Installing a 16-bit Windows 95 game on 64-bit Windows 7 Home Premium. The version of this file is not compatible with the version of Windows you're running. Check your computer's system information to see whether you need an x86 (32-bit) or x64 (64-bit) version of the program, and then contact the software publisher. The only thing the emulator has access to is the disk image of Windows 95 temporarily stored in memory. Changes to that image aren't saved anywhere, so anything you do in Windows 95 – changing settings, writing poetry in Notepad, defragmenting the hard drive, deleting everything – will be lost once the emulator is stopped.
Images for the virtual desktop are now being preloaded into RAM. When this is complete, you will be presented with the desktop and be able to browse all available options without the need for further loading. Supports Microsoft Windows 95, Windows 98, Windows NT, Windows 2000/2003, Windows ME, Windows XP. If you need a bulk emailer to send out news letters, 32bit Email Broadcaster is the answer. If you need a bulk emailer to send out news letters, 32bit Email Broadcaster is the answer.
And, since Windows 3.1 itself was basically a DOS application, you can install Windows 3.1 in DOSBox and run old 16-bit Windows 3.1 applications, too. Use 32-Bit Windows for 16-bit Software 16-bit programs no longer function on 64-bit versions of Windows. Windows 7 included a special “Windows XP Mode” feature. This was actually just an included virtual machine program with a free Windows XP license. Windows 10 does not include a Windows XP mode, but you can still use a virtual machine to do it yourself.
Windows 95 Emulator For Windows 7 Free Download
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I am trying to install the 16-bit game, 'NBA Live 98' on my parents' desktop computer, but I got a message that says, word for word:
The version of this file is not compatible with the version of Windows you're running. Check your computer's system information to see whether you need an x86 (32-bit) or x64 (64-bit) version of the program, and then contact the software publisher.
Problem is, this computer game is obviously out of date and no longer supported.
Note: The desktop has Home Premium, so XP Mode and Program Compatibility Mode are out of the question. Also, my parents are not willing to downgrade their computer to XP (they discarded the OS CD years ago), and my backup desktop doesn't have a single administrator (everyone's limited). Finally, my laptop charger is broken, so I can't use my Dell Vista.
galacticninja31.5k6868 gold badges231231 silver badges433433 bronze badges
TommyTommy
2 Answers
A 64-bit operating system won't be able to run a 16-bit program. For more info, see these Super User posts:
This question on Arqade: How to get old 16-bit Windows games to work on 64-bit Windows?, is similar to yours, but the solutions in the answers won't help since you can't run Windows XP mode in Windows 7 Home Basic / Premium.
A solution, from this post in Super User:
Use an emulator like DOSBox for 16-bit DOS games, if they involve DirectX graphics you need to use a VM.
NBA Live 98 doesn't seem to be a DOS game (can anyone or OP confirm?) - if this is the case, you will need to use a Virtual Machine instead of DOSBox. A VM will allow you to run a 32-bit OS within 64-bit Windows 7. A VM software you might want to try is VirtualBox, which you can use to run Windows 7 32-bit, Windows XP 32-bit, or an even older Windows OS within Windows 7 Home Basic / Premium.
Other alternatives to VirtualBox (thanks to pixel for mentioning) are:
- Microsoft Virtual PC ('XP Mode' before it was turned into a built-in function in Windows 7)
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galacticninjagalacticninja![Windows Windows](/uploads/1/2/6/0/126063766/151422234.jpg)
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The best thing to do is to get a 32-bit Operating System. This would most likely make the game compatible. I have tested this by running Zork on my 32-bit and 64-bit partitions. You can make two separate partitions.
However, if you are not in a position to do this, you can make a Virtual Machine (VM) and put in a 32-bit operating system (does not matter which, does not matter what OS). However, if you are not the 'nerdy' type of person that's willing to be frustrated, this is probably not the option for you.
Your third and final option is to use a DOS emulator, such as DOSBox, or one in a virtual machine (pure DOS). This is the best option since your game since to be for 16-bit operating systems, and pure DOS is 16-bit.
Edit: If you have a copy of Windows 95, 98, or ME, this will be fine as well since these versions only have a 32-bit version.
user28379
Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged windows-7backwards-compatibilitynba-live-98 or ask your own question.
Most of your older Windows apps should just work on Windows 10. If they worked on Windows 7, they’ll almost certainly work on Windows 10. Some older PC applications won’t just work, but there are many ways to get them working again.
These tricks cover a variety of applications, from Windows XP-era apps and old PC games that require outdated DRM to DOS and Windows 3.1 applications.
Run as Administrator
RELATED:Why You Shouldn’t Disable User Account Control (UAC) in Windows
Many applications developed for Windows XP will work properly on a modern version of Windows, except for one little issue. During the Windows XP era, average Windows users typically used their PC with an Administrator account all the time. Applications were coded to just assume they had administrative access and would fail if they didn’t. The new User Account Control (UAC) feature mostly fixed this issue, but there were some teething problems at first.
If an older application isn’t working properly, try right-clicking its shortcut or .exe file, and then selecting “Run as Administrator” to launch it with administrative permissions.
If you find that an app does require administrative access, you can set the app to always run as administrator using the compatibility settings we discuss in the next section.
Adjust Compatibility Settings
RELATED:Using Program Compatibility Mode in Windows 7
Windows includes compatibility settings that can make old applications functional. In Windows 10’s Start menu, right-click a shortcut, select “Open file location” from the context menu
Once you have the file’s location, right-click the app’s shortcut or .exe file, and then select “Properties” from the context menu.
