There are several ways to solve compatibility issues when old games run on Windows 10 or 11. 1. Run the game in compatibility mode: Right-click on the .exe file, select "Properties", check "Run this program in compatibility mode" in the "Compatibility" tab, and select an old version such as Windows XP SP3. It is also recommended to check "Run as administrator". 2. Turn off full-screen optimization: Click the option next to "Change high DPI behavior" in the "Compatibility" tab and check "Disable full-screen optimization" to improve graphics compatibility. 3. Use a virtual machine or emulator: For example, DOSBox is suitable for DOS system games, while VirtualBox or VMware can install XP systems in a virtual environment to run XP exclusive games. 4. Update the graphics card driver and runtime library: Ensure that the latest graphics card driver and necessary components such as DirectX runtime library and VC runtime library are installed to ensure basic support.

Old games often encounter compatibility problems when running on Windows 10 or 11, such as screen abnormalities, lags and even fails to start. But in fact, through some simple settings and tools, most old games can still run smoothly.

Run the game in compatibility mode

Windows systems come with "compatibility mode", which can simulate the environment of the old system to run old programs.

• Right-click the game's executable file (.exe) and select "Properties".
• In the Compatibility tab, check "Run this program in compatibility mode", and select an older version of Windows system (such as Windows XP SP3) from the drop-down menu.
• At the same time, you can also try to check "Run as administrator". Some old games require higher permissions to work properly.
• Click "Apply" to save the settings and run the game again.

Sometimes you need to try a few more different compatibility modes to find the best option for that game.

Turn off full screen optimization to improve compatibility

Windows 10/11 has introduced some new graphics processing mechanisms, which may cause old games to experience black screens, crashes and other problems when running.

You can try to turn off the "Full Screen Optimization" feature:

• Find the game's .exe file and right-click to select "Properties".
• Switch to the Compatibility tab and click "Disable full-screen optimization" next to "Change high DPI behavior".
• Check "Disable full-screen optimization" and confirm saving.

This setup is especially useful for many games in the DirectX 7 or 8 era.

Use a virtual machine or DOSBox and other emulators

If the direct operation is not successful, consider using a virtual machine or a dedicated emulator, such as:

• DOSBox : It is suitable for running classic games under the DOS system, such as the early version of "Red Alert", "Legend of Sword and Fairy DOS version", etc.
• Windows XP Mode (some Win10 Professional Edition only) or VirtualBox/VMware : You can install XP systems in a virtual environment and then run old games that only support XP.

These methods, while a little cumbersome, are effective solutions for completely incompatible games.

Update graphics card driver and DirectX running library

Sometimes it's not a problem with the game, but your system lacks the necessary operation support.

• Make sure that the graphics card driver is up to date, especially NVIDIA or AMD users, can update it through the official website.
• Install the latest DirectX runtime (DirectX End-User Runtime) and can be downloaded from Microsoft's official website.
• If the game relies on certain Visual C runtime libraries, it is also recommended to install it together (such as VC 2010, 2015 and other versions).

Although these components are inconspicuous, they often determine whether old games can load normally.

Basically, these commonly used methods are not complicated but are easy to ignore details, such as which compatibility mode is the most effective and whether administrator privileges are enabled will affect the final effect.

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