We should have a bbs suite program perhaps having options for a qwk
reader bundled with the termninal program. Perhaps for example with
Syncterm, there could be a hot key for the qwk reader.

***wcTaglines: this tagline is boring
--- Platinum Xpress/Win/WINServer v10.0gr18.1
* Origin: EMS!BBS - FSXNet - 21:5/104 - www.ems-bbs.com (21:5/104)

Syncterm, there could be a hot key for the qwk reader.

^^^^^^^^^^^^^

No ... mtelnet or Netrunner. I CANNOT stand Syncterm.

... Famous words, "Trust me, I'm a consultant"

--- Renegade v1.44/Exp
* Origin: The Titantic BBS Telnet - ttb.rgbbs.info (21:1/144)

Hey Exodus!

On Sat, 29 Aug 2026 11:15:00 , you wrote:

Syncterm, there could be a hot key for the qwk reader.

^^^^^^^^^^^^^

No ... mtelnet or Netrunner. I CANNOT stand Syncterm.

Sure thing. Just contact the developer and request the feature. Simple as that. ;)

Regards,
Nick

... Sarcasm: because beating people up is illegal.
--- GoldED+/LNX 1.1.5-b20260829
* Origin: _thePharcyde telnet://bbs.pharcyde.org (Wisconsin) (21:1/200)

Exodus wrote to Matthew Munson <=-

Syncterm, there could be a hot key for the qwk reader.

^^^^^^^^^^^^^

No ... mtelnet or Netrunner. I CANNOT stand Syncterm.

Why?



... Gone crazy, be back later, please leave message.
=== MultiMail/Linux v0.52
--- SBBSecho 3.37-Linux
* Origin: Palantir * palantirbbs.ddns.net * Pensacola, FL * (21:2/138)

Exodus wrote to Matthew Munson <=-

Syncterm, there could be a hot key for the qwk reader. Ex>

^^^^^^^^^^^^^

No ... mtelnet or Netrunner. I CANNOT stand Syncterm.

Why?

It has a HORRIBLE interface, and it's not easy to add/remove boards like
it is in mTel or NetRunner. Default options do NOT stay and are
written to drive C which NOTHING should be written to just to name a
few.

Guess I'm gonna have to start on my own mTelnet clone I guess. :(

--- PCBoard (R) v15.3/100
* Origin: dangerbaybbs.dyndns.org:1337 (21:2/154)

Re: Re: Crazy idea
By: Exodus to Gamgee on Sat Aug 29 2026 09:08 pm

No ... mtelnet or Netrunner. I CANNOT stand Syncterm.

Why?

It has a HORRIBLE interface, and it's not easy to add/remove boards like it is in mTel or NetRunner. Default options do NOT stay and are written to drive C which NOTHING should be written to just to name a few.

Interface aside, IMO it's fairly easy to add & remove entries in SyncTerm: You can press insert to add an entry and DEL to delete an entry. And in my experience, default settings do stay.. Maybe something odd is happening on your system. And if not written to drive C, then where should they be written? From what I recally, SyncTerm normally writes its settings to a subdirectory within your user account's AppData directory, which is fairly common behavior in Windows; and in general, using a subdirectory of your user account directory seems to be fairly common for operating systems these days. Windows normally stores its user account directories on the C drive, and I'm not sure I see what's wrong with that.

Nightfox

your system. And if not written to drive C, then where should they be

I have not used Drive C since 1993 for anything other than the OS. That drive is ALWAYS clear. Anything goes on Drive D or E.

written? From what I recally, SyncTerm normally writes its settings to a common behavior in Windows; and in general, using a subdirectory of your us account directory seems to be fairly common for operating systems these day Windows normally stores its user account directories on the C drive, and I' not sure I see what's wrong with that.

I don't feel it should be an account program for a BBS ... it should be able to be deleted byh removing the directory. It's a telnet app, not a huge program that needs "installed" into the OS. Everything is uses should be in the directory it unzips/runs from.

