Discussion Forums > Technology
Windows 7 x64 & Classic/Win95/98-era Gaming Compatibility
Neco:
--- Quote from: zherok on December 08, 2009, 09:01:40 AM ---
--- Quote from: Neco on December 07, 2009, 03:35:42 PM ---http://www.dosbox.com/
I can't believe no one has mentioned this. The site also has a compatibility list, as well as a general progress graph of various emulation aspects (CPU's, special modes, etc) and there are tens of GUI's available for it.
--- End quote ---
Well, to be fair, of the games he mentioned, all but Carmmaggeddon and HoMM2 were Windows-only games. You won't be running Starcraft in DOSBox. But for those games, yeah, definitely better to use DOSBox than virtualize XP to run a DOS game.
--- End quote ---
Well yeah, seeing as the OP said he wanted to run DOS Games too...
CatSoup:
--- Quote from: DaggerLite on December 08, 2009, 09:36:11 AM ---I recommend dual booting, installing XP 32-bit first, then Win7 64-bit afterwards. Remember to do this on separate partitions or separate drives. Using XP-mode in Win7 64-bit, it would still be XP 64-bit which is not very compatible with older programs.
--- End quote ---
Thanks for the additional suggestions, guys! Yes, DOSBox is on my radar. I wonder if sooner or later someone will make a games-compatibility VM for early windows, or something similar.
Wow, 64-bit Win7 XP Mode will be 64-bit XP? That really sucks. I wonder when/if they'll find a workaround to virtualize 32-bit hardware on a 64-bit OS. In light of all of this, dual booting seems like the only reliable compatibility option...
Neco:
There is an open source OS project thats been going on for a couple years. I'm not sure of its progress and the name escapes me at the moment, but it was supposed to be made with the aim of being an alternative to Windows. Able to run windows programs, etc. At the time I think it was a 32-bit project, not sure if they have branched it into an x64 or are going pure x64 or anything like that.
But it would be great for a lot of old games that need a 32-bit Windows OS. I think it was even planned to have a DirectX alternative as well. I'll try and find the info on it again and get a link.
sdedalus83:
It's called ReactOS and it's still many years from being truly usable.
Neco:
Yeah that's it. http://reactos.org
Still in Alpha, but its something worth watching as time goes on. One day it may be a suitable Alternative to Windows, and in a way something like Linux could never accomplish (i.e Being able to run windows programs natively).
I just never can stick with Linux. I rely too much on Windows only apps, when even if OSS versions are available, just don't compare in features, or having a shitty looking GUI.
But hey, 15 years from now, if someone wants to play games and can't even get an older version of Windows to install, or don't want to use Windows, maybe this will be able to step up to the plate.
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