AST RESEARCH, INC.        TECHNICAL BULLETIN # 1509          6-14-96 



TITLE: Running DOS Programs on Win95 Systems


SUMMARY

   Certain programs require DOS-based device drivers (real-mode) to 
   perform as designed.  Programs of this nature will often fail to 
   produce sound while running in a Windows 95 environment.  These 
   real mode device drivers are not part of the Windows 95 environment.

   This issue affects all computer systems.


ISSUE

   A small percentage of application programs available in the 
   marketplace will not produce the correct sounds,or identify the 
   sound device drivers, when attempting to execute the program in 
   Windows 95.  All the programs originally bundled with the 
   Advantage! unit function as expected.

   Windows 95 uses device drivers written specifically for Windows 95.
   These are referred to as protected mode device drivers.  The utility
   referred to in this document will allow the user to boot the 
   computer using real mode device drivers so that the user can obtain 
   the proper functionality of their program.  


BACKGROUND

   N/A


ACTION

   Use real-mode drivers to run DOS-based programs.

   To run a program that requires real-mode device drivers, the user
   must load these drivers to the system.  AST provides the real-mode
   device drivers on a diskette.  File "<A HREF="ftp://ftp.ast.com/D-OTHER/DOSBOOT.EXE">DOSBOOT.EXE</A>" is available from
   one of AST's On-Line! services:

      AST WWW Site:  http://www.ast.com 
      AST On-Line! BBS*:  See IB0001.TXT 
      CompuServe:  GO: ASTFORUM 
 
      * Refer to IB0001.TXT for a list of AST's international BBS  
        numbers. 
 
   To decompress this file, create a temporary directory on your 
   hard drive, copy the downloaded file to that directory, and run 
   the file.  


NOTES

   A README file is included with the "<A HREF="ftp://ftp.ast.com/D-OTHER/DOSBOOT.EXE">DOSBOOT.EXE</A>" diskette.  
   It contains the instructions to create the diskette that contains 
   the real-mode device drivers.  The diskette is used to start the 
   computer with the real-mode device drivers.  

   To run a DOS-based program from the diskette, power OFF the 
   computer and place the diskette into the floppy drive. Restart 
   the computer and allow it to boot using the diskette.  The boot 
   process will load the real mode device drivers.  The drivers are
   loaded when the video monitor displays the "A:>".

   The DOS-based program can now be executed and it should be fully 
   functional, including full audio support.

   Please contact the vendor of the program if the program will not 
   run in Windows 95 or after using the diskette that contains the 
   real-mode device drivers.

   For additional information, see Software Bulletin # 0311 on AST's
   On-Line! services.


TAN 004930

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