Windows XP games not working on Windows 8.1 - any advice?

NRogalska · Jun 4, 2014

I've bought a game and been lent several others that say min sys requirement Windows XP but they won't run on Windows 8 - they install OK and without error messages but the one I bought crashes when you then try to run it and at least one other flickers badly throughout the game making it unbearable to play.

Any advice on getting them to work? Or is there an app for this?

Cheers

cub_fanatic · Jun 4, 2014

From what I have read, Microsoft did not include support for XP apps in Windows 8 like they did in 7. If you have a licensed copy of XP, you can try running it in a virtual machine or try this (I don't have Win 9, so I never tried it): http://lifehacker.com/5965889/how-to-run-windows-xp-for-free-in-windows-8

Eximo · Jun 4, 2014

There are the Windows built-in compatibility modes. Windows 8.1 has a lot of features disabled by default as well.

First thing is double check that you have Direct X 9.0c properly installed. Make sure that in Windows Features that .NET Framework 3.5 and 2.0 are enabled. Most everything should work, but there are a few games that just won't run.

For more advanced compatibility there is also the Windows ADK (formerly known as Application Compatibility Toolkit) for creating custom compatibility modes.

Virtual Machines of older OS are fairly popular for running truly incompatible games.

Eximo · Jun 5, 2014

That lifehacker article is precisely what I used to run "XP Mode" in Windows 8.1, just needed virtual box, the XP Mode files, and my own Windows XP serial (snagged from my old Dell laptop) and it fired right up. Actually use that for more technical things with a USB to Serial adapter.

gog.com (good old games) has modified versions of a lot of classics that will work in modern OS as well (for money). Steam also offers some titles, all it takes is putting your original serial into them and it starts downloading the updated versions. They also have a few classic games rebuilt from scratch (for money)

cub_fanatic · Jun 6, 2014

Eximo :

That is pretty cool and good to know about Steam. I am going to go to my garage and see if I can dig up some old pre-Windows XP games or at the very least the CD cases with the serial number stickers. One game that I really want to get working on my new PC is C&C Red Alert 2. That would be awesome if it works and if they updated it so that you can play online. I used to play it over a 56k dial-up modem against my neighbor. I also have Decent and the original Sim City, SC 2000 & 3000 somewhere.

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Windows XP games not working on Windows 8.1 - any advice?

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