Running Puff 2.1 Under Windows XP

Running Puff 2.1 under Windows XP has a number of problems, since the print screen command is disabled for DOS windows under XP, printer functions are disabled, and there have been font compatibility problems. Fortunately, Stephen Disney (of our class) has figured out an excellent way to overcome these problems. This is detailed below.

First, download and Install DOS emulator DOSBox. This can be downloaded for free from their website at: dosbox.sourceforge.net

Next, make sure that PUFF 2.1 folder is on your C: drive. Also, make sure that the full pathname to the PUFF directory does not have any spaces (this just makes things simpler).

Start up DOSBox. (Note, after installation, a shortcut should have been installed in your start menu.) A DOS window will open, with the root DOS drive (e.g.: Z:\) giving you a command prompt.

You need to "mount" the PUFF directory as a drive before running PUFF. To do this, type the command:
mount P: C:\pathtopuffdirectory\PUFFfoldername

Hit enter, and DOS should respond with:
Drive P is mounted as local directory C:\pathtopuffdirectory\PUFFfoldername

Next, change to the new drive by simply typing P:

Finally, start Puff, by simply typing: PUFF at the command line. This will start up puff in a rooted window.

You can print your PUFF screen by simply clicking on the window, and entering ALT-PrtScreen. You can then cut and paste the window into any document type desired and print it out.

Finally, for classroom use, using DOSBox, PUFF can also be projected to an auxiliary video display such as an overhead projector!