# Computer Question: trying to install old "Simcity" game
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/computer-question-trying-to-install-old-simcity-game/147624
**Category:** Factual Questions
**Created:** [January 9, 2003, 11:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/computer-question-trying-to-install-old-simcity-game/147624 "2003-01-09T23:17:54Z")
**Posts on this page:** 12
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@Lissa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lissa)
#### Post date: [January 9, 2003, 11:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/computer-question-trying-to-install-old-simcity-game/147624/1 "2003-01-09T23:17:54Z")
I recently found the CD-Rom for the old version of “SimCity” which I had on my old computer. I tried to install it on the computer that I have now, but it wouldn’t work. The game installed, but wouldn’t run. I kept getting a “No EMS detected” message on the DOS screen.
Is it possible to get this old game to run on the computer that I have now? I have a Gateway Perfromance, with Intell III, running Windows 98.
Sorry if this is a stupid question, but what I know about computers could be written inside a matchbook.
Thanks!
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### Author:  [@KneadToKnow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KneadToKnow)
#### Post date: [January 9, 2003, 11:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/computer-question-trying-to-install-old-simcity-game/147624/2 "2003-01-09T23:33:05Z")
From Windows98 Help:
> [@](#):
>
> To allocate all system resources to an MS-DOS program
>
> Double-click My Computer.
> Locate and select the desired program.
> On the File menu, click Properties.
> On the Program tab, click Advanced, click MS-DOS mode, and then click OK.
> Note
> You can specify the environment you want your program to run in by providing alternative Config.sys and Autoexec.bat files. Either type the commands you want in the spaces provided, or create a basic configuration by clicking Configuration, and then clicking the options you want.
The main settings you will want to fool around with are those for memory management. The requirements should be listed somewhere in the documentation for the game.
Hope this helps.
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### Author:  [@Lissa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lissa)
#### Post date: [January 10, 2003, 12:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/computer-question-trying-to-install-old-simcity-game/147624/3 "2003-01-10T00:13:38Z")
> [@](#):
>
> The requirements should be listed somewhere in the documentation for the game.
Unfortunately, I don’t have any documentation. The disk came free with a computer I bought about seven years ago, and all of the papers I had associated with it went with the computer when I gave it away almost five years ago. I just found the disk in a box of old office stuff that I hadn’t unpacked yet since our move.
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### Author:  [@KneadToKnow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KneadToKnow)
#### Post date: [January 10, 2003, 12:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/computer-question-trying-to-install-old-simcity-game/147624/4 "2003-01-10T00:29:37Z")
Look on the disk. Surely there’s a readme file or some similar “soft copy” documentation. This kind of thing used to be a big, big issue with DOS programs (so much so that some people had boot menus that loaded different CONFIG.SYS and AUTOEXEC.BAT files depending upon what game they were going to play), so it would be a big deal for nearly any DOS program.
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### Author:  [@Larry\_Mudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Larry_Mudd)
#### Post date: [January 10, 2003, 12:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/computer-question-trying-to-install-old-simcity-game/147624/5 "2003-01-10T00:33:10Z")
The way I get my nostalgic MSDOS games to work under W98 is like this:
Use explorer to find the executable, and then right-click it and choose “Create shortcut.” Right-click the Shortcut, and then select “Properties.” Click the “Memory” tab. Dick with the settings until it works. If it’s bitching about EMS, try setting the conventional memory to 640k, the EMS to 16Mb, and leave the XMS at auto. I imagine that ought to do the trick. For some of the more stubborn proggies, I used to keep a DOS 5 boot disk lying around. (The only way I could get _Strike Commander_ to run under W95, for some reason.)
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### Author:  [@Lissa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lissa)
#### Post date: [January 10, 2003, 12:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/computer-question-trying-to-install-old-simcity-game/147624/6 "2003-01-10T00:46:59Z")
> [@](#):
>
> Look on the disk. Surely there’s a readme file or some similar “soft copy” documentation.
All it says is the title of the game, the copyright date of 1993, and “Bundled Software” with a dire warning that the disk is not to be sold seperately.
