Running heritage Windows XP and W7 games under Windows 8

I have been exploring Windows 8 having upgraded one of my PCs using a release CD - my PC now triple boots.

While I am not sold on W8 yet - if ever - I much prefer XP for my normal work but need W7 for Adobe CS and Lightroom.

I have found my W8 updated system actually takes longer to boot than the W7 system I upgraded did, and have not noticed any speed increases for my Adobe progs - so not impressed.

Anyway when waiting for a job to finish I like to pass the time playing Spider Solitaire or other MS time-waster so I was very disapointed that these are not included with W8, you have to download games from the W8 Store and I found them poor and distracting, especially as they tend to grab the full screen with garish colour combinations, so I searched out a way to install both XP and Win7 versions of the MS Games on W8.

Details of how I did it below, I will stress that I have followed these instructions and had no problems getting both sets of games to run.

Just posting here as it might help others, as it took me a while to chase down instructions that actually work - enjoy, or not.

To Run Windows 7 Standard Games under Windows 8

Copy this link into your Browser and follow the instructions. I have done this with no problems or issues for the x64 versions of the games – copied files from a working 64bit W7 installation to a 64bit W8 installation.

If you do not have a working system to hand then the file would have to be copied from the W7 installation disc.

http://forums.mydigi...-7-in-Windows-8

This is the W8 patcher file I downloaded and used. It works perfectly but is flagged as suspicious by most anti-virus progs. After running the patcher after installation I let my anti-virus quarantine the file in case I need it later.

microsoft.games.patcher.1.2-patch.exe — RGhost — file sharing

rghost.net/37573001

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To run Microsoft’s original XP Games on W8 the process is simpler:

1. Create new folder in Win8 - Programmes – (‘XP Games’ for example)
   
2. Copy all the XP games .exe files for the games you want to play into the new folder
   
3. Copy ‘Cards.dll’ from XP ‘Windows - System32’ directory into new folder
   
4. Create shortcuts to XP games where you want them
   
5. Job done – no patch programme to run for XP games
   

Again if you do not have a working XP system to hand then copy the files from the XP installation discs