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From: buddington-paul@cs.yale.edu (Paul Buddington)
Newsgroups: comp.os.msdos.apps
Subject: Re: Multi and background processing on a 286
Message-ID: <30052@cs.yale.edu>
Date: 14 Apr 91 21:01:26 GMT
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In article <1280@duteca.UUCP> cornet@duteca.et.tudelft.nl "Jan-Pieter Cornet" writes:
>
>Considering to purchase MS-Windows, I asked various colleagues if I will be
>able to do background processing and/or multiprocessing using MS-Windows on
>my IBM AT compatible with an 80286 processor. They all had 386 machines or
>better and invariably said that it wasn't possible using Windows.
>
>Now I know that this is possible, as proven by UNIX-variants like XENIX and
>MINIX which work reasonably well on 80286 machines.

I'm not sure if it's possible - you're comparing XENIX and MINIX to MS-DOS,
which is a VERY unfair comparison.  Programs written for DOS are (in general)
much more hardware-dependant.

>Could anyone help me out on this, and, if possible, state a produkt which IS
>capable of turning the 80286 into a multitasking DOS-based machine?

You're problem here is that you're looking to multitask DOS programs.  The
best way to do this is to buy a 386 - I don't even know if it's possible with
a 286.  The basic problem is that the only way to prevent programs from
"breaking the rules" in a multitasking environment is to run in protected
mode.  However, DOS only runs in real mode, so you must switch back into real
mode to use any DOS functions.  Unfortunately, the 286 is somewhat
brain-damaged and its protected mode is clumsy.  It is difficult and slow to
switch back into real mode, and this makes multitasking very tricky.

-- 
========================================================================
Paul Buddington                                          Yale University
Buddington-Paul@CS.Yale.Edu or YaleCS.bitnet 
QuickMail: Paul_Buddington.CIS@YCCATSMTP.YCC.Yale.Edu