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General discussion

Legacy software on Windows 7

Aug 17, 2009 11:16PM PDT

Has anyone had experience running older software on Windows 7? I may be the last person around using Lotus123 (version 5 no less, introduced in the Windows 3.1/95 era) but it's still better than Excel and I have thousands of macros and formulas that won't migrate. I've tried.

Would anyone have a sense of the chances that it'd work or if there is a web site where it could be tested out?

Thanks!

Discussion is locked

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I did NOT test Lotus 1-2-3.
Aug 18, 2009 12:40AM PDT

But I did install VIRTUAL BOX (see google) on Windows 7 RC and DOS 6.2 (the last licensed dos I kept my disks and such for) and it all worked fine in VIRTUA BOX.

So this is probably what many will end up doing. Either that or XP MODE (see google.)
Bob

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Virtual Box
Aug 19, 2009 8:19AM PDT

Thank you! I took a quick look at the site and it looks promising. A question, though, if you've used it. Do you have to have a copy of the older operating system to install? My Windows XP came bundled with my computer and won't install on another machine. If I got a new computer with Windows 7 would I have to go buy a copy of XP to load inside the Virtual Box?

Thanks!

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Research XP MODE.
Aug 19, 2009 10:40AM PDT

But about that OS in Virtual Box. All the same license terms apply so the answer is yes. I installed XP and let it run for 28 days without activation for the tests. However the DOS version was kept around for more testing.
Bob

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XP mode in Windows 7
Dec 4, 2009 7:55AM PST
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Lotus 123
Aug 19, 2009 7:47AM PDT

You are not alone! I am still running the Lotus precursor AMIPRO software which does all the things OFFICE doesn;t do. better and simpler thsn 123. I dread upgrading to Vista or Windows 7. Do you have Vista working with Lotus?

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Lotus and older software
Aug 19, 2009 8:15AM PDT

I've successfully managed to avoid Vista since my XP system is doing just fine, but in 3 or 4 months you probably won't be able to buy a new computer with a Windows OS other than 7 so I worry. It's nice to know that there are other folks who use what works even if it isn't the newest thing around.

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Amipro and Win 7
Oct 26, 2009 9:40PM PDT

Hi, I thought I was the only one still running Amipro. Makes MS Word look lethargic. Can you tell me if you were able to get it to work on Win 7 or with 64 bit?
I ran Amipro on my son's Vista Dell laptop with no problems (other than the fact that a plug in mouse won't work unless it is connected via an old "mouse" port and not USB.
TIA.

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AmiPro and 64 bit
Sep 5, 2010 5:45AM PDT

Just got a new laptop and am devastated that AmiPro won't install. AmiPro, as others have said is far better than any of today's word processing program. I can always rely on it to get the job done the way I want it done. Has anyone found a work-around to loading AmiPro on a 64 bit machine?

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Re: Ami Pro
Sep 5, 2010 5:50AM PDT

The general recipe in cases like this:
1. Anytime upgrade (not free!) to Windows 7 Professional or Ultimate.
2. Install virtual XP.
3. Install the offending program in that XP.

Might very well work (unless the 64 bit version of Windows 7 comes with the ill-fated 64 bit version of Windows XP and AmiPro doesn't even run under that OS). In that case an anytime downgrade (so to speak) to the 32-bit version of Windows 7 might be necessary to run such a limited program as AmiPro seems to be.

Please let us know the results.

Kees

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I have XP Mode and
Sep 5, 2010 6:26AM PDT

It is XP 32 bit from all indications and behavior.

Hope this helps,
Bob

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You are not alone
Sep 5, 2010 5:47AM PDT

You are right on about AmiPro. It is simply the best, far and above ANY of today's word processors. I am desperate to find a way to install in on my 64 bit machine.

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I have used Foxpro 2.6 in
Aug 21, 2009 4:50AM PDT

vista and it still works.

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Vista and 123r5w
Sep 25, 2009 11:00PM PDT

I run 123r5w just fine on Vista. I have a 123r5w application that I market to 160 business for 12 years. I am concerned that Windows 7 won't handle 123r5w in or out of a 64 bit OS.

Appreciate the feed back.

Rick

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How concerned are you?
Sep 26, 2009 1:04AM PDT

The Windows 7 beta and RC were there for us to pre-flight and answer if our applications worked or not.

I was there.
Bob

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Troubleshooting older software
Sep 30, 2009 7:38AM PDT
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thank you.
Sep 30, 2009 9:53AM PDT

Thank you. This helped enormously. I even was able to load a favorite very old DOS based game that I'd given up years ago on ever playing again.

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Great!
Sep 30, 2009 10:28AM PDT

I am so glad we resolved the issue! Happy Gaming!

