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Trying to play my old CDROM games on Windows10 and about to lose my marbles. Could you help me? (beehaw.org)

submitted 11 months ago by [email protected] to c/[email protected]

38 comments fedilink hide all child comments

Okay listen: I am less than tech-savvy, but I tried so many step-intensive things on my dinky PC, to no avail.

I use Windows10 home (yes, I know, bear with me!) and am just trying to boot games I already OWN!!! No dice. Now I just sit here, arms crossed, and seethe "I hate u, computer."

Yes, I've enabled the IIS and tried to use the option to allow program to run 32-bit. No dice.

I've tried compatibility mode. Absolutely nothing (Windows, you useless-ass shitwad).

I struggled through DOSBOX as a non-tech person, managed to do the Windows 3.1 thing, tried to boot my files through there, got as far as the install screen!!! Stuck at 0% probably forever. So it was a failure.

Tried running old game files from some people who are smarter than me that emulate the D:\ drive instead of the physical disks. Zilch.

FrikkiN AHHHHH!!!!

I JUST WANNA RELIVE MY NOSTALGIA AND SHOW MY KID ALL MY OLD AND SHITTY GAMES I USED TO PLAY AS A KID!!!!!

Could anyone give a solution that won't have me downloading and installing 6 trillion new programs? Any helpful links a non-tech person could understand?

Swear to god, I'll Cashapp 5$ to the first person to give a solution I can reasonably follow & that works.

Also you will have my adoration forever. Thanks.

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[–] [email protected] 9 points 11 months ago (2 children)

Ditch Windows and install Linux and Steam, then add your game to the library as a non-Steam app and use the compatibility tab in the properties menu to force the use of the Proton compatibility layer. You should then be able to run the game through steam as normal. This has worked for me with almost all my old games and will probably work for you too.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 11 months ago (1 children)

How does that work if you haven't installed the game already? Also, what about copy protection?

[–] [email protected] 2 points 11 months ago* (last edited 11 months ago) (1 children)

Add the setup/installer executable as a non-steam game, run it to do the install, then modify the non-steam game's settings to point at the installed executable so it can run from the directory where it is installed.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 11 months ago (1 children)

I'm positively surprised that this works.

That will make installing old games so much easier on my Steam Deck. Thanks!

[–] [email protected] 4 points 11 months ago

No problem! I've used this trick to run non-game Windows apps on the Steam Deck too, though support can vary wildly.

As an alternative, you might also check Lutris, which employs user scripts for installing and running Windows software in Linux. You can even add them to Steam so they'll work in the Steam Deck's gaming mode:

https://www.reddit.com/r/linux_gaming/comments/6s0pt7/launch_wine_games_from_lutris_on_steam/

[–] [email protected] 2 points 11 months ago

He has to install them first, and how would he do that with an original CDROM for a Windows program?