So now I am working on RGTERM to make something NetRunner/mTel like that does ANSI/RIP and I may add sixel graphics to it. It works just like Draw32. Everything in its own directory, as ANY BBS app should be. It took me a long time to not get pissed I had to put NETFOSS.DLL in the windows\system32 directory to use NetFOSS.

I don't want shit screwing with the OS by someone that fat fingered some reg edit and boom, time to reinstall an OS. I'm not into that shit anymore. :)

... So he says to the Shapeshifter waitress, "Keep the change."

--- Renegade v1.44/Exp
* Origin: The Titantic BBS Telnet - ttb.rgbbs.info (21:1/144)

Re: Re: Crazy idea
By: Exodus to Nightfox on Mon Aug 31 2026 08:07 pm

I don't want shit screwing with the OS by someone that fat fingered some reg edit and boom, time to reinstall an OS. I'm not into that shit anymore. :)

I have not used Drive C since 1993 for anything other than the OS. That drive is ALWAYS clear. Anything goes on Drive D or E.

Understandable, though I think that can be difficult to control for all software in Windows. Most software for Windows installs to C:\Program Files or C:\Program Files (x86) by default, as that's the Windows OS convention. You can change the install directory for some software, but I've found that some software and their installers have the C drive hard-coded, so you can't change the drive they install on or use for data.

I don't feel it should be an account program for a BBS ... it should be able to be deleted byh removing the directory. It's a telnet app, not a huge program that needs "installed" into the OS. Everything is uses should be in the directory it unzips/runs from.

Some software is made to run as a portable app, as you describe, but not all are. It seems more and more Windows software is being made to offer a portable version though.

Nightfox

Re: Re: Crazy idea
By: Exodus to Nightfox on Lun Ago 31 2026 08:07 pm

I don't feel it should be an account program for a BBS ... it should be able to be deleted byh removing the directory. It's a telnet app, not a huge program that needs "installed" into the OS. Everything is uses should be in the directory it unzips/runs from.

So you don't like that SyncTERM stores data/files where Microsoft says (and provides APIs to get those locations) that Windows applications should store them. And that's why you CAN'T STAND SyncTERM? And that makes logical sense to you?

For the record, you don't have to install SyncTERM to use it and you can delete it by removing whatever directory you copied it into. But some data/files that it created could remain after. Because for many good reasons, data and programs are not stored in the same directories in modern OSes.
--
digital man (rob)

Synchronet/BBS Terminology Definition #1:
ANSI = American National Standards Institute
Norco, CA WX: 65.8°F, 79.0% humidity, 0 mph W wind, 0.00 inches rain/24hrs
--- SBBSecho 3.38-Linux
* Origin: Vertrauen - [vert/cvs/bbs].synchro.net (21:1/183)

For the record, you don't have to install SyncTERM to use it and you can delete it by removing whatever directory you copied it into. But some data/files that it created could remain after. Because for many good reaso data and programs are not stored in the same directories in modern OSes.

Then why wouldn't the problem, er, program delete these? This make no sense to people that have used this kind of stuff for years. Just sloppy coding it seems.

... How can I miss you if you don't go away?

--- Renegade v1.44/Exp
* Origin: The Titantic BBS Telnet - ttb.rgbbs.info (21:1/144)

Re: Re: Crazy idea
By: Exodus to Nightfox on Lun Ago 31 2026 08:07 pm

I don't feel it should be an account program for a BBS ...
it should be able to be deleted byh removing the directory.
It's a telnet app, not a huge program that needs "installed"
into the OS. Everything is uses should be in the directory
it unzips/runs from.

So you don't like that SyncTERM stores data/files where
Microsoft says (and provides APIs to get those locations) that
Windows applications should store them. And that's why you
CAN'T STAND SyncTERM? And that makes logical sense to you?

