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Thread: Why Can't I Play old dos games in vista?

  1. #1
    rodney williams Guest

    Why Can't I Play old dos games in vista?

    Ok when i try to play my old dos games it says sorry does not support full screen mode is there anyway that i can fix the system so i can play my dos games in full screen please i need help.

  2. #2
    Synapse Syndrome Guest

    Re: Why Can't I Play old dos games in vista?

    "rodney williams" <rodneywilliamsjr@verizon.net> wrote in message
    news:ezkv2xM9HHA.5948@TK2MSFTNGP04.phx.gbl...
    Ok when i try to play my old dos games it says sorry does not support full
    screen mode is there anyway that i can fix the system so i can play my dos
    games in full screen please i need help.


    ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    DOSBox is a DOS emulator especially made for playing old DOS games:

    http://dosbox.sourceforge.net/inform...adfc00d7e3b52c

    ss.



  3. #3
    HeyBub Guest

    Re: Why Can't I Play old dos games in vista?

    rodney williams wrote:
    > Ok when i try to play my old dos games it says sorry does not support
    > full screen mode is there anyway that i can fix the system so i can
    > play my dos games in full screen please i need help.


    Vista doesn't do 16-bit stuff. At all.



  4. #4
    Andrew McLaren Guest

    Re: Why Can't I Play old dos games in vista?

    "HeyBub" <heybub@gmail.com> wrote ...
    > Vista doesn't do 16-bit stuff. At all.


    That is incorrect. What is your reason for claiming that Vista does not run
    16 bit applications?

    32-bit Vista runs 16 bit applications using the NTVDM ("NT Virtual DOS
    Manchine") and, for 16-bit Windows apps, the WoW (Windows-on-Windows)
    thunking layer.

    Because of changes in the display model, Vista running with WDDM drivers
    canot display character-mode applications full-screen. If (and only if) an
    application requires full screen access to run, it cannot run on Vista; or
    it must be run in an emulator like DosBox, as Synapse Syndrome correctly
    suggests. Vista using a non-WDDM display driver can also display DOS apps
    full screen (although this is not a recommended solution for the OP).

    DOS applications can run just fine in a Window; likewise 16 Windows apps.
    For example, I always run a copy of VisiCalc.com (c.1981) on every new
    version of Windows, to test backwards compatibility. It runs fine on Vista.

    64-bit Vista cannot run any 16 bit applications. This is an architectural
    limitation of the CPU, and is also true for 64 bit XP and Server 2003.

    Any DOS or Win3.x application is subject to all the usual compatibility
    constraints when running on NT (eg cannot directly write to hardware
    adresses etc). But apart from that, Vista has the same 16 bit compatiblity
    as XP, Windows 2000 and NT 4.0 (in fact somewhat better, because there have
    been numerous bug fixes to the NTVDM since NT 4.0).

    Your statement is either wrong, or else you omitted important caveats
    ("Vista doesn't do 16-bit stuff. At all. on 64 bit Vista. But 32 bit Vista
    is fine"; etc).

    --
    Andrew McLaren
    amclar (at) optusnet dot com dot au



  5. #5
    HeyBub Guest

    Re: Why Can't I Play old dos games in vista?

    Andrew McLaren wrote:
    > "HeyBub" <heybub@gmail.com> wrote ...
    >> Vista doesn't do 16-bit stuff. At all.

    >
    > That is incorrect. What is your reason for claiming that Vista does
    > not run 16 bit applications?


    Vista WILL run some 16-bit applications. You are correct. I was taking my
    clue from:

    "This symptom only applies to 32-bit versions of Windows Vista. 16-bit
    programs are not supported on 64-bit versions of Windows Vista."

    http://support.microsoft.com/kb/926657






  6. #6
    Penny Guest

    Re: Why Can't I Play old dos games in vista?

    Hi Andrew You sound as if you know a little about this stuff
    I have an origional Myst game (windows'95 I think) Will this be ok to play
    on my new laptop which supports vista home premium, will I need to change any
    settings? I'm a bit nervous of installing something that may disrupt
    everything
    Ta

    "Andrew McLaren" wrote:

    > "HeyBub" <heybub@gmail.com> wrote ...
    > > Vista doesn't do 16-bit stuff. At all.

