1. Install Windows 2000 Free
2. Install Windows 2000 In Dosbox
3. Install Windows 2000 In Virtualbox (key + Iso)

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These tricks cover a variety of applications, from Windows XP-era apps and old PC games that require outdated DRM to DOS and Windows 3.1 applications.

Windows versions 95/98/ME are built on top of DOS but XP is built on the NT kernel (so were Windows 2000 and Windows NT Workstation 1-4, as well as the newer versions of Windows). If you want to run Windows XP for compatibility with older games I recommend either A) Linux with WINE (works most of.

1. For example, an old game may not run properly on Windows 8 when installed from disc, but the game's developer may have released a patch that allows the game to run on newer versions of Windows. You should also try updating related software. For example, many games using Microsoft's own Games.
2. An open source DOS emulator for BeOS, Linux, Mac OS X, OS/2, and Windows. Primarily focuses on running DOS Games.

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.

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

One of Microsoft’s big strengths — and weaknesses — is their focus on backwards compatibility. Most Windows applications will work just fine on Windows 8. This is especially true if they worked on Windows 7, as Windows 8 is very similar to Windows 7. Some old games and software, particularly ones designed for older operating systems like Windows XP, Windows 98, or DOS, may not work properly out of the box. Whatever type of software you’re dealing with, whether it’s a PC game or a piece of business software, performing a Google search for the name of the game along with “Windows 8” or the exact error message you received will probably help. The below tips apply to all different types of software, but finding information specific to your buggy program is always a good idea.

Why Games & Software Might Not Be Compatible

There are a variety of reasons why programs and other software may not work properly on Windows 8.

• Bad Programming Practices: Some software may depend on administrator access, which was taken for granted on Windows XP, and break when running as a standard user on newer versions of Windows. Some software may have depended on issues in older versions of Windows that have since been fixed, resulting in the application breaking on modern versions of Windows.
• Dependencies on Old Versions of Software: Some software may depend on old libraries, like the .NET Framework version 3.5, which is not installed by default on Windows 8.
• 16-bit Software: 64-bit versions of Windows no longer contain the compatibility layer for 16-bit Windows applications. If you have a 16-bit application written for Windows 3.1, you’ll need to use the 32-bit version of Windows 8 to run it.
• DOS Software: Windows 8, like all versions of Windows back to Windows XP, no longer runs on top of DOS. While some DOS software still runs, advanced DOS software — like PC games written for DOS — doesn’t work in the Command Prompt environment.

Before Upgrading

Microsoft has some information you can consult before upgrading. You can download and run the Windows 8 Upgrade Assistant, which will scan your computer and let you know if your software and hardware will work properly under Windows 8. This won’t detect all programs that won’t work properly, but it still provides some useful information.

Microsoft also provides a Windows Compatibility Center website that lists whether games, other software, and hardware will work properly on Windows 8. The website also provides a discussion feature so you can see what other users say about their experiences.

Update Your Software

If the software won’t run on Windows 8, you should update it to the latest versions with whatever patches are available. For example, an old game may not run properly on Windows 8 when installed from disc, but the game’s developer may have released a patch that allows the game to run on newer versions of Windows. You should also try updating related software. For example, many games using Microsoft’s own Games for Windows Live don’t run properly on Windows 8 until an update for GFWL is installed.

You may also need to install old libraries that your software depends on. For example, Windows 8 only includes version 4.5 of the .NET Framework. If you receive a .NET Framework-related error, you should visit the control panel and install the .NET Framework 3.5 package, which allows software that depends on .NET 3.5, 3.0, or 2.0 to run.

Run as Administrator

Fixing a problematic application could be as simple as running it in administrator mode. Windows normally detects when applications require administrator access and deals with this, but it may not always work. To run a program in administrator mode, just right-click its shortcut and select Run as administrator.

You could also fix this by disabling User Account Control entirely. We don’t recommend disabling UAC, as it’s an important security featureThe MUO Security Checklist: What You Need To Do Right Now To Be SafeThe MUO Security Checklist: What You Need To Do Right Now To Be SafeSecurity can be an overwhelming subject – there are so many potential problems we need to think about when securing our computers, our online accounts, and our wireless networks. This list should help simplify things...Read More and it shouldn’t bug you too much — UAC has improved a lot from its sorry state in Windows Vista. Almost every Windows program will work fine with UAC enabled.

Enable Compatibility Mode

Windows 8 includes a Program Compatibility Troubleshooter along with compatibility options you can tweak. Just right-click the shortcut for the program you’re having problems with, select Properties, and click the Compatibility tab. From here, you can run the compatibility troubleshooter to have Windows walk you though choosing settings that my fix your problem. Alternatively, you can try to trick the program into thinking it’s running on a previous version of Windows, such as Windows XP or Windows 98. This may solve problems with programs that worked on previous programs but no longer work. The Compatibility tab also allows you to always start programs in administrator mode — useful if they must be run as administrator.

Use DOSBox

Install Windows 2000 Free

If you have an old DOS application that isn’t working properly in Windows — likely an old DOS game like the original DOOM games — you can run it in DOSBoxHow To Get Old DOS Computer Games To Run On Windows 7How To Get Old DOS Computer Games To Run On Windows 7Read More. DOSBox is a free application that runs a full DOS environment in a window on your computer, allowing you to run DOS software. It’s much more compatible and full-featured than the Command Prompt included with Windows. DOSBox works so well that many game developers bundle DOSBox with their own games — if you buy a game like the original DOOM or Quake games on Steam8 Things You Didn't Know About Steam8 Things You Didn't Know About SteamSteam started out as an annoying program that came with Half-Life 2, but it’s grown into the PC game store of choice for most PC gamers. Although some people aren’t fans and prefer alternative stores,...Read More, they’ll come bundled along with DOSBox.