For the record, you don't have to install SyncTERM to use it
and you can delete it by removing whatever directory you copied
it into. But some data/files that it created could remain
after. Because for many good reasons, data and programs are not
stored in the same directories in modern OSes. --

Maybe he would like it better if it had an uninstall option that would catch the stuff that gets put "where Microsoft says" when it is beyond the Syncterm directory?

I use it on linux and have not noticed such issues. It runs from wherever I put it.


--- ScorpioWeb v0.39a (Linux/x86_64)
* Origin: capitolcityonline.net * KY, USA (21:1/175)

Hey Dumas!

On Wed, Sep 30 2026 15:48:00 -0500, you wrote:

Maybe he would like it better if it had an uninstall option that would catch the stuff that gets put "where Microsoft says" when it is beyond
the Syncterm directory?

Does just about anything do what you speak of? I find all sorts of oddball leftover directories I've uninstalled long ago "where Microsoft says" that stuff should go.

I use it on linux and have not noticed such issues. It runs from wherever I put it.

I didn't use an installer, I unzipped the package and ran it in a subdirectory of my Downloads directory (on Windows). Works just fine from anywhere on Windows, too.

He's a DOS fan. He probably thinks installing everything to "C:\" is still normal, cuz !@#$ permissions and all that newage stuff! ;)

Regards,
Accession

... Sarcasm, because beating people up is illegal.
--- AmberEdit/linux 0.9.0
* Origin: thePharcyde_ telnet://bbs.pharcyde.org (Wisconsin) (21:1/200)

Re: Re: Crazy idea
By: Dreamweaver to Digital Man on Wed Sep 30 2026 08:33 am

For the record, you don't have to install SyncTERM to use it and you can delete it by removing whatever directory you copied it into. But some data/files that it created could remain after. Because for many good reaso data and programs are not stored in the same directories in modern OSes.

Then why wouldn't the problem, er, program delete these? This make no sense to people that have used this kind of stuff for years. Just sloppy coding it seems.

The Windows installation/uninstallation of the program does delete the files. But you said you didn't want install the program. A program doesn't know when you've deleted it, so it's kind if impossible for it to delete anything after the fact. Logical, yes?
--
digital man (rob)

Steven Wright quote #29:
To steal ideas from one person is plagiarism; to steal from many is research. Norco, CA WX: 85.2°F, 47.0% humidity, 5 mph WNW wind, 0.00 inches rain/24hrs --- SBBSecho 3.38-Linux
* Origin: Vertrauen - [vert/cvs/bbs].synchro.net (21:1/183)

Re: Re: Crazy idea
By: Dumas Walker to Digital Man on Wed Sep 30 2026 03:48 pm

Maybe he would like it better if it had an uninstall option that would catch the stuff that gets put "where Microsoft says" when it is beyond the Syncterm directory?

SyncTERM for Windows already does.
--
digital man (rob)

Sling Blade quote #23:
Karl: I reckon I'm gonna have to get used to looking at pretty people.
Norco, CA WX: 85.2°F, 47.0% humidity, 5 mph WNW wind, 0.00 inches rain/24hrs --- SBBSecho 3.38-Linux
* Origin: Vertrauen - [vert/cvs/bbs].synchro.net (21:1/183)

I use it on linux and have not noticed such issues. It runs from
wherever I put it.

Just one more reason why Linux is far supperior to Microslop!
---

-Dallas Vinson

... Classic: A book which people praise but don't read. - Mark Twain

--- Mystic BBS v1.12 A48 (Linux/64)
* Origin: Legends of Yesteryear (Dothan, AL, USA) (21:3/235)

it into. But some data/files that it created could remain
after. Because for many good reasons, data and programs are not
stored in the same directories in modern OSes. --

Maybe he would like it better if it had an uninstall option that would cat the stuff that gets put "where Microsoft says" when it is beyond the Synct directory?

