# Running old DOS programs on Windows?
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/running-old-dos-programs-on-windows/321479
**Category:** Factual Questions
**Created:** [September 13, 2005, 8:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/running-old-dos-programs-on-windows/321479 "2005-09-13T20:33:08Z")
**Posts on this page:** 3
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@yerba\_buena](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yerba_buena)
#### Post date: [September 13, 2005, 8:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/running-old-dos-programs-on-windows/321479/1 "2005-09-13T20:33:08Z")
I’ve recently discovered some old DOS games that I used to play and love, but found that when I tried to open them with Windows XP, I get an error and can’t load them. I can’t, for the life of me, remember exactly what the error message is, but it references AUTOEXEC.NT.
Is there any way to skip loading Windows altogether and boot directly to DOS (either built-in on the hard drive or with a 3.5" floppy disk)?
Will this solve the problem?
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### Author:  [@DarrenS](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DarrenS)
#### Post date: [September 13, 2005, 8:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/running-old-dos-programs-on-windows/321479/2 "2005-09-13T20:38:36Z")
You can get a bootdisk from [www.bootdisk.com](http://www.bootdisk.com) - that will get you into DOS, even on a machine with Windows XP installed. However, you’ll need DOS drivers for your hardware - mouse (if the game uses it), soundcard, etc.
You can also try running the program in “compatibility” mode. Right click the EXE icon, select “compatibility”. I’ve never had much luck with this latter option though.
A third alternative is DOS Box: [http://dosbox.sourceforge.net/news.php?show\_news=1](http://dosbox.sourceforge.net/news.php?show_news=1)
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### Author:  [@Hirka\_T\_Bawa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hirka_T_Bawa)
#### Post date: [September 13, 2005, 8:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/running-old-dos-programs-on-windows/321479/3 "2005-09-13T20:48:32Z")
I’ll secound using [Dosbox](http://dosbox.sourceforge.net/news.php?show_news=1) . It allows me to play most old DOS games I have.