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Windows 7 compatibility issues? Look no further! Mon, 12 December 2011 20:26 Go to next message
beanspoon is currently offline beanspoon

 
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Registered: June 2008
(Edit by Ron: Nov. 1, 2019 Goto https://wiki.starsautohost.org/wiki/Stars_vs_OS and use the StarsWine or DOSBoxStars found there)

Some of you may remember me from long ago. I have been cut off from this game for a while firstly due to real-world matters (gah!) and partly due to the fact that my lovely shiny new laptop runs 64-bit
Windows 7, and does not carry support for doddery old 16-bit games like stars. However, I have managed to get around this little inconvenience, and hopefully will be able to save a few others and keep this wonderful forum afloat.

The answer is the Virtual PC. For those who don't know, this is (as the name suggests) a virtual computer that runs in a window on your computer, with full functionality. It is as though you have a remote desktop connection to a PC that doesn't actually exist, or rather exists in a small pocket on your hard drive.

So back to the business in hand. You have Windows 7, and when you try and run your beloved stars, you are told it is not compatible. What do you do? Firstly, if you are running Windows 7 Pro or Ultimate, your life is very very easy. Simply go to this site, follow the download and installation instructions, and skip to the end where I explain how to install and run stars on your Virtual PC.

For those of you with Home Premium or lower and don't feel like forking out the $200-ish for an upgrade, your lives are a little more difficult. Firstly, download the Virtual PC centre as instructed above. In the drop-down menu on the second page make sure you say that your system is either Pro or Ultimate, otherwise you won't be able to download anything. Unfortunately the Windows XP mode is no use to you as it knows you are too stingy to have the upgraded version. Once Virtual PC is installed, run it from your start menu, and choose to create a new virtual PC. Follow the instructions, selecting the location of your virtual PC and parameters. Personally, I used a spare external hard drive to act as the hard drive for my VPC, but its location is up to you.

Next you will need to obtain a full copy of an older windows product, preferably XP. Insert this disc into the drive, right-click on your new Virtual PC and choose settings. In the list on the left, choose DVD Drive, and from the options on the right, select your DVD drive.

If you are unlucky enough not to own a Windows setup disc, you will need an ISO file. Now I am not going to tell you where to obtain this, but I'm sure you can find that out on your own. Once the ISO is downloaded, do the same as with the disc, only select the ISO file as your virtual DVD drive instead.

After applying these settings, boot 'er up! Your VPC should boot up in BIOS, recognise the disc and begin installing windows. Don't worry, all installation is contained within the new virtual drive.

Once your VPC is up and running XP, make sure that under the tools bar at the top that integration services are installed and enabled, and your VPC should connect through your network to the internet. This is important, as you must upgrade (for free from the windows site) to Service Pack 3 in order to access your real PC's drives from your VPC.

Having done this, you should now be able to access your real PC's hard drive, locate the stars.exe file and copy it across. Load it up, enter your serial key and away you go!

If you have any problems, please reply to this message or PM me and I will endeavour to help.

[Updated on: Fri, 01 November 2019 09:51] by Moderator



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Re: Windows 7 compatibility issues? Look no further! Tue, 13 December 2011 07:32 Go to previous messageGo to next message
m.a@stars is currently offline m.a@stars

 
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 Nice article. Your URLs seem mangled for some reason, tho. Rolling Eyes

I wonder if WinXP is the optimal choice for just running Stars! After all, the old beast ran ok under Win98, Win95 and even Win3.11. I'd guess these old Operating Systems would need less room and resources to install and run, even if you'd lose some of the ease in file access, or stability. Sherlock

Has anyone solid experience with non-WinXP Virtual Machines running Stars! ? Deal

So many Stars, so few Missiles!

In space no one can hear you scheme! Deal

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Re: Windows 7 compatibility issues? Look no further! Tue, 13 December 2011 09:47 Go to previous messageGo to next message
beanspoon is currently offline beanspoon

 
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Drat - I'll sort those pesky urls now.

