[RESOLVED] VB6 and Windows 8

[gibra]

Read your reply with interest. I am a (very) amateur developer and - about 6 years ago - wrote some software in VB6 (*.vbp / *.frm files etc) in support of my job. Have just found that I need to go back and work on this again, but horrified to find that VB6 no longer supported. Have found some old VB6 software advertsed on Amazon etc, but am told I might not be able to edit my old vbp files if I run this with Windows 7 (which I now have). Any views as to the best way forward so I can edit and run the old VB6 files? Many thanks.

No problems.
Use my tool VS6 Installer to install VS6.0 or VB6.0 on Vista, Window 7 / 8 (32 or 64 it).
See the link on my sign.

The only thing you need to do is check what controls you used because of Vista on various controls and libraries are no longer supported:
Support Statement for Visual Basic 6.0 on Windows Vista and Windows Server 2008
http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/vstudio/ms788708.aspx

[DataMiser]

You don't need any special installer to install VB6 under Windows 7. The one that comes with it works just fine.

[syshack]

I found what I consider a cleaner way to resolve the issue w/ the VB6 installer on Win8. Using process monitor, you can see that the VB6 installer loops indefinitely while trying to open these keys in the registry:

• HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\RDSServer.DataFactory
• HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\RDSServer.DataFactory\Clsid

Thank you!

I like the idea to change the Registry ownership with a script. However, your PS Script didn't work on my machine.
After trying unsuccessfully to debug the error messages in the ISE (you need to give scripting rights, Registry changing rights etc.) , I gave up, but I am not really a PS coder.
I managed to change the ownership in the Registry manually, then the installation worked.
For security reasons, Ideally a script should restore those rights after the installation to its original ownership.

[Keithuk]

I've just bought a new Windows 8 64bit laptop.

I have exactly the same problem. It think that what happens here is that although VB6 APPEARS to install (and actually runs OK), because it hangs at the end of setup it is not registered as an installed program on the system.

I had the same problem installing VB6. I appears to install ok but it hangs for ages then it finalises the install, Task Manager says Not Responding so I End Task. I restart and try it and it appears to work. I installed SP6 no problem. I try to install MSDN but it says its not compatible with my system.

I try and run previous apps and it can't find the component, I can add the web browser ieframe.dll but I can't add COMCTL32.OCX as it not registered I try and register it Run: regsvr32 COMCTL32.OCX but it won't. I tried to register some of the older ocx's some registered and some didn't.

I didn't want Windows 8 but every new laptop has it and I certainly didn't want 64bit.

[ThEiMp]

I gonna get an xBOX One and then mod it as a MPC, and then run Windows 8 on it. Along with Visual Basic 6.00 Enterprise SP6 on it, too at that...

[Jacob Roman]

I gonna get an xBOX One and then mod it as a MPC, and then run Windows 8 on it. Along with Visual Basic 6.00 Enterprise SP6 on it, too at that...

Don't buy the XBox One. It got too much bad press with all the crap MS tried to force on us before doing a 180. You cant forgive them for that because it encourages them to later do it in the future.

As for getting VB6 to work, thats pretty much the only thing I got working out of VS 6.0 Enterprise without the use of his program. Unfortunately I dont remember what steps I took but I think it was from a website. It was 3 years ago. I would like to see C++ 6.0 working since it just crashes. Any bright ideas how to get C++ 6.0 working?

[ThEiMp]

Maybe to upgrade the SP to a later version, such as SP5/6 could be the thing. Cause don't layer it on using the basic standard that comes on the CD/DVD disc...

[DataMiser]

Why on earth would you want to get an XB1 to install windows 8 and VB6? The CPU is much slower than a good PC and I would imagine that getting Win 8 and VB6 to work on it would not be a small task and then of course the XB1 may croak within the first year. That GPU in it is going to be putting off a lot of heat, will be interesting to see if they hold up initially. If memory serves the first batch of the XB 360 had quite a few heat related issues killing them.

[ThEiMp]

OMG, really. And then I was going to buy one then. So now I'm gonna go with the XBOX 360, instead. In which is thus cheaper and also very easy to MOD, seeing that you just have to change the BluRay Disc Drive, into a Laptop's BluRay Burner Disc Drive, which I had found to be very cheap in deed!!

