Question

Installing Windows 3.1 on a Virtual PC. What video driver do I use?

Asked by: johngerity

I'm using Microsoft Virtual PC version 6.0.192.0 on XP Pro SP2 with 2GB DDR RAM.

I've been able to install DOS 6.22 and Windows 3.1, but (after finally remembering how to change the video settings/driver using SETUP.EXE) I'm unable to find a built-in driver to run more than 16 colors. I'm able to use the built-in "Super VGA 800x600 16 color" one but when I try to use the "Super VGA 800x600 256 color" choice I get

An error occured while trying to initialize the video adapter.

Hit any key to continue.

and it puts be back in DOS. From there I can CD to the Windows folder, run SETUP, and put the colors back to 16.

I know that it's capable of running XP and later using 32,000,000 colors.

Any ideas?

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Asked On
2009-04-21 at 13:08:46ID24342910
Topics

Windows 3.x Operating System

,

Windows 3.x Setup

,

Microsoft Virtual Server

Participating Experts
1
Points
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Comments
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Answers

 

by: AddihulPosted on 2009-04-21 at 13:14:43ID: 24198676

check this out.. a few people who ran into the same problem and got high res to work in 3.x through vpc

http://www.eggheadcafe.com/software/aspnet/32086807/windows-31-and-high-reso.aspx

 

by: johngerityPosted on 2009-05-18 at 12:02:26ID: 31572998

Sorry, i never got around to trying this.

See the whole point was I was trying to get Star Trek Klingon to work. It was one of those "interactive CD experience" things that were sorta popular in the 90's - remember the Prince one?. After installing it I was able to get it to play on a virtual PC using the built-in 16 color VGA (640x480) and SuperVGA (800x600) drivers that came with 3.1. How I'm able to get 256 or more colors to display with a 16 color driver is beyond me but it works.

This particular app is notorious for not working in 2000, XP, or Vista. Mind you I'm only now learning how to use and support Vista and haven't tried the Program Compatibility Wizzard yet (not the same as the Compatibility tab in Properties).

Still at some point I'm going to probably need to use this method. I'll try it as soon as I get a chance.

Thanks again!

20120131-EE-VQP-002

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