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Installing Geocomp on Windows XP 64-bit, Vista, 7, MacOS or Linux

Introduction

Windows XP 64-bit, Windows Vista, Windows 7, Linux and MacOS do not include DOS; therefore to run any DOS application, such as Geocomp, you are faced with choices:

  • Transition to another application, like Terramodel for Windows
  • Keep running 32-bit Windows XP computers
  • Install a 32-bit Windows XP partition
  • Install a DOS emulator, or
  • Install Windows XP on a virtualization layer

Virtualization

You can use virtualization to install Geocomp on computers newer than Windows XP provided you have:

  • Geocomp 10.08 installation CD, updates and USB dongle
  • The installation disks and registration keys for a guest operating system containing DOS (in practice 32-bit Windows XP)
  • Sufficient hard drive and memory
  • A suitable edition of a host operating system such as Windows XP 64-bit, Windows Vista, Windows 7, Linux or Macintosh
  • An Internet connection for downloading software and updates
  • Technicial competence

Geocomp graphics is 640x480 pixels. Some displays will stretch to fit the screen but this won't happen under virtualization, so Geocomp will only use part of the screen. You might also have VGA problems.

These are the main steps:

  1. Upgrade to Geocomp 10.1 or 10.2 so you can get a USB dongle (if you haven't already).
  2. Choose a host OS that supports virtualization such as Windows 7 Professional (rather than Windows 7 Home).
  3. If your CPU has Intel® Virtualization Technology or AMD-V®, turn this on to increase processing speed.
  4. Download and install a virtualization layer such as VMWare Player, Microsoft Virtual PC or Sun VirtualBox.
  5. Install Windows XP from a Windows XP installation CD on top of the virtualization layer. Windows XP Mode on Windows 7 is not sufficient!
  6. Install Geocomp on XP.

Examples of virtualization

Geocomp 10.2 on Windows XP on VMWare Player on Windows 7 Professional.
This is what we use at Geocomp Systems. It is straighforward to use and runs at normal speed.
Geocomp 10.2 on Windows XP on Microsoft Virtual PC 2007 on Windows VistaTM Business Enterprise.
This is too slow and clunky but it does run.

An example of Geocomp installation using virtualization

How to install Geocomp 10.2 on Windows XP on Microsoft Virtual PC 2007 on Windows VistaTM Business Enterprise:

  1. Download and install Microsoft Virtual PC 2007
  2. Run Virtual PC Console
  3. Under the VPC File menu, run the New Virtual Machine Wizard to install Windows XP from CD as if it were on a new hard disk
  4. Use the wizard to enable LPT1, com ports, drives and so on
  5. Open the new virtual machine
  6. Log into Windows XP with administrator rights
  7. In the Action menu of the virtual machine, Install Virtual Machine Additions
  8. Install Geocomp 10.08 on Windows XP.
  9. Upgrade to Geocomp 10.2.
  10. Install Sentinel Protection Installer
  11. Run Virtual PC Console, launch Windows XP, then run Geocomp to check that all works.
  12. You may also wish to make some of these additional changes in Windows XP:
    • Install your favourite utilities such as file manager, text editor, unzipper, PDF reader, and so on.
    • Configure Windows XP to suppress the welcome screen or boot in DOS mode.
    • Copy a Geocomp shortcut to the startup.
    • Connect to a network and map a network drive to a drive letter
    • Create a folder in Vista like C:\VPCSHARE and set that as a common folder in VPC with a mapped drive letter such as V:.
    • Edit the GC10.BAT file so the data drive is on the network or VPCSHARE folder.
  13. Hints:

Emulation

The best known DOS emulator is DOSBOX. However, Geocomp will not run on DOSBOX to Geocomp's dongle based licencing.

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