Is there any way of getting a Windows 95 game to work on Vista?

**rushy** · 11th December 2010, 19:58

I don't use my Laptop for gaming but the only game in the past that I did was Command and Conquer Red Alert. I've just won a copy on the bay but you guessed it...it wont play on Vista or my old Windows XP. Is there any way round it?

**bigmac** · 11th December 2010, 20:12

Right click on the .exe file and use compatibility mode

**Hideous** · 11th December 2010, 20:16

i have no idea if it works, but this video may help for installing it on vista http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AcABN12RiiA
edit: looking at comments it might not work on vista 64-bit version though....

**mparks8590** · 11th December 2010, 20:34

you can even get old dos games to work by using DOSBOX....

its easy to install and run

but yes for Win95 try compatibility first

some games still won't work despite this

the other option is to create dual boot system with WIN95 and Vista on it

fun fun fun

**Big Knox** · 11th December 2010, 20:30

rebuild your machine to dual boot Win95

**Grumpy1954** · 11th December 2010, 20:37

Originally Posted by Big Knox

rebuild your machine to dual boot Win95

I was told dual boots are a very bad idea, supposed to be able to set XP to run as a lower spec, I had some old WP files done in 98SE I wanted to access in XP. The compatibility thing may be the way, I forgot how to do it.

**mparks8590** · 11th December 2010, 20:47

dual boot isn't bad,

i've done this on several machines

you just need to partition your drive correctly

the best way to do this once partitioned is to install the older software first to one partition then the newer to the second partition

if you're feeling brave you can do three OS

I always partition my drives in any case

1 for OS, 1 for data , and a hidden one where i keep a slipstreamed version of the OS to reinstall as and when

thus if 1 partition fails , its easy to get to the other

**Grumpy1954** · 11th December 2010, 23:06

Originally Posted by mparks8590

dual boot isn't bad,

i've done this on several machines

you just need to partition your drive correctly

the best way to do this once partitioned is to install the older software first to one partition then the newer to the second partition

if you're feeling brave you can do three OS

I always partition my drives in any case

1 for OS, 1 for data , and a hidden one where i keep a slipstreamed version of the OS to reinstall as and when

thus if 1 partition fails , its easy to get to the other

Mmm, I have a 98SE Star Trek game, based on Picard's love of archeology and the "Insurrection" film, very good game, but doesn't like running on XP. Might try this on that, better than keeping a 98SE PC as well.

**mparks8590** · 11th December 2010, 23:37

to be honest

i just now suggest that people keep old pc's

put a copy of xp pro on it and use it as a server

it works for me

accept not full server software but its fast, reliable and secure data storage

and vista finds it easily

**keefy*2010** · 11th December 2010, 20:47

Originally Posted by rushy

I don't use my Laptop for gaming but the only game in the past that I did was Command and Conquer Red Alert. I've just won a copy on the bay but you guessed it...it wont play on Vista or my old Windows XP. Is there any way round it?

The only way have managed to run older versions of software is to do a clean install with the older spec Windows install the older software and make sure it is running then upgrade the Windows operating system to latest version. Windows is clever enough to leave the elements of the lower version that are needed for software that is installed.
It worked for me with AutoCad which ran with 98 but not with Xp by doing what I said above it runs perfect.