No more incompatability.

• Author: Bradley, Susan
• Position: Practical Technology - Operating system software

My client uses the native Windows 98 backup program to back up his files. I'm running the latest Microsoft operating system, Windows XP Professional, on my desktop. The built-in backup program on Windows XP is not compatible with my client's Windows 98 backup program. So, how can I continue to support my Windows 98 clients? I could keep an old Windows 98 machine around the office, but it certainly does not run as fast as my new desktop. A better solution is emulators and virtual machines.

I use a program called VMware to load a fully functioning copy of Windows 98 inside my Windows XP software. When the program is loaded it finds CD-ROMs and floppy drives as well as USB, parallel and serial ports. This way I can attach to the client's zip drive, restore a file and place it back on the zip drive to use the data on a Windows XP workstation.

CLIENT DEMOS

VMware, www.vmware.com, also is a valuable tool for software demonstration. Want to try out an operating system without dual booting a workstation? I have used VMware to place a copy of Small Business Server 2000 inside a Windows XP laptop. It will support DOS, Win 95, Win98, Windows ME, Windows 2000 and Windows XP inside a Windows operating system. You even can load Linux.

At home, I have installed Linux on my Windows XP computer, and it "borrows" the Internet connection of the Windows XP unit, allowing me to have a fully functioning Linux residing inside my Windows XP computer.

Virtual PC, www.connectix.com, is similar. It allows you to easily load multiple operating systems on the same workstation without having a dual or multi-boot setup. This allows you to load a workstation with your clients' operating systems so that you actually can see their screens as opposed to visualizing them from within your operating system. If you've ever tried to describe the location of certain control panel feature on any Windows platform over the phone, you know that seeing the actual screen that your client sees is extremely helpful.

WINDOWS ON LINUX

Other tools have similar features. WINE, www.winehq.com, is a Windows compatibility layer that will allow Windows programs to run on Linux computers. If you are moving from Windows to Linux, as are about 90 percent of all Linux users, you must find suitable Linux software to run on your computer. While the standard Office suite has a Linux version in Star Office, your other business applications may be harder to replace.

WINE fills these holes by letting you...