diff --git a/tools/podprobe.bat b/tools/podprobe.bat
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..ad8ce04
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tools/podprobe.bat
@@ -0,0 +1,46 @@
+@echo off
+REM podprobe.bat -- XP-SAFE fallback probe for the pod / crash cart.
+REM
+REM Use this when tools\podprobe.ps1 will not run (no PowerShell, or an
+REM XP/2003-era box where .NET/PS is absent).  Uses only tools that shipped
+REM with Windows XP.  Writes podprobe_bat.txt next to itself.
+REM
+REM   podprobe.bat
+REM
+REM It answers the first question that matters: WHAT IS THIS MACHINE, and can
+REM our build run on it at all?  (Modern MSVC toolset => Windows 7 SP1+.)
+
+setlocal
+set OUT=%~dp0podprobe_bat.txt
+echo ==================== BT411 POD PROBE (bat fallback) ====================> "%OUT%"
+echo host: %COMPUTERNAME%   session: %SESSIONNAME%>> "%OUT%"
+date /t >> "%OUT%"
+time /t >> "%OUT%"
+echo.>> "%OUT%"
+
+echo ---- OS ---->> "%OUT%"
+ver >> "%OUT%"
+wmic os get Caption,Version,BuildNumber,OSArchitecture /format:list >> "%OUT%" 2>&1
+echo.>> "%OUT%"
+
+echo ---- GPUs / drivers ---->> "%OUT%"
+wmic path Win32_VideoController get Name,DriverVersion,DriverDate,CurrentHorizontalResolution,CurrentVerticalResolution /format:list >> "%OUT%" 2>&1
+echo.>> "%OUT%"
+
+echo ---- Monitors (attached) ---->> "%OUT%"
+wmic path Win32_DesktopMonitor get DeviceID,Name,ScreenWidth,ScreenHeight,Availability /format:list >> "%OUT%" 2>&1
+echo.>> "%OUT%"
+
+echo ---- Serial ports (RIO board) ---->> "%OUT%"
+wmic path Win32_SerialPort get DeviceID,Name /format:list >> "%OUT%" 2>&1
+echo.>> "%OUT%"
+
+echo ---- Full DirectX report (monitor rects, D3D caps) ---->> "%OUT%"
+echo (dxdiag is writing podprobe_dxdiag.txt -- may take ~30s)>> "%OUT%"
+dxdiag /whql:off /t "%~dp0podprobe_dxdiag.txt"
+
+type "%OUT%"
+echo.
+echo Wrote %OUT%
+echo Wrote %~dp0podprobe_dxdiag.txt  (send BOTH back)
+endlocal
diff --git a/tools/podprobe.ps1 b/tools/podprobe.ps1
index 46161eb..7cbec03 100644
--- a/tools/podprobe.ps1
+++ b/tools/podprobe.ps1
@@ -26,6 +26,25 @@ W ("when        : {0}" -f (Get-Date -Format 'yyyy-MM-dd HH:mm:ss'))
 W ("windows     : {0}" -f (Get-CimInstance Win32_OperatingSystem).Caption)
 W ""
 
+W "---- WILL OUR BUILD EVEN RUN HERE? ----"
+try {
+  $os  = Get-CimInstance Win32_OperatingSystem
+  $ver = [Version]$os.Version
+  W ("  OS version  : {0} (build {1})" -f $os.Version, $os.BuildNumber)
+  W ("  architecture: {0}" -f $os.OSArchitecture)
+  if ($ver.Major -lt 6) {
+    W "  *** STOP: this is Windows XP/2003-era. btl4.exe is built with a modern MSVC"
+    W "      toolset and WILL NOT LAUNCH here (CRT + API requirements). Options:"
+    W "      (a) put a newer Windows on the cart, or (b) rebuild with the v141_xp"
+    W "      toolset (VS2017), or (c) drive the panels from a modern PC instead."
+  } elseif ($ver.Major -eq 6 -and $ver.Minor -lt 1) {
+    W "  *** WARNING: Vista-era. Untested; Win7 SP1+ is the practical minimum."
+  } else {
+    W "  OK: modern enough for the current build."
+  }
+} catch { W "  (OS query failed: $_)" }
+W ""
+
 W "---- GPUs ----"
 try {
   Get-CimInstance Win32_VideoController | ForEach-Object {