How to install an old game. How to run an old game on a new computer

Games and programs for Windows XP run without problems in the new version of the OS. But not all old programs can work the first time. In this case, the recommendations described below will help you understand how to run old games on Windows 10 or other builds.

Running as administrator

Most games and programs for Windows XP were developed taking into account the fact that the user works with the computer under the Administrator account. Therefore, if the application does not start, right-click on. exe file and select "Run as administrator".

Debugging Compatibility Mode

Windows has a built-in utility that performs compatibility debugging for legacy programs.

RMB on .exe file→ Properties → Compatibility tab → Click the “Run Compatibility Troubleshooter” button.

If the application ran without problems in an earlier version of the OS, but does not work in Windows 10, in the “Compatibility Mode” block, check the box “Run the program in compatibility mode for:” and select one of the operating systems that are in the list.

Another option is to set special program launch settings. This can be done in the “Parameters” block by checking the box on one of the items:

• low color mode;
• use screen resolution 640 x 480;
• disable image scaling at high screen resolutions;
• run this program as an administrator.

Games with DRM protection installed

Games that have SafeDisc and SecuROM DRM protection do not run on Windows 10. In this case, the user has several options to solve the problem:

1. Use the “no CD” patch, which allows you to run the game without a disc. But this method is the most unsafe. Such patches are developed by third parties, so they often contain a virus that harms the OS.
2. Reorder the game from a digital distribution service.
3. An official patch that removes DRM protection may be available for download on the game manufacturer's website.

Good to know! A difficult option for launching such applications is to install an older version of the operating system in parallel with Windows 10 and run such games on it, or open the application on a virtual machine.

DOS Applications

Old DOS applications can be run in a Windows desktop window. DOSBox is used for this (you can find out how to run Android applications on Windows in the article “8 best Android emulators for running games and applications on Windows 10”). Compared to the command line, this application handles older DOS applications much more efficiently.

16-bit applications

Windows 10 64-bit does not support running 16-bit programs because it does not have the WOW16 compatibility layer. If the user launches such an application on a new OS, a warning appears indicating that it cannot work.

To open such applications, install 32-bit Windows 10 on your computer (read how to do this in the article “How to upgrade to Windows 10?”) or run a virtual machine with this version of the OS. Another option is to install Windows 3.1 in DOSBOX.

Sites requesting Java, Silverlight, ActiveX

Microsoft's new built-in browser, Edge, does not support Java, Silverlight, ActiveX and other technologies. To run applications that require the use of such technologies, you will need the Internet Explorer browser. Also use the Mozilla Firefox Internet browser.

Internet Explorer can be found using the search bar by entering the name of the browser in it, or in the Edge menu, where there is an option “Open in Internet Explorer”.

Conclusion

There are several ways to open old applications or games in Windows 10. But the best option is to find a similar application that works with modern OS.

In any case, if they were run on Windows 7, there should be no difficulties. Some particularly old programs may not start the first time, but there are several ways to solve this problem.

The tips below apply to a wide variety of applications - from programs for Windows XP and old computer games with DRM protection to applications under DOS and Windows 3.1.

Run as administrator

Many applications written for Windows XP work without problems in modern versions of Windows, but there is one caveat. Back in the days of Windows XP, the average user typically had administrator rights, and applications were designed with this in mind. If you do not have administrator rights, they may not run. The advent of User Account Control put an end to the constant use of programs with administrator rights, and at first this led to certain problems.

If an outdated application does not work correctly, try right-clicking on its shortcut or .exe file and selecting the “Run as Administrator” option. If the program really needs administrator rights, you can configure it so that it always runs as administrator, which is discussed below.

Windows has compatibility settings that allow legacy applications to work properly. To access them, right-click on the application's shortcut or .exe file and select Properties. To get to the shortcut in Windows 10, right-click on the application icon in the Start menu and select the "Open file location" option, and then in the folder that opens, right-click on the application shortcut and select "Properties". Open the Compatibility tab. Here you can use the “Run the compatibility troubleshooter” button or do it yourself.

For example, if an app doesn't run on Windows 10 but worked fine on Windows XP, check the "Run this program in compatibility mode" checkbox and select the "Windows XP Service Pack 3" option. (Service Pack 3)).

You can try other settings. For example, very old games can work if you enable the “Reduced color mode”. And on high-resolution monitors, you can select the option “Disable display scaling on high DPI settings” so that the program looks normal.

