Playing Windows 98/2000/XP games in Windows 7

[Rath Darkblade]

Hmm. Is it possible to play Windows 98/2000/XP games under Windows 7? *hopeful*

I have a whole heap o' collection of Windows 98/2000/XP games, which I now can't play because I'm running Windows 7. These games include:

i) GK1, 2 and 3
ii) QfG1, 2, 3, 4 and 5
iii) Discworld II/Discworld Noir
iv) Medieval: Total War
v) Age of Empires III
vi) Age of Mythology
vii) Rise of Legends

etc. etc. None of these ever worked for me under Windows 7. Under Windows XP, I used to be able to run Windows 98 games by right-clicking the icon, selecting Properties, selecting the Compatibility tab and telling it to "Run as Windows 98". But now that I'm running Windows 7, none of these games work anymore.

I was only ever able to play Monkey Island 1, 2 and 3 by running them under ScummVM, and to play Grim Fandango I needed a special tool. So I'm wondering... is it possible to play these games under Windows 7, or do I have to get a Win98 box now?

Thanks for the advice!

[gumby]

The SCI games are now supported within ScummVM as well.

[MusicallyInspired]

SCI32 games are still largely unsupported (GK1, KQ7, SQ6, PQ4, etc basically all the hi-res games) and prone to crashes. Most of those should work with Collector's installers, though. They do for me and I have Win7.

As for the non-Sierra games, I have Age of Mythology installed right now. No special treatment required. I used the original disc, installer, and everything. AOE3 is newer and is still sold by Microsoft on Games for Windows Live so I imagine it should work fine too.

Discworld is also supported by ScummVM.

[Collector]

Err... Rath, http://sierrahelp.com/Patches-Updates/N ... rs.html#GK

and http://sierrahelp.com/Patches-Updates/N ... s.html#QfG

[Rath Darkblade]

Oops. I didn't realise. Thanks!

Does anyone know whether these games can run on Windows 7?

i) Discworld II: Missing, Presumed...?
ii) Discworld Noir
iii) Rise of Legends

Thanks again!

[Collector]

Just use ScummVM for Discworld II. Discworld Noir is more problematic. There was some talk about adding it to ScummVM, but it doesn't quite fit the project. http://forums.scummvm.org/viewtopic.php?t=10656

I don't know Rise of Legends, so all I can say there is "Google is your friend."

[dotkel50]

Microsoft's Windows 7 Compatibility website says ROL is compatible.

[Rath Darkblade]

Thanks! I'll try that. Too bad about Discworld Noir though... It's an excellent game. I guess I might need to rig up a 98 machine somehow...? Any ideas?

[Collector]

You could try a VM. I started to take a look at it, but it seems to be rather unstable.

[Rath Darkblade]

Hmmm... Rise of Legends question (sorry Collector, but maybe dot knows the answer?):

I've installed ROL, and I also have Avast anti-virus installed. When I start ROL, Avast asks: "Do I want to open this in Sandbox or normally?"

If I open in Sandbox, I get the splash screen and then I get a Windows error: "Protection Stub has stopped working", and the game doesn't run.

If I open it normally, I get the splash screen, and then nothing happens at all.

Any ideas what I can do? Thanks.

[dotkel50]

Try a different anti-virus program. Avast caused me tons of problems. I use Microsoft Security Essentials now, it's free.

[Collector]

As I said, I am not familiar with Rise of Legends, so out side of shots in the dark the best I could do would be to use Google, which you are capable of, too. If it won't start after experimenting with Compatibility Mode settings, check for patches. Some problems can arise from DRM drivers. Try full install with a No-CD patched EXE. Search for any applicable patches, both official and fan made. See if there are any config file/registry settings to set the game to not run full screen. Last ditch efforts are using ACT or a virtualizer.

[dotkel50]

Rath, check this topic at Heaven Games:
http://rol.heavengames.com/cgi-bin/foru ... 2,965,,all

[Rath Darkblade]

I found a solution to the ROL problem. I simply disabled the Avast Shields - here's how: simply right-click the Avast icon on the taskbar, go to Avast! Shields Control, and then disable until computer restarts. Best to do that offline though.

It was a little strange though - I disabled the shield and ran the game. The game runs fine, but I still get the "Protection Stub" error. Oh well, as long as the game runs, I guess.

Thanks!

[Collector]

The game must need to go online and the firewall was blocking it.