Question Do I need to make a virtual machine?

[QuiWanKenJin]

I have two old programs that I recently found after they had been lost for years. They are, Star Wars Episode 1 Insider's Guide and Star Wars Behind the Magic. I really want to play them on my Windows 7 64 bit system. But they will not install. Do I need a virtual machine for this?

The Last OS they ran on was Windows XP. The problem mainly seems to be the installer, that comes with these programs. Install Shield Wizard is 32 bit. Hence, the problem. It seems like they would play fine, if there was a way to bypass the installer. Like an Alt Installer, for example.

 

[jsmithepa]

That's affirmative, u need to run a 32 bit VM.

 

[USAFRet]

Those are from 1998 and 1999. Almost certainly 16 bit applications.
Being 16 bit, they would not run on a 64bit OS.
The InstallShield being 32bit is not necessarily what the game is.

A 32bit OS (the old XP) would run 16 bit applications.
A current 64bit OS will run 32bit applications.


How much effort do you want to expend in playing this?

 

[QuiWanKenJin]

Those are from 1998 and 1999. Almost certainly 16 bit applications.
Being 16 bit, they would not run on a 64bit OS.
The InstallShield being 32bit is not necessarily what the game is.

A 32bit OS (the old XP) would run 16 bit applications.
A current 64bit OS will run 32bit applications.


How much effort do you want to expend in playing this?

If virtualization is the only way, I'm open to learning. The question is would Virtual Box or VMWare be best for running these?

 

[NightHawkRMX]

32bit windows XP VM is the best idea.

If you have windows 7, Microsoft provides a windows XP program specifically to run XP programs on Windows 7.
https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=8002

 

[USAFRet]

If virtualization is the only way, I'm open to learning. The question is would Virtual Box or VMWare be best for running these?

First, look into XP Mode within your current Windows 7.
If that fails, we can look into a whole VM thing.

 

[QuiWanKenJin]

Yes, I have heard of XP mode. Unfortunately, my Windows 7 is Home Premium. Too bad Microsoft wasn't more thorough.

 

[NightHawkRMX]

First download XP mode. Follow these steps to extract the VHD and use it to create a VM in VirtualBox.
https://www.makeuseof.com/tag/download-windows-xp-for-free-and-legally-straight-from-microsoft-si/

 

[QuiWanKenJin]

Looks like I wasn't clear enough, XP mode does NOT work with Home Premium. If you try to run it, it will say, "Windows XP mode is not available on this edition of Windows."

 

[NightHawkRMX]

Looks like I wasn't clear enough, XP mode does NOT work with Home Premium. If you try to run it, it will say, "Windows XP mode is not available on this edition of Windows."

Did you read the guide? It does not involve running Windows XP mode.

Microsoft no longer provides a download for Windows XP.

You download XP mode and extract the copy of Windows XP out of it. Then you use that copy of windows in VirtualBox, which does work on windows 7 home premium.

I have used that guide to run XP on windows 10.

 

[USAFRet]

Ok then...
VirtualBox, and a whole new install of "XP".

You'll need a valid Win XP license, otherwise it will only give you 30 days until it times out.
Then again, I can't imagine the appeal of those two 20 year old games will last more than 30 days.

 

[QuiWanKenJin]

I actually could buy the physical software for Windows XP professional with valid License key for cheap, on ebay. I think I'll do that. Isn't VMWare Player a faster VM than VirtualBox?

 

[USAFRet]

I actually could buy the physical software for Windows XP professional with valid License key for cheap, on ebay. I think I'll do that. Isn't VMWare Player a faster VM than VirtualBox?

"for cheap" and "ebay" does not mean "valid".
You do whatever you think is OK. I wouldn't.

VMWare vs VirtualBox? Having used both extensively, there is no difference. I use VB daily, all day.
And especially running an XP instance, trying to play 20 year old games.

 

[NightHawkRMX]

"for cheap" and "ebay" does not mean "valid".
You do whatever you think is OK. I wouldn't.

I bought a Windows XP 32 bit iso with the key on eBay for $499.
Worked fine, but it is a bit shady.

 

[QuiWanKenJin]

Fair enough. Okay, what about "ebay" and "not cheap?" Like this, for example? https://www.ebay.com/itm/Microsoft-...Product-Key-/273976183467?hash=item3fca40caab

 

[NightHawkRMX]

If it comes in retail packaging it should be ok.
Assuming they didn't take the code and use it already...

 

[USAFRet]

Fair enough. Okay, what about "ebay" and "not cheap?" Like this, for example? https://www.ebay.com/itm/Microsoft-...Product-Key-/273976183467?hash=item3fca40caab

Any licensed software from fleabay is suspect.

Rather than paying for a license key from fleabay, instead, I'd find a known good XP install CD.
Install it, leaving out the license key. That gives you 30 days use.
Verify it works, and your 20 year old games also work in the VM world.

After a month, if you're still enamored of this game...then you find a valid Win XP license and apply it to the VM OS.

I recently did this to show a member here how his old game might work in an XP install in a VirtualBox VM.
That 30 day trial ran out (checked it the other day), and I killed off that VM instance.

 

[Wolfshadw]

For the record, I just tested out installing Windows XP Mode in a VirtualBox VM on my Windows 10 system (per the guide above). Needs some tweaking, but it's up and running. Now I've got 30 days to see if I really want to dig up my original Warcraft CD from storage.

-Wolf sends

 

[NightHawkRMX]

Rember to insert "guest additions CD" to get correct drivers and correct resolution.

 

[Wolfshadw]

Hardest part was trying to remember keyboard navigation until the mouse installed (guest additions CD).

-Wolf sends

 

[NightHawkRMX]

Yea, that is painful.

I had to remember TAB changes field to type in.

 

[QuiWanKenJin]

Just let me just say from experience. If you are planning to buy XP physical software. There is less risk involved if you buy from Amazon than anywhere else. Sometimes the license key is good, sometimes it isn't. The other down side is, it's pricey.

Some of the other sites, don't even have the original software. It's an IOS they burned to a disk, with a supposed license key, or a thumb drive that is reported to have files on it. Sounds very shady.