The 64-bit version of Windows 10 uses forced driver signature verification, so you simply cannot install an unsigned driver. In the 32-bit version of Windows 10, this is easier, but new computers with UEFI also require signed drivers. This improves system security and stability by protecting it from untrusted and malicious drivers. Unsigned drivers can only be installed if it is really necessary and their safety is guaranteed.

If older software requires unsigned drivers, you will have to use a special system boot option to install them. If the drivers you need are 32-bit, you will have to, since only 64-bit drivers will work in 64-bit.

Games with SafeDisc and SecuROM DRM protection do not work on Windows 10. These digital rights management technologies are more trouble than they're worth, so it's good that Windows 10 no longer allows them to litter your system. However, for this reason, some old games on CDs and DVDs with such protection, unfortunately, will not launch and work normally.

There may be several ways out: find a “no CD” patch for a specific game (which, however, is potentially very unsafe, since such patches are found on dubious pirate sites); buy the game in the GOG or Steam digital store; or look for the official patch that removes DRM protection on the publisher or developer’s website.

A more advanced option is to install a second, older version of Windows on your computer in parallel with Windows 10, or try to run the game in a virtual machine running an older version of Windows. It is quite possible that the power of the virtual machine will be enough - games with such DRM protection are usually very old and undemanding of modern resources.

Virtual machines for legacy software

Windows 7 had a special “Windows XP mode” - essentially a built-in virtual machine with a free Windows XP license. This mode has been removed from Windows 10, but you can implement it yourself.

All you need is a program for creating virtual machines, for example, and a valid Windows XP license. You can install Windows XP in a virtual machine and use it in a separate window inside Windows 10.

The solution is quite resource-intensive and complex, but in most cases it is effective - unless the software that is supposed to be used in this way does not need access directly to equipment and devices. Virtual machines only support a limited number of peripheral devices.

Old games on Windows 7. When switching to Windows 7, there are many new features, but also quite a few problems. The first problem a novice user faces is setting up the program.

Those who have previously worked with Windows XP find it much more difficult to adapt to the new interface and settings than those who immediately start working on a new system. But some time passes and those who previously worked in the old system realize that everything is not as bad as it seemed at first. Even many old games run perfectly on Windows 7. For example, my favorite toy Lara Croft (Tomb Raider 1), which was installed back in DOS, is doing well. You just need to know how to do it. There is nothing complicated about it. Just enable compatibility mode.

How to run old games onWindows 7

I am sure that many people still have old games that evoke nostalgia for those times when there was no such opportunity as playing online. But what times those were...

I myself used to play all night long, despite the fact that I had to go to work in the morning.

My favorite games were and are: Immortality, Tomb Raider (from the first to the fifth versions), Alice through the looking glass, The Seventh Guest, Podarochek, and many others no less interesting.

I still treasure over two hundred game discs. Even now I sometimes indulge in the pleasure of playing. But if I sit down, it’s better not to touch me.

After such retreats from everyday life, I feel much better both mentally and physically.

In vain, many parents think that games are just games. Thanks to games, my daughter learned almost everything on the computer and became a programmer.

Previously, just installing a toy sometimes required skills at the programmer level. This was especially true for games written under DOS. Now I clicked on the installation file or button and everything was installed and started automatically.

And I remember how we installed the game Seventh guest in Windows 98. That's where the puzzle was. Everything is in English, a bunch of files and nothing is clear what is happening. Then Windows XP appeared, and some games simply could not be installed. Then we learned to install two systems in parallel. One for the old games - Millennium, and one for the new Piggy.

For a long time we did not want to switch to the new Vista and Windows 7 systems, but now you can’t install XP on a new computer, since it has been discontinued and there are no drivers for it on new equipment, but you want to play old games.

Now the seven has improved, and it is now possible to run old games and programs. We'll talk about how to do this now.

How to run old games onWindows 7?

To do this, we need to enable Windows 7 compatibility mode.

Right-click on the program or game shortcut and select the entry from the drop-down list - Properties .

• In the window that opens, go to the tab Compatibility .

• Check the box next to the entry Run the program in compatibility mode for:
• Below, in the drop-down list, select the version of Windows with which your program or game previously worked normally;
• Below in Parameters you can configure:

1. Use 256 colors . This mode is suitable for very old programs or games that ran under DOS or Windows 98.
2. Use screen resolution 640 x 480 . Also used for very early versions of operating systems.
3. Disable visuals . Use this mode if you experience problems with menus or icons in windows.
4. Disable desktop composition . This is a mode to disable transparency and a number of visual effects. Turn it on only if you have problems displaying the interface of games or programs.
5. Disable image scaling on high screen resolutions . This mode is used when there are problems with disproportionate window sizes or incorrect display of fonts in the program.

