how can i get windows 95/98 games to play on windows xp?

VMWare - buy

or

VirtualBox - free

Windows XP has a compatability layer built in. All you need to do is find your game's .exe file. (Right click the shortcut, click properties, click find target) Then right click the game's .exe and go to properties. Then find the compatability tab, select the pertinent OS (Win 95/98). Most applications will work this way, however some will not. If that does not work it is better to start looking for a new program, run a dosbox or vitrual machine. or build a machine for that purpose using the older OS.

You can try installing them regularly like any other game. If they don't boot. Try right-clicking on the setup file, and go down to properties, and then hit the tab that says compatibility and then select runs this program in compatibility mode for: and choose Windows 98 or 95. See if that works.

usually windows xp will run most of them, if there's any problem just activate the "compatibility mode".

this can be done by Right clicking on the program's icon or shortcut, then open "properties" then the tab labeled "compatibility".

Inside this tab you will see text as follows: "If you have problems with this program and it worked on a previous windows version, select the compatibility mode that match with that previous version".

(or something like that... actually this is a translation made for me from an spanish version)

down this text says "Compatibility Mode" then on a check box "execute this program on the compatibility mode for" showing a list with various windows versions, witch includes win95, 98/ME, NT 4.0 sp5 and windows 2000.

select the version that matches the one that worked with your game.

also for a better compatibility you can check 4 more options in this tab:

On "Screen configuration"

check box "execute on 256 colors" this one is for the oldies (most of the MS-Dos apps)

check box "execute on 640 x 480 screen resolution" (various programs can`t run on a resolution greater than this). and it useful with NO$GBA emulator that has not a possible way to increase screen size, for example.

check box "Disable visual themes" windows decorations can do a great mess with oldies.

On "Input configuration"

check box "Disable advanced text services for this program" atari like keyboard ;)

if Any of the possible combination worked, then you should consider an emulator like virtual PC 2007 available on http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?di... it's almost free, but consider this as the last option, because emulated PC environment means Performance penalty. (you are trying to run games... performance is a VERY important issue.

by the way certain MS-DOS games just run on a classic COMMAND prompt then it's recommendable to use emulation because most DOS app are very light.

i will appreciate if you take time to correct my english... as you noted this is not my native language.

Try right clicking on the game and choosing compatibility mode

If it's a DOS based Game use Dosbox

http://www.dosbox.com/

set up the sport/ record then suitable click the put in sport from all classes below your start up menu and decide residences then click the tab compatibility tick the container and decide domicile windows ninety 8/ME