is 913kb and the shortcut is 967kb. I click on the shortcut and it brings up so fast my option to search what i have put in it thru excel from that csv file. I hope this helps. I know i could use excel but i truly can search so much faster thru this program. As I said i have looked everywhere for a windows based one that would do just this. My only problem is i can't find anyone with a computer running pro 7 that would be able to try it. Most are running home premium. It runs in home premium 32 but not in a 64 bit system i'm told. Thanks for all your comments, i'll keep trying. hugs fellas

 

Have you tried just searching in Excel? I don't see why that wouldn't work just fine. Hitting Ctrl/F opens the Find panel where you enter your search word or phrase. You could also sort in Excel and/or use the Auto-filter feature.

 

Yes I was aware of that feature of find in excel. Just not the way i wanted to go.

 

Is m-search a file you created? Or somewhere you downloaded it from?

I'd be willing to look into this, there may be a way to script out something similar to what you are trying to accomplish.

 

m-search is a file that a friend of mine created a while back to work for what i needed. It such a fast seach much faster than excel. I have the files if you know a way for me to get them to you. I would appreciate any help. I need this solved before i buy this laptop. Thanks

 

Has everyone given up on me? I hope not. I really want this windows 7 but want my dos program to work. Thanks

 

What software do you use to play music? I, for one, don't see the need for a DOS program to track your music files. Colemanguy said "... itunes or winamp, both have library type systems included." I don't do a lot with music on my computer but Windows Media Player seems to have good music library functionality. You might also try Creative MediaSource Player/Organizer 3.30.21. Surely, you can find a good Windows solution and get along just fine without some DOS program.

 

Hi

It seems you're in the same boat as me and a bunch of other folks... it's hard to migrate to newer ways of doing things, and you're afraid the "newer" way won't be as good as the way you're used to.

As to music management, here's the scoop:

I personally use Winamp Pro. It was a $20 purchase, and I've been able to upgrade for years without buying a new license. Windows Media Player also works well. BOTH have wonderful search functionality! They not only search the music FILE names, but also the TAG information (artist, year, album, genre, etc. encoded into the music files). I barely use WMP, but Winamp searches AS you type as well. You can download a free version of Winamp to see for yourself. It's compatible with Windows XP. The download can be found at http://www.winamp.com/

My bet is, once you've learned how to use the basic features of the program and see how great it is at searching, you won't miss your DOS program at all.

 

Hello, I don't care for Media Player or Winamp for my dj gigs. I use a program called Ots Av. Australian program. To me its awesome and has never ever quit me or glitched. My dos program i don't open a cmd box. I just click on the short cut to the m-search program and up come this box that has my files in it listed in the way I have them typed in. I export my excel file to a csv file. and it is saved inside that file directory. Then click the short cut and up come my so fast searching program. I'll keep looking, Thanks.

 

OK, I'll throw one more idea against the wall and see if it sticks. (DISCLAIMER: In theory this should work. Before committing to it; however, you should get a second and third opinion from those with extensive processor and Win XP knowledge to be sure it will work).

* Buy a PC that has Win 7 Pro pre-loaded and specifically states in the specs it will run the "XP Downgrade". In addition, be sure the system restore is DVD(s) - not a partition on the system hard drive.

* Leave Win 7 64-bit in place and set up a dual boot option for Win 7 64 bit or Win XP 32 bit. Yes, you'll have to purchase a copy of XP 32-bit. In addition, this can be a tricky process. Unless you have experience setting up a dual-boot option I'd recommend having an experienced geek set this up for you.

* With this setup you can switch between Win 7 64-bit and XP 32-bit simply by rebooting the PC.​

 

Thank you for your reply. I have heard of this one, but only mentioned to me by a store briefly. Thank you this sounds like worth a try. But will get all apples in a row before before doing the wrong thing. Thanks hugs to all.

 

Well, I was hoping to look into a way I can copy that file that you have that a friend made for you, but couldn't post a private message to you, for my one of my email addresses.. Just would like to find out if it works under 7. Or if you have someone you know that has windows 7, have them try it out.

Without screen shots, it will be hard to visuallize what this looks like.

 

I would like for you to be able to see this file also. But unfortunately i don't have 50 post to be able to send private messages. do you use trillian or yahoo messenger? If so we could go that way. Thanks

 

Heres the thing, xp is quickly becoming an unsupported os, and i hate seeing you settle a solution thats just gonna cause issues shortly down the road if it fails or has issues. Good luck tho.

 

True, in which case I'd simply recommend NOT updating anything on the Windows XP installation, except Windows Updates (until they are discontinued... or are they already?), or connecting to the internet on the XP install, except to use Windows Update. Use the XP install like a pre-internet computer... ok I suppose most people don't remember those.