How well does Windows Vista emulate DOS and older versions of Windows?

Question

My main interest is in running older DOS-based, or Windows based software on Windows Vista.

Answer 1

To put it bluntly, it does not emulate the older versions of DOS and windows. There is for more recent applications (such as Windows98, WindowsXP, ME, NT and so on) a facility within Vista to help until you update those apps to Vista compatiblity.

Nuff info?

Answer 2

It doesn't. For DOS-based stuff you can try DOS Box, http://dosbox.sourceforge.net/news.php?show_news=1 but I make no promises at all that it will actually run under Vista. Then as for the older versions of Windows, one word, SOL. Seriously, like with previous versions of Windows, compatibility mode is a joke in Vista. You'll be lucky to get all of your old XP applications working, I said all... mainstream stuff like Office and PhotoShop are fine.

No Windows 95, 98 programs will work in Vista. Some ME programs maybe, programs for Windows 2K might work, some will some won't and programs written for XP will most likely work, most will, some won't.

Answer 3

i be attentive to absoultely no longer something approximately Vista, yet, if something, you have got some hassle with the pictures... I even have some older video games that throws incorrect colorations make the video games too pixelated and what-no longer because of the fact they have been designed for residing house windows 95 or ninety 8. Does Vista furnish a compatibility mode you need to run it in? (as in, authentic clicking the .exe document, and selecting 'residences', then 'compatibility' and selecting it to run in residing house windows ninety 8)