Windows 7 not compatible with anything!!!

Discussion in 'Software' started by Taraj, Aug 8, 2010.

  1. Taraj

    Taraj Private E-2

    Hi,

    I have just got a new pc it has windows 7 running, I am have tried out all my daughters learning games but they did not work with windows 7. I have looked on line to order new learning games but there are not any compatable with windows 7 they all need the following:

    Windows 98/Me/2000/XP
    Pentium ll 266 MHz Processor
    64 MB RAM
    100 MB hard disk space
    8 speed CD-ROM drive
    16-bit colour display set to 800x600

    Other than get windows 2000 installed on the pc and take off windows 7 is there anything I can do? If I did put windows 2000 on the computer would I be able to run my old cds?

    Thanks

    Tara
     
    Taraj, Aug 8, 2010
    #1
  2. DavidGP

    DavidGP MajorGeeks Forum Administrator - Grand Pooh-Bah Staff Member

    Hi

    What you could try is to run the games in Compatability mode for XP SP2/3, install the Game and then on the shortcut to the game right click it and choose Properties > click the Compatability Tab and tick the "run this program in compatabilty mode for".... and choose a Windows version from the drop down.

    If the game wont install if the CD autoplays, then goto Computer and right click the CD drive and choose OPEN, then find the setup or installer and run from there (some autoplay functions of older software wont work in Windows 7 or Vista for that matter) also if it wont run from there, then right click the setup/installer and try two things,

    1. when right clicked the setup/installer choose Troubleshoot Compatability and run through the Wizard.
    2. as well as the above also try right click and Run as Administrator.


    If you have an old version of Windows XP or 2000 lying around not used then you also have the option of sticking with Windows 7 and running your older version of Windows in a Virtual PC, and to bits of software that can help with this are Microsoft Virtual PC 2007 and Sun Virtual Box I use these apps as I have Windows 7 x64 installed but also for troubleshooting have in a Virtual PC enviroment Windows XP, Vista, Win7 and Linux installed.



    If you get any setup errors with the games then please tell us what the messages are in full?
     
    DavidGP, Aug 8, 2010
    #2
  3. Mimsy

    Mimsy Superior Imperial Queen of the MG Games Forum

    In addition to what Halo already said, several older games have problems running with the DirectX version that comes in 7. They need DirectX 9, that they were made for, and though DirectX 10 and 11 should be backwards compatible the games need to be very well written for that to work--that's not always the case.

    Get the full and latest version of DirectX 9 here and install it, and then completely uninstall the games, reboot, and reinstall them the way Halo suggested (compatibility mode, run as Admin, et cetera).

    If you keep having problems, can you list the games and error messages please?

    Oh, one more thing. Is your new PC using a wide-screen monitor? 800x600 games of the Win98 generation don't support wide-screen at all, so if you try running them in full-screen mode they're going to freak out and either crash on you or refuse to load past the first screens. If that happens, try to get into the graphics options and change the game to run in Windows Mode. That solves a surprisingly large number of problems with running older games on wide-screen computers.
     
    Mimsy, Aug 8, 2010
    #3
  4. Taraj

    Taraj Private E-2

    Thanks for your help guys, I have been out for most of the day will try tomorrow and let you know if I have any luck
     
    Taraj, Aug 8, 2010
    #4
  5. brownizs

    brownizs MajorGeek

    brownizs, Aug 8, 2010
    #5
  6. DavidGP

    DavidGP MajorGeeks Forum Administrator - Grand Pooh-Bah Staff Member

    Hi

    Do note that XP Mode for Windows 7 will only work if you have Professional and Ultimate editions of Windows 7, it doesnt work in the other versions like Home Premium or Starter.
     
    DavidGP, Aug 9, 2010
    #6
  7. plodr

    plodr MajorGeek Super Extraordinaire Moderator Staff Member

    That might be impossible simply because windows 2000 won't have the drivers for such new hardware.

    If the old computer still works, have your daughter use it to play the learning games. Use the new computer for everything else.
     
    plodr, Aug 9, 2010
    #7

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