Windows ME

[Paul Goodman]

With the release of the new home PC version of Windows 2000, called Windows ME, it is time to discuss this operating system. I believe that DOS programs can no longer be run at all in either of these new operating systems. The ersatz DOS available in Windows 95/98 is totally gone. Is this correct? I'm in no hurry to upgrade my Windows 98, but very shortly new computers will be released with Windows ME installed.

Paul

[sulup]

All I can say is, if it won't run PACWAR, then Windows ME is next to nothing!

[RickyB]

Originally posted by Paul Goodman:
With the release of the new home PC version of Windows 2000, called Windows ME, it is time to discuss this operating system. I believe that DOS programs can no longer be run at all in either of these new operating systems. The ersatz DOS available in Windows 95/98 is totally gone. Is this correct? I'm in no hurry to upgrade my Windows 98, but very shortly new computers will be released with Windows ME installed.

Paul

Paul,

Good point about the new operating system running the old DOS games. A couple of things though. Windows ME is directly related to Win 95/98, not Windows NT that 2000 is based on, although it is to be the last OS to be in that lineage. It will still run many DOS programs in full screen mode, but some will fail. I would guess, based on what I have seen of WIR and PACWAR under both WIN 95 and 98, that they are likely to be able to run under ME, but only a test will tell.

BTW, PC World tested 5 old DOS games under Windows ME and 4 of them ran - this included Doom 1.9, Heretic 1.2, Tomb Raider 1.0, Naxcar Racing 95 and Dark Forces 1.0. Dark Forces was the only one that would not run. From my game programming knowledge (limited), these types of graphics intensive DOS games are more likely to have problems under Windows than the simpler hardware-wise WIR/PACWAR, bacause they generally try to take direct control of the hardware.

I guess that we will see, but I would guess we will be okay for now.


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Rick Bancroft
Semper Fi

[emetcalf]

While the issue of hardware control may be accurate, I also know that one issue is the use of memeory extenders. A lot of DOS games used them, but Pacwar and WIR don't, and the Matrix team is making every effort to keep the updated games within the 640K base. If they do that, I think ME will run them just fine.

[David Heath]

Darn you Guys are fast. I already tested SPWaW with the new Windows Me Millennium Edition and it work 100% Not one problem. We also tested our War in Russia and Pacific War and both of them worked fine as well.

On a side note we also tested SPWW2v3 and it did not work wih the new Windows at all. Video was all screwed up.

David

[RickyB]

Hey All,

David Heath posted over at the forums at www.cdmag.com that they have tested SPWAW, WIR and PACWAR under Windows ME and all three work. One of the other versions of SP out there would not run correctly due to video problems, but it looks like these games will be okay with ME, at least for most users.

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Rick Bancroft
Semper Fi

[David Heath]

Oh.. on a side note ... I love this new Windows its fast and has not cause a problem yet.

David

[Cmdrcain]

Originally posted by David Heath:
Oh.. on a side note ... I love this new Windows its fast and has not cause a problem yet.

David

Ummm Famous Last words.....

[moore4807]

ROFLMAO!!!!!
The Final Word about Windows-
"Terminal page fault caused in module xxx, yada yada yada- This application is TERMINATED! ( Wishing it was Gates instead)