Playing older XP games

[smith14333]

I have Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit on my Acer desktop. I installed several games i.e. Command and Conquer Generals on the system. They installed just fine but "encounter a serious error" when I try to run them. They work fine on my old XP Desktop. Any Advice?

Here is a Dxdiag


------------------
System Information
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Time of this report: 2/28/2012, 14:27:20
Machine name: JOSHUASMITH-PC
Operating System: Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit (6.1, Build 7600) (7600.win7_gdr.110622-1503)
Language: English (Regional Setting: English)
System Manufacturer: Acer
System Model: Aspire M3910
BIOS: Default System BIOS
Processor: Intel(R) Core(TM) i3 CPU 550 @ 3.20GHz (4 CPUs), ~3.2GHz
Memory: 6144MB RAM
Available OS Memory: 6072MB RAM
Page File: 2026MB used, 10113MB available
Windows Dir: C:\windows
DirectX Version: DirectX 11
DX Setup Parameters: Not found
User DPI Setting: Using System DPI
System DPI Setting: 96 DPI (100 percent)
DWM DPI Scaling: Disabled
DxDiag Version: 6.01.7600.16385 32bit Unicode

 

[teaser]

Right click on the shortcut of the game executable, choose properties on the compatibilty tab, check run in the following compatibility mode: Windows XP (Service Pack 2)

UAC asks for evelated privileges, also choose yes. You have to be an administrator to do this though...

 

[bucknutty]

I agree with Teaser. If XP mode dose not work try windows 98.

 

[Boopoo]

Why puke out every redundant little detail of your rig. Aswer is simple run in XP compatibility mode god !!!

 

[megamanx00]

If none of those work you can try installing virtual Box and then installing a valid copy of XP in Virtual box with 3d acceleration. Not ideal but it works ^_^.

 

[DelroyMonjo]

Windows 7 Home Premium won't run an XP compatible mode.
I have Microsoft Combat Flight European Air War, or some name close to that, and a Microsoft Force Feedback joystick which won't run in WIN 7 in ANY mode. You can set it up and run it but the game won't recognize USB joysticks in Win 7. Really ticks me off especially considering they are all Microsoft products.

 

[smith14333]

Why puke out every redundant little detail of your rig. Aswer is simple run in XP compatibility mode god !!!

I'm not too tech savvy...but now I know only way to learn is to be an idiot a few times

I tried running in Windows XP SP 2 and it started to boot but gave me the error message, "Sorry, A serious error has occurred." again. When I tried it in 98, it wouldn't even boot.

 

[thee_prisoner]

I'm not too tech savvy...but now I know only way to learn is to be an idiot a few times

I tried running in Windows XP SP 2 and it started to boot but gave me the error message, "Sorry, A serious error has occurred." again. When I tried it in 98, it wouldn't even boot.

Considering that most people give little or no information, sometimes giving too much information is a good thing!

XP compatibility mode doesn't seem to work most of the time on games.

If you have tech savvy friend, he/she might be able to setup a dual boot for you.

 

[smith14333]

yea, I've got a guy that can help me out. I can usually figure stuff out by using the internet, or just asking a forum, because 9 times out of 10 someone has had the same problem. My problem now is that I need to get a valid Windows XP $$$. I already have a virtual system ready to be set up, just need a OS for it.

 

[fb39ca4]

You can try the XP emulation mode that comes with Windows 7, you don't need your own copy of XP.

 

[thee_prisoner]

You can try the XP emulation mode that comes with Windows 7, you don't need your own copy of XP.

That only comes with Windows 7 professional or Ultimate.

 

[thee_prisoner]

yea, I've got a guy that can help me out. I can usually figure stuff out by using the internet, or just asking a forum, because 9 times out of 10 someone has had the same problem. My problem now is that I need to get a valid Windows XP $$$. I already have a virtual system ready to be set up, just need a OS for it.

Did your old desktop come with a windows XP disk?

You could always pull the hard drive out of the old computer and install it on the new one. Then you would have to configure it to boot either into win 7 or XP.

 

[k1114]

C&C generals is compatible with win7 64bit, didn't even have to run in any compatibility mode. Make sure everything is up to date, drivers, windows, directx, etc. Googling shows some people having issues and is apparently an issue with the options file. Here's a fix. http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/forum/windows_7-gaming/running-command-conquer-generals-on-windows-7/7503bd73-4cf1-42e4-ae8d-3aaef6f64ba0