How do you get Gwbasic to work on a Win95 PC? We have a programmer who's old machine was running it, but on his new PC (both were Win95) we get the message YOU CANNOT SHELL TO BASIC (even if we reboot to MSDOS mode). Please help its most urgent!

Just a hunch, but you are probably just missing one or more of the GWBASIC support files. As I recall, GWBASIC needs the MS-DOS editor (EDIT.EXE ??). Possibly others.

Copy gwbasic to a floppy disk. Reboot and let the floppy drive be the boot drive. gwbasic should load..

The support files thing is a possibility but unlikely, GWBASIC worked on his previous PC running the same version of 95 as the new one and all the files for GW were kept in a single directory which was copied from one machine to the other. We definately can't boot to a floppy we need to be running Win95 on the machine as we did before. That's what stumps me the only difference in his old and new PC seems to be hardware (ie newer, faster PC). But then I've also tried running it on another PC and it didn't work there either. I figure there must be some trick to it since his old PC would indicate it definately can be done. I'm just at a loss to find it. Any more ideas?

You may need to create a PIF for gwbasic or copy the pif from the old pc. gwbasic runs in dos....mine does.

Copied the PIF from the old PC already, that didn't work... could it possibly be machine dependant somehow?

Just tested mine. It runs by clicking on it in exployer, but it has problems. I hadn't run it since i put in a new motherbord.It worked fine with the old board. There's a problem with the video in some BAS programs and in some you have to press "F5" (CONT.) _after_ the program starts.

Just guessing i think it's the video mode. I'm running in mode 8 and don't know how to change it. GWBASIC probably runs in mode 3.....i think?!

be sure you have gwbasic.exe copied to your new computer. You must run GWBASIC.EXE-- THEN THE BASIC PROGRAM YOU WANT TO RUN
SUCH AS.
1 copy gwbasic.exe to the directory where your gwbasic program is located
2 from dos prompt type in
gwbasic.exe {name.bas} IF IT don't run, then try
gwbasic.exe {name.bas} /F:5 /S:256
this will run most any gwbasic program.

To run it from windows - create a shortcut from the desktop to
\(directory)\gwbasic {name.bas} /F:5 /S:256

I'm having a problem running GWBasic on a compaq 95 machine. I can get it to run on both my desktop and laptop, but just cant seem to get around the "cant shell to basic" error. I have tried all of the tricks you have suggested above.

Has anyone ever run into a problem with an Override message coming up on a Win95 PC running GWBasic? We have a computer we have upgraded and crashes every once in a while. Thanks

I'm having a problem running GWBasic on a compaq 95 machine(just new machines).Message: "cant shell to basic" error.
Please, please
I need help it.

I would like to install gwbasic on my computer, can anyone tell me where i can find it for free to download? I would really like it. Thx :o)

Folks: I can run a gwbasic program from
Windows95 by clicking on it from explorer;
but the LPRINT's and the PRINT's don't work.
How can I get this output to print from
Windows95?
thanks: MR

my gwbasic runs ok, but it WAY too fast. is there any way to solve this problem???

On Win95 or 98 machine, do NOT re-boot in DOS, just go to an MS-DOS PROMPT while you're in windows. That is in your "program" list or you may even have an icon for "MS-DOS Prompt" on your desktop screen. Now you may use any of your old DOS commands such as CD, MD, COPY, etc. Then, make sure your copy of GWBASIC.EXE is either in a directory that is in your path, or make a new directory named whatever. Before you make a directory, CD .. to get to the main C:\> prompt, then MD new-directory-name. Then COPY your GWBASIC to that directory. Now, while you're "in" that directory, just type GWBASIC to run it. Then you can create new programs (filename.BAS) or copy your basic programs and files into that directory and...
type GWBASIC. After it comes up, use a GWBASIC manual (I got mine at a charity's "thrift" store for a quarter) to really learn how to run stuff. If you don't know common DOS commands you can probably find a DOS manual, too. GWBASIC works fine under a DOS PROMPT in Win95 and 98. I don't know about Win2000. By the way, GWBASIC will print (LPRINT command) only to your default printer and only if your default printer is LPT1. If your default printer is not LPT1, then use windows's facilities to change your printers logical name to "LPT1" and GWBASIC should start printing to it. When you're thru with GWBASIC, type "SYSTEM" to get out of GWBASIC (back to DOS prompt). Then either type "exit" or mouse-click on close (X) in upper corner to get back to regular windows. By the way, you can download GWBASIC for free at:
http://members.tripod.com/qbds/qbds1.htm
It will be zipped, so you must unzip it before you try to use it. I hope this info helps somebody.

My problem is that GWBASIC runs incredibly fast on my computer, and I can't play GOBBLE. :( I was wondering if anyone knew how to run a GWBASIC program is slow-motion or something.
Trevor

HELP!
as of March 2000? My files will NOT accept changes and save" (in a DOS system)??
Anyone have an answer .......??
Thanx.

