First post, by dbd400@gmail.com
A DOSBOX application: "Bobby Fischer Teaches Chess", fails to run over the internet on a ordinary PC provided by the local Elementary School. Insofar as I can tell, the OS appears to be Windows 8.1. The same web site runs successfully from both my home computer under Windows 7, and my friend's computer under Windows 8.1.
At the school, there is no evidence of the DOSBOX initialization which does appear on both of the machines where it runs successfully. The web page appears, and alternates between a menu with "Main Menu", and a Stone Gray background. Superimposed upon the Main Menu is a bullseye with the legend "Click here to begin." Each display holds there for several seconds before being replaced by the other one. Upon clicking on the bullseye (or anywhere) initialization begins, and a sequence of displays, initially bearing the legend "DOSBOX" becomes visible, but only upon the non-school machines.
Since the initial web pages are allowed, I had assumed that there was no problem at the school with blocking access to specified web pages or sites, although I do know that since pages can invoke other pages, one might be able to reach the start of a Portal, but not interior pages. Yet I think that unlikely. It is more likely that some characteristic of how DOSBOX runs is causing a crash of the background processes without taking down the front end.
I have volunteered to mentor the Chess Club at this school and would like to show the children some of the material at that web site. I also am a retired developer with 53+ years of experience, including many machines from mainframes to micros and languages from assembler to Ruby. DOSBOX is new to me. Before contacting the technical staff at the County, I am trying to understand whether there is some characteristic of the way DOSBOX runs or ties in to web pages which might explain the behavior. Yes, I am already considering whether it may be simple as some list which the web page is not on, but I already reach the page. Eventually I must reach the County technical staff, but thought I would start with DOSBOX first.
Many Thanks for your help.