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16-bit install wrapper

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First post, by avatar_58

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With the advent of 64-bit operating systems I'm kind of curious - has anyone started work on a program to emulate 16-bit support for some games that need it?

I'm not talking full fledged 16-bit emulation, just a sort of wrapper for 32-bit games that have launchers or installs that are 16-bit. I've seen a few out there (usually windows 95 launch era) and wondered if anyone was attempting to solve this rather than just recommend VMware. After all most 32-bit games would run just fine in 64-bit XP/Vista but due to ancient installers they won't function.

It would be probably be quite useful if it already doesn't exist.

Reply 1 of 4, by DosFreak

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I just unpack them using the installshield unpackers.

Yeah, you'd think someone would have come up with something by now. Heck, I can run x86 apps on a DEC Alpha with FX32 so you'd think someone would be able to write a simple emulation program to run a 16bit installer......

I'd bitch at the installer makers more than at Microsoft though (although they are at fault as well).

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Reply 2 of 4, by avatar_58

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Well 16-bit going the way of the dodo was expected, but really I just thought since we have emulators for practically everything these days that someone would have at least attempted it. I'm no programmer so I can't really volunteer either.

Reply 3 of 4, by Reckless

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Basic support for installers is provided but I guess the ones you're after aren't Installshield/ACME:

No 16-Bit Code • No 16-bit code can run, except for recognized InstallShield and Acme installers (these are hard-coded in Wow64 […]
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No 16-Bit Code
• No 16-bit code can run, except for recognized InstallShield and Acme installers (these are hard-coded in Wow64 to allow them to work).
• 16-bit Setup bootstraps are not supported.
• 16-bit MS-DOS and Microsoft Windows 3.x utilities will not start. If you attempt to start such a program, you receive a "Program.exe is not a valid Win32 application" error message.

Can't say that I'd need a 64bit edition OS for home for another 5-10 years so I don't really care either 😀 😉

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