# Help me get Ultima VII to run on my relatively new computer
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-get-ultima-vii-to-run-on-my-relatively-new-computer/227169
**Category:** Factual Questions
**Created:** [February 2, 2004, 9:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-get-ultima-vii-to-run-on-my-relatively-new-computer/227169 "2004-02-02T09:08:11Z")
**Posts on this page:** 5
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)
#### Post date: [February 2, 2004, 9:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-get-ultima-vii-to-run-on-my-relatively-new-computer/227169/1 "2004-02-02T09:08:11Z")
I have a copy of the Ultima Collection: all the Ultima games through Ultima VIII. Problem is, the last three games won’t work on my computer. The installation program gives me the following error message:
> [@](#):
>
> Pifmaker failed
> You will need to manually create a short-cut to MS-DOS in order to play Ultima VII, Serpent Isle, or Ultima VIII
Only, I don’t know how to do that. I know I can create a shortcut by right clicking on an icon and selecting Create Shortcut, but this doesn’t seem to quite cut it. I’m running Windows XP. Is there any hope of getting any of these games running, or am I just hosed?
---
### Author:  [@Cargogal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cargogal)
#### Post date: [February 2, 2004, 9:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-get-ultima-vii-to-run-on-my-relatively-new-computer/227169/2 "2004-02-02T09:17:03Z")
You have to run them from DOS - not a DOS window in XP.
I’m taking the easy way out and converting an older laptop I don’t use anymore to DOS for purely gaming purposes.
---
### Author:  [@mkl12](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mkl12)
#### Post date: [February 2, 2004, 12:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-get-ultima-vii-to-run-on-my-relatively-new-computer/227169/3 "2004-02-02T12:10:10Z")
You should try Exult.
[http://exult.sourceforge.net/](http://exult.sourceforge.net/)
---
### Author:  [@tanstaafl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tanstaafl)
#### Post date: [February 2, 2004, 10:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-get-ultima-vii-to-run-on-my-relatively-new-computer/227169/4 "2004-02-02T22:39:05Z")
> [@Cargogal](#):
>
> You have to run them from DOS - not a DOS window in XP.
>
> I’m taking the easy way out and converting an older laptop I don’t use anymore to DOS for purely gaming purposes.
I did exactly that. It’s a very old 266 Mhz, which means some things run too fast, but I installed slomo which works in most cases. The only problem I had was finding a DOS based driver for the built-in sound. That took a bit of hunting. Still, every one of my old DOS games still work on it.
(It’s also fun to leave the thing out and watch other people try to use it. I had it at work a while back with Windows 3.1 running; got some really odd looks and doubletakes at that one.)
---
### Author:  [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)
#### Post date: [February 3, 2004, 3:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-get-ultima-vii-to-run-on-my-relatively-new-computer/227169/5 "2004-02-03T03:03:26Z")
> [@mkl12](#):
>
> You should try Exult.
>
> [http://exult.sourceforge.net/](http://exult.sourceforge.net/)
Awesome! I’m playing it right now. Had to take a break to find out how to circumvent the copy protection (I have a legal copy, but I’ve long since lost the documentation). Thanks for the link!