I use it on linux and have not noticed such issues. It runs from wherever put it.

That would be a nice option, but I made RGTERM and it's Syncterm killer for features, colors, and looks ... so be on the look out. It's Win32 only though. And no, I will not be porting it to anything else anytime soon.

... Everybody lies about sex. - Robert A. heinlein

--- Renegade v1.44/Exp
* Origin: The Titantic BBS Telnet - ttb.rgbbs.info (21:1/144)

I didn't use an installer, I unzipped the package and ran it in a subdirect of my Downloads directory (on Windows). Works just fine from anywhere on Windows, too.

Yeah I did as well a few versions ago, it the "portable" version still stored shit on the windows drive. Why make it run from a directory if its going to pull that shit.

He's a DOS fan. He probably thinks installing everything to "C:\" is still normal, cuz !@#$ permissions and all that newage stuff! ;)

You act like I just build my first PC yesterday.

... No uninteresting subjects, just uninterested people.

--- Renegade v1.44/Exp
* Origin: The Titantic BBS Telnet - ttb.rgbbs.info (21:1/144)

On 30 Sep 26 14:00:25, Geri Atricks said the following to Dumas Walker:

I use it on linux and have not noticed such issues. It runs from wherever I put it.

Just one more reason why Linux is far supperior to Microslop!

Bahaha... And lemme guess, my board on XP will be "hacked tomorrow" right?

Its hilarious to watch you ignorant techno dipshits shove your precious Linux down all the throats of us humble non-Linux folks for decades now, while many of you cannot run a mailer, tosser, Netmail or even DOS doors properly.

Atreyu

--- Renegade vY2Ka2
* Origin: Joey, do you like movies about gladiators? (21:1/176)

Hey Exodus!

On Wed, Sep 30 2026 17:28:54, you wrote:

He's a DOS fan. He probably thinks installing everything to "C:\" is
still normal, cuz !@#$ permissions and all that newage stuff! ;)

You act like I just build my first PC yesterday.

Not at all, but you're acting like Syncterm doesn't do what damn near any other Windows program does also. ;)

Regards,
Accession

... Politicians and diapers should be changed regularly for the same reasons. --- AmberEdit/linux 0.9.0
* Origin: thePharcyde_ telnet://bbs.pharcyde.org (Wisconsin) (21:1/200)

--- Atreyu Said ---

Its hilarious to watch you ignorant techno dipshits shove your precious Linux
down all the throats of us humble non-Linux folks for decades now, while many
of you cannot run a mailer, tosser, Netmail or even DOS doors properly.

--- Atreyu Done ---

Damn, looks like someone touched on a nerve. Down boy!

-esc
--- ViSiON/3 v0.9.4/Linux
* Origin: gEMENON (21:3/237)

On 01 Oct 26 00:21:11, Esc said the following to Atreyu:

Damn, looks like someone touched on a nerve. Down boy!

:)

Atreyu

--- Renegade vY2Ka2
* Origin: Joey, do you like movies about gladiators? (21:1/176)

Atreyu wrote to Geri Atricks <=-

Bahaha... And lemme guess, my board on XP will be "hacked tomorrow"
right?

Laugh. I ran my board on XP until I took it down in '24. It worked great,
and I even had a web server running on it. hahaha

Its hilarious to watch you ignorant techno dipshits shove your precious Linux down all the throats of us humble non-Linux folks for decades
now, while many of you cannot run a mailer, tosser, Netmail or even DOS doors properly.

I run Linux, but I'd like to think I'm not someone who shoves it down
anyone's throat. For me I don't like the Windows interface which is why
I don't run it at home.

My "BBS" is running fine, binkd answers crash mail, HPT tosses, I have
golded, msged and offline mail (my home built bluewave program).

