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Author Topic: Does anyone know how to SIMPLY get 16-bit fractint DOS to go on Windows 7?  (Read 19755 times)
Description: HHHHELLLLLLLPP!!!!!!!! (I've fallen and I can't get up!)
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simon.snake
Fractal Bachius
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Posts: 640


Experienced Fractal eXtreme plugin crasher!


simon.fez SimonSideBurns
« Reply #15 on: March 12, 2012, 07:15:47 PM »

Hi Stardust

I agree with you that compiling the FractInt source into a 32-bit or 64-bit executable would make the thing fly, but unfortunately, looking at the source code, much of it was written in assembly code, and much of it was built around a 16-bit architecture.

Now, if someone had the time and could take the source and rewrite it to 32-bit or 64-bit architecture, not only would it take quite a long time and effort, you'd be stepping on a minefield.  Would you make it more of a windows application, or would you keep all the dos text screens and keyboard shortcuts?  Would you give it additional mouse support.

There is already a faster development version of FractInt which has been 'released to the public' in this forum, but it has many issues.  I would expect it to be quite a bit better once all the issues are ironed out.  Best of all, it runs in Windows 7 (64-bit) natively and is therefore much faster.  I would have thought it would be faster still if compiled to the 64-bit platform.

Many things to give thought to.  Probably many people would find it a whole lot easier to write some new software from scratch, or maybe it would be possible to help the current developer iron out the issues.

Simon
« Last Edit: March 12, 2012, 07:20:59 PM by simon.snake » Logged

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fracmonk
Fractal Fertilizer
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Posts: 356


« Reply #16 on: March 12, 2012, 07:23:34 PM »

Simon,   I tried the TEXTSAFE options on the command line, but in every instance, it returned the message: Oops.  I couldn't understand the argument: textsafe=<whatever>,   which usually is its objection to improper syntax.  So, my post 7 still applies.

(It's really O.K....)!

stardust4ever,  most of us have by now come to the same conclusions.  I use Fractint by force of habit, and I understand that some of its programming has to be done from scratch to recompile in 64-bit.  I have looked at other progs, which have voluminous new user requirements according to the visions of each of their creators, and many are geared toward 3-d use, while my own particular interest in that has waned considerably.  I forget which one I tried, but I found it irritating in the way it got committed to a picture and couldn't be stopped, and had to be restarted for each new picture, and so I thought I must be doing something wrong since I'm not familiar with it.  Then I found its manual broken up into .html sub-pages and sub-sub pages, burdensome to try to print in limited session internet circumstances I suffer under.  (Because I f*****g REFUSE to be dependent on it...)

I just do pix.  I can't get enthusiastic about the hoops they want you to jump thru to stay on the cutting edge of hamster-wheel technology...

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stardust4ever
Fractal Bachius
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Posts: 513



« Reply #17 on: March 13, 2012, 07:32:58 AM »

While I can say that I never jumped on the Fractal Bandwagon until after Fractint's heyday, I tried running the windows build on my Windows XP Laptop (because 16-bit Win-3.x software still runs fin under 32 bits XP), and I found the interface somewhat clunky to use. Maybe that is because I am so used to zooming with the scroll wheel, or if not the scroll wheel than at least clicking all over the image with a mouse. When I get a few zoom levels deep, it starts pixelating and after that, things take forever to render. I'm also used to working larger than 640x480 (though I will go down to smaller sizes like 320x240 during very deep zooms). For the DOS versions, modern monitors don't support these archaic screen sizes anymore, and I think the video cards emulate these old resolutions by up-scaling them. I also couldn't figure out how to change the color palette, but to be honest I didn't spend a lot of time monkeying with Fractint before giving it a rest.

Bruce Dawson (creator of Fractal Extreme) had mentioned somewhere on the official website about the possibility of making future versions of Fractal Extreme (3.0?) compatible with user-generated formulas and the old Fractint file format. Like Fractint, I believe it uses a 228 color palette, so no problems in that department. It would probably be a boon to veteran users of Fractint for sure.

