Old DOS game won't run: 64-bit compatibility problem

Tews · 12 Jul 2010

Have you activated your copy yet?? Is it a genuine copy??

severedsolo · 12 Jul 2010

Install the update and then restart your browser. the plugin wont initialise unless the browser is reset.

I just tried it in XP Mode. I get "the video device failed to initialise for full screen mode" and then Command Prompt crashes.

I dont really know what else to suggest =/ Unless you try dual booting with 32 bit I suppose, but it seems a bit extreme just to play one game

hkBattousai · 12 Jul 2010

Tews said:

Have you activated your copy yet?? Is it a genuine copy??

My company is a member of BizSpark software, and I downloaded this copy of Windows with that BizSpark membership. It is completely legal, and I have my private license key. I never had this kind of problem.

severedsolo · 12 Jul 2010

Just restart your browser :) It does exactly the same thing to me.

When you restart it will find the plugin and you will be able to proceed as normal

hkBattousai · 12 Jul 2010

severedsolo said:

Install the update and then restart your browser. the plugin wont initialise unless the browser is reset.

I just tried it in XP Mode. I get "the video device failed to initialise for full screen mode" and then Command Prompt crashes.

I dont really know what else to suggest =/ Unless you try dual booting with 32 bit I suppose, but it seems a bit extreme just to play one game

I am restarting now...
It seem a bit extreme for one game, but I occasionally encounter this kind of problems, so I need to learn how to solve them.

severedsolo · 12 Jul 2010

hkBattousai said:

severedsolo said:

Install the update and then restart your browser. the plugin wont initialise unless the browser is reset.

I just tried it in XP Mode. I get "the video device failed to initialise for full screen mode" and then Command Prompt crashes.

I dont really know what else to suggest =/ Unless you try dual booting with 32 bit I suppose, but it seems a bit extreme just to play one game

I am restarting now...
It seem a bit extreme for one game, but I occasionally encounter this kind of problems, so I need to learn how to solve them.

NORMALLY non compatible not 64 bit applications run fine on XP Mode. It looks like this issue is linked specifically to the fact that its trying to make the Command Prompt Window full screen and XP Mode doesn't like it. The game loads fine, but when I go to actually play, it tries to go full screen and crashes.

Unfortunately, this is linked to the XP Mode generic graphics adapter, which can't be changed. I run DOS Games on XP Mode all the time, but the ones I play don't normally need to go full screen.

Of course it may also be because I dont have hardware virtualisation on my system. Your mileage may vary

hkBattousai · 12 Jul 2010

That Windows genuine validation is still going on, and appears to be stuck. I'm closing it.

Thanks for your helps, I will try to install a new virtual Windows XP machine in Sun VirtualBox.

Dzomlija · 12 Jul 2010

hkBattousai said:

That Windows genuine validation is still going on, and appears to be stuck. I'm closing it.

Thanks for your helps, I will try to install a new virtual Windows XP machine in Sun VirtualBox.

If it really is an old DOS game (Ihaven't check out the attachment you provided), then perhaps you might have better luck with a third party utility?

Give DOSBox a try...

patio · 12 Jul 2010

You should contact MS and have them re-validate this install...

ignatzatsonic · 12 Jul 2010

hkBattousai said:

Isn't there any way to run those programs? I need simpler way than using a virual PC, because that is the last option.

There might be.

I went through a similar issue with Photoshop 4, a 1998 era application that has a 16 bit installation program. I couldn't get it to install on Win 7 64 bit, so I went with 32 bit Win 7---and Photoshop 4 works fine on 32 bit.

A few months after I installed Win 7 someone on this site provided a link to a 3rd party utility that he had used to get around the problem. I don't know, but I assume it was designed to work with any 16 bit installatiion issue on 64 bit Windows. The poster said it worked OK.

I looked at it briefly, but didn't pursue it because I had already gone with 32 bit and was satisfied.

I didn't save the link, so all I can tell you is that a possible solution is out there if you can find it----Google or otherwise.