Installing Windows 7 games on Windows 8

windows-7 installation windows-8

30,397

Solution 1

The problem was that the files were in the wrong folder, and where therefore calling the x86 versions of the api, when they should have been calling the x64 versions.

Just moving them into the Program Files folder (as opposed to the Program Files (x86) folder) fixed the problem.

Solution 2

Try to start FreeCell under Dependency Walker.

File -> Open -> FreeCell.exe
Profile -> Start profiling

Of course, you must use appropriate (x32/x64) version of Depends, otherwise you'll get error "Modules with different CPU types were found".

After process FreeCell.exe exits search the log for red lines. May be they give the clue. Incorrect paths for example...

30,397

soandos

Student. Third to earn the marshal badge on SuperUser profile for soandos on Stack Exchange, a network of free, community-driven Q&A sites http://stackexchange.com/users/flair/375094.png profile for soandos on Project Euler, which exists to encourage, challenge, and develop the skills and enjoyment of anyone with an interest in the fascinating world of mathematics. http://projecteuler.net/profile/soandos.png

Updated on September 18, 2022

Comments

soandos almost 2 years

I wish to play all of the games that I have on Windows 7 by default (chess, freecell, minesweeper, etc) on my Windows 8 machine.

I tried to just copy over the relevant .exe files, but when I run them (even in Windows 7 compatibility mode) nothing happens (no errors, no running process, nothing).

How can I get my games working?

Note: I tried the Into Windows Guide: How To Play Windows 7 Games In Windows 8 and after I downloaded the patch, it still did not work.
- Admin almost 12 years
  
  Do you have an nVidia graphics card?
- Admin almost 12 years
  
  @RandolphWest Yup. Up to date drivers, 260M
- Admin almost 12 years
  
  I cannot run any Metro apps with my 560M nVidia, and the behaviour sounds the same. No error, no running process, nothing. I believe there's a known issue with nVidia cards. EDIT I cannot run Windows 7 games on my 8 install either.
- Admin almost 12 years
  
  @RandolphWest I have no problems with the built in metro apps, or others that I download. Additionally, these games came from win 7 and so are not metro.
- Admin almost 12 years
  
  Well I can't exclude nVidia being a problem on my machine, but the 7 games definitely do not start.
soandos almost 12 years

Useful program. Copied in a .dll file, but then I a bunch of problems with the win api (API-MS-WIN-CORE-SYNCH-L1-1-0.DLL).
Maximus almost 12 years

Are you sure, executable was successfully patched? Just tried patch 1.2 on my tablet (Win8 customer preview x86) and it works, running from C:\Program Files\Microsoft Games\FreeCell\FreeCell.exe