Installing old games on new 64 bit OSes

[Englander]

With the arrival of my new laptop, I'd like to put few old games on it. It can't be anything at all demanding as this laptop is only running Intel integrated graphics.

What I'm curious to know is if there is any way of installing very old games easily on new, 64 bit operating systems (windows 7 in my case). This thread was inspired just now when I tried to install the original Command & Conquer, but to no avail because it keeps telling me it isn't compatible with this version of windows.

Any suggestions on how I can circumvent these sorts of problems? The one thing that I can think of is to set up a dual boot, but I'd rather leave that as a last resort.

Thanks,
Michael

[Ferral]

Best bet is have a look on Google. For example I know a 3rd party created an installer for Grim Fandango which allows you to install and play it on 64 bit OS.

[kalniel]

If it's purely the installer that's 16bit then you could try using a boot disk or something - most older games should be able to run from executable once they are installed so you can just create shortcuts with compatibility mode as necessary once installed on the hard drive.

[DavidM]

If they're DOS based - I've had some success with DOSBOX under Windows 7 Pro.

[Lee H]

Don't forget in Windows 7 Pro and above there is always the virtual XP mode you can use to run older software/applications so this might be worth checking out as well.

[oolon]

Actually Virtual PC on windows 7 or windows Xp can run windows 98, I have two install ones with vesa drivers and one without. I use a program to slow down the virtual machine to make the games playable. I find slowing down the virtual machine is better than slowing down the main computer.

Games I have working. Xcom I, II and apoc, syndicate, privateer, Moo2, Imperium Galatica I & II. I keep images of the install disks on my computer as well.

[Antagram]

If the CD versions don't install, have you tried the free downloads of the C&C games from EA and other sites? In case they have been updated slightly.

Command & Conquer Classics

• Red Alert
• Tiberian Dawn
• Tiberian Sun + Firestorm

Probably a more complete page somewhere, but found the original Command & Conquer was on Gamespot for free

[Englander]

If the CD versions don't install, have you tried the free downloads of the C&C games from EA and other sites? In case they have been updated slightly.

Command & Conquer Classics

• Red Alert
• Tiberian Dawn
• Tiberian Sun + Firestorm

Probably a more complete page somewhere, but found the original Command & Conquer was on Gamespot for free

Yep, that's where I downloaded C&C from! Still haven't cracked how to get it to run properly, but in the meantime I successfully installed a couple of other ancient games (DOOM, DOOM II, Age of Empires) so I'm ok for the moment

Edit: For those interested, the way to do is to install the complete no-CD installation pack from this website: http://nyerguds.arsaneus-design.com/cnc95upd/cc95p106/ Sorted

[Zadock]

I can confirm that:

Thief: Deadly Shadows
Diablo 2
Titan Quest

All working...

Also, like oolon says, something like virtual box would work well for anything really old... obviously you'd need a copy of the most suitable os

[directhex]

The issue is that many moons ago, InstallShield and a few other installer apps used to ship a 16-bit setup.exe, which would then load a 32-bit install app. The sole purpose of the 16-bit piece? To be able to pop up a "This program requires Windows 95" window if run on Windows 3.1.

The problem is that x86-64 processors cannot execute 16-bit code if they're running 64-bit mode - only 16-32 or 32-64.

[Behemoth]

I used to keep a spare hard drive for another OS for this reason, I tend not to bother with that these days, that and I needed to sell off all my older smaller drives or put them in systems to sell off.

I find myself however wanting to play some old games and have no old small drives to use, so am on the lookout for a 120/160 gig IDE/SATA drive so that I can play HomeWorld 2 lol

[Lord Midas]

I couldn't even install SimCity 4 on my old Win XP 64bit
I daren't even try on my new Win 7 Ultimate 64bit.

[Behemoth]

I'm sure I had Sim City 4 installed and running on Windows 7 64 bit, don't have it any longer so can't pop it in to try sadly.

[oolon]

Actually no 32 bit processor can run 286 "16 bit" memory mode, the 386 used a completely different memory addressing mode from the 286, that is why windows 3 did not work on the 286. 16 bit instructions are usable just not the memory model. No processor has been backwards compatible with the 286. 286 had protected mode, 386 has virtual mode while on a 286 you could use 8086 instructions you had to recompile, which is why virtual 8086 mode was invented for the 386.

[directhex]

I couldn't even install SimCity 4 on my old Win XP 64bit
I daren't even try on my new Win 7 Ultimate 64bit.

You would likely have more luck. For one thing, it definitely works (I have it on Steam).

It was often the case, in the XP era, where a game installer would ask "what version are you?" and refuse to work on NT 5.2 (Server 2003, and also Server 2003 Workstation AKA XP64). 64-bit Vista and W7 will lie to such installers, and will not run into the same problem. e.g. Vampire: Bloodlines.

[Syllopsium]

Actually no 32 bit processor can run 286 "16 bit" memory mode, the 386 used a completely different memory addressing mode from the 286, that is why windows 3 did not work on the 286. 16 bit instructions are usable just not the memory model. No processor has been backwards compatible with the 286. 286 had protected mode, 386 has virtual mode while on a 286 you could use 8086 instructions you had to recompile, which is why virtual 8086 mode was invented for the 386.

That's pretty much entirely untrue. The 386 and upwards are almost entirely compatible with everything that came before them aside from undocumented instructions.

Windows 3.0 even worked on the 8086. Windows 3.1 worked on the 286. NT and 95 required a 386 or better.

Virtual 8086 mode was invented because the 286 could not speedily or reliably switch between protected and real mode to run real mode operating systems such as DOS. It was possible to do so on many (not all) 286 processors using the undocumented LOADALL instruction, but it was too slow to be used sensibly.