# Transfer/open a Program from DOS to Windows XP
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/transfer-open-a-program-from-dos-to-windows-xp/436835
**Category:** Factual Questions
**Created:** [February 8, 2008, 7:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/transfer-open-a-program-from-dos-to-windows-xp/436835 "2008-02-08T19:20:26Z")
**Posts on this page:** 6
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@phungi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/phungi)
#### Post date: [February 8, 2008, 7:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/transfer-open-a-program-from-dos-to-windows-xp/436835/1 "2008-02-08T19:20:26Z")
I am a Mac guy with little historical perspective on DOS/Windows, so I am calling out to the tech-minded for advice:
I have a friend who has an old DOS program that scores a test.
Basically, you input about 40 scores by hand and it generates a whole bunch of summary scores.
There is a lot of logic and it can’t be easily hand-programmed in Excel.
Is there a program that allows one to:
A) Convert a DOS program to an .EXE that runs in newer versions of Windows?
b) Emulate DOS in newer versions of Windows?
---
### Author:  [@gotpasswords](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gotpasswords)
#### Post date: [February 8, 2008, 7:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/transfer-open-a-program-from-dos-to-windows-xp/436835/2 "2008-02-08T19:27:06Z")
Have a look at [DOSBox](http://www.dosbox.com/wiki/Main_Page) - it runs on XP or Vista, but emulates DOS. Its primary purpose in life is to emulate DOS for old games, so it’s possibly going to have problems with non-gaming activities like printing and getting onto a network.
---
### Author:  [@ZenBeam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZenBeam)
#### Post date: [February 8, 2008, 7:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/transfer-open-a-program-from-dos-to-windows-xp/436835/3 "2008-02-08T19:53:39Z")
Has he _tried_ running it from a command prompt? If this is just a command line program (non-GUI), it will (probably) work. Even some graphical programs will work. Failing that, find the program executable’s icon in explorer, right-click on it, select properties, go to the Compatibility tab, and try some of those options. If those fail, then go and get DOSBox, like **gotpasswords** suggested.
---
### Author:  [@Terminus\_Est](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Terminus_Est)
#### Post date: [February 8, 2008, 7:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/transfer-open-a-program-from-dos-to-windows-xp/436835/4 "2008-02-08T19:53:52Z")
Every version of Windows has come with a command-line shell that runs DOS programs. If you’re not doing anything fancy with sound and graphics, this should be sufficient for your needs.
ETA: How to get to a command line in Windows: [MHuffman.com is for sale | HugeDomains](http://www.mhuffman.com/notes/dos/cmdline.html)
---
### Author:  [@gazpacho](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gazpacho)
#### Post date: [February 8, 2008, 8:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/transfer-open-a-program-from-dos-to-windows-xp/436835/5 "2008-02-08T20:22:51Z")
Keep in mind that on XP there are two command prompts. cmd and command. I would try cmd first and the command if cmd does not work.
Start-\>run type cmd in the box labled open. Or type command.
---
### Author:  [@whitetho](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/whitetho)
#### Post date: [February 8, 2008, 8:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/transfer-open-a-program-from-dos-to-windows-xp/436835/6 "2008-02-08T20:40:00Z")
[QUOTE=phungi]
A) Convert a DOS program to an .EXE that runs in newer versions of Windows?
b) Emulate DOS in newer versions of Windows?
[/QUOTE]
Based on your description it’s a little confusing exactly what type of program this is. If the name ends with .COM or .EXE you may just be able to copy the file to the new computer and just click on the icon directly, without using the command prompt. However, printing may be a problem.