    >
    > That is incorrect. What is your reason for claiming that Vista does not run
    > 16 bit applications?
    >
    > 32-bit Vista runs 16 bit applications using the NTVDM ("NT Virtual DOS
    > Manchine") and, for 16-bit Windows apps, the WoW (Windows-on-Windows)
    > thunking layer.
    >
    > Because of changes in the display model, Vista running with WDDM drivers
    > canot display character-mode applications full-screen. If (and only if) an
    > application requires full screen access to run, it cannot run on Vista; or
    > it must be run in an emulator like DosBox, as Synapse Syndrome correctly
    > suggests. Vista using a non-WDDM display driver can also display DOS apps
    > full screen (although this is not a recommended solution for the OP).
    >
    > DOS applications can run just fine in a Window; likewise 16 Windows apps.
    > For example, I always run a copy of VisiCalc.com (c.1981) on every new
    > version of Windows, to test backwards compatibility. It runs fine on Vista.
    >
    > 64-bit Vista cannot run any 16 bit applications. This is an architectural
    > limitation of the CPU, and is also true for 64 bit XP and Server 2003.
    >
    > Any DOS or Win3.x application is subject to all the usual compatibility
    > constraints when running on NT (eg cannot directly write to hardware
    > adresses etc). But apart from that, Vista has the same 16 bit compatiblity
    > as XP, Windows 2000 and NT 4.0 (in fact somewhat better, because there have
    > been numerous bug fixes to the NTVDM since NT 4.0).
    >
    > Your statement is either wrong, or else you omitted important caveats
    > ("Vista doesn't do 16-bit stuff. At all. on 64 bit Vista. But 32 bit Vista
    > is fine"; etc).
    >
    > --
    > Andrew McLaren
    > amclar (at) optusnet dot com dot au
    >
    >


  7. #7
    Andrew McLaren Guest

    Re: Why Can't I Play old dos games in vista?

    Hi Penny

    > You sound as if you know a little about this stuff


    Heh, don't be fooled :-)

    > I have an origional Myst game (windows'95 I think) Will this be ok to play
    > on my new laptop which supports vista home premium, will I need to change
    > any
    > settings? I'm a bit nervous of installing something that may disrupt


    I'm pretty sure you'd be able to install Myst, without messing up anything
    else. To be absolutely sure, create restore point, before you install Myst:

    - go to Start menu
    - select Control Panel
    - select "System and Maintenance"
    - select item "System"
    - click on "System Protection" in left margin
    - enter administrator credentials if propmted
    - the "System Properties"panel will appear, with "System Protection" already
    selected
    - press the "Create" button, to cretae a system restore point.
    - give it a name like "Before Myst" or similar
    - press the Create button
    - system will chugg away for a few moments, creating the restore point.

    With a restore point safely created, you'll be able to easily roll back your
    system, in the unlikely event that installing Myst does cause any disruption
    to your system.

    To roll back:
    - go to Start menu
    - in "Start Search" filed", type "system restore"
    - select the "System Restore" program item
    - teh System Restore Wizard will start. Just follow the bouncing ball,
    selecting your restore point "Before Myst" to undo all the changes.

    But hopefully, Myst will just install, and uninstall, normally.

    As to whether Myst will actually *run* on Vista ... um sorry, I dunno. I
    don't play computer games, so I have no first-hand expereince. You may need
    to check out some of the Myst user forums to see what people's experience
    has been.

    --
    Andrew McLaren
    amclar (at) optusnet dot com dot au



  8. #8
    ronald.phillips@gmail.com Guest

    Re: Why Can't I Play old dos games in vista?

    On Oct 9, 8:46 am, Penny <Pe...@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote:
    > Hi Andrew You sound as if you know a little about this stuff
    > I have an origional Myst game (windows'95 I think) Will this be ok to play
    > on my new laptop which supports vista home premium, will I need to change any
    > settings? I'm a bit nervous of installing something that may disrupt
    > everything
    > Ta
    >
    >
    >
    > "Andrew McLaren" wrote:
    > > "HeyBub" <hey...@gmail.com> wrote ...
    > > > Vista doesn't do 16-bit stuff. At all.

    >
    > > That is incorrect. What is your reason for claiming that Vista does not run
    > > 16 bit applications?

    >
    > > 32-bit Vista runs 16 bit applications using the NTVDM ("NT Virtual DOS
    > > Manchine") and, for 16-bit Windows apps, the WoW (Windows-on-Windows)
    > > thunking layer.

    >
    > > Because of changes in the display model, Vista running with WDDM drivers
    > > canot display character-mode applications full-screen. If (and only if) an
    > > application requires full screen access to run, it cannot run on Vista; or
    > > it must be run in an emulator likeDosBox, as Synapse Syndrome correctly
    > > suggests. Vista using a non-WDDM display driver can also display DOS apps
    > > full screen (although this is not a recommended solution for the OP).