... Anyone who lives within his means suffers from a lack of imagination.
--- MultiMail/Linux v0.52
* Origin: _thePharcyde telnet://bbs.pharcyde.org (Wisconsin) (21:1/700)

Its hilarious to watch you ignorant techno dipshits shove your precious Linux down all the throats of us humble non-Linux folks for decades now, while many of you cannot run a mailer, tosser, Netmail or even DOS doors properly.

I know you aren't talking to me, because I've been able to do all of that stuff before there ever was a "Windows". And you want to talk about someone shoving an OS down everyones throats, that is the very essance of Microslop. Forcing their OS down everyones throats by having it pre-installed on every PC sold around the world. So don't even start!
---

-Dallas Vinson

... Reward for a job well done: More work

--- Mystic BBS v1.12 A48 (Linux/64)
* Origin: Legends of Yesteryear (Dothan, AL, USA) (21:3/235)

On 01 Oct 26 12:51:31, Geri Atricks said the following to Atreyu:

I know you aren't talking to me, because I've been able to do all of that stuff before there ever was a "Windows". And you want to talk about someone shoving an OS down everyones throats, that is the very essance of Microslop Forcing their OS down everyones throats by having it pre-installed on every sold around the world. So don't even start!

You can order a new PC with Linux if you wanted to... but I cannot order several of you dipshits to shove your constant promotion elsewhere.

Atreyu

--- Renegade vY2Ka2
* Origin: Joey, do you like movies about gladiators? (21:1/176)

Re: Re: Crazy idea
By: Tiny to Atreyu on Thu Oct 01 2026 05:51 am

Howdy,

I run Linux, but I'd like to think I'm not someone who shoves it down anyone's throat. For me I don't like the Windows interface which is why
I don't run it at home.

Yeah I think many people run linux, they express their satisfaction with it (as I do) - and I'm pretty confident nobody is shoving it down anybody's throat.

I see that response aften when anybody talks about linux and microsoft and its often unwarranted.


...δεσ∩
--- SBBSecho 3.37-Linux
* Origin: I'm playing with ANSI+videotex - wanna play too? (21:2/116)

Re: Re: Crazy idea
By: Geri Atricks to Atreyu on Thu Oct 01 2026 12:51 pm

Howdy,

I know you aren't talking to me, because I've been able to do all of that stuff before there ever was a "Windows". And you want to talk about someone shoving an OS down everyones throats, that is the very essance of Microslop. Forcing their OS down everyones throats by having it pre-installed on every PC sold around the world. So don't even start!

Dallas, just click the next key on this - I see it come up too often.


...δεσ∩
--- SBBSecho 3.37-Linux
* Origin: I'm playing with ANSI+videotex - wanna play too? (21:2/116)

--- Atreyu Said ---

You can order a new PC with Linux if you wanted to... but I cannot order several of you dipshits to shove your constant promotion elsewhere.

Atreyu

--- Atreyu Done ---

The laptop I bought from you ions ago has Debian on it now.....

shit... sorry. :-)


-------
Mickey at Large
centralontarioremote.net:2323 - Bad Poetry Board
--- ViSiON/3 v0.9.4/Linux
* Origin: The Bad Poetry Board Vision3 (21:1/159.20)

On 02 Oct 26 08:51:33, Deon said the following to Tiny:

Yeah I think many people run linux, they express their satisfaction with it (as I do) - and I'm pretty confident nobody is shoving it down anybody's throat.

When the satisfaction is brought up for 25+ years and any talk of a Windows problem is often pounced on with "Just use Linux"... yes, its throat-shoving.

And yes... for the most part, the Next-key does wonders.

Atreyu

--- Renegade vY2Ka2
* Origin: Joey, do you like movies about gladiators? (21:1/176)

On 01 Oct 26 18:55:28, Mickey said the following to Atreyu:

The laptop I bought from you ions ago has Debian on it now.....

shit... sorry. :-)

It actually runs Debian very nicely. It needed hand-holding with the Sierra WWAN adapter. A particular Linux fan was quick to tell me "Thinkpads are shit".... yet it ran Windows perfectly with zero weird device problems.

