Can't run any DOS games

G

Guest

I've tried several DOS games and they all lock up Vista and I have to turn
off the computer. A few gave a blue screen, memory dump etc., others just
lock up.

Are DOS games no longer supported? These all worked fine under XP. I've
tried setting the compatibility mode, but that didn't help.

Or (since all these games run at 320x200) does Vista no longer allow such
low resolutions even for games? This mode isn't listed in the List All Modes
- List of valid modes, but 320x200 works fine under XP.
 
Z

Zack Whittaker

None of mine work - ZZT was a classic favourite ;o) doesn't work on Vista
though.

--
Zack Whittaker
» ZackNET Enterprises: www.zacknet.co.uk
» MSBlog on ResDev: www.msblog.org
» Vista Knowledge Base: www.vistabase.co.uk
» This mailing is provided "as is" with no warranties, and confers no
rights. All opinions expressed are those of myself unless stated so, and not
of my employer, best friend, Ghandi, my mother or my cat. Glad we cleared
that up!

--: Original message follows :--
 
G

Guest

Command and Conquer doesn't work, neither does Doom or Battle Isle or
Descent... :(

-Antti-
 
G

Guest

Try to download Dosbox (find link on googel) and run it in dosbox... if you
can get dosbox to run all the good old dosgames should work (including those
that did not work in XP)
 
G

Guest

I know DosBox, it's awfully slow (even with right configurations and frame
skip added and more cycles and etc...). Windows XP with Sounblaster emulator
works much better... ^^;

Problem with Vista seems to be that there ain't absolutely no anykind of
VESA support in console. In XP there was partitial, it was enought for most
of games. huoh.. I guess I need Windows 98 installed on computer under VmWare
Workstation with virtual soundcard...
 
G

Guest

Yes, DosBox works fine, but for most games it's not fast / smooth enough IMO.

It looks like the problem occurs as soon as a DOS program tries to change
the video mode. Even a tiny program that only switches to mode 13h (320x200)
and back locks up just like any game.

Anyway, Vista should at least show some kind of message and close the game
instead of locking up. Or better, let you setup an emulator for programs it
doesn't support anymore and launch it automatically when you start such
programs.
 
G

Guest

I totally agree with you. Vista should show somekind of message which says
that "This dos program is not compatible with vista's command prompt." Or
something like that. And then give a help note with new vista help system to
install a dosbox or vmware or virtual pc or something like that. Just like
you said.

Dammn, DOS is still mattering here. Microsoft has gone wrong with keeping
compability of windowses till to XP and what does it causes? Security
problems. Lots of em'.

Thinking security back 80's would have given us both. Now it brokes all the
stuff which is fun. Most Windows games are total crap. Same one and only
shooters with only a little of variation. Where are all the new game ideas?
Where are all the fun games?
For me it seems that most of the fun freeware game makers are moving to linux.

-Antti-
 
D

droid

Soon the Core 2 Duo will be here. Get the fastest and with latest DosBox you
should have hard time finding a good game that doesn't run good enough. *

*I don't remember all that many good games after 1994 :) Q2, BF1942 ... I
don't think there were other games made after 94?? I mean, good ones of
course!
 
C

Conor

AnttiA said:
I totally agree with you. Vista should show somekind of message which says
that "This dos program is not compatible with vista's command prompt." Or
something like that.

Why should it? It is common knowledge that it doesn't support 16bit
code.
 
G

Guest

heh, There where great games back at 90s but most games made in 80s defined
the genres and they are like diamonds without polishing. ;D

I liked a lot of Amiga rally, Pinball and shooting games.

-Antti-
 
G

Guest

Has anyone tried VMsound?, i'll test some games as soon as i can, including
DOSbox, the new version is fast, but VMsound or VDMsound, don't remember
well, was great.
 
G

Guest

Try VDMsound, perhaps it will work..

Zack Whittaker said:
None of mine work - ZZT was a classic favourite ;o) doesn't work on Vista
though.

--
Zack Whittaker
» ZackNET Enterprises: www.zacknet.co.uk
» MSBlog on ResDev: www.msblog.org
» Vista Knowledge Base: www.vistabase.co.uk
» This mailing is provided "as is" with no warranties, and confers no
rights. All opinions expressed are those of myself unless stated so, and not
of my employer, best friend, Ghandi, my mother or my cat. Glad we cleared
that up!

--: Original message follows :--
 
G

Guest

Try VDMsound, perhaps it will work..

Zack Whittaker said:
None of mine work - ZZT was a classic favourite ;o) doesn't work on Vista
though.

--
Zack Whittaker
» ZackNET Enterprises: www.zacknet.co.uk
» MSBlog on ResDev: www.msblog.org
» Vista Knowledge Base: www.vistabase.co.uk
» This mailing is provided "as is" with no warranties, and confers no
rights. All opinions expressed are those of myself unless stated so, and not
of my employer, best friend, Ghandi, my mother or my cat. Glad we cleared
that up!

--: Original message follows :--
 

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