I recenty had my computer upgraded and it now runs on Windows XP Professional. However, the following error occurs (which seems to be caused by GL06):

16 bit MS-DOS Subsystem

"C:\DOCUMEN~1\HOME\MYDOCU~1\GLEACHT\OD.EXE
An application has attempted to directly access the hard disk, which cannot be supported. This may cause the application to function inocrrectly. Choose 'Close' to terminate the application."

Consequently, I cannot use the dictionary and was wondering if a "fix" is available. I cannot find a current address for the Gleacht Corporation. I've sent an e-mail to an address (for Cathair Ó Dochartaigh) at Glasgow University weeks ago, but haven't got a reply.

Can anyone help?

Proinsias, a chara --

I can't help you directly, as I'm a Mac user , but as a "last resort" suggestion (when you've tried everything else), you might consider keeping an older version OS on a separate partition of your hard drive and boot into that when you need to use an older, no-longer-supported app.

Obviously, it'll be easier if someone can suggest a workaround for you so that you can continue to use it in XP.

Off topic in a way but...

WindowsXP is much more protective of resources than were MSDOS or even earlier versions of Windows. The two main reasons for this are:

A) So viruses can't just delete every file in your Windows\System directory

B) So stupid people can't just delete every file in your Windows\System directory. (And it seems that people get stupider every year).

Anyway there's no getting around this -- WindowsXP will thwart your every effort of messing directly with hardware... unless you like writing Device Drivers.

Anyway, as for a rememdy:

Maybe just try copying it to a floppy disk and then running it, or to a CD, or any sort of medium really.

If you use this program regularly, you might consider setting up a "RAM disk"; a RAM disk is where you take a slice of your computer's memory and use it for "disk storage", you can then access this storage through a simple drive letter... I used to use them all the time simply because they're faster; I used to run high-performance games off them.

Anyway, the driver you'll need is "RAMDRIVE.SYS". Google for instructions on how to use it -- it's not too complicated; you've just to stick a line in your "config.sys".

Hope that helps.