Atreyu

--- Renegade vY2Ka2
* Origin: Joey, do you like movies about gladiators? (21:1/176)

Yeah I think many people run linux, they express their satisfaction with it (as I do) - and I'm pretty confident nobody is shoving it down anybody's throat.

When the satisfaction is brought up for 25+ years and any talk of a Windows problem is often pounced on with "Just use Linux"... yes, its throat-shovi

Agreed.

... Marriage enders: You propose, we dispose.

--- Renegade v1.44/Exp
* Origin: The Titantic BBS Telnet - ttb.rgbbs.info (21:1/144)

--- Atreyu Said ---

It actually runs Debian very nicely. It needed hand-holding with the Sierra WWAN adapter. A particular Linux fan was quick to tell me "Thinkpads are shit".... yet it ran Windows perfectly with zero weird device problems.

--- Atreyu Done ---

Indeed.


-------
Mickey at Large
centralontarioremote.net:2323 - Bad Poetry Board
--- ViSiON/3 v0.9.4/Linux
* Origin: The Bad Poetry Board Vision3 (21:1/159.20)

On 02 Oct 26 08:51:33, Deon said the following to Tiny:

Yeah I think many people run linux, they express their
satisfaction with it (as I do) - and I'm pretty confident
nobody is shoving it down anybody's throat.

When the satisfaction is brought up for 25+ years and any talk
of a Windows problem is often pounced on with "Just use
Linux"... yes, its throat-shoving.

And yes... for the most part, the Next-key does wonders.

My original response... the one that started this... wasn't that they should be running linux instead. It was more of a "but I am running linux so I might not quite understand the problem" on what was apparently a Windows system.

I very clearly never told anyone to just run linux, only that I was and syncterm was working sans the issues being discussed.

I am 100% positive that if I went back over the last year or so in the BBS networks I carry, I would find a lot more "why don't you just run Windows" posts than I would "just use linux" posts, especially when it comes to people asking about getting doors running.




--- ScorpioWeb v0.39a (Linux/x86_64)
* Origin: capitolcityonline.net * KY, USA (21:1/175)

On 01 Oct 26 18:55:28, Mickey said the following to Atreyu:

The laptop I bought from you ions ago has Debian on it
now.....

shit... sorry. :-)

It actually runs Debian very nicely. It needed hand-holding with
the Sierra WWAN adapter. A particular Linux fan was quick to
tell me "Thinkpads are shit".... yet it ran Windows perfectly
with zero weird device problems.

I can remember when a Thinkpad was "the machine to have" if you wanted to run linux (specifically debian) on one. That was why I bought one. It eventually got replaced and now runs Windows 98SE so that I can play SimCity.


--- ScorpioWeb v0.39a (Linux/x86_64)
* Origin: capitolcityonline.net * KY, USA (21:1/175)

On 03 Oct 26 21:35:40, Dumas Walker said the following to Atreyu:

I am 100% positive that if I went back over the last year or so in the BBS networks I carry, I would find a lot more "why don't you just run Windows" posts than I would "just use linux" posts, especially when it comes to peop asking about getting doors running.

If I'm not mistaken its because Windows Sysops are genuinely confused why an apparent Rube Goldberg setup is needed to run silly DOS doors; when we've been told for years that Linux does things soooooooo much better than Windows.

Doors are a drop in the bucket, its either many years of Just use Linux, or getting replies in the form of "You just got your first computer or node
number yesterday so I must lecture you".

Atreyu

--- Renegade vY2Ka2
* Origin: Joey, do you like movies about gladiators? (21:1/176)

On 03 Oct 26 21:37:42, Dumas Walker said the following to Atreyu:

I can remember when a Thinkpad was "the machine to have" if you wanted to r linux (specifically debian) on one. That was why I bought one. It eventua got replaced and now runs Windows 98SE so that I can play SimCity.