I found some slowdown programs at zophar.net in computer utilities section...

I have some applications in GWBASIC and I want to update and convert them to C++. I have misplaced my programmer manuals, and I want to do the following:

1. renumber the program lines;
2. perform some graphics, i.e. circles, lines, squares

I'm using

GW-BASIC 3.22
(C) Copyright Microsoft 1983,1984,1985,1986,1987
60300 Bytes free

Can you help me?

QBASIC requires EDIT, not GW-BASIC. GW-BASIC was originally distributed by Epson computers.

Chad if you are out there. Did you ever resolve your problem with GWBASIC and Win95?
I have the same problem and have tried everything mentioned here to no avail.
On older machines and newer machines GWBASIC runs fine with Win95 but with my Pentium II 266 I just cannot get GWBASIC to run unless I boot on a DOS floppy. But I want to run program from Windows.

I had a compaq laptop that wouldn't load GWBASIC

there is a simple patch file that if loaded before GWBASIC is loaded called fix50f.com
that enables GWBASIC to work (Don't ask me why!)

More details are given on the website below:
http://www.compaq.com.pl/support/files/desktops/fr/software/185.html

It is in French though. I assume it can be tracked down via the COMPAQ website.

Re. last note: I found an English version!

I had a compaq laptop that wouldn't load GWBASIC

there is a simple patch file that if loaded before GWBASIC is loaded called fix50f.com
that enables GWBASIC to work (Don't ask me why!)

It can be downloaded on the website below:

http://www.compaq.com/support/files/desktops/US/software/185.html

The website refers to QBASIC but it also worjks for GWBASIC

PLEASE INSTALL THE GW BASIC IN MY COMPUTER

I'm trying to print to my USB connected printer using Windows 98se. I don't know how to change the logical name of my printer. It seems like doing something to change my USB printer to LPT1 would send the info to the wrong port. Can someone help with this problem?

THANKS for the FIX50F.COM tip! It fixed the problem on a new Compaq PC I was working with.

Again, many thanks.

I have had no problems running GWBasic from win98. You have too old of a version. My problem was tring to figure out how to exit and that questio nwas answered. a big thanks!

Help.
Looking for GW Basic to install on my Pc.
Got an excellent horse betting program to win money but takes me hours on a calculator.
regards
Andy

Several Questions were asked.

1)How do you get Gwbasic to work on a Win95 PC? We have a programmer who's old machine was running it, but on his new PC (both were Win95) we get the message YOU CANNOT SHELL TO BASIC (even if we reboot to MSDOS mode). Please help its most urgent!

2) I'm having a problem running GWBasic on a compaq 95 machine. I can get it to run on both my desktop and laptop, but just cant seem to get around the "cant shell to basic" error. I have tried all of the tricks you have suggested above.

These are problems with a corrupted files that Win 95 uses to shell to DOS or Shell to do to run GWBASIC.

What Version of WIN 95 do you have?
What Version of GWBASIC do you have?

My Win 95 Version is 4.00.950a
My GWBASIC Version is 3.3

Depending on which version of WIN 95 you have, the drivers were different for eailer versions and the eailer versions of WIN 95 drivers, that shell to DOS, may not be able to shell to DOS with older programs like GWBASIC.

I had a problem at first my GWBASIC would not run with WIN 95. I was geting a DOS 7.0 would not run with the version of GWBASIC I had. Went to Version 3.3 and it has run fine with no problems.

I did have version 5.0 and had problems with GWBASIC.

There are 3 ways to slow down faster machines when runing old programs.

I have a 500 MHZ machine and it runs old programs to fast to use. Here are three ways to slow down programs.

1) Get a utility that slows down the machine. Several shareware programs were SLOWDOWN or AT-SLOW.

2) Add program lines into the GWBASIC program to slow down the movement. Add lines that waste time or add pauses on the screen when displaying graphics. Use a for next loop to waste time between when graphics is drawn on the screen.

3) Some newer machines have a key combination that is built into the newer machines that allows you to press three keys at the same time to speed or slow down the machine when runing old programs. My Computer does it. Try pressing the CTRL + ALT + the MINUS key on the key pad while runing a GWBASIC program. If you have it you should see the program slow down a little.

I have it on my machine. I do not own a Brand name computer I bought my Computer in Parts and installed everything my self. I bought a Bare bones system that had a Case and Power supply and CPU chip and then installed everything else my self.

Greg Simmons

After trying unsuccessful to run a gwbasic program on an old 486, using all the above solutions (and a few more), we thought the fix from Compaq was our answer. Alas it worked initially but not after we rebooted the machine. However, we stumbled across an answer for that particular machine. If a floppy disk (any disk) is left in the drive at bootup, removed when system requests, the machine boots to Win 95 and gwbasic programs run perfectly!! Very strange but if it works, who's complaining!!