Thanks ripsaw8080: The settings above work as you suggest. The preplot program runs very fast (core=dynamic, cycles=max ) with no perceptible difference from windows xp dos. The tecplot with core=auto, cycles=auto works acceptably fast albeit slower than windows xp dos.
I have not yet investigated the keyboard issue that presents on the HP laptop. However, I have now repaired my dell laptop (inspiron 64000) and the "=" is accepted on this keyboard.
The DOSBOX has some clear advantages over the windows xp dos that I can use again on my dell laptop. Windows xp dos has these limitations: Before I can run tecplot in windows xp dos, I have to change the screen resolution from 1680x1050 to 1024x768 plus I have to disable the screen saver (otherwise I get the mortal blue windows screen error message while running tecplot, and I have to reboot). Then I can run tecplot smoothly but only in full screen. To change tasks, I have to get out of tecplot though its own command a via few extra keystrokes and then I can return to it. Importantly, I could fluke only one graphics card with 256 colours from the list of graphics cards available in setuptec.exe, otherwise I would not have been able to run tecplot at all, as it happened with the other newer laptop while my dell was in disrepair.
All of the above problems are eliminated with DOSBOX being portable across computers.
CONCLUSION: Dosbox works well with this application, so it can go beyond games. All it needs is some refinement with some lesser issues like to make the keyboard "portable" too, in the sense to devise a set of easy instructions to apply from computer to computer.
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SUPPLEMENT to my previous entry above: I have tried to do a little work with dosbox following all the initial success. However, I run out of memory ("have run out of workspace" error) when I triangulate a large *.tec file from within tecplot. While there is not yet a problem when I import a ready made *.plt file, even a large one, it seems that the triangulation process does require more memory over and above the upper limit of 63 MB. Triangulation works for smaller files but fails for larger ones.
Any hope to somehow make DOSBOX allow this application to run within the ceiling of memsize=64, since windows xp dos already makes this possible on my dell inspiron 6400? BTW, a similar problem happens also with windows xp dos but only with much bigger file size. The difference being only quantitative between the two systems, hopefully there is a way for DOSBOX to improve.
ddan017 has offered to do some work on it if some help is initiated from the fathers and/or experts of dosbox. (ddan017 should also be thanked for starting this discussion and offering to help).
Thank you all very much. 😀