Help loadinfg Tabledit on old computer

John Kavanagh · Post by **John Kavanagh** » 16 Nov 2004 6:34 am

I'm trying to install tabledit on my home computer. I have the reader here at work, so I can print files, but I want the full trial version at home, so I can play with it a bit and probably buy it. I have a very old computer, a 386 (don't laugh) running Windows 3.11. I said don't laugh. It works fine, and if I had the bucks for a better one, I'd buy another instrument instead.

Anyway, I downloaded it fine, the version that the website says will work, but it says it's missing a file: commctrl.dll. I'm assuming this is some system file that I don't have.

Anybody have any useful advice (i.e. any advice that DOESN'T involve buying a new computer or trying to load a later version of this one)? Is this a file I can find at some public site, or is this just not going to work? I run Noteworthy Composer and quite a lot of other software on this machine,and it all works fine. I'm not downloading any MP3s or movies, you understand, but for basic word and music-notation processing it's doing the job.

Thanks. (I'm not buying a new computer, I'm not installing a later Windows. Not this year.)

[This message was edited by John Kavanagh on 16 November 2004 at 12:23 PM.]

Ray Minich · Post by **Ray Minich** » 16 Nov 2004 7:44 am

Find another Win311 machine somewhere and do a search on the disk for the file. Note the location. Copy the file to a floppy. Take the floppy to your machine and put the file in the same spot. You oughta be able to find a Win31 machine somewhere that still runs. Try a doctor's or dentist's office, some of their old billing systems have never been upgraded.
Please tell me that you have 3-1/2" FDD's and not 5-1/4's

If you have no success e-mail me and I'll snail mail you the file. I have everything back to DOS 1.0.

Will Holtz · Post by **Will Holtz** » 16 Nov 2004 9:29 am

You can get a copy of the dll file here.

John Kavanagh · Post by **John Kavanagh** » 16 Nov 2004 9:39 am

Thank you both for the advice. I downloaded the file and put it on a nice 3½ disk to take home. I have the original disks for Win 3.11, and I'll search through them if it doesn't work for some reason.

Appreciate the help very much. If it works for dentists, it can work for me.[This message was edited by John Kavanagh on 16 November 2004 at 12:06 PM.]

Joey Ace · Post by **Joey Ace** » 16 Nov 2004 11:42 am

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:<HR>" any advice that DOESN'T involve buying
a new computer"<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Buy a used computer. P166's are being almost given away these days, and that would be a vast improvement.

John Kavanagh · Post by **John Kavanagh** » 16 Nov 2004 12:04 pm

I know it's ridiculous, but...

I paid $100 for this computer about 8 years ago, and it's almost a point of pride with me to see how long I can keep it going or how long I can hold out against social pressure. It's also an adequate tool for my modest needs, though a bit slow.

I realise I'm like the cranky old guy who nurses his ancient Buick along for decades because "they don't make them like they used to", but it's a bit of a fetish with me. I could buy a reconditioned Pentium almost any time I wanted, but I keep thinking of ways to spend the money that would be more fun, or I have to fix the damn car, or something. And besides, they DON'T make them like they used to. I've never (touch wood) lost data, suffered a serious crash, or had a virus (I've got the email at home set to reject any attachment and besides, I don't think even viruses can run on Win 3.1 anymore).

[This message was edited by John Kavanagh on 16 November 2004 at 12:21 PM.]

Joey Ace · Post by **Joey Ace** » 16 Nov 2004 12:29 pm

The computer might run forever, but the problem is when you want to run newer software.

The folks at Tabledit have always been responsive to my questions.

You might ask them, via email.

(I think I know the response, but it's worth a try.)

FWIW,
Here's an old thread where we harrassed my pal Jimbeoux about his old computer.