Playing Windows 98/2000/XP games in Windows 7

[Rath Darkblade]

Err, Avast is an anti-virus program, not a firewall...

[DeadPoolX]

Err, Avast is an anti-virus program, not a firewall...

Well, that's only partially true. The free version of Avast does NOT include a software firewall; however, the other "pay-to-use" suites do include one.

[Rath Darkblade]

Oh, ok. I didn't know that - I'm just going by my copy of the program.

[Rath Darkblade]

Hmm... new question. I'm trying to install Discworld II: Missing, Presumed...? (or "Mortality Bytes", depending on whether your copy was published in Europe or North America).

This game was originally published for Windows 95/98. I know this game is supported by ScummVM, and I know how to use ScummVM to run it, but no matter what I do, I can't install the game. My version of Windows is Windows 7, 64-bit.

Is there any way I can run this game at all?

Thanks for your help.

[dotkel50]

What happens when you try to run it in Scummvm?

[Collector]

If there is any game data that need to be unpacked, concatenated, etc., the game has to be installed, first just to get all of the data files. Rath, if your Win7 is Pro or ultimate you can install XP mode to run the installer in to get the files. You can then copy the files to your real hard drive to setup in ScummVM. If not, you will have to setup some kind of VM to do it or install it on another machine and copy the files to a thumb drive to get them to your Win7 box.

[Rath Darkblade]

What happens when you try to run it in Scummvm?

Nothing - I can't even install it to my hard disk to begin with yet.

If there is any game data that need to be unpacked, concatenated, etc., the game has to be installed, first just to get all of the data files. Rath, if your Win7 is Pro or ultimate you can install XP mode to run the installer in to get the files. You can then copy the files to your real hard drive to setup in ScummVM. If not, you will have to setup some kind of VM to do it or install it on another machine and copy the files to a thumb drive to get them to your Win7 box.

Hmm... I think there that I made a mistake in getting the Home Premium edition of Win7. Rats. I think I know where I can lay my hands on another machine though.

Once I install the game onto another machine - how will the game work if I copy the files to a thumb drive and from there to my hard drive? *puzzled* I thought that when installing Windows games, I have to go through the installation process from the CD/DVD, so that keys can be written to the Registry, etc.? *shrug* Sorry, I'm not sure how the process of game installation works. Can you explain, please? *smile*

Thanks again.

[MusicallyInspired]

Not all games require registry entries. ScummVM games certainly don't.

[Collector]

I have not looked to see if anything more needs to be done for Discworld 2 besides copying the data files.

http://wiki.scummvm.org/index.php/Dataf ... _....21.3F

[dotkel50]

Nothing - I can't even install it to my hard disk to begin with yet.

Try just copying the files to a folder on your hard disk (see Collector's posted link), and point Scummvm to that folder.

[Rath Darkblade]

OK, thanks! I'll give that a shot as soon as I can. (I'm sure you all know how it is - too much to do, not enough time in the day, particularly with a job).

Hmm. I know that if I installed this game to a Win9x machine, it would automatically be installed to the C:\DW2 directory. Do I have to create this folder specifically and copy the files there, or can I copy the files just anywhere? I'll give them both a shot, I'm just curious.

[MusicallyInspired]

As long as they're in a folder all to themselves it doesn't matter. Wherever you point ScummVM to that's where it should be. Although, it might be possible that the files are encrypted and will have to be installed first. I guess we'll see.

[Rath Darkblade]

Well, the game works! But... after I added it to ScummVM, played it for a while, then saved and quit - the next time I use ScummVM, the game had disappeared from the list, and I have to add it again. *shrug*

Does anyone know why this happens? Is there a way to stop this game from disappearing each time I quit ScummVM?

Thanks!

[dotkel50]

I've never had that happen.

[Collector]

Where do you have your scummvm.ini?