    >
    > > DOS applications can run just fine in a Window; likewise 16 Windows apps.
    > > For example, I always run a copy of VisiCalc.com (c.1981) on every new
    > > version of Windows, to test backwards compatibility. It runs fine on Vista.

    >
    > > 64-bit Vista cannot run any 16 bit applications. This is an architectural
    > > limitation of the CPU, and is also true for 64 bit XP and Server 2003.

    >
    > > Any DOS or Win3.x application is subject to all the usual compatibility
    > > constraints when running on NT (eg cannot directly write to hardware
    > > adresses etc). But apart from that, Vista has the same 16 bit compatiblity
    > > as XP, Windows 2000 and NT 4.0 (in fact somewhat better, because there have
    > > been numerous bug fixes to the NTVDM since NT 4.0).

    >
    > > Your statement is either wrong, or else you omitted important caveats
    > > ("Vista doesn't do 16-bit stuff. At all. on 64 bit Vista. But 32 bit Vista
    > > is fine"; etc).

    >
    > > --
    > > Andrew McLaren
    > > amclar (at) optusnet dot com dot au- Hide quoted text -

    >
    > - Show quoted text -


    The problem with Myst and the other Myst games is that they use
    Quicktime. (Which is bad). If you have a newer version of Quicktime
    than the one that came with Myst (Quicktime v2 or v3?) then you may
    have problems. For those games that don't like never versions of
    Quicktime I usually just run them in Vmware/VPC/Qemu.



  9. #9
    Andre Da Costa[ActiveWin] Guest

    Re: Why Can't I Play old dos games in vista?

    Also the DOS 16 bit subsystem is not supported in Vista. Best you play them
    in VM with Windows 95 installed. Just download the free Virtual PC 2007 and
    install Windows 95 and your favorite DOS games.
    --
    Andre
    Blog: http://adacosta.spaces.live.com
    My Vista Quickstart Guide:
    http://adacosta.spaces.live.com/blog...3DB!9709.entry
    <ronald.phillips@gmail.com> wrote in message
    news:1192044425.747613.231450@50g2000hsm.googlegroups.com...
    > On Oct 9, 8:46 am, Penny <Pe...@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote:
    >> Hi Andrew You sound as if you know a little about this stuff
    >> I have an origional Myst game (windows'95 I think) Will this be ok to
    >> play
    >> on my new laptop which supports vista home premium, will I need to change
    >> any
    >> settings? I'm a bit nervous of installing something that may disrupt
    >> everything
    >> Ta
    >>
    >>
    >>
    >> "Andrew McLaren" wrote:
    >> > "HeyBub" <hey...@gmail.com> wrote ...
    >> > > Vista doesn't do 16-bit stuff. At all.

    >>
    >> > That is incorrect. What is your reason for claiming that Vista does not
    >> > run
    >> > 16 bit applications?

    >>
    >> > 32-bit Vista runs 16 bit applications using the NTVDM ("NT Virtual DOS
    >> > Manchine") and, for 16-bit Windows apps, the WoW (Windows-on-Windows)
    >> > thunking layer.

    >>
    >> > Because of changes in the display model, Vista running with WDDM
    >> > drivers
    >> > canot display character-mode applications full-screen. If (and only if)
    >> > an
    >> > application requires full screen access to run, it cannot run on Vista;
    >> > or
    >> > it must be run in an emulator likeDosBox, as Synapse Syndrome correctly
    >> > suggests. Vista using a non-WDDM display driver can also display DOS
    >> > apps
    >> > full screen (although this is not a recommended solution for the OP).

    >>
    >> > DOS applications can run just fine in a Window; likewise 16 Windows
    >> > apps.
    >> > For example, I always run a copy of VisiCalc.com (c.1981) on every new
    >> > version of Windows, to test backwards compatibility. It runs fine on
    >> > Vista.

    >>
    >> > 64-bit Vista cannot run any 16 bit applications. This is an
    >> > architectural
    >> > limitation of the CPU, and is also true for 64 bit XP and Server 2003.

    >>
    >> > Any DOS or Win3.x application is subject to all the usual compatibility
    >> > constraints when running on NT (eg cannot directly write to hardware
    >> > adresses etc). But apart from that, Vista has the same 16 bit
    >> > compatiblity
    >> > as XP, Windows 2000 and NT 4.0 (in fact somewhat better, because there
    >> > have
    >> > been numerous bug fixes to the NTVDM since NT 4.0).

    >>
    >> > Your statement is either wrong, or else you omitted important caveats
    >> > ("Vista doesn't do 16-bit stuff. At all. on 64 bit Vista. But 32 bit
    >> > Vista
    >> > is fine"; etc).

