Win32SDK download and quick Win16 API reference?

[Harry Potter]

Hi! I want to have a downloaded version of the Win32SDK on my computers so I don't have to go online to look things up. I think I still have one from a long time ago, but it uses an obsolete help viewer. I want to be able to refer to it on a Win11/64 laptop. I also want to quickly be able to create programs for Win16. Can anybody here provide some recommendations?

[JJ]

Post by Harry Potter
Hi! I want to have a downloaded version of the Win32SDK on my computers
so I don't have to go online to look things up. I think I still have one
from a long time ago, but it uses an obsolete help viewer. I want to be
able to refer to it on a Win11/64 laptop. I also want to quickly be able
to create programs for Win16. Can anybody here provide some
recommendations?

Check archive.org

[Charlie Gibbs]

On 2023-07-05, Harry Potter <***@yahoo.com> wrote:

[Added line breaks - please limit your lines to 72 chars. or less]

Post by Harry Potter
Hi! I want to have a downloaded version of the Win32SDK on my
computers so I don't have to go online to look things up. I think
I still have one from a long time ago, but it uses an obsolete help
viewer. I want to be able to refer to it on a Win11/64 laptop.
I also want to quickly be able to create programs for Win16.
Can anybody here provide some recommendations?

You might still be able to find a copy of Borland C++ Builder
version 5.5 floating around out there. They released it (minus
the IDE) for free some time ago. I'm still using it for my Win32
stuff. I have the help files as well; I can't remember whether
they came with BCB55, or whether they're left over from the BCB4
I originally started out with.

I still have a copy of Turbo C++ 4.0 that I use for Win16 stuff.

[Harry Potter]

I thank you for your advice. I believe I have Borland (or Turbo?) 3.0, and it supports Win16. I just need to know the differences between Win16 and Win32 and a reference to the Win32 C API. I could use a reference for Standard C functions for some projects, including a text compressor for old 8-bit computers. When I'm done with the compressor, I can port it to 16- and 32-bit systems if anyone here desires.

[Auric__]

Post by Harry Potter
Hi! I want to have a downloaded version of the Win32SDK on my computers
so I don't have to go online to look things up. I think I still have
one from a long time ago, but it uses an obsolete help viewer. I want
to be able to refer to it on a Win11/64 laptop. I also want to quickly
be able to create programs for Win16. Can anybody here provide some
recommendations?

This page walks you through installing WinHelp on Windows 10 and 11 (watch
the word wrap):

https://www.winhelponline.com/blog/view-winhelp-hlp-files-windows-10-with-
winhlp32-exe/

I *think* OpenWatcom might still support Win16 as a development target. I'm
not sure, but it wouldn't surprise me:

http://openwatcom.org/

If not, well, WinWorldPC has a bunch of Win16 devtools, but they won't run
under Win64 without 3rd-party apps. (I use WineVDM.) WinWorldPC also has
several 16- and 32-bit SDK versions.

Also check archive.org, as JJ suggested.

Personally, I have installs of 16- and 32-bit Windows (3.11, WinfWG 3.11,
NT3, 95, 98, 2000, XP) under emulation and just use them instead. If your
laptop is powerful enough (and it probably is), I suggest installing Win95
or 98 in a VM and using that for your 16-bit development.

(Backporting from 32/64 bits to 16 bits can sometimes be... difficult. I
abandoned an attempt to do so around 10-15 years ago because I would have
had to write my own versions of some 32-bit APIs that don't exist under
Win16, and it wasn't worth it for a one-off port.)

[Harry Potter]

Post by Auric__
This page walks you through installing WinHelp on Windows 10 and 11 (watch
https://www.winhelponline.com/blog/view-winhelp-hlp-files-windows-10-with-
winhlp32-exe/

Thank you. Is there a way for me to just get the help viewer?

Post by Auric__
I *think* OpenWatcom might still support Win16 as a development target. I'm
http://openwatcom.org/

The last time I updated OW, the Win16 target was supported. I have a WIn16 setup on DOSBox but not Win98 on DOSBox-X. I should work on the latter. :)

Post by Auric__
If not, well, WinWorldPC has a bunch of Win16 devtools, but they won't run
under Win64 without 3rd-party apps. (I use WineVDM.) WinWorldPC also has
several 16- and 32-bit SDK versions.

I actually use and like WinWorldPC. WHich tag do I use to get development tools?

Post by Auric__
Also check archive.org, as JJ suggested.
Personally, I have installs of 16- and 32-bit Windows (3.11, WinfWG 3.11,
NT3, 95, 98, 2000, XP) under emulation and just use them instead. If your
laptop is powerful enough (and it probably is), I suggest installing Win95
or 98 in a VM and using that for your 16-bit development.

I have a real Win98SE computer at my mother's house. I used to have a DOS laptop with a Win3.1 install, but that laptop is missing. :(

Post by Auric__
(Backporting from 32/64 bits to 16 bits can sometimes be... difficult. I
abandoned an attempt to do so around 10-15 years ago because I would have
had to write my own versions of some 32-bit APIs that don't exist under
Win16, and it wasn't worth it for a one-off port.)

Well, I just want to port simple tools that could work on Win16 but not right now.

[Auric__]

Post by Harry Potter

Post by Auric__
This page walks you through installing WinHelp on Windows 10 and 11
https://www.winhelponline.com/blog/view-winhelp-hlp-files-windows-10-wit
h-winhlp32-exe/

Thank you. Is there a way for me to just get the help viewer?

I'm sure there is, but I wouldn't trust anything that doesn't actually come
from Microsoft. Follow the site's instructions, it's not hard.

Post by Harry Potter

Post by Auric__
If not, well, WinWorldPC has a bunch of Win16 devtools, but they won't
run under Win64 without 3rd-party apps. (I use WineVDM.) WinWorldPC
also has several 16- and 32-bit SDK versions.

I actually use and like WinWorldPC. WHich tag do I use to get
development tools?

Library -> DevTool, then at the bottom Platforms... -> Windows. You'll need
to look through the results because you can't filter specifically for Win16.

Post by Harry Potter

Post by Auric__
Personally, I have installs of 16- and 32-bit Windows (3.11, WinfWG
3.11, NT3, 95, 98, 2000, XP) under emulation and just use them instead.
If your laptop is powerful enough (and it probably is), I suggest
installing Win95 or 98 in a VM and using that for your 16-bit
development.

I have a real Win98SE computer at my mother's house. I used to have a
DOS laptop with a Win3.1 install, but that laptop is missing. :(

You should be able to get a 9x-capable machine for US$50-100 on ebay.
Literally anything will do as long as it works.

[Harry Potter]

I just downloaded the indicated file and extracted the particular content specified. However, the instructions say to type in "md d:\test" in Command Prompt I have a D: drive, and it's a flash drive. Can I still type in the instruction and the following instruction?

[Auric__]

Post by Harry Potter
I just downloaded the indicated file and extracted the particular
content specified. However, the instructions say to type in "md
d:\test" in Command Prompt I have a D: drive, and it's a flash drive.
Can I still type in the instruction and the following instruction?

Try it and find out. (Yes.)