Windows XP Mode problem running older games


  1. Posts : 4
    Windows 7 Professional x64
       #1

    Windows XP Mode problem running older games


    Hello,
    I am running Windows 7 Pro x64 and have been trying to run some old games in XP Mode. I keep getting error messages. "16 bit MS-DOS Subsystem, C:\WINDOWS\system32\cmd.exe, The video device failed to initialize for fullscreen mode." How can I fix or get around this error?

    Here are just two of the many games I tried to run:

    Lords of the Realm II
    Caesar III
    Last edited by herojab; 30 Jan 2012 at 20:15. Reason: Needed to add more info about my computer
      My Computer


  2. Posts : 4
    Windows 7 Professional x64
    Thread Starter
       #2

    NM, I just found out that windows doesnt run 16bit games.
      My Computer


  3. Posts : 710
    Win7 Pro x64
       #3

    If they ran previously in Windows XP, shouldn't they run in XP mode? I'm about to purchase Win7 Pro for this very reason since I have some older games too that don't run in Win7 x64.

    I'm guessing the 16-bit programs shouldn't be too demanding though, I don't know what kind of video drivers are supplied for XP mode.
      My Computer


  4. Posts : 2,528
    Windows 10 Pro x64
       #4

    Very basic. Console-based games and games not involving directx usually work fine (though not always), but anything requiring acceleration is basically going to be a no-go in an XP-Mode VM. It's for business programs and older apps, not really for games.
      My Computer


  5. Posts : 1,846
    Windows 7 Ultimate x64, & Mac OS X 10.9.2
       #5

    Windows 7 Doesnt actually have Dos. it has a command prompt similar, but only test based DOS programs run.
      My Computer


  6. Posts : 2,528
    Windows 10 Pro x64
       #6

    Not only that, but Windows can run 16-bit DOS programs - the limitation is a 64bit processor one. If you're running a 64bit processor in native mode, it cannot switch from Long mode (64bit native, 32bit and 16bit protected mode) to Legacy mode (32bit native, 16bit non-protected mode, basically the same as x86). Thus, if you run a native 64bit OS, and the 16bit app is not a protected mode 16bit app that is known to work (and the vast majority do not, usually only certain 16bit installers work), it won't run on a 64bit version of Windows.
      My Computer


 

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