Install Geocomp 10.2 for DOS on Operating Systems other than Windows XP

Introduction

Windows after 32-bit XP (XP 64-bit, Vista, 7, 8, 10) and many other operating systems like Linux and MacOS, do not come with DOS; therefore to run any DOS application, such as Geocomp, you are faced with choices, such as:

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

Emulation

Well-known emulators that allow many DOS programs to run include DOSBOX and vDOS. These will not run GEOCOMP.

Virtualization

Virtualization can enable Geocomp on computers newer than Windows XP provided you have:

• • • • Geocomp 10.1 or 10.2 installation software.
      • A Geocomp USB dongle and USB port.
      • The Geocomp 10 activation code for your dongle.
      • The installation drives and registration keys for a guest operating system containing DOS. In practice, this means the full 32-bit Windows XP with Service Packs. Windows XP Mode is not sufficient!
      • Sufficient memory for the guest OS.
      • A suitable edition of a host operating system such as Windows XP 64-bit, Windows Vista, Windows 7, Windows 8, Windows 10, Linux or Macintosh.
      • A virtual machine which will run on the host OS and enable real-mode DOS applications running on Windows XP guest OS.
      • An Internet connection for downloading software and updates.
      • Technical competence.

Examples of virtualization

• Geocomp 10.2 on Windows XP on VMWare Player on Windows 7 Professional. This is straightforward to use once installed and runs at normal speed in a small window. This Player is no longer available.
• Geocomp 10.2 on Windows XP on VMWare Workstation on Windows 7 Professional. This is similar to the Player but Workstation can run apps like Geocomp in Full Screen and includes support from VMWare. We haven’t tested this.
• Geocomp 10.2 on Windows XP on Microsoft Virtual PC 2007 on Windows Vista Business Enterprise. This is too slow and very clunky but it does run.
• Geocomp 10.2 on Windows XP on Oracle VirtualBox on Linux or MacOS.
• Geocomp 10.2 on Windows XP on Oracle VirtualBox on Windows 10. We have tested this and Geocomp works well (in a 640×480 window).

The main steps to a virtual machine

1. Upgrade to Geocomp 10.2 and replace your parallel port dongle with 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. Configure your host to support to suit the virtualisation method. This might include turning on or off Intel® Virtualization Technology, AMD-V® or Hyper_V®.
4. Download and install a virtualization layer such as VMWare Workstation, Microsoft Virtual PC, Microsoft Client Hyper-V or Oracle VirtualBox.
5. Install Windows XP from a bootable Windows XP installation CD or ISO on top of the virtualization layer.
6. Install applications, add-ons and extensions to the host and guest to enable convenient file management, USB ports, shared folders and so on.
7. Install Geocomp 10.2 on XP
8. Install the Sentinel drivers, attach the USB security dongle and connect the Sentinel device to the virtual machine.
9. Run Geocomp.

A more detailed (if dated) example

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

1. 1. 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
      12. Launch Windows XP
      13. Run Geocomp to check that all works

    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 or install a different shortcut.
    • 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.

  Hints for this example:

• If you remove Virtual Machine Additions (VMA), you have to remove it from both VPC and Windows XP before you can reinstall VMA
• Use the right ALT key with Enter to switch between window and full screen in VPC
• ALT TAB will switch you between Geocomp and Windows XP as normal
• Look at http://www.essjae.com/VPC and http://blogs.msdn.com/virtual_pc_guy
• Read the VPC Help

VGA Display

The Geocomp graphical display is fixed at 640 by 480 pixels. If this is too small on your high-resolution display, make this window appear bigger by changing your glasses, reducing the resolution of the host display, reusing an old low-resolution VGA monitor or choosing a virtual machine that enables the DOS window to fill the whole screen.

Your display hardware and drivers must be VGA-compatible.

Our Recommendations

     Either:

• • Install Geocomp 10.2 on Windows XP on VirtualBox on Windows 10, or
  • Avoid all the hassles of virtualization by switching from Geocomp for DOS to Terramodel 10.61L for Windows which
    • Runs on current versions of Windows
    • Includes our Geocomp Update
    • Accepts most Geocomp commands
    • Imports and exports Geocomp data files
    • Includes updates and support through Customer Care Membership