Windows 7 and Classic Games...

[Dan2312]

Last night i went to play on Xwing Alliance, it refused to install because it uses an ancient 16-bit installer, which refuses to load with my Vista 64-bit,

i then tried X-wing itself and Tie fighter, still same issues, Then i tried the classic Command and Conquer for win 95, same issues,

There are fixes for the Xwing games, but i don't fancy messing with my Vista registry to get them to work,

Does anyone know if windows 7 will be more flexible to allow us to play these retro classics?

 

[Error 404]

If you really want to play classic games, then find an old Pentium III computer and run Windows 98 or 2000 on it; Windows is supporting older stuff less and less. Other than that, you could try DOSBox, or something similar?

 

[Zehnsucht]

The XP virtualization mode on W7 should be your best bet.

 

[eidairaman1]

i dont think the 64bit CPUs have 16bit registers anymore.

 

[hat]

All the 64 bit processors I've ever had have worked with 16-bit programs. The Quake installer, for example.

 

[ShiBDiB]

u cant expect windows to spend time coding in support for games a few thousand play (if that)

 

[Dan2312]

I do play dosbox occasionally for pinball fantasies, fatal racing etc.

Ive read somewhere that there won't be another x-wing\tie fighter based game, and they're classic games.

 

[Mussels]

the games work fine, i've tested it myself.

Run a VMware, install the games. If they dont run fast enough there, you can often just run the exe from the vista machine, and they'll start.

its the installers thats not compatible, not the games. (same issues with mechwarrior games)

 

[Disparia]

^---- Yup, that happens quite a bit. I wasn't able to play Simcity 2000 (32bit) because of it's 16bit installer. Luckily I found a reg file with the needed keys and whatnot.

 

[MilkyWay]

i ant get xwing to work either there is supposedly a file you can use but man i dont know, do you have to use dosbox or vmware or something like that?

 

[Mussels]

if you ran a windows 98 VMware, you'd have access to its DOS system too.

 

[MilkyWay]

so the only way to get it working is to actually have an older windows? like 95? 98?
i can emulate it but the hassle for one game argh

 

[Dan2312]

Run a VMware?

Like what, ive heard of it but don't know where to start to get one?

Cheers.

 

[Studabaker]

Run a VMware?

Like what, ive heard of it but don't know where to start to get one?

Cheers.

VMWare is virtualization software that runs an OS inside another OS by setting up a 'fake' computer for the guest OS on the host OS.

 

[Mussels]

microsoft has virtual PC, VMware is actually the main brand/program everyone associates with virtual machines. Google is your friend.

 

[newtekie1]

I'd like to clear up that the problem is not with the 64-bit CPUs, as stated earlier, but actually with the 64-bit forms of Windows. Generally, Windows has support for one step back. So the 32-bit versions supported 16-bit programs, but not 8-bit. The 64-bit versions support 32-bit but not 16.

As already mentioned, the easiest way to handle this is to run a VMware or VirtualPC with a 32-bit OS installed.

And to answer the original question, Yes and No. Win7 x64 itself won't be any more flexible with running 16-bit programs, the functionality just isn't there. However, Win7 32-bit will run 16-bit programs, as will Vista 32-bit. Also, certain versions of Win7 will come with a Windows XP environment that will allow you to run 16-bit programs, of course these will be the Business versions, the Home versions will lack this.

 

[Mussels]

I'd like to clear up that the problem is not with the 64-bit CPUs, as stated earlier, but actually with the 64-bit forms of Windows. Generally, Windows has support for one step back. So the 32-bit versions supported 16-bit programs, but not 8-bit. The 64-bit versions support 32-bit but not 16.

As already mentioned, the easiest way to handle this is to run a VMware or VirtualPC with a 32-bit OS installed.

And to answer the original question, Yes and No. Win7 x64 itself won't be any more flexible with running 16-bit programs, the functionality just isn't there. However, Win7 32-bit will run 16-bit programs, as will Vista 32-bit. Also, certain versions of Win7 will come with a Windows XP environment that will allow you to run 16-bit programs, of course these will be the Business versions, the Home versions will lack this.

many of these older games wouldnt even install in vista 32 bit for me.
The installers were coded "look for XP" not "look for XP and above", that kinda thing.

 

[kgreene]

Ive installed the original fallout on 64bit vista ultimate and never had any problems with it.