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.

  • ninjan@lemmy.mildgrim.comEnglish
    20·
    1 year ago

    Well not if you can dig up and get running the computer you bought the games for, or one say 5-10 years younger. Windows XP will do for anything on a CD, Windows 95 for anything on a 3.5 floppy. 5.25 floppy then most will run on 3.1.

    It’s just that it’s a lot of work ensuring backwards compatibility and it’s not always a good idea, I’d argue the software world, in general, strive to much for backwards compatibility but that’s another discussion.

    That work needs funding so it’s either pay GOG for the work that has been done remaking parts or repacking to make it run on modern computers. Or look to the hobbyist side of things but since they aren’t paid, they of course seldom package what they do in an easy to consume format leading to enormous guides with 20 steps that maybe works, but probably not if you don’t have an exact setup like the guy who wrote its.