Win95/98 Games not working on Win2K - is there a fix?

[ToXiCRaGE]

I am dying to play again System Shock 2 and Dungeon Keeper 2 on my Windows 2000 machine but they don't work! I can install SS2 and DK2 and when I click on the .exe the cpu 'thinks' a bit, then nothing. I patched them up and all (thinking that new patches might have the compatibility but no such luck). A while back someone told me about a 'fix' but I have forgot it because it was quite complicating (it got something to do with playing around with the .exe's or the registry, something like that).

Some games designed for Win 95/98 work in 2000 without any problems (without the Win2K compatibility sticker on the box) like Quake 2 or even 1 (that thing works on anything ) so I wonder what's the problem? Why some games are so 'stubborn'.

Does any of you fine ppl know the solution to 'unlocking' the older 95/98 games so they work on Windows 2000? Plz help if you do (I would buy you a beer if it would work )

 

[RSMemphis]

In the future, try this site: http://www.ntcompatible.com/

From that site:

Dungeon Keeper 2 (Bullfrog) Yes W2000 02/02
Received the follow messages:
1) Work with 1.70 patch under Windows 2000
2) You need Patch 1.7 + latest Compatibility-Update from MS
3) Works for a few maps then drops me to the desktop. Even with the latest drivers and patches
4) Doesn't work under Win 2k SP2, even with comaptibility layer and Bullfrog patches on.

I think 4) may be your problem? Try the compatibility-update from MS for Windows 2000

and:

System Shock 2 (Looking Glass) No NT 4.0 08/99
SysShock2 official
FAQ says it won't work because of the way disk access is done,
possible patch will fix it.

apparently no one tried System Shock 2 under Windows 2000.


To answer your other question - there are some quick and dirty things you can do in Windows that you cannot in the NT-Windowses, i.e. mostly accessing the hardware directly. In NT/2000 you have to go through the HAL, which means going through DirectX - but in Windows 95/98 there are some things you can do without DirectX (I guess to gain some speed or making things simpler).

 

[ToXiCRaGE]

I just freshly reinstalled Win2K last night and I dont have the SP1 not SP2 - don't really want them (windows works fine without). Would I need them in order to make the games work?

Try the compatibility-update from MS for Windows 2000 What update might that be, the SP1/2 packs?

I dl the newest pach for DK2 (v1.7) but seems like it didn't help......maybe if I reinstall the game and patch it up again it might work.

 

[RSMemphis]

Download and install appupd.exe from this page: http://www.microsoft.com/technet/treeview/default.asp?url=/TechNet/prodtechnol/windows2000serv/downloads/appupd.asp

and try again... And if you want to run Dungeon Keeper, do NOT install SP2, and it's good that you haven't so far.

With the appupd.exe installation, it should run.

 

[ToXiCRaGE]

I was looking through MS website for that but I got lost in the many links of theirs. I will try that link and hopefully that will work. I will install the Windows update 1st, then the DK2 V1.7 game patch - after work that is

Keep ya posted!
Thanks!

 

[apoppin]

I finally gave up with some games on Win2K. It just wasn't worth all the effort to find and apply all the correct patches.

The simplest solution is a dual boot with Win98SE just for those "difficult" games.

 

[ToXiCRaGE]

apoppin what you say its true, but I dont like dual booting (or the idea of having to OS just so I can play a game).... I'd say that if it dosent work, well, too bad. I havent played SS2 for ages but I love that game and the idea behind. I never finished it so I'm coming back to it over and over again. And that is why I wanna see if i can play it........if not than too bad.

I got one more question. I will need to update my IE(prob is the 5.01 with the original installation of Win2K) in order to get 128-bit encryption so I can do online banking......... I will need to update it with the SP1 but it seems like there are 2 of the SP1. One for Win2K, the other for IE. Am I correct or not? and if not (and if there is only one SP1) can I still afford to install it without the risk of not being able to play the Win98 games?

 

[apoppin]

Originally posted by: ToXiCRaGE
apoppin what you say its true, but I dont like dual booting (or the idea of having to OS just so I can play a game).... I'd say that if it dosent work, well, too bad. I havent played SS2 for ages but I love that game and the idea behind. I never finished it so I'm coming back to it over and over again. And that is why I wanna see if i can play it........if not than too bad.

There are some games that I really like that just do not work well under Win2K (that even work fine in WinXP). Dual booting is really no big deal . . . Partition Magic 6.0 can easily handle (2K and 98) . . . you need 7.0 for XP.

You only need to install what is needed for gaming on your second O/S. I use 2K for most everything, but when I want to fire up an older game, then I bring up 98SE. The only valid objection I can see for two O/Ss is lack of HD space.

But good luck with the patches and workarounds.

 

[bunker]

Also go to Windows update and get the compatibility updates. They are mostly for games.

And like Apoppin said, I have a 1gb partition with win98 installed for a couple older games that I can't play in win2k. It's really not that difficult to do!

 

[ToXiCRaGE]

It worked! DK2 worked! I installed the WIn2K patch and then the v1.7 DK2 patch and after a moment of terror (nothing was happening on the screen for like 3mins) BOOM! it started.
Thanks for your help guys.

PS: SS2 - i cant even install the game because it says that winNT (that what it says I have, but in reality I have Win2K) is only DirectX6.1 compatible - I have 8.1. So I guess If I would reinstall DX and run the 6.1 the game might work............ but then again RTCW wound not! Damn trade offs.

 

[RSMemphis]

No, games should only complain if you have a "lesser" DirectX version...

For installing SS2, try this (this is my favorite trick for Thief):

setup -lgntforce

This may force it to install on NT in any case. Thief runs flawlessly on Windows 2000, but does not like to be installed. Maybe this works for SS2, too.

Glad to hear that you got Dungeon Keeper to run!!!

 

[ToXiCRaGE]

Can you expand on the 'setup -lgntforce'? a bit? Do you mean to rename the setup of SS2 to Igntforce, or do i type this is the 'RUN' window (srart>run)? sorry but I'm not so clear about this.