Windows 7: Windows 7 x64 - 16 bit games - Dual boot XP

Hi,

I'm looking for some advice on the best was to handle a need for 16bit apps with Windows 7 x64 and XP.

I'm putting together a system for my elderly parents who currently have a barebones old system running XP. They would like to run Windows 7 and want more than 4gb RAM. Trying to make them a machine that's going to last (as if that's possible).

Problem is they have some 16bit games that they love to play. So I was thinking of running XP within 7 x64.. but that's not going to work with 16bit games is it?

So am I going to have to set up a dual boot?

The system has 2 x 1TB SATA2 drives installed. So I was think I might put Windows 7 x64 on one and Window XP x86 on the other.. Reasonable?

If I do that, can the files (like movies and office stuff), be acccessed [safely] from either operating system or might there be conflicts or problems?

I would create a partition on each drive for the OS and a partition for all of the other stuff so two partitions per drive..

Would appreciate your thoughts

thanks
Tanya

Sounds like a perfect example of what XP Mode was designed for. I avoid multi-boot systems like the plague....especially for people who aren't going to want to deal with any issues that arise from them. Simplify and virtualize. Even if XP Mode isn't an option, you'd be surprised how easy it is for non-tech people to use a VM once configured properly.

Unfortunately, I've never seen any game run well in a virtual machine.

And if Windows 7 is 64 bit will the 16 bit games run at all, even in XP mode?

If they are old enough to have 16 bit installers, they'll run in a VM just fine. VirtualBox (I believe) and VMware even offer Direct3D support.
They won't install on the host system, but they will run in a VM, such as XP Mode.

So what's the direction we're going here guys. Are you advocating running XP mode under Windows 7 x64 or purchasing VMWare?

I guess no one seems to be advicating the dual boot scenario?

The original question was whether to install XP and 7 in a dual boot scenario or to run XP mode under Windows 7.

Thanks
Tanya

Have you used DOSBox before?
DOSBox, an x86 emulator with DOS

I've had good results playing 90s games using it.
It can be tricky to setup, but the last version I used had pre-built config files (for quite a few games).

You don't purchase, VMware player is free.

Dos Box works perfectly with Doom 2 and Duke Nukem 3D on my Windows 7 x64. It's free!

If you want more than 4gb of ram, Win XP x64 is needed.
Go for XP mode.