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### Author:  [@LordVor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LordVor)
#### Post date: [January 10, 2003, 12:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/computer-question-trying-to-install-old-simcity-game/147624/7 "2003-01-10T00:51:19Z")
Lissa, your question is answered. Follow Larry’s instructions for turning up the EMS. If it’s still bitching about not enough EMS, (which I very much doubt), turn it up some more.
-lv
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### Author:  [@KneadToKnow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KneadToKnow)
#### Post date: [January 10, 2003, 12:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/computer-question-trying-to-install-old-simcity-game/147624/8 "2003-01-10T00:55:27Z")
> [@](#):
>
> All it says is the title of the game, the copyright date of 1993, and “Bundled Software” with a dire warning that the disk is not to be sold seperately.
:hangs head:
Put the disk in and use Explorer or My Computer to examine its contents. I’m sorry I wasn’t more explicit earlier. **Larry** ’s method is another way of doing the same thing I described earlier.
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### Author:  [@Lissa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lissa)
#### Post date: [January 10, 2003, 2:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/computer-question-trying-to-install-old-simcity-game/147624/9 "2003-01-10T02:02:16Z")
Thanks for all of your help, guys, but it’s still not working.
When I followed Larry Mudd’s instructions, it keeps saying “Not enough conventional memory.” I tried everything, but nothing worked.
When I try KneadToKnow’s instructions, it says “to do this you need to shut down all programs” and then the system reboots.
It’s driving me nuts, and I’m starting to think it just can’t be done.
Any advice?
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### Author:  [@badmana](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/badmana)
#### Post date: [January 10, 2003, 2:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/computer-question-trying-to-install-old-simcity-game/147624/10 "2003-01-10T02:13:21Z")
The more advanced way to go would be to create a book disk with DOS on it (the old WIn98 boot disk should work as well, it used to come with DOS 7.1 or something didnt it?). Since it needs EMS you’d also have to configure EMM386.sys (gosh, haven’t had to deal with memory for ages).
Hmm, changing the memory allocation should work. When you tried to run it after following KneadToKnow’s instructions, what did it say?
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### Author:  [@LordVor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LordVor)
#### Post date: [January 10, 2003, 2:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/computer-question-trying-to-install-old-simcity-game/147624/11 "2003-01-10T02:23:38Z")
> [@](#):
>
> \*Originally posted by Lissa \*
> \*\*“Not enough conventional memory.” I tried everything, but nothing worked.
> \*\*
Ah crap. In the pre-windows95 days, there were three classifications of memory, “conventional” which was limited to the main 640K, expanded, and extended. Windows 98 is usuing too much of your conventional memory for SimCity to run in dos mode.
What you’re going to have to do is create a boot floppy (assuming a: is your 3.5 in drive, “format a: /s”). Then create a file on the floppy called “config.sys”, and add the following three lines to it:
device=c:\windows\himem.sys
device=c:\windows\emm386.exe RAM
dos=high,umb
(Note, this assumes that himem.sys and emm386.exe are in c:\windows)
You can also create an autoexec.bat file, and have it run simcity automatically.
Or you can just buy SimCity 2K.
-lv
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### Author:  [@Larry\_Mudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Larry_Mudd)
#### Post date: [January 10, 2003, 3:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/computer-question-trying-to-install-old-simcity-game/147624/12 "2003-01-10T03:56:22Z")
Sorry **Lissa** – SimCity _would_ have to be one of the stubborn ones.
Let us all know if the you have any trouble making the boot disk.
You might find it useful to use a boot disk with an older version of DOS on it, just to make extra sure that you’re operating in the sort of environment that your old game expects.
There are several different flavours [here](http://www.bootdisk.com/original.htm) – Dos 5 or 6 would probably make the most sense. (May even be helpful just to simplify the process – all you need to do is click the appropriate link, choose ‘open from current location’ and follow instructions.) You may still need to use Notepad to add the three lines **LordVor** has specified to the config.sys on the floppy.
Happy city-planning.