Windows 7 64-Bit Compatibility with 16-Bit and 32-Bit Content

[Drew Wilson]

Well, I'm sure this was the most predictable thing one could think of for an old-skool gamer. I'm finding out how hard it is to make things compatible.

I found a Microsoft support page which has a VM program. Unfortunately, some OSs (including mine) are not supported. Surprise!

I've only tested the 16-bit games I have so far, but I wouldn't be surprised if my 32-bit stuff did the same thing. Right now, my current attempt to fix this is DOSBox, but I'm first trying to test all my stuff since some things might work and other things might not.

I think they should have a slogan for Windows 7 - "Windows 7 - Compatibility ends here!"

Edit: Tested a bunch of 32-bit based games. They work fine! w00t!

[Signa]

Yeah, 64-bit computing would have failed if it wasn't compatible with 32-bit.

[HelenaP]

My hubby told me to try to configure the normal Sandboxie to run compatible with Windows7.

Guess it's time to get off me bum and see if it works, because the newer version does not work the same as the 32. I do not feel that I am as protected as with the normal version (my cloak of invincibility).

Edit: Didn't work. Nor does the new version have capability to run 32 bit.

[Excrement_Cranium]

Real pirates get VMware?

Dunno...

[mountain_rage]

Its been a long time since I could get 16bit games working without dos box. 32 bit games and programs all work fine.

[Gamer8585]

Short version: To keep things "Simple" MS didn't include support for 16bit apps in 64 bit versions of their OS. So you can't get 16bit apps workings without an OS that supports 16bit apps (i.e 32bit Windows, Dosbox, etc.)

Its good that MS is trying to keep bloat down, but I wish that they would include and optional update for 16bit app support for us old school gamer types. I must be reminded every few year just how HARD Warcaft I was.

[Drew Wilson]

It's a bit unfortunate that I haven't used DOSBox before (everything ran fine under Vista, so I didn't have this problem before), so that'll be an interesting learning experience. Should I get a front end for DOSBox (if so, any one in particular that's good?) or is it simple enough to understand so I can just install a few things and run it under DOSBox?

[Gamer8585]

It's a bit unfortunate that I haven't used DOSBox before (everything ran fine under Vista, so I didn't have this problem before), so that'll be an interesting learning experience. Should I get a front end for DOSBox (if so, any one in particular that's good?) or is it simple enough to understand so I can just install a few things and run it under DOSBox?

Ehhhh...DOSBox is a bit more complicated then your simple install and run programs. You have to make sure to mount your CD drive in DOSBox (for CD based games) and then point to the folder and execute the app. Also since there's no real auto-regulation of your processor you may have to manually adjust the speed (along with other settings) on a game by game basis.

The good news is that you can copy a txt file over into you game directory, set some values for the game in question, and set auto run features. Then just change the file extension from .txt to .bat and create a short cut on your desktop. Then you'll be able to just click the icon and run the game.

If the game you want to run is/was fairly popular you might be able to find someone that has posted good configuration settings on the internet. That way you don't have to dick around with experimenting and can just enter the values.

I haven't used a front-end but I would imagine that using one would make all the configuration settings much more clear and easier to use.

[Drew Wilson]

Ehhhh...DOSBox is a bit more complicated then your simple install and run programs. You have to make sure to mount your CD drive in DOSBox (for CD based games) and then point to the folder and execute the app. Also since there's no real auto-regulation of your processor you may have to manually adjust the speed (along with other settings) on a game by game basis.

The good news is that you can copy a txt file over into you game directory, set some values for the game in question, and set auto run features. Then just change the file extension from .txt to .bat and create a short cut on your desktop. Then you'll be able to just click the icon and run the game.

If the game you want to run is/was fairly popular you might be able to find someone that has posted good configuration settings on the internet. That way you don't have to dick around with experimenting and can just enter the values.

I haven't used a front-end but I would imagine that using one would make all the configuration settings much more clear and easier to use.

OK, yeah, it wasn't that popular. It was an RPG game called Mordor: The Depths of Dejenol and Mordor 2: Darkness Awakening. Right now, there are a few people that are left in that community trying to figure out how to run this game on a 64 bit machine and there's no known answer at this point. The first one doesn't need to be installed due to its simple file layout. The second one is merely an EXE file that needs to install the game. Very grateful I won't have to put up with the extra complicated step of using a CD because the game is simple enough to install once on any computer, then moving the whole directory over from machine to machine.

[Drew Wilson]

Well, that didn't work. It "requires windows" to run.

Sooo, my current possible solution to get this to run is using VirtualBox, then installing Ubuntu in it, then installing WINE in it, then trying to get the game to work. If there's a compatibility issue with 16-bit, I already managed to find this solution. Man this seems to be much more complicated then I though. :frown:

[mountain_rage]

Well, that didn't work. It "requires windows" to run.

Sooo, my current possible solution to get this to run is using VirtualBox, then installing Ubuntu in it, then installing WINE in it, then trying to get the game to work. If there's a compatibility issue with 16-bit, I already managed to find this solution. Man this seems to be much more complicated then I though. :frown:

Why not just find a copy of Windows 98 and install that in a VirtualBox?

[Drew Wilson]

Why not just find a copy of Windows 98 and install that in a VirtualBox?

Unfortunately, I don't have one. I have a Windows XP (in use on a desktop currently), a Windows Vista (in use, well, not really, on my old laptop) and Windows 7 which is useless in running this.

If I manage to get a "free" solution, this can be a solution that everyone can use. I wouldn't mind trying to get a rather convoluted system (though universal) working so I can write a small guide first for the benefit of the small community that may or may not find a solution to get this game running otherwise (yeah, I'm just being super nice that way for donating all this sweat and time even though it's for my own benefit in a small way). After that, I'm not sure if I can have an already installed Windows OS operating on a VM at the same time (because I think there was some sort of restriction tied with Windows OS's when it came to multiple machines IIRC)

[Aaron_Walkhouse]

My usual answer for this is to dig up an old PC and set it up with a few different
legacy OS boot partitions. Do you have any old iron sitting around unused?

[cesp610]

have you been able to run mordor on windows 7 64bit?

[Drew Wilson]

Hey,

Um, unfortunately, the news has kept me very busy as of late. However, I do intend on testing my theory when I do get a chance since I know there is interest on a work-around like this.

I want to say, "I'll be getting this done (insert time frame here)" but I can't at this point simply because of so many things going on for me right now. Rest assured, it's on my "to-do" list though! :)