Is there a way to run Windows 98 programs in Win7 64-bit?

I have a couple of very old electronic dictionaries that were released by the time of Windows 98. Even after XP, I had to apply Windows system hack in order to run; the hack worked with Vista too.

But now that I have Win7 64-bit, the installations won't even run, there's a compatibility error. The dictionaries are very expensive and I do need them so, is there a way to install them? I mean can I use something like a virtual OS or something?

 

Virtualbox, Vmware, Virtual XP/XP Mode

 

Are there any newer versions of the dictionaries? What kind of dictionary are you talking about... most everything you'd want is available online any more.

Otherwise, your only solution is probably running an older Windows in a virtual machine. Or possibly a version of Linux + wine if you're looking for something cheaper.

 

The Sage and WordWeb both work very well under win7

 

Your Vista was the 32-bit version and not the 64-bit version.
Your dictionary software is a 16-bit application and not 32-bit - Designed to ran for DOS 6 or older. As 16-bit software is nearly nonexistent today.... Microsoft removed the ability to run 16-bit applications in Windows 64-bit (XP 64-bit, Vista 64-bit and Win7 64-bit and future Windows).

The only thing you can do, is run a virtual pc type of software running a 32-bit Windows such as Windows 95,98,Me, NT3.x, NT4.x, 2000, XP 32-bit and Server 2003 32-bit.

If you have Windows 7 Professional or Ultimate edition, you can use Windows XP Mode, which allows you to run Windows XP 32-bit ON Windows 7. In result you can have this:

Notice the Windows boarder of IE 8 and IE 6 from XP.

The benefit of this over other virtual pc type software is that:
1- A full XP 32-bit Professional is provided to you
2- Can run your program (once installed in XP virtual pc environment) as the screen shot above.

To get Windows 7 for your Pro and Ultimate edition, go here:
http://www.microsoft.com/windows/virtual-pc/download.aspx

 

Yes, that's it. I have Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit but in Vista, I added a couple of files to the Windows folder to make it run. But since I don't have either the Professional or Ultimate editions, is there another way. I mean, if I do find an XP emulator, could I install the 2 files to run the 16-bit application? I'm very confused at this point.

 

You have many options available. However you DO need an XP (or older Windows) license to be able to use them legally. If you have an old computer where you don't use XP anymore on it, you can transfer the license for a Virtual Machine environment.

You have, VMWare and Virtual Box which are pretty popular choices. I recommend VirtualBox as an alternative to Microsoft offering.
For DOS applications, you have DOSBox as well (no license needed as it emulates DOS).

To really understand how it looks and works, you have to try it yourself. Try to think it like if you do picture and picture on your TV where the second image is a different source. However, teh seocnd source is the same generated by your very same computer, and it's in a window that you can move and scale.

Just some clarification:
- Emulation means, to try to imitate something else.
- Virtual Machine/System, means you create a sub-system within your main system which has everything like a normal standalone computer (even it's own BIOS), where you run an Operating system on it. In other words you quiet literary run 2 or more O.S on the system.. which as you guessed it requires more power.

As you may have guessed it, because it's a "second" system within a system (to put it in short), you need to install your software inside it like a fresh install of Windows on your main system.

What I suggest, for your case, is to try to find a replacement software, but if you really can't (which I'll doubt it as Windows software library is kinda goes to the infinite), go with virtual pc path. If you don't like to have this solution, then XP Mode is there to try and make it better, however you will need to use Windows upgrade anytime (see control panel) to upgrade your license from Home Premium to Professional.

If you don't want to upgrade and regret it as you are afraid it doesn't fit your needs, then there is a Windows 7 Enterprise (it's Ultimate edition in reality) 64-bit TRIAL, that you can use from Microsoft, and try this XP Mode. You can put it under a virtual machine environment, if you have a peaty powerful computer (running 2 Windows 7 one on top for the other, where the second one runs XP Mode .... I hope you are packed with RAM ), or put it on a different system or different hard drive (replace your harddrive to install Windows 7 Enterprise trial and not affect anything as the original harddrive will be out of you system, safe (just don't drop it, spill liquid on, or shock it form static electricity and all other precaution that comes with all sensitive electronics)

 

what software exactly. please?

 

That is a lot of new information for me. I REALLY appreciate your taking time to write all that down. The reason I can't get new dictionaries is that they're very specialized and each dictionary costs over $500, and I'm not even sure if the latest versions will work in Win7.

Based on your advice, I could either upgrade Windows or run a virtual machine, I thought I'd do whatever is cheaper but since I work on my laptop and it can only have 4gb or RAM, I'll try both and see which one runs better.

And I do have a license for XP which I don't use. OK, one last question: could I set a partition in an external hard drive and run the virtual thingie from there so I could use those 2 dictionaries while I work in Win7? If so, would the size of the partition affect the performance?

 

If it runs under Vista 64-bit, it will most likely run under Win7, unless the company made on purpose to be Vista only. In such case, you try and can by-pass this by using compatibility mode and set it to Vista.

Virtual machine or XP Mode are both virtual machines. You have enough RAM, and power to do this.

Virtual machine drives are appears on your system as a large file of a few Gigabytes, that is all. You don't need to partition anything. This file you can move it anywhere, assuming you inform teh virtual machine software of it's new location in the settings.

If you want to install a second Windows, such as a trial version of Win7 Enterprise, then yes you can partition your HDD and create a Dual boot setup, if you know how to, but the HDD must be the main HDD, not external.

 

without the names of the dictionaries no one here can do any research for you.

Have you (bothered) to contact the makers of the software/dictionaries to see if they have plans to update for Win7?