how to install 32-bit software on windows 7

[Ardee2121]

I recently purchased HP Pavilion p7-1234 w/ Windows 7. Can I/how do I install software that I used on Windows XP (32-bit)?

AND, does anyone know if I can download the XP version of Solitaire? I DO NOT care for the version of Solitaire that came with Win 7.

I don't know about anyone else, but I find Win 7 to be less user-friendly than XP.

[Danjen]

Even though windows 7 is 64 bit.  You can just put a disk in like a game that is for 32 bit application and it will load it as long as there isn't any major incompatibilities.  It will tell you if it has a problem. You will see a programs directory with X86 and is used to put the 32 bit programs there.

Here is a link for xp solitare program on windows 7 64 bit:

http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/forum/windows_other-gaming/xp-solitaire-to-windows-7/14a2...

More suggestions on xp solitare:

http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/forum/windows_7-windows_programs/i-want-the-old-classic-s...

[Ardee2121]

It's not a game I'm trying to install, it's a spreadsheet (Lotus 123 ver 4.01). I have a copy of the millenium edition(ver 9.8), but I prefer 4.01 because so many of my documents have 2-digit dates for the year.   9.8 converts 8/17/12  to  8/17/1912 and I can't see any way around that, so I'm trying to reinstall 4.01. But when I try I get an error message about incompatability. I read somewhere that something can be done to fool the OS but I can't figure it out.

[Danjen]

Load the lotus setup.exe from the run box and it should work. Right click on your start, properties, start menu, customize, check the box to the left of "run command" and click OK.  Then click start, then run, put the path to your lotus setup.exe file (maybe D:\setup if you lotus is in drive D or A:\setup if it is on a disk in drive A). Then just click OK.

[Ardee2121]

Thanks, but that's what I've been trying and it does not work. Actually, there is no "setup.exe" file, it's "install.exe", but I tried that again and still get the incompatability error msg.

[Danjen]

I am going to yield here because I think you have probably researched this topic better than I have. My best suggestion is to speak with IBM who has taken ownership of Lotus and I believe is trying to promote it.

[Ardee2121]

Thanks ever so much for your help. Just as a quick note, I spoke with someone who said I could do it by running Windows Virtual PC, which had to be downloaded. But just like everything else, I ran into another snag. I have Windows version Home Premium 64-bit.  Not compatable!  So I updated to Professional 64-bit  (AT A COST). Then I downloaded Windows Virtual PC which apparently emulates XP and allows 32-bit application programs to be installed - WRONG.  Still have compatability problems.

For your info, that link you provided for Solitaire put me on to a link (http://www.solitairexp.com\) where I was able to download Microsoft's original game of Solitaire. It works just like it did w/ XP. I had no idea there were so many people who were dissatisfied with the game included w/ Win 7. I didn't uninstall it, but it no longer has an icon on my screen.

Thanks again for your help.

[Danjen]

Well, I helped a little then.

[TheOldMan]

In doing research for the posted Lotus 1-2-3 ver 4.01, I found it to be from 1993-1994.  Windows 95 was not even out yet at that time, so it would seem that may be the reason Windows 7 does not like it.  It probably is not a 32bit application.  Since it was intended to run on 286 or 386 PC's, it is probably a 16bit application.

Try reading thru this thread: http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/forum/windows_7-windows_programs/is-windows-7-able-to-run...

Maybe their tips will be of benefit for this application.

[Ardee2121]

Thanks, will do. While doing some additional research I find that the description of my software is Lotus 123 ver 4.01 for DOS. I'm not really sure what the difference is. But I was the first in my circle of friends to know what DOS was. In fact I even wrote and/or modified some DOS programs.