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Topic created on: February 2, 2007 13:49 CST by DrCook .

I have a program that was written 20+ years ago and the source code is not known. It only runs in dos and will not run on XP. I would like help on finding a program that will reverse engineer tis so I can change it and make it run on Windows XP.
Thanks in advance....

mpompeo		February 2, 2007 14:48.28 CST
the answer is pretty simple: IDA. But from the type of your question -and after you gave a look to our most used tool- I believe this is not the answer you hoped to read :D

aeppert		February 2, 2007 16:05.20 CST
Very interesting problem. What you are more looking at is a problem of re-implementing an old program, not just taking it from DOS and hoping to make it run on Windows XP. The net result of what you want to do is fundamentally rewriting the program so that it would be native to Windows XP. What I am assuming (please, correct me if I am wrong!) you want to do is reverse engineer any proprietary algorithm(s) contained within the program to reimplement them in a modern program. The task of hoping to run 20+ year old code on a modern operating system and processor is infinitely more difficult than reverse engineering the algorithms contained within it and reimplementing them in a modern language. There are a few companies and individuals that specialize in such work and it often falls under the loose terminology of "product re-engineering." Good luck and please continue to ask a few more pointed questions on this subject as there are likely several of us in here that have performed such a task in the past.

DrCook		February 2, 2007 16:43.37 CST
OK, very pointed question....Can anyone help me do such a thing as "product re-engineering."?

Paolo		February 3, 2007 06:07.43 CST
Hello, I think that reading this document can give you more understanding about what you are going to face: http://boomerang.sourceforge.net/lostsource.php Please, have a look especially to the sections "How long will it take?" and "Should I consider redevelopment?" - you have to really consider if it is not easier reimplementing yourself the program. Anyway, feel free to ask your questions... You'll find this board an enjoyable place ;)

mpompeo		February 3, 2007 16:04.51 CST
Well, let me express more clearly. You asked for a decompiler, which makes me think you have little RCE experience. Unless you just need to rebuild a COM file, or an EXE equivalent (small/medium), you need quite enough RCE skills for it (and old 16bit DOS expertise). No matter what you get from a decompiler, it's not matter of fixing some variable name or so: you need to place it in IDA and locate/fix/integrate errors and the like. Which requires quite a good exp both on IDA etc. So, if you dont use well IDA/asm, you are simply losing your time(=money) and your initial project drops. Start learning RCE with such an initial goal is... not impossible, simply very very hard. So, IMHO, or you can open the target in IDA and really understand at sight what's going on -really!- or you'd better go other ways (i.e. a company that offers such services, restart development). Else, you are wasting your time (and your money). Sorry if I sounded too rude, but that's the sad truth.

memo5		February 22, 2007 22:17.20 CST
Can you send me a copy of this program with some documentation about it may be I can help rewrite it.

daniellewis		February 3, 2008 19:53.49 CST
Google is your friend.

MohammadHosein		February 8, 2008 13:31.28 CST
i've faced the same problem several weeks ago , it was an OS\2 application . instead of taking my chances in RE i decided to ran it inside virtualbox hosted on linux with seamless windowing , and wrote a very simple script to put/get files from the guest . it was quite simple and now a very expensive legacy app ( proprietary algorithm inside ) is working along side with a modern system . i suppose Virtualization has a serious role in this kind of issues and its one of a few areas that Vistualization is not just a Buzz , like linus mentioned in his last interview .

EggHead		August 24, 2013 06:38.31 CDT
> DrCook:I would like help on finding a program that will reverse engineer ... > Thanks in advance.... There is list of decompilers http://demono.ru/links.html Unfortunately, it's on Russian language, and you need section third section - "��"

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