Old Windows game compatibility in Windows 10
Patches
MODDB site is a great place to find patches.
Examples:
Jane's Fleet Command installer: https://www.moddb.com/games/fleet-co...and-v138-patch
Jane's USAF patch: https://www.moddb.com/games/janes-un...ates-air-force
Freespace 2: https://www.moddb.com/games/freespace-2
The Dig (DOS game): https://www.moddb.com/groups/the-dig.../the-dig-patch
Battlezone 2 (1999): https://www.moddb.com/groups/battlez...1999/downloads
Official Jane's ATF Gold v1.00 Patch 2: https://www.moddb.com/groups/janes-a...d-v100-patch-2
This is the official patch that Jane's released years ago, and it must be applied after installing the retail CD of Jane's ATF Gold. This fixes several bugs that cause horrible crashes to desktop and other issues.
and many others...
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Game specific solutions
As usual, many games have specific solutions, with specific instructions with fan made patches and so.
But there are some solutions that are worth trying if you look for a solution.
Battlezone 1998 (Not the redux version)
Link: https://bzforum.matesfamily.org/view...2ff9c51d227f86
Update package and steps to install.
When running the game, if main menu screen appears black, press Alt+Enter
Jane's Longbow gold official patch
Link: https://mega.nz/file/f2pH2CoJ#L7akQA...VeQ-rolTfxTaw0
Another patch that cannot be found anywhere.
Starsiege complete
Link: http://www.starsiegemeninblack.com/
Fan made installer. Requires to install nGlide for 3DFX emulation
Dune 2000
Link: https://gruntmods.com/dune_2000_gruntmods_edition/
Fan made installer
Mech Commander Gold: Prometheus Mod
Link: https://www.moddb.com/games/modding-...71lw5zIhnEJTtc
Fan made installer
Simcity 4 Deluxe Edition (CD version)
Install the game normally.
Download no CD patch 1.0 from here.
Overwrite Simcity 4.exe at C:\Program Files (x86)\Maxis\SimCity 4 Deluxe\Apps with the nocd file.
Run game
In the main screen go to graphic options and select detail level.
Continue playing normally
Popup windows will show no text. Still looking for a solution to that
Fighter Squadron: Screaming demons over Europe
Link: https://simhq.com/forum/ubbthreads.p...tall_Inst.html
There are lots of steps in that link. But terrain patches cannot be found anywhere.
The game works fine right after install.
Patch is 16 bit. Does not work.
No one lives forever
Link: http://nolfrevival.tk/
Hardwar
Download UIM6 patch from Zedo http://zedo.hardwar.info/dexdown.htm
Install nGlide (3DFX emulator) https://www.zeus-software.com/downloads/nglide
Insert Hardwar CD
Right click setup.exe and set compatibility properties as:
* Run as WinXP SP3
* Disable full screen optimizations
* Run as administrator
Run setup.exe and
Run patch Hardwar UIM06.exe
Go to install directory (i.e. C:\Program Files (x86)\Interplay\Hardwar )
Right click Hardman.exe and set compatibility properties as:
* Run as WinXP SP3
* Disable full screen optimizations
* Run as administrator
Run Hardman.exe
X-Wing Alliance
Installer link: https://www.moddb.com/mods/the-x-win...ance-installer
Patch link: https://www.moddb.com/mods/the-x-win...nce-v202-patch
The game should work now!!
X-Wing Alliance update (it is a fan made mega patch)
Install X-Wing Alliance as per instructions shown above
Go to https://www.xwaupgrade.com/index.php
Click on Downloads in the top menu
Check the box for the legal disclaimer
Press Proceed button
Download XWAU 2020 MEGA PATCH, XWAU 2020 Update Version 5.0, XWAU 2020 AddOn Pack Version 5.6 (and wait...)
Install patches.
Oni
Download and Extract Oni_Win_ISO_EN.7z. Link: https://archive.org/download/OniWind..._Win_ISO_EN.7z
Open the “Game Files” folder and mount OGD.Oni.iso
Run ONISETUP.EXE and follow on-screen instructions to finish installing the game
Once installation is complete, downlaod Oni_Win_Launcher.zip and copy-paste “Oni.exe” into the game installation directory. Link: https://archive.org/download/OniWind...n_Launcher.zip
Launch “Oni.exe” to play the game
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nGlide. 3DFX emulator
Link: https://www.zeus-software.com/downloads/nglide
If you want to emulate 3DFX / nGlide / Voodoo 1/2 video cards, this is a great solution.
Just install it. It works great with Steam Freespace and with Starsiege Complete.
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DxWnd
Link: https://sourceforge.net/projects/dxwnd/
Compatibility hooker.
Set Options - Expert mode
Drag EXE files into the DxWnd and configure the compatibility options of the game.
The most common compatibility issues are:
* Compat - Fave Version - choose an operating system
* Timing - Time stretch initial - :16 (will slow machine 16 times)
* I/O - Allows the game to think that a certain directory/path is the hard disk or CD root
Application Compatibility Tool ACT was discontinued. DxWnd may work like a replacement.
However Windows 10 seems to gradually be able to be somewhat compatible.
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IS#engine - InstallShield replacement
Link: http://toastytech.com/files/setup.html
Windows 10 64-bit cannot run 16 bit applications, period. Many old Windows games had 16 bit installers.
There are 2 versions of InstantShield installers. version 3 and version 5
Version 3 has setup.exe in the same directory of a file named _INST32I.EX_
Version 5 has setup.exe in the same directory of a file named SETUP.LID
Just create a temp directory, copy the installer CD into that directory, download the proper version, unzip into the temp file. Run the unzipped setup.exe
This will allow you to install your game.
If IS3engine crashes, try editing its properties to set compatibility with Windows98.
Troubleshooting
If installer does not work, there is another application leaving your installer in a waiting list.
Press CTRL ALT DEL and open Task manager
Right click setup.exe
Select Analyze wait chain
You should see two rows, one with setup.exe and another program. Click that second row.
Press End Process button
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Universal extractor
Link: https://www.legroom.net/software/uniextract#download
Some games require to extract some files.
For example CAB1 file from Drakan requires to be extracted to play. Regular installer will not work. Then Drakan patch may need to nbe applied.
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DOSbox
Link: https://www.dosbox.com/download.php?main=1
Virtual machine to run MS-DOS programs.
In a game has a DOS installer, you may be able to use this to run your game.
Using DOS console is not so easy because you need to type commands and edit files.
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DBGL
Link: https://www.squadrablu.nl/dbgl/
It is a GUI that allows to simplify operations with DOSbox.
It allows to create profiles for your games so you do not need to type commands or edit files to run your games.
Most common tweaks are:
* Display - Full screen
* Machine - CPU type - 486_slow (if the game runs too fast, like Jane's ATF) or 386 (Hi-Octane)
* I/O - Type ch, Timed emulation off, Autofire off, Swap axes 3&4 on (for joystick configuration in most of games using throttle and rudder)
"Battletech Fan" youtube channel has an example of how to install some games using DBGL and DOSbox.
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Old DirectX
Old games for Windows used old DirectX libraries.
They can be downloaded here:
Link: https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/down...s.aspx?id=8109
Install the DirectX End-User Runtimes then try to install the game.
