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I just discovered that Windows XP has a compatibility mode for running older programs. I have thought for years that they couldn’t be run on XP.
Here’s a link to instructions on how to run the old games:I just tried it with Dr Brain, and it worked fine. It doesn’t address any bugs that are speed related, but at least it gets the game running.
-Ken W -
(re: Running older games on Windows XP) Yes, this feature has helped with old Windows games. It can be found in Windows 2000 with the service packs, too. It also gives a convenient way to change your resolution/color depth to 640×480 256 colors for the games that require it. This does not, however, address many other issues that plague old 16 bit Windows programs running under an NT OS. Much effort has been made by the fans of these old classics to get them to run on modern machines with XP. There are some problems, though, that refuse to be solved. This is why projects such as DOSBox are so important.
As far as the timer bugs go, a new development is a patch that someone from the message board of SpaceQuest.Net is developing a patch for the SCI games. This patch is nothing short of amazing. It has solved the “Error 52” problem in the DOS QfG 4, Yorics Maze in QfG 1 VGA, the timer bugs in Space Quest 4, 5 and 6. In “Conquests of the Longbow” Robin head no longer spasms.
Read through the thread and get the patches here: -
(re: Running older games on Windows XP)
Compatibility mode works in some cases, not all. For example, KQ5 will only launch if you’re in 640×480 resolution & 256 colors… you can set these using compatibility mode, but KQ5 still won’t run. You have to change the resolution manually before you can run the game (which can be done, but it’s not as obvious how to do it as it is in win98).
On the other hand, GK3 won’t work unless you set the installer to win98 or win95 compatibility… it thinks you’re using NT.
-emily
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(re: re: Running older games on Windows XP) Windows XP and 2k are NT.
King’s Quest V checks the resoution before Compatibility Mode can change it. I came up with an easy work around for KQ5. Make a batch file to replace the Windows shortcut and set the bat file for Compatibility Mode. Right click on the Windows shortcut and choose properties. Copy what is in the “Target:” box and paste it in Notepad. Save it with a “.bat” extension and set the bat file to run in Compatibility Mode, 640×480, 256 colors. When you launch the game from this bat file, the resolution will already be what the game wants when it checks, and the game will then launch. -
(re: Running older games on Windows XP)
> Windows XP and 2k are NT.
I know. But games that don’t run on NT (like GK3) *can* be played on XP by using compatibility mode.
There are a lot of games (not just Sierra games) that won’t even let you install without compatibility mode, because whatever checks they do at the onset determine that the OS is incompatible. In my experience, these cases are where compatibility mode has been most useful.
-emily
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(re: re: Running older games on Windows XP)
Hey guys!
Got a not so much a problem, but an annoyance! I’ve got XP, and am currently trying to play KQ6. Thing is, I can get it to work in Dos (in other words, the dos version), fine sound, but the thing that i want is the improved character portraits during game (ie. the windows version). So far i haven’t been able to get the windows version to work, but the dos is fine. I just want to play it with cool portraits…any ideas?
I’ve got the collectors edition (first 6 kq’s), if that puts a spin on things..??argh..help!
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(re: re: re: Running older games on Windows XP)
I couldn’t get the windows version running on XP. I think it can be done with quite a lot of tweaking. Check Sierra’s forums (http://community.sierra.com) – I think that’s where I read about how to do it.
-emily
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(re: re: re: Running older games on Windows XP)
I am the one that managed to get KQ6 to run on XP.
You’ll need to have VDMSound and the VDMS Launchpad installed on your system to do it, but you will need it to play the older KQ games with audio, anyway.
1) Go to http://ntvdm.cjb.net/ , download VDMSound and the VDMS Launchpad and install both.
2) Go to the KQ6 shortcut in your stary menu and right click on it and choose “Properties”. Copy what is in the “Target:” box and paste it in Notepad. Save it in the games folder as KQ6.bat.
3) Copy the file “RESOURCE.AUD” from the CD to the installed game folder on your hard drive.
4) Open your game’s installed folder on your hard drive and delete the file “HDLOGO.AVI” and open the file “SIERRA.INI” (it may be in a sub-folder named “WIN”) in Notepad. Look for the lines:
audpath=D:
audio=D:
movieplayer=1(Note, yours may be different, depending on what letter drive your CD-ROM is.) Chang this to:
audpath=.
audio=.
movieplayer=05) Right click on the file in the installed folder, “SCIWV.EXE” and go to the Compatibility tab and choose Compatibility mode for Win 98 or Win 95, 256 colors. do the same for the file you made earlier, “KQ6.bat”
6) Now all you have to do is right click on the .bat file you made and choose “♫ Run with VDMS” (the one with the musical notes) and the game should run.
(Note that the audpath=. and audio=. should be =.backslash, but the backslash is not displaying)
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(re: Running older games on Windows XP)
I’ve got KQ5 & KQ6 both to tun fine on XP. If fact I have been able to get almost all my old Sierra games working with no problems. I one game I can’t get to work is PH 2. I can’t even get it installed. Has anyone been able to get it to work? If someone has please let me know how you did it. Thanks
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(re: re: Running older games on Windows XP)
I haven’t tried it yet, but there is a setup for Phantasmagoria 2 at the link below.
-emily
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(re: re: Running older games on Windows XP)
I’m sorry I can’t help with PH 2, but can you describe how you got KQ5 running on XP? I got it up and running, but I don’t have any Icons/cursor when I’m playing…I’m playing totally blind…just kinda clicking and seeing where I end up. I have the collection…did you? What did you do to your system to get everything working right?
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(re: re: re: Running older games on Windows XP)
Here is how I got KQ5 to work.
Open up notepad and type:
SCIKQ5.exe-h win\winres.cfg
Save this to your game folder as Kq5.bat. Then right click on it and set the compatibility tab to run in Windows 95, 640×480,256 colors. Do the same thing to the SCIKQ5 file as well. It is the one with the yellow crown. When you want to play it double click on the SCIKQ5 file. This is how I got mine to run. Just make sure to set the display to 640×480 before trying to play.Also when saving games I had to change the save game folder to C:/sierra/kq5. It is not from the collection though,it is the regular CD version when first released.So I don’t know if these instructions will work for you or not. Good luck!
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(re: Running older games on Windows XP) It’s been fun getting most of my Sierra Games from the late 80’s to before the company went with the new owners to even run. But it seems that the only games from that time that I didn’t already throw out are my Sierra Games. Always revisiting them brings you back to when gaming was great. Still miss the normal Sierra Gang and the wonderful games they made. I would have bought Kings Quest XXXVI if it came out.
But there is a program I found out there that will also help. For people who have PCI sound cards like the SBLive and SBAudigy, getting sound to work on the “Older” games where you had to pick the video card and the Sound card can be nothing short of a nightmare since those sound cards do not emulate DOS drivers in Windows XP. After searhing for years to get something to work, I found a program called SounfFX 2000. It’s from a company in England, but it works wonders for all of my older Sierra Games. It’s not always 100% on but with a little setting here and there, your music will play like the best of them.
It amazes me. It’s 16 color, basic Midi, yet I’m still in wonder as if it’s were up to todays standards.
I always did love the company. And it’s sad the direction it went into after it was sold, but at least I have my old titles! The classics.
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