How to set up VBox to run a Dos program?

[raceware]

I am truely a Novice at least to VB , I need to run a DOS program I still use allot to run on Win 7 and my understanding I can do this with Virtual Box. Can anyone give me a Step by Step way to do this? I have installed 3.2.8 version of VB on my Win 7 machine. Just for FYI my Dos program I need to use if anyone remembers is an old database program First Choice 3.1 it ran fine on all systems until my XP system and of course my new Win 7. Any Hints?
My system has Win 7 Professional on it again for FYI

Thanks,
Raceware

[ChipMcK]

Try forum "Other Guests"

[stefan.becker]

Forget VBOX for DOS. Better use DosBox for this.

[mark rumsey]

That depends on the application. DoxBox is written specifically for DOS games and because of this it only covers the bits of DOS used for games. DosBox isn't real Dos running on a virtual machine, its a stripped back Dos running on emulated hardware. Anything that doesn't need to be implemented in detail isn't. DosBox does not have its own hard drive (it uses a folder or folders on the host to provide storage space) and the command processor is heavily cut down. Support for removable drives (CDs) is limited and it can sometimes require a restart to change the disc. Other programs (non-games) will run, but it can be much more difficult to get them to work than you might think, especially if they do something out of the ordinary. Personally I love DosBox. It is by far the best way to run old DOS games on moderm hardware, usually running them better than real natively installed DOS on modern hardware simply because it emulates the old hardware DOS applications are used to (like the Soundblaster 16 & Adlib cards). However, whilst its worth trying non-games under DosBox, you may still have more success using real DOS on a VBox virtual machine. If (like me) you were brought up setting up DOS machines from scratch (I used to do this with DOS 3.3) setting up a VBox DOS machine is fairly simple. The only real difference is you create virutal disk images of your DOS setup disks and 'load' them into your virtual machine's drive. If you've never set up DOS before, its going to take some getting used to.

[ChipMcK]

DoxBox is written specifically for DOS games

I also use DOSBox to run a DOS accounting package.

The Front-End for DOSBox you choose makes a big difference - almost a make-or-break decision.

[raceware]

I have Dos box & my program runs on it but can't print anything from the program & need to. Can I install lets say Win 98 on VB & Run the Dos program from it, can I use the printer then ? Also if this will work is there a link or some where on this forum showing instructions on how to install programs on the Virtual Machine OS, how to install individual programs in the Win 98 environment.

Thanks
Raceware

[ChipMcK]

Under "Howtos and Turorials"
- Win98 in "Windows Guests"
- DOS in "Other Guests"