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Old compiled basec for 16 bit machine, is there a new compliler compatable with microsoft basic? RRS feed

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    A user brought me an engineering program that is compiled basic for a 16 bit machine. It ran under DOS. He has the source code. Is there a compiler that I could use to compile it for 32 or 64 bit code so he can move to a better machine and OS?
    Tuesday, March 5, 2013 3:06 PM

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    Hello LouisAbernethy.

    Compiling a 16 bit application with a 32 bit or 64 bit compiler is not enough to port your application to a newer operating system: this kind of upgrade will require a rewrite of most of the code, since many old system calls or functions cannot be used anymore in modern Windows version; this will problably make you waste a lot of time trying to make your software run.
    If you really need to use that old software you can rely on virtualization: install a virtualization program, create a virtual machine and install the operating system you need to install and run tha application.

    Bye.

    Luigi Bruno

    • Proposed as answer by Cloud_TS Thursday, March 7, 2013 6:57 AM
    • Marked as answer by Cloud_TS Wednesday, March 20, 2013 8:19 AM
    Tuesday, March 5, 2013 7:04 PM

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    Hello LouisAbernethy.

    Compiling a 16 bit application with a 32 bit or 64 bit compiler is not enough to port your application to a newer operating system: this kind of upgrade will require a rewrite of most of the code, since many old system calls or functions cannot be used anymore in modern Windows version; this will problably make you waste a lot of time trying to make your software run.
    If you really need to use that old software you can rely on virtualization: install a virtualization program, create a virtual machine and install the operating system you need to install and run tha application.

    Bye.

    Luigi Bruno

    • Proposed as answer by Cloud_TS Thursday, March 7, 2013 6:57 AM
    • Marked as answer by Cloud_TS Wednesday, March 20, 2013 8:19 AM
    Tuesday, March 5, 2013 7:04 PM
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    Hello LouisAbernethy.

    Compiling a 16 bit application with a 32 bit or 64 bit compiler is not enough to port your application to a newer operating system: this kind of upgrade will require a rewrite of most of the code, since many old system calls or functions cannot be used anymore in modern Windows version; this will problably make you waste a lot of time trying to make your software run.
    If you really need to use that old software you can rely on virtualization: install a virtualization program, create a virtual machine and install the operating system you need to install and run tha application.

    Bye.

    Luigi Bruno

    I add that you could try running this program by installing a virtualization program like Oracle VirtualBox (http://www.virtualbox.org), create a new virtual machine and install the operating system and the software you need to use.

    Bye.

    Luigi Bruno

    Wednesday, March 20, 2013 8:29 AM