The reason I choose XP for this article is that if you use anything other than XP SP3 for the virtual machine you cannot use the integration services, which allow you to access your real machine's hard drive quickly and easily. It may be possible with an earlier edition of windows, however this will complicate the procedure quite drastically.

EDIT: URLs work now Wink

[Updated on: Tue, 13 December 2011 09:49]



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Re: Windows 7 compatibility issues? Look no further! Tue, 13 December 2011 10:02 Go to previous messageGo to next message
slimdrag00n is currently offline slimdrag00n

 
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m.a@stars wrote on Tue, 13 December 2011 07:32



I wonder if WinXP is the optimal choice for just running Stars!

Has anyone solid experience with non-WinXP Virtual Machines running Stars! ? Deal



I have only basic windows 7. I have to use Stars Dos box to play. Man what a piece of crap! I'm glad to have it.

One missing feature I don't have on Dos box is it does not allow you to check distances between two different locations by pushing in the middle mouse button.

The other thing is that more than half of the side programs for example like the packet calculators do not instal on windows 7 so you cannot use those. Xborders works but that doesn't help out calculating and I usually have to make an educated guess.


The last quirk I have would be is that maximizing and minimizing the window is a very annoying process.
I could never imagine doing a battle Sim with multiple races on dos box. I would be bald at the end of the process.

Highly recommend doing the virtual machine on xp if you have that option!

......
Ranked games: 8-1
Recently won the game Knife Fight.
Looking for a practice duel.
.......

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Re: Windows 7 compatibility issues? Look no further! Tue, 13 December 2011 10:12 Go to previous messageGo to next message
beanspoon is currently offline beanspoon

 
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Well everyone has the option it just depends on how legally *cough* you want to obtain your copy of XP Wink
Suffice to say, you didn't hear it from me, but a full copy of XP with code is out there.

IMHO if you've already coughed up whatever ridiculous price Windows 7 is going for these days, you should be entitled to back-dated versions as a matter of principle. However I'm sure if I ran Windows they wouldn't make nearly as much money.

The goat whats YOU.

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Re: Windows 7 compatibility issues? Look no further! Tue, 13 December 2011 13:54 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Mac1 is currently offline Mac1

 
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beanspoon wrote on Tue, 13 December 2011 10:12

Well everyone has the option it just depends on how legally *cough* you want to obtain your copy of XP Wink
Suffice to say, you didn't hear it from me, but a full copy of XP with code is out there..


If i remember good, users of win7 HOME edition can't run virtual machine. But I didnt check it myself, i have ultimate and i use VM to play stars, its really helpful.

Ofcourse other way is to install winXP as the 2nd system on the other hard drive, i lately did it anyway cause most of games work better on old good win XP Smile

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Re: Windows 7 compatibility issues? Look no further! Tue, 13 December 2011 18:12 Go to previous messageGo to next message
beanspoon is currently offline beanspoon

 
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Mac1 wrote on Tue, 13 December 2011 18:54



If i remember good, users of win7 HOME edition can't run virtual machine. But I didnt check it myself, i have ultimate and i use VM to play stars, its really helpful.


Users of Win 7 Home or even Starter should still be able to use VPC, just not XP mode (which is simply a pre-built XP VPC). You do bring up a good point though which needs editing in my article, which is you must choose Pro or Ultimate from the drop-down menu in order to gain access to VPC.

I know for a fact that Home users can get VPC, because I am one of said users (Y)

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Re: Windows 7 compatibility issues? Look no further! Thu, 15 December 2011 07:52 Go to previous messageGo to next message
m.a@stars is currently offline m.a@stars

 
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slimdrag00n wrote on Tue, 13 December 2011 16:02

One missing feature I don't have on Dos box is it does not allow you to check distances between two different locations by pushing in the middle mouse button.

