How do I know if an older CD ROM will work on Windows 7?

[TimeAssassin]

Okay, so I'm thinking of buying my cousin an older PC game for his birthday, but it's from 1994:

"Jazz Jackrabbit" (Original Release For PC DOS 3.5)

From what I've heard, Windows 7 has better backwards compatibility than Windows XP did, but I'm still concerned that after he unwraps his gift, and later tries to play the game on his computer (assuming his computer is Windows 7), he won't be able to. Will he likely still have problems getting the game to work on a Windows 7 computer, even if he tries to install the game directly from the original CD ROM?

 

[strollin]

According to this website: Download Jazz Jackrabbit | DOS Games Archive the game can be installed and played using DOSBox.

 

[TimeAssassin]

I already have the downloaded Jazz Jackrabbit video game working in DOSBox. The CD ROM isn't for me, I want to buy it as a gift for my cousin. Also, you didn't answer my question:

Will he likely still have problems getting the game to work on a Windows 7 computer, even if he tries to install the game directly from the original CD ROM (without DOSBox or extra software crap from the internet)?

 

[strollin]

Yes, he will have trouble. Help him get DOSBox installed.

Notice how on that website it doesn't say anything about it working in straight Win 7?

 

[Berton]

Also, back in '94 most programs were 16-bit to work on Windows 3.1x and earlier which actually ran on top of MS-DOS or other flavors of DOS such as DR-DOS, PC-DOS, IBM-DOS, etc. Windows 95 started the move to 32-bit programming but was somewhat limited. WinXP could run some 16-bit but quite hit or miss, Win7 and later can't without help such as DOSBox.