Q: For years, I used a muÂtuÂal fund dataÂbase program called Value Line MuÂtuÂal Funds Survey for Windows. When I reÂplaced my Windows XP PC with a new one runÂning Windows 8.1, I downÂloadÂed anÂothÂer copy of the Value Line program, but found it wouldn't work. Value Line told me that their softÂware is an oldÂer 16-bit program, and that they have no plans to upÂgrade it to work on my new 64-bit PC. What's the probÂlem, and is there a way around it?
Peter Schoeffel, JackÂsonÂville, Fla.
A: There are two soÂluÂtions. But to choose beÂtween them, you need to know why your new Windows opÂerÂatÂing sysÂtem can't run your old Value Line program. Here's the gist:
MiÂcroÂsoft's opÂerÂatÂing sysÂtems store or reÂtrieve inÂforÂmaÂtion using a "data adÂdress" that is a cerÂtain numÂber of "bits" long. (A bit is a basÂic unit of inÂforÂmaÂtion.) Windows oÂrigÂiÂnalÂly used 16-bit-long adÂdressÂes, but as PC storÂage deÂmands grew it beÂcame clear that Windows would run out of adÂdressÂes beÂcause there weren't enÂough numÂber comÂbiÂnaÂtions availÂable. As a reÂsult, Windows 95, and later Windows XP, were deÂsigned as 32-bit sysÂtems, meanÂing they used 32-bit-long storÂage adÂdressÂes that had many more posÂsiÂble ÂcomÂbiÂnaÂtions.
Windows 8.1 comes in 32-bit or 64-bit verÂsions, the latÂter proÂvidÂing even more adÂdressÂes. UnÂforÂtuÂnateÂly, you have the 64-bit verÂsion, which doesn't know what to do with your Value Line program that uses a 16-bit adÂdress sysÂtem.
The two soÂluÂtions probÂaÂbly inÂvolve payÂing a reÂpair shop to do the work for you:
You could reÂplace your PC's 64-bit verÂsion of Windows 8.1 with a 32-bit verÂsion, which is backÂward-comÂpatÂiÂble enÂough to run your Value Line program. But there's a catch: Your 64-bit PC probÂaÂbly has 4 to 8 gigaÂbytes of RAM (ranÂdom acÂcess memÂoÂry). But the 32-bit verÂsion of Windows 8.1, which has fewer memÂoÂry adÂdressÂes, can use only about 3.5 gigaÂbytes of RAM. The rest will reÂmain idle, which means newÂer programs may run slowÂer than beÂfore.
AlÂterÂnaÂtiveÂly, you could inÂstall a free, but quite techÂniÂcal, program called "DOSBox" to your exÂistÂing 64-bit verÂsion of Windows 8.1. DOSBox imiÂtates a 16-bit opÂerÂatÂing sysÂtem and can run your Value Line program. You can read about DOSBox at tinyurl.com/jvsuaoc, and downÂload it at tinyurl.com/d90f.
Q: WhenÂevÂer you give a Web adÂdress, you alÂways start with "tinyurl." What is this? Do I type in the word or is it a symÂbol for someÂthing?
Hope Liz, St. AuÂgusÂtine, Fla.
A: The TinyURL is a shortÂcut for a real, ofÂten longÂer, Web adÂdress. And, like a Web adÂdress, it needs to be typed into your browsÂer's adÂdress line exÂactÂly as it apÂpears, using letÂters, numÂbers, peÂriods and slashÂes. For exÂamÂple, typÂing tinyurl.com/n5wh553 into your browsÂer's Web adÂdress line will take you to last week's colÂumn. Side note: beÂcause TinyURL adÂdressÂes are shortÂcuts, not real adÂdressÂes, they can't be found using a GooÂgle search.
E-mail tech quesÂtions to steve.j.alexander@gmail.com or write to Tech Q&A, 425 ÂPortÂland Av. S., ÂMinneapolis, MN 55488. InÂclude name, city and teleÂphone numÂber.