Yup, pretty sure it was either Debian or Redhat recommended.

Atreyu

--- Renegade vY2Ka2
* Origin: Joey, do you like movies about gladiators? (21:1/176)

--- Atreyu Said ---

If I'm not mistaken its because Windows Sysops are genuinely confused why an apparent Rube Goldberg setup is needed to run silly DOS doors; when we've been told for years that Linux does things soooooooo much better than Windows.

--- Atreyu Done ---

Running DOS doors in modern windows requires a hack to the OS - NTVDMX64. Talk about jumping through hoops! Setting up dosemu is a breeze, not sure what you're on about here.

-esc
--- ViSiON/3 v0.9.4/Linux
* Origin: gEMENON (21:3/237)

On 03 Oct 26 22:31:37, Esc said the following to Atreyu:

Running DOS doors in modern windows requires a hack to the OS - NTVDMX64. T about jumping through hoops! Setting up dosemu is a breeze, not sure what you're on about here.

Yeah I know you're not sure, you need to go back quite a bit, there is a big archive of messages on my system from Linux guys over the years needing help getting doors to work... Dosemu sure didn't sound like a "breeze" to many.

Since no 64-bit OS can natively run 16-bit DOS apps, whats been suggested in the past is maybe the Sysop who really wants the Dos doors might be better off having a 32-bit Windows VM or secondhand PC or whatever... THAT is a breeze versus any emulated Dos.

Atreyu

--- Renegade vY2Ka2
* Origin: Joey, do you like movies about gladiators? (21:1/176)

--- Atreyu Said ---

If I'm not mistaken its because Windows Sysops are genuinely confused wh an apparent Rube Goldberg setup is needed to run silly DOS doors; when we've been told for years that Linux does things soooooooo much better t Windows.

--- Atreyu Done ---

Running DOS doors in modern windows requires a hack to the OS - NTVDMX64. Ta about jumping through hoops! Setting up dosemu is a breeze, not sure what you're on about here.

And that doesn't even work if you're using netfoss, too many timing issues.
I just run Windows 10 32 bit. It's not my main machine and behind a firewall so safe enough.

--
Shurato, Sysop Shurato's Heavenly Sphere (ssh, telnet, pop3,ftps,nntps
,wss, ssh utf-8) (default ports, 2222 for utf-8 and 999 for wss)

---
* Origin: Shurato's Heavenly Sphere telnet://shsbbs.net (21:2/148)

I am 100% positive that if I went back over the last year or
so in the BBS networks I carry, I would find a lot more "why
don't you just run Windows" posts than I would "just use
linux" posts, especially when it comes to peop asking about
getting doors running.

If I'm not mistaken its because Windows Sysops are genuinely
confused why an apparent Rube Goldberg setup is needed to run
silly DOS doors; when we've been told for years that Linux does
things soooooooo much better than Windows.

I used to, and still do, run a DOS BBS. While it doesn't "just work" under linux, back it the day it was going to take a very much Rube Goldberg setup to get it to "might work" under Windows 9x, although it never did.

Worked great under OS/2 Warp 4 with SIO/Vmodem. Only reason it is not still running there is because getting OS/2 to support a level of NFS that was still able to talk to a linux server (I am guessing modern windows, too) was to set up some other Rube Goldberg setup that, IIRC, was also not free and also might not work.

Honestly, keeping it (and its doors) working under linux has not been all that difficult. The biggest difficultly I remember having was when linux dropped DPMS support and TW 2002 stopped working. DOSBOX-X fixes that.

The rest of the issues seem to be that a door gets old, is no longer supported and, over time, stops working. Usually one no one ever used anyway so "fixing it" is simple. I am guessing that even happens on "vanilla DOS" machine.

Doors are a drop in the bucket, its either many years of Just
use Linux, or getting replies in the form of "You just got your
first computer or node number yesterday so I must lecture you".

