Topic: Windows 8

[vonfrank]

SFC3 Installs correctly on windows 8, and the game starts as well. I can see the opening movies and hear the music. But once I get to the main menu, it is just a black screen. I can see the moue and hear the menu music, but the screen is totally blank no matter what I do. Trying the compatibility modes (win XP or 7) does not help. Any suggestions? Does SFC3 simply not work on Windows 8?

[vonfrank]

Nope, didnt work.

I have SFC3 installed on my laptop (windows 7) and it has no problems, the only issue is on my windows 8 PC.
Interestingly enough, Armada 2 has the exact same problem, the game starts but shows a blank screen on the main menu.

[Commander Maxillius]

Linux and WINE is the answer.  I'm running Linux Mint 13 Cinnamon with WINE set up to treat .exes as if they're under Win98.  OP runs no problem at 1024x768.

[privatepile]

I have a solution to your problem,I also had the same problem

(1)Download VMWare Player its freeware,Its basically lets you run an OS from within an OS,
(2)Get a copy of Ubuntu (Also Free) and the red wine app (also free) or a copy of XP

Install XP or Ununtu through VMWare and then just drag and drop the game and it will run perfectly,I have an i5 processor and can play it perfectly,I would imagine you would need a pretty decent processor for this to work

[shunter101]

I have a solution to your problem,I also had the same problem

(1)Download VMWare Player its freeware,Its basically lets you run an OS from within an OS,
(2)Get a copy of Ubuntu (Also Free) and the red wine app (also free) or a copy of XP

Install XP or Ununtu through VMWare and then just drag and drop the game and it will run perfectly,I have an i5 processor and can play it perfectly,I would imagine you would need a pretty decent processor for this to work

Hello:

Until a Win8 solution is found, the above method using XP works fine. I had no issues installing VMware or XP via VMware on my win8 64 bit machine.  In fact, I would recommend the XP way versus Ubuntu and the red wine app. Ubuntu installed fine, but red wine had major issues (dependency issues and wanted me to uninstall a list of programs)  and would not install. The last thing I wanted to do is to waste time trouble shooting. It took about 30 minutes  in total to install VMware+XP +SFC3, I have not downloaded any XP patches etc; SFC3 worked right after XP was loaded. Thanks for the advice Privatepile.

Best,
Shunter

[privatepile]

Glad i could help,I agree Red Wine was a nightmare the only reason i mentioned it was for people who could not get a copy of XP

[Czar Mohab]

A little off topic but does anyone know a site where I can purchase a real genuine copy of XP Pro 64bit. The one that would allow me to utilize 16gig ram.
I have a 32bit XP home edition that I use in VMWare on my Win7 rig. I tried winging it and purchased a 64bit Prof. online from this fishy website, I got screwed, they took my money and made other charges to my credit card(identity theft crisis). I really want one but don't know what site is worthy and honorable. Any ideas guys.

Adam

Might just ask Micro$oft directly.

Also, amazon.com *might* have it. eBay *should* have it (although more shady than amazon, usually, when dealing with software). newegg and tigerdirect used to have it, but neither currently carries XP discs.

Lastly, you might be able to find it in local, small business style PC shops.

The Czar

[Lieutenant_Q]

I know there's a hole in the wall computer shop down the street that is still building systems with Windows XP.  I don't know if they are selling the software on its own though.

[Sirgod]

I'm with you Adam, I've been looking for XP Pro now for ever. If I find something, I'll let ya know.

Stephen

[d4v1ks]

I remember something about buying a higher version of windows (higher than xp) and having the option to downgrade to windows xp pro...
Maybe you could find something in that line.

[maelstorm]

Hmm. Do tell, I have never heard of that option...

Adam

it has to do with windows licencing scheme microsoft uses.  As long as you have a valid licence you can use that license to run any older version of windows on it.  so for example, you purchased or built a new pc.  you purchase the newest windows version (currently .  Under that licence you may install any previous version of windows (yes even windows 3.1).  however you will need to find a way of activating those windows installations. (keys so it will install ect.)  if M$ decides to audit you, you just need to show them your licence for windows on that pc.

[Czar Mohab]

Hmm. Do tell, I have never heard of that option...

Adam

Downgrade rights are an end-user right, documented in the Software License Terms that customers accept upon first running Windows software. Thanks to downgrade rights, end users who have acquired a more recent version of the software (such as Windows 8 Pro) can use a prior version of the software (such as Windows 7 Professional) until they are ready to move to the more recent version. Not all products include downgrade rights. But if a product includes downgrade rights, the license terms for that product will indicate which prior versions of the software may be used.

So what exactly do I need to do, 

Adam

Go here

Problem is, you still need the XP Pro x64 disc & product key. *AND* Win8 does not allow a downgrade to XP... Coworker just bought a Win 8 laptop and hates the OS, so I've already done this legwork for you Win 7 Pro and Ultimate seem OK to go to XP Pro, if that helps.

The Czar

[Sirgod]

That is awesome to know Maelstrom. I had no idea about that.

I have an old 486, and 3.1 on a disk somewhere. I may just start having some old DOS madness.

Yeah yeah, there is always GOG, but to go with the original crap and all the headaches that involved. Hmm. I wonder if my MFM drives are still running.

Stephen

[d4v1ks]

(...) never heard of that option...

Just saved your day 

[maelstorm]

That is awesome to know Maelstrom. I had no idea about that.

I have an old 486, and 3.1 on a disk somewhere. I may just start having some old DOS madness.