    >>
    >> > --
    >> > Andrew McLaren
    >> > amclar (at) optusnet dot com dot au- Hide quoted text -

    >>
    >> - Show quoted text -

    >
    > The problem with Myst and the other Myst games is that they use
    > Quicktime. (Which is bad). If you have a newer version of Quicktime
    > than the one that came with Myst (Quicktime v2 or v3?) then you may
    > have problems. For those games that don't like never versions of
    > Quicktime I usually just run them in Vmware/VPC/Qemu.
    >
    >




  10. #10
    Andrew McLaren Guest

    Re: Why Can't I Play old dos games in vista?

    "Andre Da Costa[ActiveWin]" <andred25@hotmail.com> wrote ...

    > Also the DOS 16 bit subsystem is not supported in Vista. Best you play
    > them in VM with Windows 95 installed. Just download the free Virtual PC
    > 2007 and install Windows 95 and your favorite DOS games.


    Hi Andre

    This is a common misapprehension - but with respect, it is wrong. This kind
    of misleading information should not be put out to the public.

    The 16-bit Subsystem, in the form of NTVDM (NT Virtual DOS Machine) and
    16-bit WoW (Windows on Windows) are present by default in 32-bit Vista, and
    are fully supported by Microsoft. In general terms, 16-bit applications run
    fine on 32-bit Vista. There may be specific compatibility issues, for
    particular applications.

    16-bit applications cannot run on 64-bit Vista. This is true, and is exactly
    the same situation with existed for 64-bit XP, and 64-bit Server 2003.
    NTVDM.EXE uses V86 instructions which are not compatible with the CPU's
    64-bit mode.

    I do agree, that Virtual PC is a good workaround for any applications
    (16-bit or otherwise) which experience compatibility problems on Vista.

    What is your basis for saying the DOS 16-bit subsystem is not supported in
    Vista?

    --
    Andrew McLaren
    amclar (at) optusnet dot com dot au



  11. #11
    Andre Da Costa[ActiveWin] Guest

    Re: Why Can't I Play old dos games in vista?

    I tried to install Hallmark Card Studio 1.0 on Vista x86 Ultimate and it did
    not if go beyond the install button. Please contact hallmark for support.
    --
    Andre
    Blog: http://adacosta.spaces.live.com
    My Vista Quickstart Guide:
    http://adacosta.spaces.live.com/blog...3DB!9709.entry
    "Andrew McLaren" <andrew@fakeaddress.com> wrote in message
    news:B0019C67-3DA5-4BC1-B745-6D00C522286A@microsoft.com...
    > "Andre Da Costa[ActiveWin]" <andred25@hotmail.com> wrote ...
    >
    >> Also the DOS 16 bit subsystem is not supported in Vista. Best you play
    >> them in VM with Windows 95 installed. Just download the free Virtual PC
    >> 2007 and install Windows 95 and your favorite DOS games.

    >
    > Hi Andre
    >
    > This is a common misapprehension - but with respect, it is wrong. This
    > kind of misleading information should not be put out to the public.
    >
    > The 16-bit Subsystem, in the form of NTVDM (NT Virtual DOS Machine) and
    > 16-bit WoW (Windows on Windows) are present by default in 32-bit Vista,
    > and are fully supported by Microsoft. In general terms, 16-bit
    > applications run fine on 32-bit Vista. There may be specific compatibility
    > issues, for particular applications.
    >
    > 16-bit applications cannot run on 64-bit Vista. This is true, and is
    > exactly the same situation with existed for 64-bit XP, and 64-bit Server
    > 2003. NTVDM.EXE uses V86 instructions which are not compatible with the
    > CPU's 64-bit mode.
    >
    > I do agree, that Virtual PC is a good workaround for any applications
    > (16-bit or otherwise) which experience compatibility problems on Vista.
    >
    > What is your basis for saying the DOS 16-bit subsystem is not supported in
    > Vista?
    >
    > --
    > Andrew McLaren
    > amclar (at) optusnet dot com dot au
    >




  12. #12
    Andrew McLaren Guest

    Re: Why Can't I Play old dos games in vista?

    "Andre Da Costa[ActiveWin]" <andred25@hotmail.com> wrote...
    >I tried to install Hallmark Card Studio 1.0 on Vista x86 Ultimate and it
    >did not if go beyond the install button. Please contact hallmark for
    >support.


    Right, one specific application did not want to install. Some applications
    (whether 16-bit or 32-bit) will have compatibility problems on Vista.

