configuring a PC to play old school games

[Dude]

Eventually I'm gonna have to get Windows 7, and when I do I was thinking of keeping the XP as a separate computer for games and light stuff. What kind of software is out there to use for games that go way back to Win 95, etc? Thank you

[AznKhmerBoi]

Download DOSBOX

[RyaNtheSlayA]

Or use a VM to run Windows 95.

And for the future there's always Good Old Games. They sell preconfigured DOSBox wrapped games that are DRM free and work like a charm.

[Addisonjoy]

I think you should download DOS BOX. Its good option.

[fastbilly1]

If it runs in XP pro, it will run in Win7 pro. Win7 pro has a full XP pro install, that it runs alongside 7 if you need to run a program in XP. If not you can also run visualization or an emulator.

Any games in particular you want to run?

[isiolia]

If it runs in XP pro, it will run in Win7 pro. Win7 pro has a full XP pro install, that it runs alongside 7 if you need to run a program in XP. If not you can also run visualization or an emulator.

The Windows XP mode that some variants of 7 include is VirtualPC with a barebones XP image that you have to download from MS. It's actually much less suited to playing games than other modern virtual machines. It doesn't even try to provide Direct3D support (at least), for example.

I'd say the majority of XP compatible games work in 7 anyway though, and if something doesn't there's a fair chance someone has a community patch or tweak to get it to work. It'd really be Win95 or DOS games that'd present an issue, and DOSBox is usually the way to go there.

[KillerJuan77]

For DOS games download D-Fend reloaded, it's easy to use, free and it's very customizable.

For Windows 95/98/2000 download Windows XP mode.

[Dakinggamer87]

Another vote for DOSBox works great!!

[Dude]

If it runs in XP pro, it will run in Win7 pro. Win7 pro has a full XP pro install, that it runs alongside 7 if you need to run a program in XP. If not you can also run visualization or an emulator.

Any games in particular you want to run?

There was a Scrabble game maybe, but nothing else off hand right now.

Thank you everyone for da help!

[pakopako]

DOSbox. Or programs like ScummVM for specific games.

Also, I have an old PC tower that you can have for the authentic 80s/90s experience! (Authentic Yellowed Vanilla! I'll have to add some synthesized cigarette smoke, but the tears are real!)