[DataMiser]

Do what ever you want, my advice would be get a real PC rather than trying to fudge one out of a game console.

[Keithuk]

Another update, I installed API Viewer 2004 3.10 and works ok. I installed API-Guide that installed ok but when I ran it, it shows a Runtime Error 50003. I searched on here nothing shows and the same with Google.

The site http://allapi.mentalis.org/index2.shtml doesn't show any compatibilty for systems, I know it old like me but its a good app.

[ThEiMp]

Your can write an emmulator that is able to make it work even on an Apple Mac, so then you cna use something like a PIF file to be used here. But for more like Windows 32-Bit, instead. Also the good thing here is that it's totally legal and then you can use it cause it's also open source, you just have to find it over the Internet!!

[DataMiser]

LOL... I think if someone was capable of writing and emulator and on a Mac that they would have very little need to use VB6, especially in an emulator on a Mac of all things.

Then again what does that have to do with the topic at hand which is getting VB6 to work under Windows 8, note it has nothing to do with Mac OS nor any kind of emulator.

[Jacob Roman]

And noone has once explained why the c++ 6.0 IDE crashes in Windows 7.

I think me and one other guy are the only ones in VBForums who have experience in emulation in general. We practically written an NES emulator in VB6, which you can find in my sig

[DataMiser]

I don't think the installer even worked for VC++ 6 on Windows 7. I also do not think that VC 6 is available from MS. VB6 is and will install and operate ok but I think that is the only component of VS 6 that is said to work.

btw there would be a very big difference between a NES emulator that can play a few rom games and a Windows emulator that can run under a Mac OS and allow VB6 to operate fully and correctly. Of course if you wanted to use a Mac you could just install Windows on it and be done with it at that point what you would have is an over priced PC running Windows

[ThEiMp]

One that also makes nasty MAC noises, like the bleep sound!!

[ThEiMp]

Also that I got PC Emmulate to work on a Apple MAC, and then installed the Internet Explorer for Apple MAC. Then installing an ActiveX Control Boss Kit into the Operating System, this then gave me the ablity to have ActiveX Control running on an Apple MAC. Also the filename for this ActiveX Control Boss Kit, is called mActiveX.exe!!

[Jacob Roman]

I don't think the installer even worked for VC++ 6 on Windows 7. I also do not think that VC 6 is available from MS. VB6 is and will install and operate ok but I think that is the only component of VS 6 that is said to work.

I already have VS 6.0 Enterprise, but I can only get VC++ 6.0 working in the Virtual Machine with Windows XP Pro. If theres a way to install it in Windows 7 I would love to know.

[Bobbles]

I suspect that MS is trying to FORCE us all to upgrade to the latest OS, and VB.NET
All of you that love VB6, should buy a couple of 2nd hand PCs (one as a spare), and use XP in them.
Get a KVM (or a video switch, and wireless Keyboards/Mice), and do your development on the XP machines.

Rob

[ThEiMp]

That sounds great, going to way of the ancient dinosaurs???

However: The access to the Visual Basic IDE is becoming limited, but then Microsoft is actually not getting rid of the Visual Basic RunTimes. Rather they are going to upgrade the Visual Basic IDE, for the time being we have to work here on with the Windows XP, Operating System Environment and then wait until they come up with a rather good soultion of what is to happen here next, in the future some time, really soon!!

[Jacob Roman]

Yeah, they are gonna force everyone to use the XBox One to watch TV, webbrowse, Skype, and ultimately code on with our voice using the Kinect 2.0...in C++!!!

[ThEiMp]

Lol +<

[DataMiser]

I suspect that MS is trying to FORCE us all to upgrade to the latest OS, and VB.NET
All of you that love VB6, should buy a couple of 2nd hand PCs (one as a spare), and use XP in them.
Get a KVM (or a video switch, and wireless Keyboards/Mice), and do your development on the XP machines.

Rob

No need to get a second hand PC, no need to even have one with windows XP installed. VB6 works under Windows 7 and from what little I have done with it under Windows 8 it worked there too just the installer had some issues.

There is always the option of running a VM, Windows 7 Pro allows you to download and install XP Mode for free and VB6 works fine under it. There are other options as well.