Hmmm, I don't recall ever having used the middle button for anything, much less checking distances, which I do by dragging the right-side button (though I need to use the shift key to be able to select the initial object). So I'm not sure what you mean. Confused

(a couple minutes later) Fancy, now that I've tried the middle-button it seems to work in much the same way, only you don't need to keep it down the whole time, and it has a sort of "snap to nearest" magicks thrown in. Cool

So many Stars, so few Missiles!

In space no one can hear you scheme! Deal

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Re: Windows 7 compatibility issues? Look no further! Thu, 15 December 2011 07:56 Go to previous messageGo to next message
m.a@stars is currently offline m.a@stars

 
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beanspoon wrote on Tue, 13 December 2011 15:47

if you use anything other than XP SP3 for the virtual machine you cannot use the integration services, which allow you to access your real machine's hard drive quickly and easily.

Oh my. I was hoping it wouldn't be that. Confused But surely there must be a way for those older SOs to share their drives or files? Rolling Eyes

So many Stars, so few Missiles!

In space no one can hear you scheme! Deal

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Re: Windows 7 compatibility issues? Look no further! Thu, 15 December 2011 09:18 Go to previous messageGo to next message
slimdrag00n is currently offline slimdrag00n

 
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[email

m.a@stars[/email] wrote on Thu, 15 December 2011 07:52]
slimdrag00n wrote on Tue, 13 December 2011 16:02

One missing feature I don't have on Dos box is it does not allow you to check distances between two different locations by pushing in the middle mouse button.

Hmmm, I don't recall ever having used the middle button for anything, much less checking distances, which I do by dragging the right-side button (though I need to use the shift key to be able to select the initial object). So I'm not sure what you mean. Confused

(a couple minutes later) Fancy, now that I've tried the middle-button it seems to work in much the same way, only you don't need to keep it down the whole time, and it has a sort of "snap to nearest" magicks thrown in. Cool


I use to be able to use the middle button before using DosBox! Your a life saver though because I did not even think of holding shift and using the right button for anything. I cannot believe I never tried. lol I'm always clicking the middle button in hopes that it would magical start working. Thanks Bro!

[Updated on: Thu, 15 December 2011 09:19]



......
Ranked games: 8-1
Recently won the game Knife Fight.
Looking for a practice duel.
.......

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Re: Windows 7 compatibility issues? Look no further! Thu, 15 December 2011 11:35 Go to previous messageGo to next message
beanspoon is currently offline beanspoon

 
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[email

m.a@stars[/email] wrote on Thu, 15 December 2011 12:52]
slimdrag00n wrote on Tue, 13 December 2011 16:02

One missing feature I don't have on Dos box is it does not allow you to check distances between two different locations by pushing in the middle mouse button.

Hmmm, I don't recall ever having used the middle button for anything, much less checking distances, which I do by dragging the right-side button (though I need to use the shift key to be able to select the initial object). So I'm not sure what you mean. Confused

(a couple minutes later) Fancy, now that I've tried the middle-button it seems to work in much the same way, only you don't need to keep it down the whole time, and it has a sort of "snap to nearest" magicks thrown in. Cool


I never knew about that either! Gotta try...

[email

m.a@stars[/email] wrote on Thu, 15 December 2011 12:56]
beanspoon wrote on Tue, 13 December 2011 15:47

if you use anything other than XP SP3 for the virtual machine you cannot use the integration services, which allow you to access your real machine's hard drive quickly and easily.

Oh my. I was hoping it wouldn't be that. Confused But surely there must be a way for those older SOs to share their drives or files? Rolling Eyes


'Fraid so. I believe it is possible to set up a connection with older OS's, and you could always put files you wanted to transfer on some peripheral device (ie USB stick or CD) or perhaps use dropbox and transfer it by attaching said device to the Virtual PC, however it is so much easier to use XP because the SP3 upgrade is free and it does everything for you.

