Running really old games on Windows XP?

Apocalypse 2077 · Post by **Apocalypse 2077** » Wed Mar 17, 2004 4:56 pm

Back when Windows XP was still being made I remember watching a review on television which claimed that XP would be able to mimic old versions of windows so you could run old games. I now have Windows XP and I am looking to run Wing Commander III and possibly Wing Commander II. I would appreciate any help in adjusting my computer to run the game... but if you don't know... don't answer.

jetbaby · Post by **jetbaby** » Wed Mar 17, 2004 5:22 pm

Try it, but I've never seen that thing actually make a game work. All you have to do is right click on the exe file, click on the compatability tab, and then click run compatability mode, and pick whatever one you want. I dunno if there is anything beyond that but I would assume not. As I said, I've never had that make an old game work.

Megatron · Post by **Megatron** » Wed Mar 17, 2004 5:30 pm

U NEED A thingy

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Wed Mar 17, 2004 5:35 pm

The compatibility mode isn't surefire. It works for most Win 95/98 games, but anything from the DOS era is pretty hit-or-miss. The technology is just too outdated to cooperate with XP. So if the compatibility mode doesn't work for the Wing Commanders (or whatever else you want to play), I'd suggest looking up a fansite that may have a FAQ or whatnot on how to play it on XP.

Mad Max RW · Post by **Mad Max RW** » Wed Mar 17, 2004 5:39 pm

You can always get rid of XP. It sucks.

Strap · Post by **Strap** » Wed Mar 17, 2004 5:43 pm

If you have problems installing old windows based games, use this: http://www.duckandcover.net/forums/view ... 803#125803

(I had to use that for Rainbow6 and other old games that wouldn't install)

jetbaby · Post by **jetbaby** » Wed Mar 17, 2004 6:07 pm

Mad Max RW wrote:You can always get rid of XP. It sucks.

Oh god Mad Max... never say that. I went from ME to this. It was the greatest thing I've ever done. ME made me want to cry myself to sleep each night.

Spazmo · Post by **Spazmo** » Wed Mar 17, 2004 6:11 pm

There's a number of programs to help you run older games. ScummVM is great for the old LucasArts adventure games and DOSBox is a terrific general purpose thing for DOS games. Try those two.

jetbaby · Post by **jetbaby** » Wed Mar 17, 2004 6:15 pm

I should get this DOSbox.. Steel Panthers is an old favorite strategy game of mine that runs in dos.

Kashluk · Post by **Kashluk** » Wed Mar 17, 2004 10:11 pm

Yup, DosBox is propably the best out there. It's amazing to play Ultima Underworld through it with a computer that doesn't actually kneel before those fancy 3D graphics, unlike my old 66 MHz 486, which I played UUW with the last time

And I personally prefer Win2000 Professional. It runs smooth, it's pretty light comparing to other Windowses and crashes are more rare than common.

POOPERSCOOPER · Post by **POOPERSCOOPER** » Thu Mar 18, 2004 12:19 am

Theres also VDMsound if DOSbox doesnt work.

LlamaGod · Post by **LlamaGod** » Thu Mar 18, 2004 8:15 am

Win98 rocks your faces.

Kashluk · Post by **Kashluk** » Thu Mar 18, 2004 6:31 pm

Awful network support. Next!

Apocalypse 2077 · Post by **Apocalypse 2077** » Sun Mar 21, 2004 3:29 pm

I think the only system which worked right for it's time is probably DOS... then they brought out Windows 3.1 and it went down hill from there...