iso of any Microsoft operating system via Microsoft’s download centre. If you just have an old serial number, that’s okay too. If you happen to have an older copy of Windows XP or earlier lying around, you’re in luck. This does come with a caveat though: you will need a legal version of said operating system to use VirtualBox. Within that operating system, you can then run any older file you like by ‘mounting’ it or transferring it via USB. exe launcher that contains any operating system you need. VirtualBox lets you load any version of an operating system you own and install it on your computer as a virtual machine. It’s simple to run and takes less than 20 minutes to set up. Oracle VM’s VirtualBox was the most straightforward program we tried. If you’re hitting a wall, you should check out alternative programs that offer the same service. As mentioned, Windows houses its own emulators via its compatibility mode - but you may still have trouble running games via this system. How to use a Virtual Machine to run Classic PC GamesĪ virtual machine is an emulator for older operating systems. If the program still doesn’t run after attempting this method (you may get a message indicating your PC simply won’t run the game), you’ll need to turn to a third-party Virtual Machine program to help out. While we weren’t able to test it thoroughly, this operating system appears to be the most compatible with classic games. The recommended system for most games is Windows XP (Service Pack 2).

Make sure to run the program as administrator.Alternatively, you can hit the ‘Run compatibility troubleshooter’ button and see whether Windows can take charge for you.Select the compatibility dropdown menu and choose an older version of Windows.To run your classic PC games via Windows 10 compatibility mode, follow these steps:

Windows 10 emulator for windows xp