    However, many many 16-bit DOS and Windows 3.x applications run on Vista with
    no problems at all. The vast majority, in fact, of 16-bit apps can run okay
    on Vista.

    It is wrong to say the DOS 16 bit subsystem is not supported in Vista. It is
    misleading advice.

    --
    Andrew McLaren
    amclar (at) optusnet dot com dot au



  13. #13
    R. C. White Guest

    Re: Why Can't I Play old dos games in vista?

    Hi, Andrew.

    > However, many many 16-bit DOS and Windows 3.x applications run on Vista
    > with no problems at all. The vast majority, in fact, of 16-bit apps can
    > run okay on Vista.


    On 32-BIT Vista. NOT on 64-bit Vista! (You said this in your earlier post,
    but not in this one, and some readers will not read the other post.)

    RC
    --
    R. C. White, CPA
    San Marcos, TX
    rc@grandecom.net
    Microsoft Windows MVP
    (Running Windows Live Mail beta 2 in Vista Ultimate x64 SP1 beta v.275)

    "Andrew McLaren" <andrew@fakeaddress.com> wrote in message
    news:0ADAEAE9-CFE7-4B99-8F72-5C7D706519F4@microsoft.com...
    > "Andre Da Costa[ActiveWin]" <andred25@hotmail.com> wrote...
    >>I tried to install Hallmark Card Studio 1.0 on Vista x86 Ultimate and it
    >>did not if go beyond the install button. Please contact hallmark for
    >>support.

    >
    > Right, one specific application did not want to install. Some applications
    > (whether 16-bit or 32-bit) will have compatibility problems on Vista.
    >
    > However, many many 16-bit DOS and Windows 3.x applications run on Vista
    > with no problems at all. The vast majority, in fact, of 16-bit apps can
    > run okay on Vista.
    >
    > It is wrong to say the DOS 16 bit subsystem is not supported in Vista. It
    > is misleading advice.
    >
    > --
    > Andrew McLaren



  14. #14
    Andrew McLaren Guest

    Re: Why Can't I Play old dos games in vista?

    "R. C. White" <rc@grandecom.net> wrote...
    >> However, many many 16-bit DOS and Windows 3.x applications run on Vista
    >> with no problems at all. The vast majority, in fact, of 16-bit apps can
    >> run okay on Vista.

    >
    > On 32-BIT Vista. NOT on 64-bit Vista! (You said this in your earlier
    > post, but not in this one, and some readers will not read the other post.)


    Yep, that's correct! 16 bit apps can run on 32-bit Vista. 16-bit apps cannot
    run on 64-bit Vista.

    16-bit apps cannot run on 64-bit XP or Server 2003, either. This is a
    limitation of 64 bit mode. It has nothing to do with Microsoft dropping
    support for 16-bit apps in Vista, as such - in fact I believe there have
    been bug fixes and improvements to NTVDM in Vista, compared to XP. So in
    some ways, 16-bit support is actually *better* in Vista.

    I just don't know why this rumour started, that Vista does not support
    16-bit apps. Or more importantly, I dunno why folks keep repeating it over
    and over, when it is so obviously wrong.

    As you can tell, it's a pet peeve of mine :-)

    --
    Andrew McLaren
    amclar (at) optusnet dot com dot au



  15. #15
    ronald.phillips@gmail.com Guest

    Re: Why Can't I Play old dos games in vista?

    On Oct 10, 6:49 pm, "Andrew McLaren" <and...@fakeaddress.com> wrote:
    > "Andre Da Costa[ActiveWin]" <andre...@hotmail.com> wrote...
    >
    > >I tried to install Hallmark Card Studio 1.0 on Vista x86 Ultimate and it
    > >did not if go beyond the install button. Please contact hallmark for
    > >support.

    >
    > Right, one specific application did not want to install. Some applications
    > (whether 16-bit or 32-bit) will have compatibility problems on Vista.
    >
    > However, many many 16-bit DOS and Windows 3.x applications run on Vista with
    > no problems at all. The vast majority, in fact, of 16-bit apps can run okay
    > on Vista.
    >
    > It is wrong to say the DOS 16 bit subsystem is not supported in Vista. It is
    > misleading advice.
    >
    > --
    > Andrew McLaren
    > amclar (at) optusnet dot com dot au


    I've experienced issues with 16bit Windows games in Vista. Usually
    graphics issues are runtime issues (probably cpu speed). Easiest "fix"
    is to just run them in Windows 3.1 in DosBox since almost all of these
    games do not come with their source code...and yes this is with the
    32bit ver of Windows.


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