Yeah yeah, there is always GOG, but to go with the original crap and all the headaches that involved. Hmm. I wonder if my MFM drives are still running.

Stephen

I've somewhat recently restarted playing some old dos games.  Instead of getting that old box working just use dosbox.  it's working flawlessly for me at the moment with every old dos game i've tossed at it.


Ouch adam sorry to hear that happened.    It' not going to be easy to find a copy of xp64x  best bet would be ebay atleast ratings on there would keep people from messing you over.  at worst you could buy the licence key there and find an iso of it.

[Javora]

Adam, have you tried here, it's worth a shot but IMHO it's one step away from Ebay:

http://www.pricewatch.com/price/software_oper_system/windows_xp_professional

Hope this helps.

[Javora]

Two of the places I had bookmarked had went out of business but were still accepting orders (taking money).  When I checked them against Resellerratings.com I noticed that and made the changes so you didn't get caught up in that.  But if you prefer I can leave it as originally posted in the future.
 

[Tumulorum Fossor]

So would this technique work with SFC2 & OP?

Any success on getting a copy of xp?

[Kid Carrson]

In our businesses, we've used KVM switches and multiple machines (with different operating systems) at each station for years.  It works pretty damn well overall for us!

We still buy new XP Pro machines from a great EBAY vendor named Flourish Computers.  The owner, Philip, has done great work for us for years.  A link to his site is:  http://stores.ebay.com/FLOURISH-COMPUTER?_trksid=p4340.l2563

Since we just phased out the last of our Windows 98SE machines this year (we still have 1 in service) in our businesses, I'd guess we'll have XP Pro machines available for at least another decade.

I'd bet that you can also get decent cheap used XP Pro machines through Ebay if you wanted.


Just my 2 cents.

KC
   

[TAnimaL]

I am in the process of building a new high-end work machine and may try the dual-boot approach; I'll post successes if I have any.

I did get OP installed on a Win8 laptop (easily), and have played a few games, but there were an equal number of crashes. Funny, it crashes more after the 2.5.5.2 upgrade went in, the OP dll update won't run, and I can't change the "windowed=1" line in the sfc.ini and savie it as "sfc.ini"

[Panzergranate]

I keep an old Gateway 500 LS P3 running its maximum memory capacity (it's sooooo cheap to fully expand older PCs) running Windows Migraine Edition, a Packard Bell Easynote P4 Dual Core running Windows Vista, An Acer P4 Quad Core running Vista, my son has a top of the range monster he bought last year running Windows 7 and also an old Gateway 500 LS running Windows ME.

All of these happily run SFC 1 and SFC 3.

Also Warzone 2100, all the Command & Conquer versions, Armada plus a whole host of "classic" PC games from the Windows 95 / 98 era plus a few DOS ones.

From what I hear from friends (one had the shop remove Windows 8 and install Windows 7 on a brand new machine as he hated the new desktop), Windows 8 also has huge compatability problems with engineering packages including very expensive ECAD suites.

   

[Tulwar]

Windows 8 also has huge compatability problems with engineering packages including very expensive ECAD suites. 

Gotta love Microsoft.


Perhaps I'm just getting old, but back when this was a Vista Machine, and I was going through the registry keys to pick out pieces of my broken software, I promised myself that I was never going to buy a new MS OS.  I still can't afford a MacBook, and don't know enough to but a GoogleBook and intall Ubuntu on it.  Hopefully, one thing or the other will happen before this thing fails.

[Panzergranate]

I also have a Tulip 286-12.5 running Windows 1.03, a Compaq Portable II (computerised hernia generator) running Windows 2.03, a "De Luxe" 1989 Compaq Deskpro 386-16 running Windows 3.11 with Sparta system override ( improved Windows by removing MS crap and presenting a MAC OS desktop. Waste bin is a an animated Goat!!), a home built 486 DX 128 running Windows 95 and another home built 486 running Windows 3.51 NT.

That's the unreliable MS contaminated computers.

The other reliable ones that never give no hastles or bother are an old LC II and a Quadra 660 (both MACs).

I have to keep so many computers due to the sheer expense of engineering software and some of the tools electronics engineers have to use (embedded compilers, ECAD, circuit emulators, spectrum analysers, PIC / EPROM programmers, gizmoes, etc.) which every upgrade of  Windows will create compatibilty issues with.

As some of the oriuginal companies are no longer around, no longer support or would rather you spend the price of a small motorcycle on buying the new "works with the latest version of Windows" (we hope with fingers crossed), it pays to hang onto antique computers.

And then there are the specialist ISA / Vesabus cards. One I have (actually I have 4 of them) cost me £992 a piece and is for the sole purpose of raising IDE hard discs from the dead and data salvage. It allows the reprogramming of the onboard E2PROM on the HD when it is fitted to a same make different capacity HD.

There are also a few other home built and aquired engineering related ISA and Vesa cards here that won't fit in the modern machines.

Another problem is the lack of RS 232 / 485 and parallel ports on modern PCs which 95% of industrial machinery, such as pick and place PCB assembling machines, car assembly robots, etc. hook up to.

This is all a headache for business and industry as PCs are marketed towards gamers and office work whilst ignoring industrial use.

If you want to see old 088, 086, 186, 286, 386 and 486 PCs hard at work running on DOS go and visit an average small to medium size business with an automated assembly line.

Was Windows 8 welconed by industry with open arms.... what do you reckon??

[JohnJK04]

I have installed VMPlayer with Ubunutu and Wine, what do you mean by drag and drop the game? That doesn't work for me...