I do have a KVM and use 4 PCs 1 has Win 2000 One has a dual boot XP/Vista one has dual boot XP/7 and the other dual boot with Win 7/8 I also use VMs with several operating systems set up including Win2k, XP,Vista,7, Linux and OS2

That sounds great, going to way of the ancient dinosaurs???

However: The access to the Visual Basic IDE is becoming limited, but then Microsoft is actually not getting rid of the Visual Basic RunTimes. Rather they are going to upgrade the Visual Basic IDE, for the time being we have to work here on with the Windows XP, Operating System Environment and then wait until they come up with a rather good soultion of what is to happen here next, in the future some time, really soon!!

VB6 enterprise edition is still available from Microsoft so access is not all that limited so long as you don't mind paying some cash.

To the best of my knowledge there is no intention of making any changes to the IDE that goes with VB6 it is 15 years old and 6 versions ago. What you see is what you get. If you want a newer VB IDE that means one of the newer versions of VB.

btw XP is still available from MS as well and works on some of the latest PCs also, just can't use more than 3 gigs of system ram.

[Jacob Roman]

Well due to the fact that I have my "Writing Compilers And Interpreters" book, I guess we can create a true VB7 with our knowledge and skills. We could probably make it faster and better than VB6.

This is a very good book which you can get off of Amazon:

[Niya]

Well due to the fact that I have my "Writing Compilers And Interpreters" book, I guess we can create a true VB7 with our knowledge and skills. We could probably make it faster and better than VB6.

This is a very good book which you can get off of Amazon:

This could be a nice community project. I would love to take a crack at writing an IDE with a powerful intellisense. That would of course require a very fast parser which can take ages to write. No better excuse to write some C++ code.

[Jacob Roman]

I agree. We should get the VB community together and gather information about what they like in VB and what they dont like. There are reasons why people like VB6 over VB.Net, and why people like VB.Net over VB6. If we find that common ground, we can build the perfect VB that everyone can use. A RAD programming tool that not only packs quite a punch in features, but is brutally fast in speed next to C++.

[Niya]

I think a static linker should be a "selling point" for addressing this. The number one complaint I read about VB6/VB.Net are their runtimes. For example, in certain modding communities people hate hate hate having to run installers for editors written in VB6 and VB6ers complain a lot about VB.Net's large runtime. A powerful static linker would embed all the basic VB functions that are used inside the EXE. It would exclude embedding libraries that weren't called by the app.

You can win VB.Net lovers like me over with full OO capabilities along with advanced features like delegates, generics and a strong library for dealing with arrays and collections similar to LINQ.

And speaking of internal VB libraries. I think a lot of the things that were done poorly in VB6 can be addressed. Eg. That retarded "Dir" function should be replaced by a powerful implementation based in the Win32 API. We can also include things like Winsock, and GDI/GDI+. A cleaner implementation of windows that facilitates a more elegant method of subclassing. Oh and more events. Controls in both VB6 and VB.Net could use quite a few more events.

[ThEiMp]

FACT #1: The only reason that all of the C++ versions and builds are really or rather more over very fast is because of the fact that it does go through an interpreter and then it is very close to being written at a binary level, instead of the like that BASIC has always gone through an interpreter before going through execution...

[ThEiMp]

Instead making basic functions be added to the EXE, rather it would be good to add the relevant data to the EXE instead of being made vastly huge on things that aren't required to be added in the very first place???

[ThEiMp]

A .NET, #, /DirectX, Direct Draw and also the Direct3D functions, like using instead of inside the Code Window, instead use the Property Window to setup support for those types of drivers and modules, etc. Also I wish that there also could be better HTTP/FTP and also Winsock processes programmed into the language. So that instead of having an unbound Winsock, try making it to have the Winsock programmed into a section of the whole project, where you only have to setup it up using properties and then also to being able to access the functions inside of it, like of what .NET is using instead of the Winsock ActiveX Control Objects in general and also in the longer term. I see that there is a greater need to have better processes, like what I am talking about right now...

[ThEiMp]

How about an Adobe Director type of engine that uses Multimedia at the ready, like Shockwave Objects for such things as Game Avatars, etc???

[ThEiMp]

-- This is what I'm working on right about now, even to this day. I have had many sleeplest nights working on this and also my Website using the Application on the Web Cloud, that I'm building, right now even!!
Attachment 102737

[Jacob Roman]

Well before you jump the gun in numerous features, well need to implement the basics first. Once we have a complete, keyword "complete" foundation set up (which is the IDE, syntax, compiler, interpreter, linker, and assembler), then we can go ahead and add features one by one and make the program bigger and bigger.

