Why does RollerCoaster Tycoon (original) on a Windows 7 64-bit VM display a black screen on launch?

Question

I'm currently trying to avoid Windows XP mode since the Windows 7 installation itself is a VM (running on a Mac Mini). Regardless, here's my description of the problem.

The game successfully launches, but displays a black screen. You can hear the music play on the title world. I end up using ALT-TAB to switch out of full screen mode so I can quit. I know that once I get the game into windowed mode it'll work fine, however I've tried numerous command line switches to no avail.

I have the following compatibility options currently set:

• Compatibility mode: Windows XP SP2 (also have tried Windows 98/ME and Windows 95)
• Disable visual themes (at least required for the save dialog to appear)
• Disable desktop composition
• Run this program as Administrator (otherwise I know the game cannot save)

I have also tried (no success):

• Run in 256 colors. I've also switched to the Windows 7 Basic theme and 800x600 resolution.
• Run in 640x480 resolution.
• Disable display scaling on high DPI settings.

I've tried the original game, with and without Corkscrew Follies installed, and with and without all known available patches.

So I'm looking to get the display working, regardless of method. If there's a command-line switch I can use to force a windowed mode (I've tried -w, -win, -window, -windowed) that would be just as fine.

Answer

I've been able to run the game under Wine, so you may have better luck with that then in your Windows VM.

Instructions for installing Wine on your Mac are here.

Check more discussion of this question.

How to get old 16-bit Windows games to work on 64-bit Windows?

Question

Trying to play some old Windows 95 games on Windows 7 64-bit, I'm getting the following error:

The version of this file is not compatible with the version of Windows you're running. Check your computer's system information to see whether you need an x86 (32-bit) or x64 (64-bit) version of the program, and then contact the software publisher.

Trying to run the application in compatibility mode has no effect. I'm guessing these games somehow rely on 32-bit dlls which are missing from my system, and I would like to know if anyone else has encountered a similar problem and is able to give insight as to possible solutions or work-arounds.

Notes:

• I've checked this question but it discusses system requirements and not actual application invocation.
• The games in questions are Metal Marines and Fire Fight, but I'm sure many more might be affected.
• The error message above is not game-specific, it comes directly from Windows itself.

Answer

It's actually quite likely that these games are relying on old 16-bit DLLs. A lot of early 32-bit software relied on old 16-bit DLLs for some functions, as they did the job, they weren't used in a performance critical part of the software and there was no need to look for 32-bit versions. (for example until fairly recently the install software was often 16-bit, so much so that Win7 actually detects that and silently replaces with it's own 64-bit version of the old DLL).

Have you looked at Windows 7's XP Mode? This runs an entire copy of 32-bit Windows XP within your Windows 7, letting old programs run within XP without the program knowing it's on a 64-bit Win7 machine at all, and as it's all integrated you will hardly notice that it's running in XP.

Windows 7's XP Mode: what it is, how it works, who it's for

Check more discussion of this question.

How do get old 16-bit Windows games to work on 64-bit Windows?

Question

Trying to play some old Windows 95 games on Windows 7 64-bit, I'm getting the following error:

The version of this file is not compatible with the version of Windows you're running. Check your computer's system information to see whether you need an x86 (32-bit) or x64 (64-bit) version of the program, and then contact the software publisher.

Trying to run the application in compatibility mode has no effect. I'm guessing these games somehow rely on 32-bit dlls which are missing from my system, and I would like to know if anyone else has encountered a similar problem and is able to give insight as to possible solutions or work-arounds.

Notes:

• I've checked this question but it discusses system requirements and not actual application invocation.
• The games in questions are Metal Marines and Fire Fight, but I'm sure many more might be affected.
• The error message above is not game-specific, it comes directly from Windows itself.

Answer

It's actually quite likely that these games are relying on old 16-bit DLLs. A lot of early 32-bit software relied on old 16-bit DLLs for some functions, as they did the job, they weren't used in a performance critical part of the software and there was no need to look for 32-bit versions. (for example until fairly recently the install software was often 16-bit, so much so that Win7 actually detects that and silently replaces with it's own 64-bit version of the old DLL).

Have you looked at Windows 7's XP Mode? This runs an entire copy of 32-bit Windows XP within your Windows 7, letting old programs run within XP without the program knowing it's on a 64-bit Win7 machine at all, and as it's all integrated you will hardly notice that it's running in XP.

Windows 7's XP Mode: what it is, how it works, who it's for

Check more discussion of this question.

Why are some 32-bit PC games not supported on 64-bit operating systems?

Question

I have the original gamebox of "Medal of Honor Airborne", where the system requirements state that the game cannot be played on Windows Vista 64-bit. Why are some games not supported on 64-bit operating systems?

Answer

32 bit games can run 64 bit Windows, typically without any issues. Older 16 bit games designed for Windows XP or earlier will not run on Windows Vista/7 64 bit.

Many times, software and games will claim they do not run on a particular operating system (Windows Vista 64 bit in this case) simply because they don't want to allocate resources to test on that particular system or support it. According to this forum post, Medal of Honor: Airborne runs just fine on Vista 64 bit.

Check more discussion of this question.

Why do my old 16-bit Windows games not work on 64-bit Windows?

Question

Trying to play some old Windows 95 games on Windows 7 64-bit, I'm getting the following error:

The version of this file is not compatible with the version of Windows you're running. Check your computer's system information to see whether you need an x86 (32-bit) or x64 (64-bit) version of the program, and then contact the software publisher.

Trying to run the application in compatibility mode has no effect. I'm guessing these games somehow rely on 32-bit dlls which are missing from my system, and I would like to know if anyone else has encountered a similar problem and is able to give insight as to possible solutions or work-arounds.

Notes:

• I've checked this question but it discusses system requirements and not actual application invocation.
• The games in questions are Metal Marines and Fire Fight, but I'm sure many more might be affected.
• The error message above is not game-specific, it comes directly from Windows itself.

Answer

It's actually quite likely that these games are relying on old 16-bit DLLs. A lot of early 32-bit software relied on old 16-bit DLLs for some functions, as they did the job, they weren't used in a performance critical part of the software and there was no need to look for 32-bit versions. (for example until fairly recently the install software was often 16-bit, so much so that Win7 actually detects that and silently replaces with it's own 64-bit version of the old DLL).

Have you looked at Windows 7's XP Mode? This runs an entire copy of 32-bit Windows XP within your Windows 7, letting old programs run within XP without the program knowing it's on a 64-bit Win7 machine at all, and as it's all integrated you will hardly notice that it's running in XP.

Windows 7's XP Mode: what it is, how it works, who it's for

Check more discussion of this question.

Why are some PC games not supported on 64-bit operating systems?

Question

I have the original gamebox of "Medal of Honor Airborne", where the system requirements state that the game cannot be played on Windows Vista 64-bit. Why are some games not supported on 64-bit operating systems?

Answer

32 bit games can run 64 bit Windows, typically without any issues. Older 16 bit games designed for Windows XP or earlier will not run on Windows Vista/7 in either 32 bit or 64 bit.

Many times, software and games will claim they do not run on a particular operating system (Windows Vista 64 bit in this case) simply because they don't want to allocate resources to test on that particular system or support it. According to this forum post, Medal of Honor: Airborne runs just fine on Vista 64 bit.

Check more discussion of this question.