History of the Blues

[witch]

I am having a lot of trouble with a lovely DOS program called "History of the Blues". It is supposed to work on my Win 2000 server/Win98/WinXP network but, surprise surprise, it doesnt. I cant get it down from the server, and if I install it locally I cant get the sound to work. Has anyone used this prog and if so, can you help me?

And what are they doing still selling such ancient stuff anyway?

[Dos_Box]

DOS!!! DOS!!! Good lord! Sorry to sound a little defeatist, but DOS is dead and buried now. Getting XP to use it would be a major task in itself. Are you using compatability mode?

[witch]

To be honest, XP isnt really the problem as we only have 7 XP machines here (yes, I now, I know)

The software was bought two weeks ago straight out of an e-learning credits brochure - so what can you do?

[Dos_Box]

Compatability mode. Right click the .EXE file and select Properties and compatability and try Windows 95 or 98.

[Guest]

Is this the one?

 

http://avp.100megs28.com/?490005

 

I have to agree with Dos_Box.

 

As for the sound issue, its probable becasue you will need to install the sound card in dos. Have a look at the drivers that came with your PCs, you may be lucky. Will just need to setup the autoexec.bat / config.sys files.

 

If you need any advice just yell.

[E1uSiV3]

the only other option is to look at vdmsound

 

Its a DOS adlib/midi etc emulator that attaches to Directx to allow playback of sound from a DOS app

[Dos_Box]

Companys selling software like this to schools should be flogged. It's like going to pick up a new car and finding you have brought a brand new Morris Minor.

[RobC]

Thirty-nine quid for a bloody DOS program?!? I agree with D_B on this one - companies like that should be taken out the back & given a good sodding beating with their own software!

[sahmeepee]

Wholeheartedly agree!

 

Is there some sort of vetting going on to decide which software gets curriculumonline/eLC status or is it a questionnaire with "Is it a microsoft product?" as the only question.

[witch]

Um, it hasnt got an .exe file, or not that I can find! the sound card thing sounds good - how do I install them in DOS? or is that emulator thingy gonna work?

This is great, I'm getting answers at last. As a lone, part-time techie with not a huge amount of experience and no support to speak of, life was getting a bit bleak, and then....I found you guys (sniff)

[witch]

PS: Our beloved music co ordinator bought a network licence which is a lot more than £39!!

[Ric_]

@ITWITCH: Check the properties of the program shortcut - the compatability options should be available in there.

[witch]

Thanks for info. I'm not back at that school until next week - I will let you know how it goes

[Geoff]

If it fails to play nice, consider using a dos emulator. I've used DosBox with great success.

[Dos_Box]

I feel abused

[Geoff]

Hehehe.

[witch]

Further to last week's chat - I have received a reply from the manufacturer:

"Unfortunately, HISTORY OF THE BLUES is a MS-DOS program; therefore it is

not native to Windows. Installation and execution must be done in the

MS-DOS environment.

 

For audio, the sound card must use:

 

I/O 220 or 240

IRQ 5 or 7

DMA Channel 1"

 

I'm afraid that I don't understand what I have to do now - please help - pref with step by step instructions!

thanks

[Guest]

Take a look at http://sourceforge.net/projects/vdmsound/

 

Looks like it could help.

[Ric_]

@ITWITCH: Can you not get a refund, stating that it is incompatable with the environment it sold for use in (i.e. not fit for purpose). You should be well within your statutary rights doing so.

[witch]

Will try that vdm sound thing - not terribly confident though and am concerned about the time it is going to take. And as far as I can see, it will not work on XP machines anyway, so as we upgrade.. Will speak to the music coordinator and see what she wants to do

thanks for help

[witch]

VDM doesnt work with Win98 which is a pain - and I dont understand what DOSBOX is or what I download and what I do with it (!)

I'm sorry to be a nuisance but I am really in a fix here.

Apparently no other program will do so I am expected to persevere until I get it going - good use of my time, I think

Please help me

[Geoff]

DosBox is a dos emulator. You should probably use a graphical frontend to it like D-Fend.

[Ric_]

@ITWITCH: If no other program will do the job of this one, then there is no program available that is suitable for your network - you need to draw the line and explain how much of your time has been taken up. Then explain what that equates to in money!

[Dos_Box]

@ITWITCH. You;ve been asked to race a 1950's racing car running modern fuels in the 2006 British Grand Prix. It's not going to happen. I would demand your money back from this company who sold you software which is almost 10 years out of date!!

[witch]

Just as a final note - I got some more help and, despite all your advice, we still couldnt get the sound to work on my Win 98 machines. We think that the kids couldnt use it even if it worked, as they need to click stuff that they dont have access to.

The emulator worked well on the XP machines, so I am going to advise that the Music Coord gets a refund on the network licence and just keeps the disc to use on the stand-alone in the music room.

Thanks a lot for all your help