Carmen Sandiego: Word Detective on windows 8? \ VOGONS

Carmen Sandiego: Word Detective on windows 8?

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First post, by BBadict

Posted on 2014-09-17, 02:30

BBadict Offline

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Hi everyone! I'm new to this forum and registered just to save the last of the hair I haven't torn out in frustration! LGR on YouTube recommended you guys to help me with an issue. 😠

I own a physical copy and a digital download of Carmen Sandiego: Word Detective. My PC is currently using windows 8.1 so the game is a bit outdated to windows. I tried installing my game physically but every time I click install from auto run it the window just disappears and it never boots the installer. Same exact issue with the digital download! I'm using alcohol 120 to try to make a virtual drive and I run into the exact same issue! I've tried compatibility mode and running as an admin and I've exhausted every possibility.

The only time it ever worked for me was on my dads old PC which was only a windows version above the requirements so it naturally still ran it. Unfortunately my dad lives in PA and I just moved to WA so I don't think I'll be able to play that again.

So is it possible to get it to run on my PC? I don't know if you need specific PC specs so if you ask for details on anything I'll try to provide them. Please help! Thanks for reading!
-Leanna AKA BBadict 😊

Reply 1 of 4, by collector

Posted on 2014-09-17, 03:07

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This is the PC emulation forum, are you are trying to run the game in an emulator?

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Reply 2 of 4, by BBadict

Posted on 2014-09-17, 04:36

BBadict Offline

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Well I have DOSBox because I heard that's the only way to use old games. But I can't seem to figure out how to work it with this particular game since I have a million problems with even booting the disk. I'm not too familiar with PC gaming because I did it mostly in my childhood years.

Reply 3 of 4, by collector

Posted on 2014-09-17, 05:14

collector Offline

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It looks like that is a Windows game. DOSBox is for DOS games. It may be that it is a 16-bit game, which will not run on 64-bit Windows. If it is 16-bit, to play it on 64-bit Windows you will need to use a Virtual Machine or emulator with an old copy of Windows installed in it. If you can find an old copy of Windows 3x, you can install it in DOSBox. There is a how-to in the DOSBox guides forum to help you set it up. There are various VMs, such as VMware Player that will allow you to install Win9x.

Your other choice is to setup an old PC, if you have the space and inclination to do so.

The Sierra Help Pages -- New Sierra Game Installers -- Sierra Game Patches -- New Non-Sierra Game Installers

Reply 4 of 4, by DosFreak

Posted on 2014-09-17, 10:30

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When trying to play old games in newer versions of Windows never use autorun. Always try to find the executable that autorun is trying to execute. (Well you should never be using autorun anyway....)

Run that executable and see what error it gives you.

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