A quick and easy way to run 16-bit programs WITHOUT emulation or VMs.
@never-obsolete, you may actually like this.
Link: http://www.columbia.edu/~em36/otvdm.html
This installs a program that mimics NTDVM, a feature that has allowed 32-bit versions of Windows to run 16-bit programs. However, NTDVM does not run on 64-bit versions of Windows, and cannot be installed.
However, OTVDM/Winevdm can easily replace NTDVM and someone even made quite a convenient installer for it. Now you can easily run those old af games without messing around with virtual machines or whatnot. In fact, this program is SO convenient that you can now run ANY 16-bit application just like any other (as in, just double-click it and then it runs).
However, there is a bit of a catch here: - It may be detected by some antivirus programs. That is to be expected with programs of this nature. - The program’s folder should stay in the root of the C:\ drive. Like many other old af programs it struggles when placed in too many folders. Using thie program when installed in Program Files (x86) resulted in an error where the path of the 16-bit program could not be found despite being valid. - The option to copy FileOpen.exe to Command.com allows for these 16-bit programs to enter DOS mode or executing DOS commands. If you use 16-bit programs that have DOS functions this MUST be ticked. - Some 16-bit programs have the ability to print stuff. If you must take advantage of that ability, you may have to experiment with the printing drivers.