Another Piece of Useful Tube Software Bites the Dust

[David Root]

I downloaded it and installed it. It went into the x86 folder. So I marked it, right clicked, and clicked on Properties....

There is no Compatibility tab. Nada. Duh.

UPDATE: Managed to find somehow the menu with the Compatibility tab. Still no joy. I get "Test Compatibility for XP Service Pack 3. You must do this before clicking Next". The Test button does nothing, so I can't move on.

I feel like the Cyclops after Odysseus blinded him.

[sliberty]

There may be a way to make the compatibility thing work, but I am not familiar with it so I can't offer any help there. But I can tell you that if you use Virtual Box, you will be able to install 32 bit Windows XP into a virtual machine. No issue there.

[JazzGuitarGimp]

There is, however, a problem with a fresh xp install, unless you have a SP3 install disk. I discovered this last night. I created a new vm in Fusion on my Mac. My xp install disc is only SP2. After A LOT of searching the net, I could not find the SP3 patch. I'd be tempted to bring this vm up to windows 10, but apparently, the free upgrade in only extended to win 7 and 8 users, so I'm screwed there too.

[David Root]

I downloaded VB 5.0.2. On starting installation I get a warning that this will "temporarily disconnect my networking". Should I be concerned about this?
Does it mean it could screw up my internet access?

Sorry to be such a pest but I really don't know what I'm doing here and would appreciate some handholding. If I screw this up my wife will kill me.

[jazbo8]

From Wikipedia:
"16-bit applications cannot be directly run under x64 editions of Windows, because the CPU does not support VM86 mode when running in x64."

Glassware software are 16-bit, so it does not seem like you can run them even in Compatibility mode. I think that's why Broskie put the warning in bold letters.

[David Root]

OK, thanx, so I'm down $9.95. Not so bad, I can always crank up the old CPU and monitor.

[Phil_S]

With Win 10 being so new still, it is hard to know what will work and what won't. A Microsoft MVP says here http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/wind ... bad?auth=1 that Oracle VirtualBox will solve the problem. VirtualBox is free, here: https://www.virtualbox.org/ It looks like there is a pile of documentation to go with it. It isn't clear how much time investment will be required.

You might also look at dual boot: http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/insi ... 7e78c6ac36

IMO, none of this is ideal. It would be much better if you could check the box to make it run.

[Firestorm]

The TubeCad stuff will run in Windows 3.1 (which is itself a 16-bit DOS application), so it should be possible to run DosBox, then load Windows 3.1, then run TubeCad. Win 3.1 should be readily available somewhere online since Microsoft couldn't possibly care about "piracy" of that product anymore.

[Phil_S]

...Win 3.1 should be readily available somewhere...

I must have a set of legally transferrable OEM diskettes here, but no way to read them! I don't think they were using licensing keys back then.

[Firestorm]

I think 3.5" external drives exist. If you have 5.25”s or 8"s, you're screwed. Funny when formerly ubiquitous things go scarce. Like VCRs.

[Phil_S]

I was only half joking about this. I think I've got both 3.5" and 5.25" drives in a box somewhere. I think I have a USB 3.5". I'm pretty sure the 5.25" plugs into IDE, LOL. Zip drive anyone? Jazz drive? I've got both. I've got a SCSI Jaz controller that will plug into the PCI slot on your laptop if it still has one. Not sure about drivers, though. My most recent computer purchase (Dec 2004) still had the PCI slot. I know. I'm old.

[drew]

I downloaded VB 5.0.2. On starting installation I get a warning that this will "temporarily disconnect my networking". Should I be concerned about this?
Does it mean it could screw up my internet access?

Sorry to be such a pest but I really don't know what I'm doing here and would appreciate some huandholding. If I screw this up my wife will kill me.

I would wait until VirtualBox is officially supported for use in Windows 10. Once that happens, give it a try. In the meantime, lay the groundwork for fixing any future screwups or system errors by preparing a USB recovery drive and by making a full system backup on an external hard drive. Typing " recovery drive" and "backup" into the Cortana search box should lead you to the right places to do these things. You'll probably need at least an 8GB USB stick.

[David Root]

Thanx for that advice. I have an external WD hard drive and will keep it updated.