Mar
13
2011

How to run Turbo C IDE on Windows 7

An article by Arun Vishnu

Turbo C 3.0 is an IDE for creating C/C++ programs which runs on MS Dos (Microsoft Disk Operating System). Up to Windows XP, Turbo C 3.0 IDE runs without any problem but it is not compatible on Windows Vista or Windows 7. Many users(Especially Students ) use Turbo C IDE for writing C/C++ programs. So today I am going to explain how you can run Turbo C++ IDE on Windows Vista or Windows 7.

Method 1: Run Windows XP in Windows 7 using XP Mode and then run Turbo C from Windows XP. The new Windows XP Mode lets you run older Windows XP business software right on your Windows 7 desktop. Windows XP Mode comes as a separate download and works only with Windows 7 Professional and Ultimate. Windows XP Mode also requires virtualization software such as Windows Virtual PC. Both are available free on the Microsoft website. So if you are running Windows 7 Home Basic, this method will not work. So I am not explaining this method now.

Method 2: Using DOSBox

DOSBox is a DOS-emulator that uses the SDL-library which makes DOSBox very easy to port to different platforms. DOSBox has already been ported to many different platforms, such as Windows, BeOS, Linux, MacOS X…
DOSBox also emulates CPU:286/386 realmode/protected mode, Directory FileSystem/XMS/EMS, Tandy/Hercules/CGA/EGA/VGA/VESA graphics, a SoundBlaster/Gravis Ultra Sound card for excellent sound compatibility with older games.

DOSBox is totally free of charge and OpenSource.

So you can run old DOS Games and DOS programs using the DOSBox. Follow the bellow steps to install Turbo C IDE.

Download DOSBox . As of now the latest version is 0.74. Download Win32 installer for windows
Install DOSBox
Create a folder for Dos Programs. For example I am creating a folder ‘Dos’ in my ‘C’ drive.
Run DOSBox
In the DOSBox window, we can type the dos commands. First we will mount the ‘Dos’ folder to DOSBox. Type the following commands

MOUNT C C:\Dos
C:
If you have Turbo C Installer, you need to install it. Step 7-10 are the installation steps. If you have the installed files ie a folder named TC or turbo c and inside that sub folders ‘BIN’, ‘BGI’ etc, goto step 11.
Copy the installation files to C:\Dos\TCSetup
Run the following command in DOSBox

C:\Dos\TCSetup\INSTALL.EXE
Change source drive to ‘C’ and press enter
We are going to install it to TC which is the default option. Select Start Installation by pressing the down arrow key and press enter. The installation will start and and you will get message once it is complete. Continue by pressing any key, close the read me me file. Now we are ready to run Turbo C
In the DOSBox command terminal, type the following command to get the Turbo C Editor. TC\BIN\TC.EXE
Write, compile, debug and run your programs
If you get any errors saying cannot include your header files like stdio.h etc… : Make sure that your Libraries are configured correctly. Goto Turbo C’s Option menu, select ‘Directories’ and make sure that Include directories path is ‘C:\TC\INCLUDE’ and Library Directory is ‘C:\TC\LIB’
You can Switch to Full Screen view or back to normal view by pressing Alt + Enter keys

Tags: c and cpp, c++, dos, download, editor, Programming, Tips & Tricks, windows 7

Author: Arun Vishnu

19 Comments + Add Comment

sadia May 5, 2011 at 1:47 am

hay still tc doesnt runs ……………….
and
step 8 doesnt work .it gives some error
SARAN.V.S June 28, 2011 at 7:01 pm

I can’t do the step 11. please help me…
SARAN.V.S June 28, 2011 at 7:23 pm

output screen is not available.. what i will do.. please help me.
Arun Vishnu June 29, 2011 at 10:42 pm

@sadia sorry for taking thismuch time to reply.. can you tell me the the error message?

@SARAN if you are in tc, you can see the output window from “Window” menu
simer August 6, 2011 at 7:09 pm

Waoooooo thanx 4 the help..!!!! 🙂
Shiva Dave August 16, 2011 at 12:55 pm

first ol all….copy tc and paste it to your c drive………
then just install dos box………create dos name folder in c drive…..
run dos box……
TYPE:-
MOUNT C C:\DOS(ENTER)
C:(ENTER)
direct goto step 11……
type commands given in 11 step…….
it is quite easy….
i have done it very easily…..
Deena August 30, 2011 at 1:28 pm

step 8 doesn’t work.The error message is “Illegal command”.
NAveen VArshney September 2, 2011 at 2:04 pm

Hi Arun,

I have one issue, I am unable to install C++ on Windows Vista. Please tell me process step by step.

I will be very thankful to you.

Thanks

Naveen Varshney
raaji October 1, 2011 at 10:56 pm

i am not able to see output can u please help me
raaji October 2, 2011 at 6:21 pm

i am not able to see output please help me
Arun Vishnu October 4, 2011 at 10:40 pm

@Naveen Same as windows 7
@raaji Goto toubr c “Window” menu and select “Output”
KeWaL October 6, 2011 at 6:10 pm

Hello,
I am KeWaL. MoDi,
when i open dosbox then i must this code,
there is no any1 trick that i not write code when i open dosbox,
please mail me or send me on facebook.com/kewal.modi
please
Vishnu Priya October 10, 2011 at 2:19 am

I have created the folder Dos containing the TC folder in it. Even then i am getting a problem with the command in step 11.
Please help me solving this issue.
Thanks in advance.
Arun Vishnu October 10, 2011 at 9:53 am

@Vishnu Priya Have you done step 5 and got output as mentioned in the screenshoot?
Vishnu Priya October 23, 2011 at 11:22 pm

I have got the output for step 5 as mentioned in the screenshot.I also have a folder named TC with sub folders BIN,BGI etc inside the folder named Dos in C Drive.But i am not getting the output for the command given in step 11.

C:\>TC\BIN\TC.EXE
Illegal command: TC\BIN\TC.EXE

Help me solving this issue.Thanks.
Arun Vishnu October 24, 2011 at 1:53 pm

After the step 6, try the following command
cd c:\TC\BIN\
dir

After executing the above 2 commands, you will get a list of files and folders inside the BIN folder. If the paths and installation files are correct, you will get TC.EXE in that list. Try this and verify you have TC.EXE in that folder
debasmita datta April 4, 2012 at 7:58 pm

graphics codes r not running..its giving “Graphics error : Device driver not found(EGAVGA.BGI)”..please help..urgent
Rajasekhar June 18, 2012 at 11:00 pm

Hi,

I loaded Turbo C in my laptop having XP Operating System. Please let me know how to run the same.

Thanks
MURALI KRISHNA.G May 14, 2013 at 5:46 pm

THANQ,ITS WORKING