Hi! I want to have a downloaded version of the Win32SDK on my computers so I don't have to go online to look things up. I think I still have one from a long time ago, but it uses an obsolete help viewer. I want to be able to refer to it on a Win11/64 laptop. I also want to quickly be able to create programs for Win16. Can anybody here provide some recommendations?

On Wed, 5 Jul 2023 04:46:38 -0700 (PDT), Harry Potter wrote:
> Hi! I want to have a downloaded version of the Win32SDK on my computers
> so I don't have to go online to look things up. I think I still have one
> from a long time ago, but it uses an obsolete help viewer. I want to be
> able to refer to it on a Win11/64 laptop. I also want to quickly be able
> to create programs for Win16. Can anybody here provide some
> recommendations?

Check archive.org

On 2023-07-05, Harry Potter <rose.joseph12@yahoo.com> wrote:

[Added line breaks - please limit your lines to 72 chars. or less]

> Hi! I want to have a downloaded version of the Win32SDK on my
> computers so I don't have to go online to look things up. I think
> I still have one from a long time ago, but it uses an obsolete help
> viewer. I want to be able to refer to it on a Win11/64 laptop.
> I also want to quickly be able to create programs for Win16.
> Can anybody here provide some recommendations?

You might still be able to find a copy of Borland C++ Builder
version 5.5 floating around out there. They released it (minus
the IDE) for free some time ago. I'm still using it for my Win32
stuff. I have the help files as well; I can't remember whether
they came with BCB55, or whether they're left over from the BCB4
I originally started out with.

I still have a copy of Turbo C++ 4.0 that I use for Win16 stuff.

--
/~\ Charlie Gibbs | You can't save the earth
\ / <cgibbs@kltpzyxm.invalid> | unless you're willing to
X I'm really at ac.dekanfrus | make other people sacrifice.
/ \ if you read it the right way. | -- Dogbert the green consultant

I thank you for your advice. I believe I have Borland (or Turbo?) 3.0, and it supports Win16. I just need to know the differences between Win16 and Win32 and a reference to the Win32 C API. I could use a reference for Standard C functions for some projects, including a text compressor for old 8-bit computers. When I'm done with the compressor, I can port it to 16- and 32-bit systems if anyone here desires.

Harry Potter wrote:

> Hi! I want to have a downloaded version of the Win32SDK on my computers
> so I don't have to go online to look things up. I think I still have
> one from a long time ago, but it uses an obsolete help viewer. I want
> to be able to refer to it on a Win11/64 laptop. I also want to quickly
> be able to create programs for Win16. Can anybody here provide some
> recommendations?

This page walks you through installing WinHelp on Windows 10 and 11 (watch
the word wrap):

https://www.winhelponline.com/blog/view-winhelp-hlp-files-windows-10-with-
winhlp32-exe/

I *think* OpenWatcom might still support Win16 as a development target. I'm
not sure, but it wouldn't surprise me:

http://openwatcom.org/

If not, well, WinWorldPC has a bunch of Win16 devtools, but they won't run
under Win64 without 3rd-party apps. (I use WineVDM.) WinWorldPC also has
several 16- and 32-bit SDK versions.

Also check archive.org, as JJ suggested.

Personally, I have installs of 16- and 32-bit Windows (3.11, WinfWG 3.11,
NT3, 95, 98, 2000, XP) under emulation and just use them instead. If your
laptop is powerful enough (and it probably is), I suggest installing Win95
or 98 in a VM and using that for your 16-bit development.

(Backporting from 32/64 bits to 16 bits can sometimes be... difficult. I
abandoned an attempt to do so around 10-15 years ago because I would have
had to write my own versions of some 32-bit APIs that don't exist under
Win16, and it wasn't worth it for a one-off port.)

--
Nothing in this text should be construed as a hamster.