[Updated on: Thu, 15 December 2011 11:36]



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Re: Windows 7 compatibility issues? Look no further! Sat, 17 December 2011 14:03 Go to previous messageGo to next message
m.a@stars is currently offline m.a@stars

 
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slimdrag00n wrote on Thu, 15 December 2011 15:18

I did not even think of holding shift and using the right button for anything. I cannot believe I never tried.

It's in the helpfile. Deal

So many Stars, so few Missiles!

In space no one can hear you scheme! Deal

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Re: Windows 7 compatibility issues? Look no further! Sun, 18 December 2011 10:02 Go to previous messageGo to next message
slimdrag00n is currently offline slimdrag00n

 
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m.a@stars wrote on Sat, 17 December 2011 14:03

slimdrag00n wrote on Thu, 15 December 2011 15:18

I did not even think of holding shift and using the right button for anything. I cannot believe I never tried.

It's in the helpfile. Deal



Thanks for shining the light on me. I don't think I even have the help file downloaded. I just assumed it was the only way. I hope that middle button with the lasso effect I mentioned helped some people. I really hope it magically starts working again for DosBox.

......
Ranked games: 8-1
Recently won the game Knife Fight.
Looking for a practice duel.
.......

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Re: Windows 7 compatibility issues? Look no further! Sun, 25 December 2011 14:36 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Wayne is currently offline Wayne

 
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 I have win7 home premium and am using vmware player to run xp on. The instructions that came with it were easy to understand and set up was a breeze.

Wayne

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Re: Windows 7 compatibility issues? Look no further! Fri, 13 April 2012 17:04 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Buchanyank is currently offline Buchanyank

 
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 I guess when I update my computer I'll keep this laptop to play stars Laughing Laughing Laughing


If your backs against the wall you will see where the daggers are coming from!!

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Re: Windows 7 compatibility issues? Look no further! Sat, 14 April 2012 10:04 Go to previous messageGo to next message
nmid

 
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 You might want to refer to this thread as well...
http://starsautohost.org/sahforum/index.php?t=msg&th=501 6

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Re: Windows 7 compatibility issues? Look no further! Sat, 14 April 2012 12:07 Go to previous messageGo to next message
BeeKeeper is currently offline BeeKeeper

 
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Buchanyank wrote on Fri, 13 April 2012 22:04

I guess when I update my computer I'll keep this laptop to play stars Laughing Laughing Laughing



It might well be worth hanging on to it as it depends what you are planning to update your PC with. Windows 8 is coming but I have not found anything to say if it will have the ability to support legacy software in the same way some of the Windows 7 installations can.

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Re: Windows 7 compatibility issues? Look no further! Sat, 14 April 2012 13:37 Go to previous messageGo to next message
craebild is currently offline craebild

 
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 Yes, hanging on to a PC that can play Stars! might be a good idea when upgrading to a new PC, unless Windows 8 can be made to support Stars!. And it isn't all that likely that Windows 8 can be made to support support Stars! or other 16 bit programs.

Med venlig hilsen / Best regards / Mit freundlichen Grüßen
Christian Ræbild / Christian Raebild

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Re: Windows 7 compatibility issues? Look no further! Sat, 14 April 2012 15:57 Go to previous messageGo to next message
donjon is currently offline donjon

 
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 Another, possibly more viable option is to install virtualbox on the win8 machine, and then install an xp image under it... then you can have the best of both worlds... (the more modern OS, and the older applications.)

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Re: Windows 7 compatibility issues? Look no further! Wed, 23 May 2012 23:13 Go to previous messageGo to next message
gible

 
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 Note: I haven't tried any of this.