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The thing you have to llok at with legacy software is
Oct 27, 2009 2:28AM PDT

that your porbably not going to get a 16 bit application to run in a 64 bit OS. So even if you install Win 7 64 bit the XP more is 32 bit and if you rujn in XP now Lotus, Ami Pro and even Professional Write should work. I can run Foxpro 2.6 for DOS or windows in Vista 32 bit.

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XP compatability mode in Win 7
Oct 27, 2009 3:12AM PDT

so is XP compatability mode, just a setting you use when opening a legacy program (like "run as administrator", or is it more like opening a Xp windows and then running the new program in this window/environment?
TIA

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XP mode can be downloaded and installed
Oct 27, 2009 4:28AM PDT

in WIN 7. The you bring up XP and install the software there. Once it's installed shows in the start menu All programs under Windows Virtual PC\Windows XP Mode Applications. Ypu can send the shortcut to the desktop by right clicking on the software and select send Desktop. That creates a shortcut on the desktop and when you launch it it will run seemlessly in Win 7 but you will see a the virtual machine starting in a window.

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Xp mode
Oct 27, 2009 5:16AM PDT

Now I'm really confused. I just viewed a XP compatabilility video on the MS site and it says to just run the program in compatability mode and then select which mode (Xp, Vista, etc. . .). Is this different than running Xp in a virtual window? Do you need a licensed copy of Xp to install in this window, or is everything "built in" during the initial install?

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win 7 & lotus 123
Nov 30, 2009 4:43AM PST

I've been using 123 since win 3.1, and haven't had any trouble with installing through all the "new" win os. until now. I have a new win 7 pc and get the same FLW+855 Overflow error that others have talked about when i try to install it. I am going to have my Lotus one way or the other, but I would really like it on my new machine. Any help would be great and I'll post anything I figure out.

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What have you tried?
Nov 30, 2009 5:38AM PST

XP MODE?
Virtual Box?
DOSBOX?

There are more tricks here than I can possibly list but tell what you tried.

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win7/lotus
Nov 30, 2009 11:08AM PST

first i tried just a straight up install and got the error. just now trying to install from command prompt and it looked like it was going to go but its stopping on 27.dsk file and won't go any further. says cant read that file. i'm assuming something with the disk is the problem now since it can't read. i have an older version (SmartSuite96)and all i'm wanting to install is 123. the install got to 86% complete then i got the read error. do you think it is actually a read error? the rest of the install looked like it always did.

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I re-read this discussion
Nov 30, 2009 11:26AM PST

And didn't find much about the hardware. Disk read errors are not uncommon. Let's share how I deal with them.

1. CD/DVD/Floppy head clearners.
2. Duplicate the media to a new CD/DVD/Floppy.
a. Use 1/2 of the media or recorder speed, whichever is lower, slower.

3. No spybot please.

4. Try a new CD/DVD drive.

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win7/lotus
Nov 30, 2009 7:27PM PST

The system is brand new (4 days old. Of course I know that doesn't mean there isn't a hardware problem. Asus pc dual core 2.6ghz, 6gig RAM, SATA, standard DVDrom. I will try the head cleaner and slower speed tonight and then try to dup the cd if still no go.

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Let me write a little more about the cleaner.
Nov 30, 2009 9:45PM PST

Details are light but a guess it is installing from CD. Even a new machine could have dust on the CD/DVD lens. I have the usual cleaner CD but would not use that on the new BLURAY drives.

The source or install CD would be my next stop. Duplicate it using the old rule of half the speed of the media or drive which ever is lower or slower.
Bob

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drive
Dec 1, 2009 1:23AM PST

Yes, i am trying to install from a CD. I have a regular lens cleaner also, the drive is not Blu-Ray. I haven't really looked, but what other kind of lens cleaner is there? I have run some other cd's and dvd's with no problem, but I'll clean it anyway to be sure, can't hurt, right. I'm going to dup the cd tonight and try that. The weird thing to me is that it always stops at the same place in the install, one particular dll file in the package. If there are other details you need, let me know and I'll fill them in. Thanks

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16 BIT SOFTWARE ON 64 BIT WINDOWS 7
Dec 30, 2009 7:26AM PST

I installed VM Ware Workstation on 64-bit Windows 7. This allowed me to create a virtual machine and install 32-bit Windows XP, which allowed me to install 16-bit Amipro. It worked perfectly, all my macros run properly and I am even able to print directly from Amipro to the printer connected to the host Windows 7. An effective solution, if not cheap. Amipro lives on ! To my mind still the greatest word processor ever written. - Paul

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Thanks
Dec 31, 2009 2:55AM PST

Thank you for sharing the solution to this problem!

Happy New Years!
Tara