If they have Access 95, 2000, 2003 or 2007 just put the files in a common
directory, maybe read-only, and _link_ to them from Access. Could even query the
data from Excel.... That way they can make query forms, reports and the like
with modern tools and you don't have to jump through hoops to bring up a VM, log
in to that OS, etc. Using Access would be the least amount of work if they
already have it. Paradox would work as well.... I know Open Office is working on
an Access clone but I don't think it's quite there yet though I may be wrong.

Alternately, you might make an image copy on CD, and then "install" it in
Users\Public Documents or just My Documents. I've a couple old programs that
work well as a subdirectory of the user's folder...to which they automagically
have "full control." Vista's built-in "virtualization" also seems to work well
in some cases. I'd try the app compatibility tool and try just installing it on
Vista/Win7, if no work then install into "My Documents" and only then go virtual
if and only if they don't have a more modern database app that can link to,
open, display and report on those data files.

Or... /;^) if they have to jump through 17 hoops for each name they want to look
up, you may get asked to convert it to something easier.....

__________________________________________
“Everything can always be better. This game is fluid. It’s always changing,
it’s always evolving. I could always hit the ball better, chip better, putt
better, think better. You can get better tomorrow than you are today.” -Tiger
Woods

> -----Original Message-----
> From: KYSBSUG@yahoogroups.com [mailto:KYSBSUG@yahoogroups.com] On
> Behalf Of Michelle Sollberger
> Sent: Tuesday, November 24, 2009 5:05 PM
> To: KYSBSUG@yahoogroups.com
> Subject: RE: [KYSBSUG] RE: Convert MSDOS program
>
>
>
> I finally got a look at the program.  It is sitting on a Windows 98
> box.  Has about 25 fields.  So if I put them in a Windows 7 box, I can
> virtualize?  They don’t really want to convert all the data, but they
> want to access for history.  I am probably going to put them in QB.
> This is a very small company and they only use this one machine.  Very
> last century.
>
>
>
> Michelle Sollberger, CEO/President

Using SBS 2003 which manages my updates. This morning, I seem to be in a loop of
installing one update - "Update for Root Certificates", which then allows
another "Update for Root Certificates [September 2009] (KB931125)". Once it's
done, it goes back to the first for installation and keeps repeating like this.

Anyone have a similar problem? I guess I could go to the server and shut off one
or both, but this is one (or a pair?) that didn't have to be approved at the
server - they were just waiting at workstations this morning.

CWG

 

I have had good success with Virtual Box as well.....  solid product....

 

While we are on the subject has anyone been using Ubuntu's latest releases...9.04 and 9.10 have been very surprisingly solid, picks up all drivers and functionality "out of the box"

---

From: Darryl L. Rowe <darrylr@iglou.com>
To: KYSBSUG@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Mon, November 23, 2009 9:22:22 PM
Subject: RE: [KYSBSUG] RE: Convert MSDOS program

 

Also, take a look at Sun's Virtual Box at: http://www.virtualbox.org/

My downtown client is running it to run XP Pro in a VM on Vista Ultimate.
I've just started looking at it, but it is looking much better than Virtual
PC and less "chatty" in the system logs than VMware (was, don't know about
current). From their site:

"VirtualBox is a powerful x86 and AMD64/Intel64 virtualization product for
enterprise as well as home use. Not only is VirtualBox an extremely feature
rich, high performance product for enterprise customers, it is also the only
professional solution that is freely available as Open Source Software under
the terms of the GNU General Public License (GPL). See "About VirtualBox"
for an introduction.

Presently, VirtualBox runs on Windows, Linux, Macintosh and OpenSolaris
hosts and supports a large number of guest operating systems including but
not limited to Windows (NT 4.0, 2000, XP, Server 2003, Vista, Windows 7),
DOS/Windows 3.x, Linux (2.4 and 2.6), Solaris and OpenSolaris, and OpenBSD.

VirtualBox is being actively developed with frequent releases and has an
ever growing list of features, supported guest operating systems and
platforms it runs on. VirtualBox is a community effort backed by a dedicated
company: everyone is encouraged to contribute while Sun ensures the product
always meets professional quality criteria."

