Anyone know how to get 16-bit games working on a 64-bit PC?

[Blorx]

Yeah...like the title says. I have a 16 bit game I want to try out and I can't because it gives me an error saying I need to run it on a 16-bit system, pretty much.

Any ideas?

[tannim]

download Sun Virtual Box, Install Virtual Box, install Linux on Virtual Box. Install Wine in Linux. Run game in Win in Linux in Virtual box in windows.

If you have XP, you are free to install that in virtual box instead of linux.

pretty much any 16 bit game will not notice reduction in processing power of virtual machines. I managed to run "Defiance" (by Avalon Hill) in virtual box XP on Windows 7 64 bit.

[zoidberg rules]

Would it not just be more simple to google "windows xp 16 bit emulators" and see what it comes up with?

Infact...SHAZAM!

Have a look at that and see what you can find, saves you time in the end, and if I'm talking crap, send me a very rude word through a PM and ignore this here post.

[tannim]

interestingly they all suggest using XP Mode or some other Virtual Machine. XP Mode only being available on certain versions of Windows 7. It is also not optimized for or intended for gaming.

[Endoperez]

I only have experience with running stuff in 32-bit systems, but hopefully most of this is applicable.

Which game specifically? Some games need lots of work before you can play them, others are very simple to get working by changing compatibility settings, some need a program but run without a hitch once you know what program to use.

DosBOX allows you to run old games quite easily. See the following list to see how well your specific game runs with DosBOX.
http://www.dosbox.com/comp_list.php?letter=a

Memory errors can sometimes be fixed by tweaking the program's memory settings, giving it EMS memory or XMS memory or something else - however, depending on the Windows version, you might have to tweak some configuration files before you can do that. This alone probably won't be enough, on 64-bit system.

[tannim]

64 bit windows cannot run 16 bit programs except through an emulation layer like virtual PC.

64bit hardware can run 16 bit though if a 16 or 32 bit operating system is installed on it.

[Blorx]

64 bit windows cannot run 16 bit programs except through an emulation layer like virtual PC.

64bit hardware can run 16 bit though if a 16 or 32 bit operating system is installed on it.

Yeah, unfortunately.

And there are a few, Endoperez. One was some MMO I found recently, and I wouldn't mind being able to play Diablo again!