Yes, install it fresh in dosbox.
You can also try to mount an entirely different folder as c, the mount e f:/dosstuff and start the program this way.
Also use the search, paradox has recently came up.

don't use dosbox for your applications.

there are no file locking abilities (lock/unlock that file), while i have code to that works, it won't add it as that would make dosbox even more popular for applications.
You may wonder why, but the reason is simple. DOSBox is designed for games, especially on the data protection and accuracy part. So you should really use something different.

Since you have Win7 Pro, try it in XP Mode.

Thank you for your suggestions. As far as reinstalling it -- that's not possible because I can't read the installation floppies on my new computer (no floppy drive) even if I could find them.
I agree that it is perhaps dangerous to use dosbox for an application -- but I want to at least be able to export the data from my Paradox DB files. I had a file backup on an external drive, but I can't run Paradox on my old computer to export the data, since it's out of commission.
XP mode doesn't help.
I tried making the dosStuff directory a shared directory in Windows. That didn't help. Paradox must be getting a user name somewhere when I start it in dosbox, and it must be checking permissions for the user. But I have no idea where/how it is doing that.

If your old PC was an XP box, there should be no difference between the NTVDM it had and that of the XP Mode VM. You might also search to see if there is some sort of utility that will let you import database, or perhaps a Win32 version of Paradox can import it.

I still don't understand that why you need DOSBox to export the data from your Paradox database. Forget about DOSBox because there are other alternatives. Pretty much almost ever version of Microsoft Access can import dBase, FoxPro and Paradox databases. Heck I think Lotus 1-2-3 ones too. It should be supported all the way up to Office 2007. In LibreOffice Base it's very difficult to do that, but you can throw any CSV at it. So yeah export from Access to a CSV and import that in LibreOffice Base, then delete Microsoft Office if you are not buying it. You can install Office in a virtual machine and when you are done just delete the VM.

Can't believe that you guys still need DOSBox for something that you can do this since 1992 and Access 1.x. Pretty sure you have an old version of Office laying around. If that's the case USE it. If not, I'm pretty sure you will find a computer that has it installed so you can do this simple task. All it takes is just a few clicks and a few minutes. Again, please don't use DOSBox for non-gaming related applications. 🙁

Here's a tiny guide: http://www.functionx.com/access2007/Lesson05.htm

Microsoft Access and Other Documents […]
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Microsoft Access and Other Documents

Introduction

There are unlimited types of files you can import in a Microsoft Access database, including files created from known Microsoft Office applications and files from any other type of application, as long as the document has been prepared appropriately.

To import a dBase table, a Paradox table, or a Lotus 1-2-3 spreadsheet, in the Import section of the External Data tab of the Ribbon, click More and click the type of file you want to import:

db_import.gif

Depending on the type of file, a wizard would come up and guide you.