Permission level used only if it is necessary for the program to be run only under administrator rights. For the settings to take effect for all users of this computer, click the button Change settings for all users .

Oldfag gamers have ceased to be black sheep since games lost their zest and turned into disposable cliches. The extermination of hordes of zombies and firing high-tech weapons at monsters against the backdrop of gorgeous landscapes does not attract long: satiety sets in with the graphics and a desire appears to find something, albeit less spectacular, but more meaningful. And there are two options: try indie or launch a well-forgotten old one.

Indie or old school

Indie projects are also different: the same “Minecraft” with its large-pixel graphics won the hearts of millions, and among the rest (to be honest), some are too complex, others are not captivating. Finding a decent and free game is not so easy, because developers also need to eat something. Let’s take “Samorost” as an example: an extraordinary, original quest that takes about two hours to complete, but you don’t pay a penny. But the author made the continuation paid, and it is easy to understand. Many indie developers use the ideas of old games (however, A-class projects are not above this), embodying them in updated graphics and with different characters. Question: does it make sense to take them when the original exists? For example, there are a lot of turn-based strategies, but no one has surpassed “Heroes of Might and Magic III” yet. “Settlers”, “Caesar III”, “Warcraft I/II” are charming and unique, and “Diablo II: Lord of Destruction” is still played online 14 years later. And they will play, because a worthy alternative has not appeared.

How to run a game written for Windows

Before turning to older games, keep in mind that not all of them run without problems in a modern operating environment. However, if you are sure that the game runs on Windows, start with this: in the properties of the executable file, set the compatibility mode for Windows 95 or Windows XP and add run as administrator. If the game is not too old, DirectX 9 libraries may be required - they can be downloaded from the official Microsoft website. This is how “Quake”, “Dungeon Siege”, “Diablo”, “Sacred” and many others are launched. If you still have problems with the graphics, say, color distortion (a well-known problem with “Fallout” and “Diablo”), a patch called DirectDraw Compatibility Tool will help. Remember that many older games do not work correctly with AMD CrossFireX and NVIDIA SLI modes, and also have problems with dual-processor video cards.

DOS games require a specific environment

Games written for MS-DOS simply cannot be launched, since they preferred to work directly with hardware that no longer exists in nature (AdLib, Covox, Sound Blaster Pro, etc.). Therefore, a specific layer is needed, which is ideally served by DOSBox, which emulates the parameters of the DOS system both in a window and in full-screen mode. To begin, create a separate directory in the root of the disk without Russian letters and no more than eight characters in the name (for example: D:/Games/dos/), install DOSBox (you can Russify it if you wish) and select a frontend for it (for example, DOSShell). Of course, games can be launched from the command line (without a frontend), but this is the way for those who yearn for the commands of this OS and are not looking for easy solutions. For example, it was more pleasant for me to configure the shell so that when the shortcut starts, Volkov Commander is launched.

The second option is to use a virtual machine. Not the most trivial path, requiring certain skills and careful reading of the instructions. But if you have such a desire and it is caused by necessity, install a virtual machine (for example, Oracle VM VirtualBox) and, under its control, deploy an operating system image (FreeDOS) - in this case, you will get an almost natural copy of the computer of the past.

Platforms and emulators

Emulators, of which there are a great many on the market, will help you recall games for Atari, Sega, ZX-Spectrum. Unfortunately, no one has yet bothered to create a universal program for at least several popular platforms; on the contrary, several types of emulators are offered for each. It’s hard to say which one to choose; as a rule, all work correctly. The installation procedure is limited to launching the installer through a minimum of user actions. Once the process is complete, the required game is loaded from the menu.

Of course, you can completely recreate the atmosphere of nostalgia only by purchasing the appropriate gamepad - fiddling with the keyboard is not so interesting when it comes to consoles.

Observer, analyst, systems engineer. Full member of the Intel Experts Club, certified specialist (Munich) in network and server technologies since 1993. He has been involved in computers and related solutions since 1985, has participated in numerous exhibitions, and has won awards for original circuit design and software developments. He received his first diploma in 1984 from the Patent Bureau of the Young Technician magazine. He enjoys hunting, fishing, and water-motor sports. “Tired of the bustle of civilization, I prefer a solitary life away from it. I devote all my free time to my family and children.”