Use a Virtual Machine

Virtual machinesWhat Is a Virtual Machine? Everything You Need to KnowWhat Is a Virtual Machine? Everything You Need to KnowVirtual machines allow you to run other operating systems on your current computer. Here's what you should know about them.Read More will allow you to run software that ran on previous versions of Windows. With a virtual machine, you can install a previous version of Windows — like Windows XP — and run it in a window on your computer. You can then run your old software in the virtual machine. Windows 8 no longer includes Windows 7’s Windows XP modeHow To Configure & Use Windows 7's XP ModeHow To Configure & Use Windows 7's XP ModeRead More, but you can get basically the same feature by installing Windows XP in VirtualBox or VMware Player. Virtual machines aren’t ideal for games, as they’re a bit slow and 3D graphics don’t work amazingly well inside them. However, they do have some limited support for 3D graphics, so if you have an ancient PC game, it may play just fine in a virtual machine. You may also run into problems if your software needs direct access to certain hardware devices — you can connect USB devices to your virtual machine, but software that depends on direct access to certain pieces of hardware may not work.

Tips for Troubleshooting Specific Games

Windows 8 users will likely run into the most issues with games, as so many old games are still work playing, while old software is generally replaced and upgraded. If you’re running into issues with any specific game, try looking the game up on the PC Gaming Wiki. This website provides detailed information for fixing issues with many games — not only on Windows 8 but on other versions of Windows and other operating systems, too.

Install Windows 2000 In Dosbox

Do you have any other tips for making old software make on Windows 8 or even Windows 7, which works similarly? What software have you had trouble with, and how did you fix it? Leave a comment and share your experiences!

Install Windows 2000 In Virtualbox (key + Iso)

1. Hey guys, if you wanna create a Windows XP Virtual Machine from the Windows XP Mode installer all for free, just follow the instructions on one of these two websites

2. I finally have Warhammer Mark of Chaos along with its expansion Battle March which both used to work perfectly on my old Windows XP desktop. However, now that i have a Windows 8.1 machine i've been trying to get this game to work and it won't. It goes smoothly until the splash screen dissapears, and normally where the screen would go black and later the game companies would start doing their 'magic' with their logos before moving on to the game...it does absolutely nothing. Even the background says that the application is not running...it kinda is like the game stops running itself after the splash screen and i always get the same error over and over again in the debug log...I tried running it in multiple compatibility modes but nothing...I think it may be because of my graphics card which it cannot read as the game is already 10 years old and the company which made it shut down 6 years ago and my PC is so far 2 years old...

3. Cuban missile crisis the after math.

   That game is cold the colder war .

4. I have trouble installing vampire masquerade. The installation process crashes in the middle and window pops out Wrong function. What should I do? Sorry for my english i m from slovakia.

5. Victor, have your read the article? There were several suggestions, like installing vm, dosbox, etc. as well as cod alterations you could try. Do you have a win98 or win2000 disk you can try in a vm?

6. does anyone know how to run a win xp game on win 8? im trying to play Cuban missile crisis the after math. my dad gifted it to me through amazon but he doent know much about computers so yeah. i would really like to be able to play it.

7. i have Delta force bhd game.....& it starts only in win xp...but now my pc has win 8 then how i access that??

8. This is how I was able to get Windows Vista's Solitare program to run on Windows 8:

   I copied the files 'solitare.exe' (from program filesmicrosoft games/) and 'cardgames.dll' (from windowssystem32) from my Vista's hard drive to a folder on my Windows 8 system (put both files in the SAME folder).

   I then used Notepad++ to open the .exe file and edited it with the Hex plugin (you can use the hex editor of your choice) to modify the imbedded 'version check' code.

   I searched for the following sequence of bytes:
   7D 04 83 65 FC 00 33 C0 83 7D FC 01 0F 94 C0
   ...and changed them to:
   EB 04 83 65 FC 00 33 C0 83 7D FC 01 0F 94 C0

   The program now runs on Windows 8.

9. I have trouble while running my NBA Live 2005 on my Win 8. The game immediately closed. Any suggestion ??

10. So if you want to run DOS games you use DOSBox, and if you want to run Windows XP games, you use a virtual machine.

    Well, it's a good thing that there were no games published for anything else between DOS and XP...

11. I have tried to run the Sims Medieval and it will come up to the start up screen and then not load

12. i want to install roller coaster tycoon 2 and Backyard football 2002 on my windows 8 but it wont pop up with an install button

    • Install the game in safe mode....it worked for me

13. i want to play 'Borderlands 2' i downloaded on http://www.kickass.to but it's keep saying 'Borderlands 2 is stop working' but if i launch other game i will play.
    I did every thing but it's not workin

    i have windows 8

    please help :(

14. how to use a software working under win xp and not working under win 8 ?

    i have winwedge which was working under windows xp but now i have upgraded my pc with windows 8 pro preinstalled, can somebody help ?

    thanks

    • Did you try the tips shared in the article above? You can try compatibility mode or installing a virtual machine with an older version of Windows. The solution for old software is essentially the same as for old games.

15. A weird issue I have when running Age of Empires III on Windows 8 x64 is that I have to switch the compatibility OS around every time I want to open it.

16. How do i run Dos games on Windows 7?

    • DOSBox, just like with Windows 8.

      The biggest challenge for legacy gaming is found with a narrow range of 3D-enabled titles that were released in the early days of DirectX that specifically lack compatibility with Windows NT (e.g. Mechwarrior 2). Because they're 3D titles, they don't virtualize well if at all and for most people it's not trivial to set up a Windows 9x virtual machine in the first place. You can get Win98 running in a DOSbox session and even a modest phone or tablet has the hardware to keep up with whatever you might need to do with it... with the possible exception of 3D gaming.