ABC5 and Vista

[redwoodsteve]

Hi, can you give any direction on how to run ABC5 in DOSBox? I've tried several ways without success.

I have previously tried to install XP drivers on my Vista PC, but was informed by the installation program that the drivers were incompatible and wouldn't be installed. This is one of those problems that gets more involved everytime you think you've found a solution!

[abctech]

I have not used DOSBOX so I can't give any advice about it . There is nothing in ABC5 that needs to be setup or altered. I'd guess the DOSBOX Forums might help.

Microsoft themselves advise use of XP video drivers in Vista, so it must be possible. The Microsoft website might have instructions.

To just check thatthe video driver is the proble, you could try selecting the standard VGA driver in Vista. Run ABC5 and see if it is now OK. And then reinstall your current HiRes driver in Vista (assuming you can't live with the VGA driver for other applications). If this does overcome the problem then you know it is worth trying other drivers, maybe a different graphics card, etc, to a chieve a solution that meets all your needs.

As you say, it seems to get more complicated the more you go into it.

[redwoodsteve]

It would be useful if anyone successfully using ABC5 on a Vista machine can give details of the Graphics card they are using. I'm using a Raedon 9800 Pro (which doesn't work). That way the list can be viewed by other Vista users and new cards can be bought with some confidence of it working.

[abctech]

Just to round off this thread, Steve gave up trying to get old ABC5 to run on this particular VISTA computer. He has other cpmputers with XP to run ABC5, and he now uses ABC6 on this Vista computer. As we agreed -- life's too short to fix every problem (though I am sure we could have done it with more time -- or an alternative video driver).

[abctech]

Windows 7

Think of Windows 7 as a bug-fixed slightly enhanced version of Vista. It is likely that ABC5 will not run any better under Win 7 than it did under Vista. If you find different, please let us know.

Incidentally, reviews of windows 7 suggest it is excellent and that if you buy a new PC with it you will be happy.
But there is no straightforward upgrade route from Windows XP, so if your existing PC is working well you should probably stick with it.