16-bit Windows Program Support

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EmuandCo
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Re: 16-bit Windows Program Support

Post by EmuandCo »

Why hacking some stuff together when NTVDM together with WOW16 will do the true thing?
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Black_Fox
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Re: 16-bit Windows Program Support

Post by Black_Fox »

I believe the only reason is that people would like to have something hacked together now (so that most of the installers can be used immediatelly), and a proper solution in the future (so that all installers work eventually).
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Re: 16-bit Windows Program Support

Post by EmuandCo »

Problem is we don't have the manpower for such odysseys.
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Re: 16-bit Windows Program Support

Post by dizt3mp3r »

We'll get there - in time.
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Re: 16-bit Windows Program Support

Post by ctasan »

EmuandCo wrote:Problem is we don't have the manpower for such odysseys.
I thought it was rather an easy task :(
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middings
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Re: 16-bit Windows Program Support

Post by middings »

This 2013 article from Raymond Chen's blog The Old New Thing discusses 16-bit installers on 32- and 64-bit Windows:
If there is no 16-bit emulation layer in 64-bit Windows, how come certain 16-bit installers are allowed to run?

Another article written in 2004 discusses the longevity of 16-bit software:
Why 16-bit DOS and Windows are still with us.
amber
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Re: 16-bit Windows Program Support

Post by amber »

What?! Wine can run 16-bit Windows programs? Why not just import that part of the WINE in ROS?!

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wine_(software) (Backward compatibility)
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Re: 16-bit Windows Program Support

Post by EmuandCo »

Becase only a few parts of it are compatible to waht we would call WIndows compatible. But [TheFlash] wants to take some stuff from them, yes
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petr-akhlamov
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Re: 16-bit Windows Program Support

Post by petr-akhlamov »

amber wrote:What?! Wine can run 16-bit Windows programs? Why not just import that part of the WINE in ROS?!

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wine_(software) (Backward compatibility)
In Wine, support of 16-bits applications implemented via Linux kernel module ldt16, which emulated 16-bit code. (http://wiki.winehq.org/FAQ#16-bit_appli ... l_to_start)

How will emulate 16-bit code for WOW ReactOS - as in Windows via NTVDM, or as Wine, via special module?
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EmuandCo
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Re: 16-bit Windows Program Support

Post by EmuandCo »

WOW16 is heavily dependent to NTVDM which is used for 16 bit code execution. In Windows 32 bit way by 16 bit mode of CPU and in Windows 64 bit case.... not at all. In ROS way by emulation of a 16 bit CPU making things useable in 32 and 64 bit modes of CPU.
ReactOS is still in alpha stage, meaning it is not feature-complete and is recommended only for evaluation and testing purposes.

If my post/reply offends or insults you, be sure that you know what sarcasm is...
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