I came across these articles while trying to wrench some Oracle stuff into working in Windows 7 64bit (still haven't succeeded...XP Mode is kinda an 'I give up' attempt)

Workaround to Install Windows XP Mode in Windows 7 Home Premium and Home Basic

Windows 7 Virtual PC and Windows XP Mode Official Direct Download Links

Download KB977206 to Run Windows Virtual PC (XP Mode or VM) With No Hardware Virtualization

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Re: Windows 7 compatibility issues? Look no further! Sat, 02 June 2012 06:17 Go to previous messageGo to next message
LittleEddie is currently offline LittleEddie

 
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 I installed Windows 8, 32 bit PREVIEW version on one of my laptops last night,

It runs Stars just fine, here's the info.

A. I just when to the Microsoft "Windows 8 Release Preview" and pressed "Get it Now". Which takes you to download page, you don't need to enter a e-mail address, just press "Download Windows 8 Release Preview" and ran the Upgrade Assistant. I don't remember it asking me what version to install so you may have to do something different.

B. After installing it, I moved the mouse to the upper right corner of the screen and a menu came up and I clicked on "Search" and typed in "16-bit" and clicked on Settings to get the results "16-Bit Application Support". And turned it on.

C. I then installed DropBox, since all my Stars! files are there and then just ran Stars.exe.

That's it, Full screen and no problems so far. I will be testing the other programs later to see how they work but right now I have a Tee Time.

Little Eddie

Edit:I'm having a problem getting AutoHost Client to work, it's can't seem to get out.

[Updated on: Sat, 02 June 2012 19:42]

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Re: Windows 7 compatibility issues? Look no further! Sat, 02 June 2012 11:07 Go to previous messageGo to next message
BeeKeeper is currently offline BeeKeeper

 
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 Good news, Stars! lives on.

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Re: Windows 7 compatibility issues? Look no further! Sun, 03 June 2012 16:09 Go to previous messageGo to next message
LittleEddie is currently offline LittleEddie

 
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 Hello

I'm one happy man

After installing Windows 8 on a laptop and making sure it works, I've now installed it on my Main Stars! Computer.

I went from Windows 7 Home 64-Bit to Windows 8 32-Bit Release Preview.

I'm running a Intel 2 Quad CPU @ 2.33GHz with 6GB of memory that's a few years old with a 60GB solid state primary drive and 700GB hard drive for data and 3 monitors.

1. I when to http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows-8/iso and downloaded the 32-bit(x86) ISO image. It's 2.5 GB so it may take a while.

2. After it downloaded I right-clicked on the file and selected Open with Windows Disc Image Burner and burned the ISO to a DVD.

3. I then BACKED UP MY COMPUTER.

4. Set my computer to boot from CD Drive and restarted.

5. Booted to Windows 8 Install and entered the activation code from
http://www.forumswindows8.com/windows-updates-activation/win dows-8-release-preview-product-key-different-language-iso-65 48.htm

6. Select Custom Install and pick the drive.

7 After it's running I install Dropbox and then started Stars.exe and the computer asked if I wanted to enable 16-Bit mode and I clicked OK.

Now it works like a charm. Full screen Stars!.

Little Eddie
My Computer:
http://www.dropbox.com/gallery/30299629/1/Stars%21?h=6a030c

[Updated on: Sun, 03 June 2012 16:34]

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Re: Windows 7 compatibility issues? Look no further! Sun, 03 June 2012 16:30 Go to previous messageGo to next message
nmid

 
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 Thanks.
I'm not sure if this aging laptop will take the install, but it was very interesting news.

btw, how long is that 32 bit release version valid till? I'm pretty sure it will expire and become unusable by a certain date (when it's officially released).. want to know how many months can I play around with it and if it's worth the time taken to install it.

I know my minefields.. but I'm a chaff sweeper.
I used to curse when I got stuck in traffic... till I realised I AM traffic.

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Re: Windows 7 compatibility issues? Look no further! Sun, 03 June 2012 16:36 Go to previous messageGo to previous message
LittleEddie is currently offline LittleEddie

 
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 They should have it out on the market around the end of August and the Release Preview dies around the first of the year.

This is based on Vista and win7 releases.

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