WineVDM

[Collector]

For those that are not aware, WineVDM provides a good way to run 16-bit programs and games on x64 Windows. It intercepts the NTVDM64 call to launch WineVDM instead of the "This app cannot run on your PC" when you try to run a 16-bit program. I have written an installer for the binaries that automatically makes the registry entries required for the NTVDM64 intercept. Run this installer and you be able to run 16-bit games and programs simply by double clicking the original EXE.

It can also be used for those 32-bit games that shipped with 16-bit installers. Not that you may need to do more to set up those games as WineVDM uses a virtual Windows directory for seamless file write permissions and the storage of compatible DLLs. Any INI files that the installer writes will end up in its own Otvdm/Windows folder. You may need to copy these to your real Windows directory.

[notbobsmith]

This is very cool. I don't think I have anything that can't be run in DOSBox or ScummVM, but it's nice to have something like this.

[Collector]

Think 16-bit Win games, not DOS.

[Tawmis]

Think 16-bit Win games, not DOS.

Like the Win version of King's Quest VI, right? That'd fall under this. So ye get the better "profile" pictures.

[Tawmis]

Are you going to make any 16bit Sierra game installers that go with this (if you ever have spare time, haahhaahahahah!)

I need to now go through my bins in my garage and see what 16bit games have sat, unloved, because I only installed DOS based ones thanks to DOSBox's awesomeness! <3

[MusicallyInspired]

I've been using OTVDM to run 16-bit applications. Is it the same thing or an alternative?

Think 16-bit Win games, not DOS.

Like the Win version of King's Quest VI, right? That'd fall under this. So ye get the better "profile" pictures.

Also, Indiana Jones Desktop Adventures. (Yoda Stories luckily is 32-bit already)

[Rath Darkblade]

Hmm. Does "Discworld Noir" count? *crosses fingers* IIRC, it worked fine on Windows 95/98 but not anything more recent.

[Tawmis]

Hmm. Does "Discworld Noir" count? *crosses fingers* IIRC, it worked fine on Windows 95/98 but not anything more recent.

Yes, I believe that should work. (I can't find anywhere if it's 16 or 32, but the fact it's Windows 95/98 - tells me, it's probably 16bit)

[Collector]

Nope. 32. API issues, not bit depth.

[Tawmis]

Nope. 32. API issues, not bit depth.

Is the nope to King's Quest VI (Win) or Discworld Noir or both?

[Collector]

Discworld Noir

[Collector]

Anyone give this a try, yet? Here is the Win3x Paintbrush running on my Win10 x64 Pro.

[goatmeal]

Running trials on a 64-bit Windows 7 machine:

========================================

Tried it on Betrayal In Antara. During the System Test, the Memory failed (a known problem that the SquirtTheCat installer fixes), but the killer is that the CPU test locks up the installer.

Installed just fine without performing the System Test, but the System Test is a requirement to RUN the game. Got the Memory Error error there again prior to starting the game, so I'll have to stick with SquirtTheCat installer for now as a work-around.

========================================

Tried it on Thexder 95. During the set-up, the Memory passed, but the CPU failed to recognize. So, ignored the System Test to begin the installation, but the game needs to install Microsoft Games SDK under SETUP32.exe, which fails with the following message:

WINDOW TITLE: SETUP32
! Unexpected error - no DirectXSourceDir entry found in SIERRA.INI.

Then, it tries to install the game proper by calling SETUP32.exe again, and that fails with the following message:

WINDOW TITLE: SETUP32
! Unexpected error - expected to find ProductDir = value in the Misc section of SIERRA.INI and was not found.

Again, I'll have to stick with the Sierra Helper Install program for now.

========================================

Trying to uninstall either game, using the CD itself or the Windows Start Menu, calls on SETUP32.EXE and yields the same message:

WINDOW TITLE: SETUP32
! Unexpected error - expected to find ProductDir = value in the Misc section of SIERRA.INI and was not found.

========================================

On the plus side, the 16-bit installers DID work using the WineVDM program; there were just problems after that:

1. Known Memory problem for BIA, so not an issue with WineVDM
2. Problems with Thexder95 calling Setup32 twice outside of WineVDM, so again, not an issue with WineVDM, per se.

========================================

UPDATE: Okay, I just re-read the first post. I will try to move the INI files that are created in the Otvdm/WINDOWS folder to the proper folders when I get a chance.

(Would help if I actually READ that part before typing all of the above.)

[Tawmis]

Anyone give this a try, yet? Here is the Win3x Paintbrush running on my Win10 x64 Pro.

I've not tried it yet. I downloaded the thing in your first post. But trying it is going to require delving into the depths of my garage where my games are stored.

That's gonna take some time.

[MusicallyInspired]

I've been using this for a while now to run LA-Synth, a MT-32 librarian software for creating and storing custom patches for the MT-32. Before I'd have to use it in DOSBox with Win3.x running. Now I don't have to. It's been wonderful. It works amazingly well.

I also tested Time Warp of Dr Brain with this a couple weeks ago. That, too, ran pretty well.