____________ _________ _________ _________ ___
"Everything can always be better. This game is fluid. It's always changing,
it's always evolving. I could always hit the ball better, chip better, putt
better, think better. You can get better tomorrow than you are today."
-Tiger Woods

> -----Original Message-----
> From: KYSBSUG@yahoogroups .com [mailto:KYSBSUG@yahoogroups .com] On
> Behalf Of Benjamin Hill
> Sent: Monday, November 23, 2009 5:26 PM
> To: KYSBSUG@yahoogroups .com
> Subject: RE: [KYSBSUG] RE: Convert MSDOS program
>
>
>
> I have a fair amount of experience with legacy continuation of an old
> apps. Let me know if you need something specific. My first tip is
> simply to backup everything and make you understand how it works
> currently before doing anything. If you don't totally understand how
> the app lives in DOS, you won't have a chance making it work inside
> newer OSes.
>
>
>
> Typically the older DOS applications have readme.txt files that can be
> very helpful in gather the required installation process which can also
> help you better understand how to make it all work.
>
>
>
> Also, you may want to consider Virtual PC/VMWare, multi-partition
> bootables, etc. It all depends on the need.
>
>
>
> If you are looking for someone to just come do it, I might be
> interested in that too. Just depends on the details.call me if that
> was more along the line of what you were actually asking for.
>
>
>
>
>
> http://www.benjamin hill.com/ e_maillogo. gif
>
> Benjamin E. Hill | Owner/IT Consultant | ben@benjaminhill. com
> <mailto:ben@benjaminhill. com>
>
> BENJAMIN HILL CONSULTING | Small Business IT Services |
> www.benjaminhill. com <http://www.benjaminhill.com/>
>
> tel 502.447.9294 | fax 502.447.7836 | pgr 502.464.1385
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> From: KYSBSUG@yahoogroups .com [mailto:KYSBSUG@yahoogroups .com] On
> Behalf Of Lee Johnson
> Sent: Monday, November 23, 2009 4:14 PM
> To: KYSBSUG@yahoogroups .com
> Subject: [KYSBSUG] RE: Convert MSDOS program
>
>
>
>
>
> I've had to run an old DOS based FOXPRO system on XP a couple of times,
> but I've never moved the data to something new without tech support
> from the new software company.
>
>
>
> Lee Johnson
>
>
>
> From: KYSBSUG@yahoogroups .com [mailto:KYSBSUG@yahoogroups .com] On
> Behalf Of Michelle Sollberger
> Sent: Monday, November 23, 2009 4:09 PM
> To: KYSBSUG@yahoogroups .com
> Subject: [KYSBSUG] Convert MSDOS program
>
>
>
>
>
> Anyone have experience doing/getting/ using MSDOS and moving to
> something from this century? It is a CRM database from the 80's!
> Customer and sales history.
>
>
>
> Michelle Sollberger, CEO/President
>
> WBE Certified
>
> BeechTree IT Solutions, Inc.
>
> 622 E. Court Avenue
>
> Jeffersonville, IN 47130
>
> 812-284-6500 Fax 812-284-6548
>
> www.beechtreeits. com <http://www.beechtreeits.com/>
>
> Email logo
>
>
>
>
>
> The information contained in this email and any attachments is
>
> confidential and may be subject to copyright or other intellectual
>
> property protection. If you are not the intended recipient, you are not
>
> authorized to use or disclose this information, and we request that you
>
> notify us by reply mail or telephone and delete the original message
>
> from your mail system.
>
>
>
>

Ummmm. If they're even slightly interested in using something more modern,
unless the dbf files are encrypted I'd suggested using Windows Foxpro to
interactively transfer the data to a format the newer system can import. For
that matter, I think Access 2007 can still import dbf files. (They could be
renamed, to discourage nosy people, but they're likely dbf files.)

__________________________________________
"Everything can always be better. This game is fluid. It's always changing,
it's always evolving. I could always hit the ball better, chip better, putt
better, think better. You can get better tomorrow than you are today."
-Tiger Woods


> -----Original Message-----
> From: KYSBSUG@yahoogroups.com [mailto:KYSBSUG@yahoogroups.com] On
> Behalf Of Michelle Sollberger
> Sent: Monday, November 23, 2009 4:09 PM
> To: KYSBSUG@yahoogroups.com
> Subject: [KYSBSUG] Convert MSDOS program
>
>
>
> Anyone have experience doing/getting/using MSDOS and moving to
> something from this century?  It is a CRM database from the 80's!
> Customer and sales history.
>
>
>
> Michelle Sollberger, CEO/President
>
> WBE Certified
>
> BeechTree IT Solutions, Inc.
>
> 622 E. Court Avenue
>
> Jeffersonville, IN 47130
>
> 812-284-6500 Fax 812-284-6548
>
> www.beechtreeits.com <http://www.beechtreeits.com/>
>
> Email logo
>
>
>
>
>
> The information contained in this email and any attachments is
>
> confidential and may be subject to copyright or other intellectual
>
> property protection. If you are not the intended recipient, you are not
>
> authorized to use or disclose this information, and we request that you
>
> notify us by reply mail or telephone and delete the original message
>
> from your mail system.
>
>
>
>

Also, take a look at Sun's Virtual Box at: http://www.virtualbox.org/

My downtown client is running it to run XP Pro in a VM on Vista Ultimate.
I've just started looking at it, but it is looking much better than Virtual
PC and less "chatty" in the system logs than VMware (was, don't know about
current). From their site:

"VirtualBox is a powerful x86 and AMD64/Intel64 virtualization product for
enterprise as well as home use. Not only is VirtualBox an extremely feature
rich, high performance product for enterprise customers, it is also the only
professional solution that is freely available as Open Source Software under
the terms of the GNU General Public License (GPL). See "About VirtualBox"
for an introduction.

