Where the FAQ entry at http://www.network54.com/Forum/171757/message/1204454477/QBasic+in+Vista+or+64+bit+CPU+environment expects you to already have a copy of the QBasic/QuickBASIC program ready to use, this entry serves to explain how to install QuickBASIC if you have directories containing the files on the installation disks.
First of all, you need DOSBox. If you don't have it, you can download it from the DOSBox website located at http://www.dosbox.com
Assuming you already have the installation files, ensure they're all in a single directory (e.g. qbsetup/DISK1 contains ALL of the setup files). If you don't wish to do this, a bit more work is involved, but it is still relatively easy. In that case, please refer to http://www.network54.com/Forum/171757/message/1298828356/Installing+QuickBASIC+4.5+and+PDS+7.1+in+DOSBox+%28more+involved+method%29
Now in DOSBox, mount the parent directory of the target installation directory as your C: drive. For example, if you're installing QuickBASIC 4.5 to K:\dosprogs\QB45, you would use this command:
MOUNT C K:\dosprogs
Next, you need to mount the disk directory as the A: floppy drive. The following example assumes you are using DISK1 as the directory on your actual computer that contains every file for installation:
MOUNT A K:\dosprogs\qbsetup\DISK1
Now change to the A: directory in DOSBox and verify that you're in the correct directory:
A:
DIR /W SETUP.EXE
If you don't see "File SETUP.EXE not found", then all is well.
Now type "SETUP.EXE" at the prompt, go through the menus and install to C:\QB45 (remember that it is K:\dosprogs\QB45 on your actual computer) or whatever directory you choose. It will ask for DISK2, DISK3, etc. Just hit the Enter key since it is all in a single directory.
You're finished! Congratulations on installing your selected version of QuickBASIC! :)
This message has been edited by rpgfan3233 on Feb 27, 2011 9:39 AM
Installing QuickBASIC 4.5 and PDS 7.1 in DOSBox (more involved method)
February 27 2011, 9:39 AM
Where the FAQ entry at http://www.network54.com/Forum/171757/message/1204454477/QBasic+in+Vista+or+64+bit+CPU+environment expects you to already have a copy of the QBasic/QuickBASIC program ready to use, this entry serves to explain how to install QuickBASIC if you have directories containing the files on the installation disks.
First of all, you need DOSBox. If you don't have it, you can download it from the DOSBox website located at http://www.dosbox.com
The rest of this tutorial assumes you have the installation files already in their original directories. If you want to use an easier installation method, please refer to the single-directory installation method at http://www.network54.com/Forum/171757/message/1298828297/Installing+QuickBASIC+4.5+and+PDS+7.1+in+DOSBox+%28single-directory+method%29
Now in DOSBox, mount the parent directory of the target installation directory as your C: drive. For example, if you're installing QuickBASIC 4.5 to K:\dosprogs\QB45, you would use this command:
MOUNT C K:\dosprogs
Next, you need to mount the disk directory as the A: floppy drive. The following example assumes you are using DISK1 as the directory on your actual computer that contains every file for installation:
MOUNT A K:\dosprogs\qbsetup\DISK1
Now change to the A: directory and verify that you're in the correct directory:
A:
DIR /W SETUP.EXE
If you don't see "File SETUP.EXE not found", then all is well.
Now type "SETUP.EXE" at the prompt, remembering that C:\<whatever> is actually (for example) K:\dosprogs\<whatever> on your computer, go through the menus and begin the installation process. Note that sometimes you can just press Enter in the QuickBASIC 4.5 installation process, and it will continue installing. When you can't do this anymore, it is time to change disks.
To do this, you need to open a Command Prompt window on your actual computer and type the following, where <letter> is the letter of the drive containing the setup files and <setupdir> is the absolute directory that contains DISK1, DISK2, etc.:
<letter>:
CD <setupdir>
REN DISK1 DISKX
REN DISK2 DISK1
The REN lines rename the directories. This needs to be done because DOSBox only sees DISK1 as the A: floppy drive. Keep that Command Prompt window open and go back to DOSBox. Hold the Ctrl key down as you press F4. This updates the directory tree that DOSBox sees from your computer. Since the contents of the DISK1 directory changed because of the RENAME commands, DOSBox needs to be notified. Pressing Ctrl-F4 is how you do that.
Continue the installation process, doing the same thing for DISK3, etc.:
REN DISK1 DISK2
REN DISK3 DISK1
You're finished!* Congratulations on installing your selected version of QuickBASIC!
* - If you decide to keep the setup files after installation, execute the following rename commands, where <n> is the last number of the installation disks:
The idea was to allow tinkerers and control freaks alike to install QB. Yes, 32-bit Windows XP (and older) can usually handle installing and running QB (perhaps with some help such as the Virtual Floppy Drive application for Windows), but what about 32-bit Windows Vista? Or 64-bit editions of Windows? Or even non-Windows operating systems? The instructions are meant to be as cross-platform compatible as possible.
Of course, Linux will use the mv command/program rather than REN to rename files in the advanced version. Even better, use "ln -s" to create a symbolic link to the specific directory and use the link as the mount point for the A: drive. It's less error-prone as well since the original directories will remain untouched. Of course, that's slightly off-topic.
Thanks for the reply, though. I'm sure that video fix will help people as it has in the past. :)