Preface
The 16-bit program once written on Pwin32 has only compiled files but no original code. With otvdmw support, the program runs on Win10. The download address is https://download.csdn.net/download/weixin_45707491/16142411 . The program is less than 3MB. Just download and double-click to install. The Win3x era is still very nostalgic. CSTAR, WPS, various encodings, fonts, etc., are so lively. If there is an old program to be resurrected, you can use it; if you are developing a new program, don't develop it on 16-bit, and don't download it.
installation
After downloading, double-click OtvdmSetup.exe and it will be installed soon. You can check the program list after installation. There is an otvdmsetup program updated in February 2021 installed, 10MB after installation.
The directory after installation looks like this:
There are no special requirements for the installation location. After the installation is not pleasing to the eye, you can cut it and paste it elsewhere, but the directory name and file name are best to be 8 bytes long. Looking at the directory tree above, "Programs" was created and added by me, and the rest are native to the installer. In fact, the original Pwin32 C drive has been installed with Pwin32 and there will be a "WINDOWS" directory. After clicking, there is a System subdirectory below. I put some 16-bit programs in the Program, and I will look at the results of the operation for a while.
The above are the things I put in the Program. In order to test, I built their shortcuts in other places, because the shortcuts may be linked to other convenient places in the future.
Run the program
Take a look at the running effect of these 16-bit programs on Win10. First, double-click the ACROREAD.EXE shortcut, and the result is as follows. Under the Acrobat Reader window is the background of win10, which is no different from running a 64-bit program.
Open a pdf file and take a look, the display effect is okay.
Take a look at About Acrobat Reader. It is version 2.1. The copyright of things from 1987-1995 may have expired. At that time, Win95 may not have been on the market. Let's take a look at the Calendar that comes with Pwin32, which is also a double-click shortcut. Oh, it's so modern.
Look at "About the Calendar" again, wow, it's so antique, Microsoft is still copyrighting.
Look at several other Microsoft 16-bit programs ---> cardfile
Look at this Clock again
And this code table conversion program
Jump and take a look at PBRUSH, it is indeed the classic PBRUSH, and then enter a few Chinese characters. Yes, this 16-bit program can still be used on win10.
Try the card game of the year again, red, black, blue, and green again.
This mine-sweeping program was also a good company back then. I don’t know how many people will involuntarily make their memories go back after seeing it.
This is winfile, similar to Linux's thuna, but it looks thin. The Win3x of the year was indeed built on DOS, which is equivalent to xServer giving a light screen and X, then the main window Progman, inside the window is the program group, and inside it is winfile, printman, pifedit, notepad, pbrush, cardfile, etc. .
The last one is winver, which is from 1991. All of the above are protected by copyright, and I finally saw a time expired. I'm wondering, is Microsoft also protecting DOS? When will win3x, an old antique, be open source.
Suggest:
If the 16-bit program needs DLL and VBX or other library files, you can put them directly with the executable file. It is best to manage one program and one folder for easy management, and delete it when not in use. DOS programs have DOSBOX support, and 16-bit programs have otvdmw support. Someday there is also support for those that are not easy to use when running win10 on 32-bit in the early days, which may solve some historical problems. Let's stop here, don't try other similar programs.