Presently, VirtualBox runs on Windows, Linux, Macintosh and OpenSolaris
hosts and supports a large number of guest operating systems including but
not limited to Windows (NT 4.0, 2000, XP, Server 2003, Vista, Windows 7),
DOS/Windows 3.x, Linux (2.4 and 2.6), Solaris and OpenSolaris, and OpenBSD.

VirtualBox is being actively developed with frequent releases and has an
ever growing list of features, supported guest operating systems and
platforms it runs on. VirtualBox is a community effort backed by a dedicated
company: everyone is encouraged to contribute while Sun ensures the product
always meets professional quality criteria."

__________________________________________
"Everything can always be better. This game is fluid. It's always changing,
it's always evolving. I could always hit the ball better, chip better, putt
better, think better. You can get better tomorrow than you are today."
-Tiger Woods


> -----Original Message-----
> From: KYSBSUG@yahoogroups.com [mailto:KYSBSUG@yahoogroups.com] On
> Behalf Of Benjamin Hill
> Sent: Monday, November 23, 2009 5:26 PM
> To: KYSBSUG@yahoogroups.com
> Subject: RE: [KYSBSUG] RE: Convert MSDOS program
>
>
>
> I have a fair amount of experience with legacy continuation of an old
> apps.  Let me know if you need something specific.  My first tip is
> simply to backup everything and make you understand how it works
> currently before doing anything.  If you don't totally understand how
> the app lives in DOS, you won't have a chance making it work inside
> newer OSes.
>
>
>
> Typically the older DOS applications have readme.txt files that can be
> very helpful in gather the required installation process which can also
> help you better understand how to make it all work.
>
>
>
> Also, you may want to consider Virtual PC/VMWare, multi-partition
> bootables, etc.  It all depends on the need.
>
>
>
> If you are looking for someone to just come do it, I might be
> interested in that too.  Just depends on the details.call me if that
> was more along the line of what you were actually asking for.
>
>
>
>
>
> http://www.benjaminhill.com/e_maillogo.gif
>
> Benjamin E. Hill | Owner/IT Consultant | ben@...
> <mailto:ben@...>
>
> BENJAMIN HILL CONSULTING | Small Business IT Services |
> www.benjaminhill.com <http://www.benjaminhill.com/>
>
> tel 502.447.9294 | fax 502.447.7836 | pgr 502.464.1385
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> From: KYSBSUG@yahoogroups.com [mailto:KYSBSUG@yahoogroups.com] On
> Behalf Of Lee Johnson
> Sent: Monday, November 23, 2009 4:14 PM
> To: KYSBSUG@yahoogroups.com
> Subject: [KYSBSUG] RE: Convert MSDOS program
>
>
>
>
>
> I've had to run an old DOS based FOXPRO system on XP a couple of times,
> but I've never moved the data to something new without tech support
> from the new software company.
>
>
>
> Lee Johnson
>
>
>
> From: KYSBSUG@yahoogroups.com [mailto:KYSBSUG@yahoogroups.com] On
> Behalf Of Michelle Sollberger
> Sent: Monday, November 23, 2009 4:09 PM
> To: KYSBSUG@yahoogroups.com
> Subject: [KYSBSUG] Convert MSDOS program
>
>
>
>
>
> Anyone have experience doing/getting/using MSDOS and moving to
> something from this century?  It is a CRM database from the 80's!
> Customer and sales history.
>
>
>
> Michelle Sollberger, CEO/President
>
> WBE Certified
>
> BeechTree IT Solutions, Inc.
>
> 622 E. Court Avenue
>
> Jeffersonville, IN 47130
>
> 812-284-6500 Fax 812-284-6548
>
> www.beechtreeits.com <http://www.beechtreeits.com/>
>
> Email logo
>
>
>
>
>
> The information contained in this email and any attachments is
>
> confidential and may be subject to copyright or other intellectual
>
> property protection. If you are not the intended recipient, you are not
>
> authorized to use or disclose this information, and we request that you
>
> notify us by reply mail or telephone and delete the original message
>
> from your mail system.
>
>
>
>