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Virtualizing Windows 3.11

Double ZDouble Z
edited July 2008 in Technology
So I ran across several old PCs running Win 3.11 at work these last days. These machines are key to testing several of our products here. They have programs in them that control other hardware, including signal generators, oscilloscopes and whatnot. These PCs are old and are going to be moved to a different plant in the next weeks (the plant where I work at). I'm scared that these machines are going to stop working, also we could use the move as an opportunity to take measures.

Upgrading the test programs to work on Win XP is out of the question, so I figure I could buy new PCs, get XP on them and virtualize Win 3.11 on them. My question is hardware access, will it still be possible for these virtual environment to have complete and total access to the PCs hardware, specially I/O ports? VMware page says yes, sort of. But I wonder if anyone has worked with anything like these before, if it is worth the time and money to do this, or just keep hoping these PCs will hold up as they have for several years now.

Comments

  • AprecheApreche
    VMWare is a good solution, but how well it will handle the direct hardware access is questionable. You might have more luck installing FreeDOS directly on some new hardware, and then installing Windows on top of that. I have never tried it, but it should work in theory.
  • AprecheApreche
    DOSBox might also work. You should at least look into it.

    The best option really is to get the programs re-written to be native Linux apps.
  • Double ZDouble Z
    Thanks. I'll look into both solutions. I also have to check with my bosses if they really want a solution or if they want this to keep running on hopes and dreams.

    The best option really is to get the programs re-written to be native Linux apps
    I'll get laugh at my face if I propose that. These programs were written at least 10 years ago, who knows if the documentation is available to even figure the logic behind them. Besides I highly doubt anyone in any of the company sites will be willing to try their hand on that.
  • AprecheApreche
    Besides I highly doubt anyone in any of the company sites will be willing to try their hand on that.
    You would hire someone to do it. It would be very expensive in the short term, but it will have the best results in the long term.
  • Victor FrostVictor Frost
    If it'll help, I still have my MS-Dos 7.1 discs. You can have the contents if you like.
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