On the “Compatibility” tab of the app’s properties window, you can click the “Use the compatibility troubleshooter” button for a wizard interface or just adjust the options yourself.
For example, if an application doesn’t run properly on Windows 10 but did run properly on Windows XP, select the “Run this program in compatibility mode for” option, and then select “Windows XP (Service Pack 3)” from the dropdown menu.
RELATED:How to Make Windows Work Better on High-DPI Displays and Fix Blurry Fonts
Don’t be shy about trying the other settings on the “Compatibility” tab, too. For example, very old games may benefit from “Reduced color mode”. On high DPI displays, you may have to check the “Disable display scaling on high DPI settings” to make a program look normal. No options on this tab can hurt your app or PC—you can always just turn them back off if they don’t help.
Install Unsigned Drivers or 32-bit Drivers
The 64-bit version of Windows 10 uses driver signature enforcement and requires all drivers have a valid signature before they can be installed. 32-bit versions of Windows 10 normally don’t require signed drivers. The exception to this is that 32-bit versions of Windows 10 running on a newer PC with UEFI (instead of regular BIOS) often do require signed drivers. Enforcing signed drivers helps improve security and stability, protecting your system from drivers that are malicious or simply unstable. You should only install unsigned drivers if you know they’re safe and have a good reason to do so.
If old software you want to install does need unsigned drivers, you’ll have to use a special boot option to install them. If only 32-bit drivers are available, you’ll have to use the 32-bit version of Windows 10 instead—the 64-bit version of Windows 10 requires 64-bit drivers. Use this process if you need to switch to the 32-bit version, downloading the 32-bit version of Windows 10 instead of the 64-bit version.
Run Games That Require SafeDisc and SecuROM DRM
Windows 10 won’t run older games that use SafeDisc or SecuROM DRM. These digital rights management schemes can cause quite a few problems. Overall, it’s a good thing that Windows 10 doesn’t allow this junk to install and pollute your system. Unfortunately, it does mean that some older games that came on physical CDs or DVDs won’t install and run normally.
You have a variety of other options for playing these games, including searching for a “no CD” crack (which are potentially very unsafe, as they’re often found on shady piracy sites), repurchasing the game from a digital distribution service like GOG or Steam, or checking the developer’s website to see if it offers a patch that removes the DRM.
More advanced tricks include installing and dual-booting into an older version of Windows without this restriction, or attempting to run the game in a virtual machine with an older version of Windows. A virtual machine may even work well for you, since games using these DRM schemes old enough now that even a virtual machine can likely handle their graphics demands.
Use Virtual Machines for Older Software
RELATED:Beginner Geek: How to Create and Use Virtual Machines
Windows 7 included a special “Windows XP Mode” feature. This was actually just an included virtual machine program with a free Windows XP license. Windows 10 does not include a Windows XP mode, but you can still use a virtual machine to do it yourself.
All you really need is a virtual machine program like VirtualBox and a spare Windows XP license. Install that copy of Windows in the VM and you can run software on that older version of Windows in a window on your Windows 10 desktop.
Using a virtual machine is a somewhat more involved solution, but it will work well unless the app needs to interface with hardware directly. Virtual machines tend to have limited support for hardware peripherals.
Use Emulators for DOS and Windows 3.1 Applications
RELATED:How To Use DOSBox To Run DOS Games and Old Apps
DOSBox allows you to run old DOS applications—primarily DOS games—in an emulator window on your desktop. Use DOSBox to run old DOS applications rather than relying on the Command Prompt. DOSBox will work much, much better.
![Download Download](https://i.amz.mshcdn.com/J77CzAkk3rKrmzYSVjK2pa6IZWw=/1200x627/2016%2F02%2F03%2F0f%2Fwindows.18f7f.jpg)
And, since Windows 3.1 itself was basically a DOS application, you can install Windows 3.1 in DOSBox and run old 16-bit Windows 3.1 applications, too.
Use 32-Bit Windows for 16-bit Software
16-bit programs no longer function on 64-bit versions of Windows. The 64-bit version of Windows just doesn’t contain the WOW16 compatibility layer that allows 16-bit apps to run. Try to run a 16-bit application on a 64-bit version of Windows and you’ll just see a “This app can’t run on your PC” message.
If you do need to run 16-bit apps, you’ll need to install the 32-bit version of Windows 10 instead of the 64-bit version. The good news is that you don’t really have to reinstall your entire operating system. Instead, you can just install a 32-bit version of Windows inside a virtual machine and run the application there. You could even install Windows 3.1 in DOSBox.
Use Specific Browsers for Websites Requiring Java, Silverlight, ActiveX, or Internet Explorer
Windows 10 uses the new Microsoft Edge as its default browser. Edge doesn’t include support for Java, ActiveX, Silverlight, and other technologies. Chrome has also dropped support for NPAPI plug-ins like Java and Silverlight.
RELATED:How to Use Java, Silverlight, and Other Plugins in Modern Browsers
To use older web applications requiring these technologies, fire up the Internet Explorer web browser included with Windows 10 for compatibility reasons. IE still supports ActiveX content. Mozilla Firefox still supports Java and Silverlight.
You can launch Internet Explorer from the Start menu. If you’re already Microsoft Edge, just open the settings menu and select “Open with Internet Explorer” to open the current web page directly in Internet Explorer.
In general, if an older application doesn’t function on Windows 10, it’s a good idea to try to find a modern replacement that will work properly. But, there are some apps—especially old PC games and business apps—that you just may not be able to replace. Hopefully, some of the compatibility tricks we’ve shared will get those apps up and running again.
Image Credit: Brett Morrison on Flickr
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