On Thursday, July 6, 2023 at 2:10:04 PM UTC-4, Auric__ wrote:
> This page walks you through installing WinHelp on Windows 10 and 11 (watch
> the word wrap):
>
> https://www.winhelponline.com/blog/view-winhelp-hlp-files-windows-10-with-
> winhlp32-exe/
>
Thank you. Is there a way for me to just get the help viewer?

> I *think* OpenWatcom might still support Win16 as a development target. I'm
> not sure, but it wouldn't surprise me:
>
> http://openwatcom.org/
>
The last time I updated OW, the Win16 target was supported. I have a WIn16 setup on DOSBox but not Win98 on DOSBox-X. I should work on the latter. :)

> If not, well, WinWorldPC has a bunch of Win16 devtools, but they won't run
> under Win64 without 3rd-party apps. (I use WineVDM.) WinWorldPC also has
> several 16- and 32-bit SDK versions.
>
I actually use and like WinWorldPC. WHich tag do I use to get development tools?

> Also check archive.org, as JJ suggested.
>
> Personally, I have installs of 16- and 32-bit Windows (3.11, WinfWG 3.11,
> NT3, 95, 98, 2000, XP) under emulation and just use them instead. If your
> laptop is powerful enough (and it probably is), I suggest installing Win95
> or 98 in a VM and using that for your 16-bit development.
>
I have a real Win98SE computer at my mother's house. I used to have a DOS laptop with a Win3.1 install, but that laptop is missing. :(

> (Backporting from 32/64 bits to 16 bits can sometimes be... difficult. I
> abandoned an attempt to do so around 10-15 years ago because I would have
> had to write my own versions of some 32-bit APIs that don't exist under
> Win16, and it wasn't worth it for a one-off port.)
>
Well, I just want to port simple tools that could work on Win16 but not right now.

Harry Potter wrote:

> On Thursday, July 6, 2023 at 2:10:04 PM UTC-4, Auric__ wrote:
>> This page walks you through installing WinHelp on Windows 10 and 11
>> (watch the word wrap):
>>
>> https://www.winhelponline.com/blog/view-winhelp-hlp-files-windows-10-wit
>> h-winhlp32-exe/
>>
> Thank you. Is there a way for me to just get the help viewer?

I'm sure there is, but I wouldn't trust anything that doesn't actually come
from Microsoft. Follow the site's instructions, it's not hard.

>> If not, well, WinWorldPC has a bunch of Win16 devtools, but they won't
>> run under Win64 without 3rd-party apps. (I use WineVDM.) WinWorldPC
>> also has several 16- and 32-bit SDK versions.
>>
> I actually use and like WinWorldPC. WHich tag do I use to get
> development tools?

Library -> DevTool, then at the bottom Platforms... -> Windows. You'll need
to look through the results because you can't filter specifically for Win16.

>> Personally, I have installs of 16- and 32-bit Windows (3.11, WinfWG
>> 3.11, NT3, 95, 98, 2000, XP) under emulation and just use them instead.
>> If your laptop is powerful enough (and it probably is), I suggest
>> installing Win95 or 98 in a VM and using that for your 16-bit
>> development.
>>
> I have a real Win98SE computer at my mother's house. I used to have a
> DOS laptop with a Win3.1 install, but that laptop is missing. :(

You should be able to get a 9x-capable machine for US$50-100 on ebay.
Literally anything will do as long as it works.

--
Conversation is not only the vehicle of thought,
it is a tremendous and efficient instrument in thinking.

I just downloaded the indicated file and extracted the particular content specified. However, the instructions say to type in "md d:\test" in Command Prompt I have a D: drive, and it's a flash drive. Can I still type in the instruction and the following instruction?

Harry Potter wrote:

> I just downloaded the indicated file and extracted the particular
> content specified. However, the instructions say to type in "md
> d:\test" in Command Prompt I have a D: drive, and it's a flash drive.
> Can I still type in the instruction and the following instruction?

Try it and find out. (Yes.)

--
I hate to break it to you, but if you're counting on the trees and
rocks for help, you're gonna be a pile of radioactive disappointment.