Older games do not run Help please

petrox · 13 Feb 2017

Hi all, I need some help please. My old computer quit ( asus A8N-sli, AMD Athlon 64 2 core). The new one is a MSI H 110M Pro-VD board and Intel I5-6400 Skylake with 8 GB ram. Win 7 HP 64 bit. The games are COD 2, COD 4, Flight sim 2004, Battlefield 3. They all install using Admin privilege and Admin run. But nothing happens when trying to start. I have uninstalled the Windows KB3086255 CD security block update as well as the SEC DRV setting to disabled as per the Microsoft bulletin to allow CD start for Games. Nothing so far has worked. Been reading very much on internet but no luck. All these games played well on the old machine. What could be the single reason that causes this to happen? I believe there is a specific cause for all this to happen. The games that do run are Steam Tomb raider and Homeworld also non steam Farming sim 2013. The Grand Kids really liked COD 2 and 4 , just some sections of them. Is it the CPU or Motherboard or Win7? Any help would be appreciated. Regards Peter.

samuria · 13 Feb 2017

Have you right clicked on the exe file and set compatibility to an earlier version of Windows?

RolandJS · 13 Feb 2017

samuria said:

Have you right clicked on the exe file and set compatibility to an earlier version of Windows?

A very good idea to try! However, be aware that many 16-bit and 32-bit, because of hardware considerations as well as Windows considerations, will simply refuse to install, and many, if even installed somehow, will simply refuse to run. If one can get a VM and Windows XP Mode going -- within that area -- the games just might possibly install and run.

petrox · 14 Feb 2017

Thank you for the replies. Yes the run in previous versions has never worked for me. The VM mode is an option but the display is not very good and the mouse is erratic. At least that was the way it was some time ago. So the root cause is 16 bit v/s 32 bit? Regards Peter

RolandJS · 14 Feb 2017

Dunno, all I know is that hardware and software combine to "block and tackle" many 16 and 32 bit games.

petrox · 14 Feb 2017

Hi RolandJS, would dual boot with XP help. Regards Peter

RolandJS · 14 Feb 2017

petrox said:

Hi RolandJS, would dual boot with XP help. Regards Peter

Very possibly with many of the old utilities and games, no guarantees though :)

ThrashZone · 14 Feb 2017

Hi,
Possibly this old update is the cause :/
Old games may not run anymore as of 9/8/15

petrox · 15 Feb 2017

Hi ThrashZone, yes I have done that already. I did get COD 4 to work installing it from Windows Explorer set up as Administrator. No Luck with COD 2 or Flight simulator 2004.
Regards Peter

petrox · 16 Feb 2017

Hi, I have solved the issue with flight simulator 2004. I changed the SEC DRV setting as follows:

sc config secdrv start= auto . This was done in an elevated command prompt. Microsoft does not recommend leaving this setting because of security concerns. To return to the normal type ( elevated command prompt) sec config secdrv start= enabled. Please note the space between the equal sign and the enabled or auto word. Regards Peter