Member Avatar for nazgand

dude theres a simple overide solution search the WINDOWS folder for AUTOEXEC.NT and copy it to C:\WINDOWS\System32 and voila!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Qbasic will work. Now if you want Qbasic 7.1 or a copy of AUTOEXEC.NT email me at :idea: :idea: <snip> :idea: :idea: :mrgreen:

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  • Latest Post Latest Post by Comatose

Dani AI

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Several people here found a quick, local fix that got QBasic running on XP; posted the original workaround and and flagged potential side effects. That approach can work on a 32‑bit XP install, but it touches the OS 16‑bit/DOS subsystem and can be fragile (serial I/O, startup behavior, and modern 64‑bit Windows support are common trouble spots).

Quick diagnostic checklist

  • If you get an "invalid startup" style error: extract the QBasic program to a simple local folder (for example C:\QBASIC), do not run it from inside a ZIP or a network share, and create a shortcut whose "Start in" is that folder. Run the shortcut as Administrator once to rule out permission problems.
  • If QBasic prints options then hangs or a program using a serial port times out: check Device Manager to confirm which COM port the OS assigned, ensure no other program holds the port, and test the port with a terminal app (HyperTerminal/PuTTY) before blaming QBasic.
  • Always keep a backup of any system configuration file before changing system folders.

Practical alternatives and how to use them

  • For the most predictable results, run QBasic under DOSBox (works on 32/64‑bit Windows and modern systems). Example DOSBox session:

    mount C C:\QBASIC
C:
QBASIC.EXE

  • If you need serial access via an emulator, DOSBox supports mapping host serial ports; otherwise consider modern QBasic successors (QB64 or FreeBASIC) which run natively and avoid 16‑bit/sysfile issues.

If you want help diagnosing a specific failure reported here (for example the serial timeout saw or the startup error mentioned), include the exact OS build (32 vs 64 bit), how QBasic was launched, and whether a USB‑serial adapter is involved.

Recommended Answers

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Member Avatar for divminds

What if a program required to run? Would you then have to change the path in the new program to System32? The Autoexec.nt is a system file and should be kept where it is MrWhy has a safe idea of modifying Autoexec.nt check his threads out.

Member Avatar for Buff

What if a program required to run? Would you then have to change the path in the new program to System32? The Autoexec.nt is a system file and should be kept where it is MrWhy has a safe idea of modifying Autoexec.nt check his threads out.

The way I read it, he is not deleting the file from the original location, just
adding it to the system32 subfolder/directory so I wouldn't think there would be a problem with other programs.

Member Avatar for divminds

ooo i c i c ... I've tried it and it does seem to work! Any known bugs?

Member Avatar for nazgand

No bugs so far usualy if it doesnt work its just because they did it wrong :!:
Now does anyone want Qbasic 7.1 :?: :?: :?: :?:

Member Avatar for nazgand

download Qbasic 7.1 at

Member Avatar for nazgand

download Qbasic 7.1 at

sorry it didnt work

Member Avatar for Herve

This version tells all available options then hang on.
The only solution is ctrl-alt-del.
What's going wrong ?

Member Avatar for nazgand

did you put into system32?
could you explain the error so i can figure it out?

Member Avatar for Herve

did you put into system32?

No. What is this ?

could you explain the error so i can figure it out?

ON ERROR GOSUB errhdl
ON COM(1) GOSUB comint
COM(1) ON
OPEN "COM1:4800,N18,1,BIN" FOR RANDOM AS #1

=> error code 24 = timeout
Th same program runs fine with Win 98

Member Avatar for Andromedanb14

Ok ive downloaded qbasic from geocites and when i run it i get an error message that says "invalid startup directory"

any help?

Member Avatar for Comatose

You should post in a new thread, and not bump old threads.

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