Hardware access through Cmd in 2000/XP? - Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community

Scorpion23 · 07-21-2007, 05:08 PM

I have a program made for MSDOS that interfaces with a Mass Spectrometer through an ISA interface card. The computer that we had been using just went down and we're trying to install something better than 98 on the new one. Is there a way to give a program access to hardware when emulating DOS in windows?

I thought about something like Virtual PC from Microsoft but as far as I can tell it won't give access to the ISA bus. To complicate things I recently discovered that I can't even use win98 because I can't find drivers for the IBM RAID/SCSI card.

neflyte · 07-31-2007, 07:40 AM

I have a sneaky suspicion that Microsoft restricted all access to direct hardware thru the HAL, so you'd have to write a driver that sits in that layer and lets your code thru. Not sure if you could boot up VMware and run DOS inside of that. You could always make a boot floppy and boot the machine directly into DOS.

Dilbert1234567 · 07-31-2007, 07:56 AM

i think you're right on the HAL. vmware does not get direct access either it passes through the same HAL of the host operating system.

Cynthetiq · 07-31-2007, 01:19 PM

You could try asking HAL nicely to open the pod bay doors....

sorry. tired from a long day of meetings.

but yes, no way to access the HAL. You'd have to create that and it's a pain in the ass.

Nimetic · 08-01-2007, 07:33 PM

I take it that it's not using something simple like a COM port?

ie - it's a custom card is it. Specifically built for this application, rather than built to provide additional ports.

(I really have no idea on this, I'm just taking a stab at it because it sounds interesting).

07-21-2007, 05:08 PM	#1 (permalink)
Scorpion23 Psycho	Hardware access through Cmd in 2000/XP? I have a program made for MSDOS that interfaces with a Mass Spectrometer through an ISA interface card. The computer that we had been using just went down and we're trying to install something better than 98 on the new one. Is there a way to give a program access to hardware when emulating DOS in windows? I thought about something like Virtual PC from Microsoft but as far as I can tell it won't give access to the ISA bus. To complicate things I recently discovered that I can't even use win98 because I can't find drivers for the IBM RAID/SCSI card.

07-31-2007, 07:40 AM	#2 (permalink)
neflyte Tilted Location: Kitchener, ON, CANADA	I have a sneaky suspicion that Microsoft restricted all access to direct hardware thru the HAL, so you'd have to write a driver that sits in that layer and lets your code thru. Not sure if you could boot up VMware and run DOS inside of that. You could always make a boot floppy and boot the machine directly into DOS. __________________ "I'm not a vegatarian because I love animals. I'm a vegetarian because I hate plants." -- A. Whitney Brown

07-31-2007, 07:56 AM	#3 (permalink)
Dilbert1234567 Devils Cabana Boy Location: Central Coast CA	i think you're right on the HAL. vmware does not get direct access either it passes through the same HAL of the host operating system. __________________ Donate Blood! "Love is not finding the perfect person, but learning to see an imperfect person perfectly." -Sam Keen

07-31-2007, 01:19 PM	#4 (permalink)
Cynthetiq Tilted Cat Head Administrator Location: Manhattan, NY	You could try asking HAL nicely to open the pod bay doors.... sorry. tired from a long day of meetings. but yes, no way to access the HAL. You'd have to create that and it's a pain in the ass. __________________ I don't care if you are black, white, purple, green, Chinese, Japanese, Korean, hippie, cop, bum, admin, user, English, Irish, French, Catholic, Protestant, Jewish, Buddhist, Muslim, indian, cowboy, tall, short, fat, skinny, emo, punk, mod, rocker, straight, gay, lesbian, jock, nerd, geek, Democrat, Republican, Libertarian, Independent, driver, pedestrian, or bicyclist, either you're an asshole or you're not. What's the best nation in the world? DO-NATION!

08-01-2007, 07:33 PM	#5 (permalink)
Nimetic Junkie Location: Melbourne, Australia	I take it that it's not using something simple like a COM port? ie - it's a custom card is it. Specifically built for this application, rather than built to provide additional ports. (I really have no idea on this, I'm just taking a stab at it because it sounds interesting).