Yeah, not only did you get your first computer and node number yesterday, they made you ZC even, so let me tell you all about how FTNs work so you don't mess up...

Is that the first time you've gotten that one? :D

I just figure people should run whatever OS and BBS software they like. As long as they don't break the networks, I actually think it is pretty cool that I can enter this message on a linux box, you can read it on a Windows (XP?) box, and someone else might be reading it on a Commodore or something else super vintage.


--- ScorpioWeb v0.39a (Linux/x86_64)
* Origin: capitolcityonline.net * KY, USA (21:1/175)

Running DOS doors in modern windows requires a hack to the OS -
NTVDMX64. Talk about jumping through hoops! Setting up dosemu is
a breeze, not sure what you're on about here.

Back in the Windows 9x days, if you wanted your DOS BBS to be able to use telnet, there were hoops then, too, that didn't always work, especially if your DOS BBS liked talking to the modem on a hardware level. The windows emulators didn't offer that function, and the emulator authors of the day didn't seem too interested in adding it.

Luckily, VMODEM for OS/2 did emulate a hardware modem properly.


--- ScorpioWeb v0.39a (Linux/x86_64)
* Origin: capitolcityonline.net * KY, USA (21:1/175)

Since no 64-bit OS can natively run 16-bit DOS apps, whats been
suggested in the past is maybe the Sysop who really wants the
Dos doors might be better off having a 32-bit Windows VM or
secondhand PC or whatever... THAT is a breeze versus any
emulated Dos.

How much of a breeze it is depends on what DOS BBS software you are trying to run. While my doors might have worked under 32-bit Windows, the BBS never would have worked properly. So, no, it is not always a breeze.

--- ScorpioWeb v0.39a (Linux/x86_64)
* Origin: capitolcityonline.net * KY, USA (21:1/175)

I found ArcaOS handles NFS and mounts pretty well. I used it with Windows and Linux shares. Some older DOS BBSs still have some wierdness with SIO, but I agree, OS/2 was pretty awesome for DOS!

--- Dumas Walker Said ---

Worked great under OS/2 Warp 4 with SIO/Vmodem. Only reason it is not still running there is because getting OS/2 to support a level of NFS that was still able to talk to a linux server (I am guessing modern windows, too) was to set up some other Rube Goldberg setup that, IIRC, was also not free and also might not work.

--- Dumas Walker Done ---

/- J0hnny A1pha............................ -/
/- Broken Bit Syndicate | BrokenBit.us:2323 -/
/- ViSiON/3 Development HQ................. -/
--- ViSiON/3 v0.9.4/Linux
* Origin: Broken Bit Syndicate - ViSiON/3 HQ (21:4/158.1)

On 01 Oct 2026 at 03:36p, Atreyu pondered and said...

You can order a new PC with Linux if you wanted to... but I cannot order several of you dipshits to shove your constant promotion elsewhere.

You may have a point of view, a bone of contention, or whatever.. but you can share it without resorting to name calling thanks.

Kerr Avon [Blake's 7] 'I'm not expendable, I'm not stupid and I'm not going' avon[at]bbs.nz | bbs.nz | fsxnet.nz

--- Mystic BBS v1.12 A48 (Linux/64)
* Origin: Agency BBS | Dunedin, New Zealand | agency.bbs.nz (21:1/101)

I found ArcaOS handles NFS and mounts pretty well. I used it
with Windows and Linux shares. Some older DOS BBSs still have
some wierdness with SIO, but I agree, OS/2 was pretty awesome
for DOS!

Yeah I actually considered upgrading to ArcaOS but the box that OS/2 was running on was too old to be supported by it. Since I already had debian running on older boxes, I took that route.

Good to hear that ArcaOS has picked up for DOS BBSing where OS/2 left off!


--- ScorpioWeb v0.39a (Linux/x86_64)
* Origin: capitolcityonline.net * KY, USA (21:1/175)