"power Chess" By Sierra

[rhoadesb]

So I've got this older chess program that was intended for Win95. I was not able to use it on win98. Now I'm using WindowsXP and am unable to install the program.

If I recall correctly, I was able to install it in win98, but it would not run afterward.

I have set win95 compatibility under properties, but no luck.

It tries to start, sits in the system tray, and stops.

Any help would be appreciated.

[locustfurnace]

Some programs will not work on the NT core. If the app did not run on Win98, its less likely it would work under XP.
Changes in dll's from win95 to 98 thru XP is probably the problem.
Simple solution, try a different program.
You can find some freebies in this thread for Chess games.

http://www.oldversion.com/talk/index.php?a...t=1699&hl=chess (http://www.oldversion.com/talk/index.php?act=ST&f=2&t=1699&hl=chess)

[rhoadesb]

Thanks. I've got quite a few chess programs. It just bugs me that this one does not now work.

And I am sorry I did not place the thread in the "general" catagory.

Seems...illogical. I can run programs intended for MS-DOS 3.3 in windowsXP, but not this program intended for win95. But such is life.

By the by, anyone looking for a good free chess program might be interested in Rebel Decade 3.0.

[Jaime Andrés]

I have one or two chess apps. but they are never as good as another person sitting in front of you across a chess board. A comparison would be that I once worked as a pilot flying into a very remote area in India on a weekly basis. We would have games with relief crews who covered the days we were not there by leaving the board set up in the op's room. An old imperial British penny would be left on the table, when you made your move you would turn the penny over to indicate you had made your move. A good game could last for weeks.

[locustfurnace]

Originally posted by rhoadesb@Aug 21 2004, 03:28 PM
Seems...illogical. I can run programs intended for MS-DOS 3.3 in windowsXP, but not this program intended for win95. But such is life.
MS DOS is a different system than Windows and less complex. Both are operating systems. While Windows has been evolved since its 9x days, MS DOS has remained the much the same, just a few minor changes or additions to tools-kits. So Yes, games should work fine under MS DOS or the XP Emu of DOS.

[ShadowFalls]

the only thing you can try at the moment is using the Windows Compatiability on the installer. I have had little success with this, but the only other option I see, is to get Virtual PC and install Windows 95 on that.

[locustfurnace]

Originally posted by ShadowFalls@Aug 24 2004, 02:22 PM
only other option I see, is to get Virtual PC and install Windows 95 on that.
That would work. But inplace of Microsofts Virtual PC, one could go with either VMware (http://www.vmware.com/download/) or the FREE emulator Bochs (http://bochs.sourceforge.net/)

[guest_rhoadesb]

update...a few days later:
While I still have not got Powerchess up and running, I did get another program/set of programs that was also giving me problems running under XP to function. ( Microsoft Office 4.2 which was ment for Windows 3.1 I believe ).

And I may yet get Powerchess going.
With assistance from XP's "compatibility wizard" I was able to install.
At first attempt to run the program, I was informed that I needed to move a dll file from \windows\system to windows\system32. I did so.
At second attempt to run the program I was informed that the program "could not start". My wild guess is that is due to my moving the above mentioned dll file. Likely the dll file location is in a config file somewhere, ( the old location...I checked the registry, it's not there ). I'll keep working on it and update here if anything new happens.

The compatibility wizard assists greatly with this.

[cranky]

That would work. But inplace of Microsofts Virtual PC, one could go with either VMware (http://www.vmware.com/download/) or the FREE emulator Bochs (http://bochs.sourceforge.net/)

hi i have sort of the same question i am trying to run old interactive fiction on a 98snd win set up and was wondering if bochs would work . and how hard is it to set up , i can read and work with dos , but not write it
when i run the one program it tells me i have no mouse driver installed ( i do) and then claims it runs out of memory , the program was written about 93 so i assuming it was meant to run on win 95 maybe
funny thing is that i have run the same thing on another computer with xp installed with out a problem

[locustfurnace]

If it was written in 1993, then it could not have been meant for Windows 95. Which came out in 1994/95. So it is likely either a DOS program or a Windows 3.x version.

If it is meant for DOS, Great. You can download Bochs and download a image of FreeDOS.
Then you could setup your program and run it via the emulator and with FreeDOS.
If you already have DOS installed, then you might need to load the mouse driver for DOS via the autoexec.bat command.

Now if it was meant for Windows 3.1. It should run on Windows 95.

Setting up BOCHS is not difficult. Plus it should have its own mouse driver.
If you end up needing to use BOCHS you should read the README files and any documentation on the website.

Honestly, it has been a long while since I have used Bochs or any emulators infact. These emulators are not terribly difficult to setup. But you should read and become familiar with them. It won't be as simple as installing your typical MS Windows program. Since you are familiar with DOS, thats helpful

[cranky]

If it was written in 1993, then it could not have been meant for Windows 95. Which came out in 1994/95. So it is likely either a DOS program or a Windows 3.x version.

If it is meant for DOS, Great. You can download Bochs and download a image of FreeDOS.
Then you could setup your program and run it via the emulator and with FreeDOS.
If you already have DOS installed, then you might need to load the mouse driver for DOS via the autoexec.bat command.

Now if it was meant for Windows 3.1. It should run on Windows 95.
Setting up BOCHS is not difficult. Plus it should have its own mouse driver.
If you end up needing to use BOCHS you should read the README files and any documentation on the website.

Honestly, it has been a long while since I have used Bochs or any emulators infact. These emulators are not terribly difficult to setup. But you should read and become familiar with them. It won't be as simple as installing your typical MS Windows program. Since you are familiar with DOS, thats helpful


How do I find the mouse driver in autoexec.bat, do I need to open in dos or can I go through windows ,I also have the floppys to upgrade from dos 4 to dos 6, are there any sites running that carry info on working with dos in exsistence any more or all they all dead

[locustfurnace]

DOS Basics guides, these links include info on mouse driver.

http://www.hydrocad.net/mouse.htm
http://www.computerhope.com/ac.htm

DOS Basics guides

http://www.glue.umd.edu/~nsw/ench250/dostutor.htm
http://www.tnd.com/camosun/elex130/dostutor1.html