Maybe there is also a nostalgia factor to using old software. For instance, in addition to playing modern console games, I still collect old Nintendo carts from the 80s, 90s and play them for fun (I'm a man of several hobbies). Some people also insist on buying their albums on vinyl record instead of CDs, and others fix up and drive old muscle cars.
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fracmonk
Fractal Fertilizer
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Posts: 356


« Reply #18 on: March 13, 2012, 06:27:22 PM »

stardust4ever,   I guess you can't expect people who wrote such fine stuff for free once upon a time to have the same extremist enthusiasm about it today, to keep it up to date.  For one, I wrote some pretty elegant if simple stuff in BASIC back in the day, and could look back on old printouts and wonder: "Who did that stuff?!"  It's like I was someone else back then.  I guess I was...

Simon,  I took your advice and installed manpwin on a borrowed laptop using a wireless tap at the library.  I checked it out, and there's things about it I like and others I don't.  So I guess it would be worth it to box up the HP (again) and haul it to a router to do same with it, as another tool in the toolbox.  What ever happened to getting a program on a disk and running it?  You know, without it sending its roots into your registers?  Maybe I'm just unusually irritable lately about that stuff...
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gamma
Safarist
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Posts: 81



WWW
« Reply #19 on: March 13, 2012, 09:31:13 PM »

http://www.fractint.org
http://www.dosbox.com
http://members.quicknet.nl/blankendaalr/dbgl
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simon.snake
Fractal Bachius
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Posts: 640


Experienced Fractal eXtreme plugin crasher!


simon.fez SimonSideBurns
« Reply #20 on: March 13, 2012, 09:51:26 PM »

Sorry gamma, posting 3 links to software which either has already been discussed or will not help in this situation is simply a waste of resources.

By all means post if contributing something useful, but otherwise, don't bother.

I'm not trying to be mean, even though it sounds that way.  Apologies if you take offence.

Simon
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fracmonk
Fractal Fertilizer
*****
Posts: 356


« Reply #21 on: March 21, 2012, 03:29:01 PM »

Thought I'd note that while downloading manpwin as planned, I picked up (only) 30 instances of cookies, nothing serious...
My main complaint is with Microsoft.  Every time they "improve" their OS, they leave compatibility with things that ran perfectly well with former versions in the dust, or make you jump thru hoops and pay extra for what should be expected, holding you hostage in that way.  Lately, when I get online, without asking, they have their system "seek its master" so to speak, and make modifications to the OS without my prior consent.  The latest is where I might use their picture viewer to look at my fractal pix, and it does that, and goes on to try to establish an internet connection, as if I wanted to send images to Bill Gates or something.  Of course, under normal circumstances, I'm not hooked up, and it asks to diagnose connection problems.  The problem is to have a machine and software that isn't always eager to betray you to Big Brother or something...

Or is it just me?

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Knuten48
Forums Newbie
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Posts: 1


« Reply #22 on: June 02, 2017, 01:14:59 AM »

YES!  I too was hunting for good 'ol Fractint so I could use it on Windows 7.  I saw the answer here, mentioned by Mr. simon.snake...

The answer is MANPWIN.  Simply go to  http://www.deleeuw.com.au/ where you can choose your version.
I installed his Experimental 64-bit version and it works perfectly (and easily) in my 64-bit Windows 7.
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stardust4ever
Fractal Bachius
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Posts: 513



« Reply #23 on: June 02, 2017, 09:55:00 AM »

YES!  I too was hunting for good 'ol Fractint so I could use it on Windows 7.  I saw the answer here, mentioned by Mr. simon.snake...

The answer is MANPWIN.  Simply go to  http://www.deleeuw.com.au/ where you can choose your version.
I installed his Experimental 64-bit version and it works perfectly (and easily) in my 64-bit Windows 7.
Is it multi-threaded? Perturbation rendering? Honestly there have been so many advancements in fractal rendering in recent years, it has become painful for me to even switch back to Fractal Extreme, though it has it's uses.

Mandel Machine doesn't receive updates anymore despite it being so danged fast and I got used to the interface hence why I love it so much. So peeps using Fractint bitd I could sort of understand the nostalgia aspects. It probably was the fastest thing around back when DOS was all we had.
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