Do Windows XP and Vista run older games?

Xp will run most old programmes, but vista is having some problems with what it can and cant run, its early days yet.so go with ether XP home or windows vista basic.

Microsoft has just released Virtual PC 2007. Its free software that allows you to load more than 1 OS on your computer. Vista will not play most 2000 and below games. You would have to load a retro OS 98,ME onto your newer computer. Since ME games were so small you would only need to dedicate a few GB of Hardrive space to this system. Heres the link and more info.

http://www.microsoft.com/windows/products/winfamil...

Keep the old computer! Set up a cabling system with a KVM switch (Keyboard/video/mouse), so that you can use the same Keyboard/video/mouse for two different system units.

I have some old 386 bits I plan to rebuild to play DOS and 3.1 games, I will also restore a Pentium with 98, and keep using XP on my main computer. I should then be able to play ALL the games I have.

I have windows Xp, and i can play most of the old games.

What you might need to do is.

1) After installing game, right click on game icon on your desktop.

2) Right click on properties

3) Click on the tab which says compatabilities

4) Click on 95/98 etc which ever game you want to play it in.

It will only change the game not anything else in your windows desktop.

Hope this helps ypu, as i have always used this method.

xp will with some old games as for vista that is making a right mess of software never mind old games lol

it will runs some..Warcraft works on XP, but crashes it when I exit, Tiberian Sun won't work, perhaps if you buy "The First Decade", that will.

You can always call up the studio that created the software you're worried about, they should have some idea.

Best to ask Microsoft

When I upgraded to winxp there were many games that my kids had that just wouldnt play on winxp no matter what we tried to do.