Win 7 64 bit vmware player

[Dodsy]

I have just upgraded my sons PC with windows 7 64bit home premium. Unfortunately the command and conquer games from XP wont run under 64 bit, so at the moment I have set him up with dual boot, with just the C&C games left on XP.

If I set up a Virtual machine using vmware player and install a basic copy of XP is it then possible to use something like macrium to create an image of his current XP install then restore it on the vmware virtual machine ? He's managed to lose the licence keys for most of his C&C games so this would be the easiest way to move it all over.

The only alternative is to install a new copy of XP in vmware then buy and re-install all the games - I'd prefer to just do the image/restore if possible and save a few ££

[richarda0109]

No need to install an image of XP. Just spoof the MAC Address from VMplayer. That way the same licences will work on the new machine. Assuming you can view the licence from the game or its folders?

Rgds
Richard

[Muntu]

Run XP Mode in Windows 7? - It is designed to do what you want, it is free, and from Microsoft

http://www.microsoft.com/windows/virtual-pc/get-st...

[james_gt3rs]

If you have a working dual boot, there's not a lot of point in changing anything. VMs for games are good on new hardware with old games, but there are still issues.

Whatever you do, don't delete the XP installation until you're sure the VM is working!

richarda0109 said:

No need to install an image of XP. Just spoof the MAC Address from VMplayer. That way the same licences will work on the new machine. Assuming you can view the licence from the game or its folders?

Rgds
Richard

Not sure this will work...?

[Dodsy]

Muntu said:

Run XP Mode in Windows 7? - It is designed to do what you want, it is free, and from Microsoft

http://www.microsoft.com/windows/virtual-pc/get-st...

Pro and ultimate versions only, not available on home premium.

Just trying to avoid having dual boot which currently runs from seperate hard disks, VMware just seems like a better way of getting to XP apps without having to do a complete re-boot.

I will stick a copy of XP in to a virtual machine and see what happens.

Doesnt seem to be any way of recovering the licence keys - tried jelly bean etc . Not the end of the world , these old games retail for about a tenner each.

[BlueMR2]

Search the web as i think a new version of the decades collection is due out shortly which is designed to work on win 7.

[BlueMR2]

Here you go.

http://www.commandandconquer.com/collection/

[Dodsy]

BlueMR2 said:

Here you go.

http://www.commandandconquer.com/collection/

64 bit not supported :-(

ETA: good call though, I can get this and stick a fresh copy of XP on the vmware then install the games , and its only £22 !

[GuyWMD]

The C&C Decade pack works under W7. Worked fine for me on all of the desktops, and laptops I've had since purchase.
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Command-Conquer-The-First-...
Which according to Amazon I purchased 6 years ago!

[Dodsy]

GuyWMD said:

The C&C Decade pack works under W7. Worked fine for me on all of the desktops, and laptops I've had since purchase.
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Command-Conquer-The-First-...
Which according to Amazon I purchased 6 years ago!

The new one works under win 7 too, but only 32 bit - so nothings changed as they always ran under win 7 32 bit anyway.

Its worth the £22 to get the new licence keys , then I will see which (if any) will work under 64 bit then stick the rest into a VM under XP, job done :-)

[KaraK]

VMware do a free converter application to create virtual machines from physical ones. Should do what you want although I have to echo previous posters in that you can expect gaming performance (even for old, old games) to be dire.

[GuyWMD]

Dodsy said:

The new one works under win 7 too, but only 32 bit - so nothings changed as they always ran under win 7 32 bit anyway.

Its worth the £22 to get the new licence keys , then I will see which (if any) will work under 64 bit then stick the rest into a VM under XP, job done :-)

The decade pack works running on a 64 bit OS.

Which reminds me really should dig it out, as I've yet to find much that rivals a good game of Generals!