We attempted a programming language before in VBForums, which was Lightfusion. And the only reason it failed was because it ended up being a huge discussion and an arguement on syntax. No IDE was attempted sadly but the super thread did have some nice tips on assembly for those who never tapped into it. Personally I wanted LightFusion to be VB syntax only executed with lightning speed like C++ and assembly with some nice features. You can find it here: http://www.vbforums.com/showthread.p...ht=lightfusion

If we do try it, lets at least start with the IDE, which must be coded in C++. At least then I can get my hands wet on some real Win32 programming which should help improve my skills. Once we have an IDE to work with, then we can discuss syntax. Jumping the gun will only form a baracade.

[EDIT]
Another thing is, is that I would like for you to see how Win32 based exes are made and what they consist of:
http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms809762.aspx

[ThEiMp]

--Well I was then just able to EXE Build my OCX into a super computer programming language, which is only about 36kb in file size!!
Attachment 102739

[Niya]

If we do try it, lets at least start with the IDE....

A lexical analyser and a parser should be the very first thing to be written. Both the IDE and compilers would use the output of these components as their input. The IDE would need it to provide features like intellisense and syntax checking. The compilers would need it to simplify the process of converting high-level code into native code.

[Niya]

[EDIT]
Another thing is, is that I would like for you to see how Win32 based exes are made and what they consist of:
http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms809762.aspx

I stumbled on that a few years back. Its very insightful.

[DataMiser]

FACT #1: The only reason that all of the C++ versions and builds are really or rather more over very fast is because of the fact that it does go through an interpreter and then it is very close to being written at a binary level, instead of the like that BASIC has always gone through an interpreter before going through execution...

Really? What makes you think that?

You do know that VB 5 and 6 have 2 options when compiling programs, P-Code which is as you say interpreted and Native code which is not. One of the Major reasons C++ is capable of writing programs which run faster is because of the fact that it is a lower level language and gives you access to pointers. You also have a lot of error checking added into VB programs that is not added into a C++ program unless you code it in yourself. Little things like checking the bounds of an Integer or an array. In a VB program if you try to assign a value of 100k to an Integer you will get an overflow error because VB puts in the code to test for this. In C/C++ you can put any value there. The program may crash or may do any number of odd things since you would be writing into memory space that was not allocated for this value but it can be done.
There are many other things that allow C++ to be faster.

As for the run time library I do not think this is a big deal as it is already on pretty much every computer out there so there is no need to install it, the same can't be said about additional DLLs and OCXs though. Back in the day VB did have a linker and gave an option to use a run time file or build a stand alone EXE. Would be nice to have that option if it was able to use only the parts of the RT that are actually used by the program other wise would be a large waste of HD space. I probably have a few 100 or not a few thousand exes created with VB that are under 1 mb where if the RT was built into the exe would be 2-3mb each which means it could take another gig of HD space on my system which would not be cool.

VB.Net programs also the RT is not a big deal as it is on most systems already and is a one time install.

My biggest complaints about VB.Net are 1: It does not build native exe files. 2: It loads very slowly.

While it would be nice to have additional options a project like an improved VB would be a huge undertaking that could take years to complete. Very ambitious project to say the least.

[Niya]

While it would be nice to have additional options a project like an improved VB would be a huge undertaking that could take years to complete. Very ambitious project to say the least.

Yea...I don't think there are enough active programmers here with enough free time to complete something like this in anytime less than 5 years.

[Jacob Roman]

Well I'm designing the IDE right now using VC++ 2010. Stupid question though. What kind of object is the code window in VB or any other language? Is it a multiline textbox or a rich textbox? Or something else?

[Niya]

Well I'm designing the IDE right now using VC++ 2010. Stupid question though. What kind of object is the code window in VB or any other language? Is it a multiline textbox or a rich textbox? Or something else?

Its probably a heavily subclassed TextBox type common control. I wrote an IDE for a declarative language years ago and I used a control made specifically for syntax highlighting I found on the internet made by a hobbyist. One will most likely have to be custom made specifically for your IDE.