Re: Computer Help

Phoenix · by Phoenix on Sat Oct 31, 2009 10:18 am

It's not urgent, I can just transfer the files to my laptop.

Would rather have it work again without having to reformat but that's lookking less and less likely.

Navarch · by Navarch on Sat Oct 31, 2009 10:27 am

Well, as should be obvious, the help I offer is definitely more along the "attempted comic relief" lines.

Anything Conun can't immediately fix is waaaaaaaay beyond my realm.

Conundrum129 · by Conundrum129 on Sat Oct 31, 2009 1:37 pm

The next step would be either a repair install or to reinstall the OS, there is a way to do it without formatting, you have to tell the installer to leave the file system intact and just install over what you have but before you do that take everything out of My Documents, desktop folders and what not that is associated with the current profile, that includes outlook .pst files or anything you use for e-mail that stores data on the local system. My recomendation is to place it in a folder on the C: drive (i.e. C:\(name of folder)). Doing this will make sure that you don't lose anything that you need by it becoming inaccessable. The repair install from the CD is still your best bet but the procedure I just outlined should also work. Either way you would have to reinstall everything and update Windows. The repair install WILL NOT work unless your Vista DVD is at the same SP as your installed copy of Vista. You might also try and create a Vista Repair disk. You can find the steps for this here.

Phoenix · by Phoenix on Sat Oct 31, 2009 11:16 pm

Cheers Con, I'll give it a go.

Navarch · by Navarch on Mon Nov 09, 2009 10:06 pm

A quick question.

My Windows 7 Ultimate can't seem to run Heroes Of Might And Magic 3 or DOSbox.

I'm told 7 Pro has XP Compatibility mode. Which means Ultimate should have it.

Where do I go to activate XP compatibility mode?

Conundrum129 · by Conundrum129 on Mon Nov 09, 2009 10:23 pm

Right Click, Trouble shoot compatablity for the application your are having trouble with. It doesn't always work, check the tech help forums for Heros and DOSbox for help on making it work.

Phoenix · by Phoenix on Mon Nov 09, 2009 10:27 pm

Windows 7 has an XP mode it can be run in, I think that's what Navarch is asking for. Although I do agree that generally a google search can fix issues like this.

Conundrum129 · by Conundrum129 on Mon Nov 09, 2009 11:22 pm

XP mode has a few key cavaets about it, you have to use an XP disk and the disk has to be slipstreemed to SP3 in order for it to even install. Your hardware must also support vituralization. At least this is how I understand the requirements of it.

Navarch · by Navarch on Tue Nov 10, 2009 2:40 pm

Sounds like a bit of a hassle, but if it gets DOSbox and Heroes3 working......
I kinda do have an XP install disk. It's more of an emergency format and reinstall disk, though. Whenever XP asked for my Windows Professional disk, my reinstall disk never worked. (though it's technically an XP Tablet Edition disk....)

Kitsune · by Kitsune on Wed Nov 11, 2009 11:28 am

A+ Tech fox delivers:

http://www.microsoft.com/windows/virtual-pc/download.aspx

You can download a tool to determine if your computer's hardware can even run the Virtual PC XP mode. If it can, you can download and install the Windows 7 Virtual XP (SP3) mode.

Navarch · by Navarch on Wed Nov 11, 2009 11:56 am

I didn't know that XP Compatibility Mode would take so much. My laptop has never been able to do things in Virtual PC at all well. (what do you mean, you can't even run Win98SE in VirtualPC? Silly underpowered laptop...) I thought XP mode was just a little tweak or something. I don't think my laptop can handle a whole virtualization process..

Kitsune · by Kitsune on Wed Nov 11, 2009 12:01 pm

The tool will determine your computer's compatibility. It's a small sized file, and shows the results quickly. As much as I hate leaving old programs behind due to new OS and Hardware no longer supporting older stuff (*sniff* Rest in peace, Below the Root), chances are that you're going to have to just bite the bullet and let the old programs go. Either that, or partition a 20Gb portion of your hard drive and install XP to dual boot. To which I say best of luck. \>.>

Navarch · by Navarch on Wed Nov 11, 2009 12:05 pm

It's not a giant concern that I get XP Mode. My laptop is 7, but my desky (which is much more powerful, if still quite outdated) has XP.

It was more for curiosity, since having Heroes3 on the go would be awesome. (and, when I get a netbook I've been looking at, and thusly put 7 on it, having Heroes3 on it as well would be amazing)

Kitsune · by Kitsune on Wed Nov 11, 2009 12:45 pm

Netbooks have a surprisingly low amount of RAM included, as a general rule, so buyer beware if you're trying to run 7 and XP side-by-side. While the netbook processor might be capable of running virtual PC, you also need additional RAM (3 Gb to run both 7 and XP, iirc). I do sympathize for not being able to run Virtual PC on your laptop (mine can't, either). I'm just glad that 7 seems to run all the programs I enjoy.

Navarch · by Navarch on Wed Nov 11, 2009 1:17 pm

Yeah, DOSbox and Heroes3 are the only ones that I've had trouble running.

But knowing the devout fanbase, they'll make fixes for DOSbox too run in 7.

.....In fact, I bet getting a new version of DOSbox would help....