16-bit CAM software in Windows 8 64-bit \ VOGONS

16-bit CAM software in Windows 8 64-bit

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First post, by gallaghersej

Posted on 2014-10-27, 20:24

gallaghersej Offline

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Hey guys, I'm new the board and honestly not the best when it comes to programming or code work, so I need some help.

My family owns a metal fabrication shop in Connecticut with an older Strippit XP1000 turret punch in which we use the program ProFab Elite to convert our CAD .dxf files into the necessary G-code to run the machine. We updated our old old crap box running windows 98 (yeah, i know) to a new workstation. I have everything working fine on there with the ability to send old files to the machine, with one big hiccup...

When i use ProFab, a 32-bit program, everything works fine except for when the program writes the actual code, it sources a smaller 16-bit application to actually write the G-code text file. In my researching I've found that this cannot be done in a 64-bit system and to try to run the application through something like DOSBox or vDos, but I have no idea where to begin.

Can you guys think of a way to tell ProFab to run DOSBox or vDos only for that moment to write the code work? Or am i at the point where we need to just bite the bullet and upgrade to something newer? I cringe at the thought of training our guys on a new software package and being able to load our hundreds of tools into the program.

Thanks,

Sean

Reply 1 of 6, by keropi

Posted on 2014-10-27, 21:19

keropi Offline

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You'll get the answer that DOSBox is not for applications, it is made to run games.
Why don't you install a 32-bit OS so that your 16bit app can run and call it a day. Heck , you can even setup a XP machine just to do that conversion ... or use a virtual box with a suitable OS

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Reply 2 of 6, by gallaghersej

Posted on 2014-10-27, 21:42

gallaghersej Offline

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Thanks for the reply keropi. I had considered that and after all this trouble it may have been easier to do from the beginning. It's okay to install a 32-bit OS in a computer set up for 64?

Reply 3 of 6, by keropi

Posted on 2014-10-27, 23:20

keropi Offline

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define what you mean by "set up for 64" , the only problems I see is if you have more than 4GB of ram (it will work but you won't get to use anything above 4GB) and if you have a device that only has a 64bit driver (unlike).
Just make sure that your software works on a modern 32bit environment (maybe try with win7/x86) and re-install an OS that works

🎵 🎧 ⏳ ⚡ MK1869, PCMIDI MPU , OrpheusII , Action Rewind , Megacard and 🎶GoldLib soundcard website

Reply 4 of 6, by gallaghersej

Posted on 2014-10-29, 20:23

gallaghersej Offline

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We've had it working on other computers at the shop that have run 32-bit windows XP and Vista. We may just need to take the ram hit and downgrade to Windows 8 32-bit. We primarily do 2-dimensional drawings for our turret punch, and AutoCAD isn't terrible to run with only 4gb of ram.

Thanks again for the help.

Reply 5 of 6, by idspispopd

Posted on 2014-10-30, 05:39

idspispopd Offline

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Perhaps there is some unofficial patch for 32-bit Windows 8 to use more than 4GB of RAM (in reality about 3.25GB), like the ones for Vista and Windows 7? Or just use 7 with the patch.

Reply 6 of 6, by filipetolhuizen

Posted on 2014-11-17, 20:58

filipetolhuizen Offline

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The updated patch works with Windows 8.

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