# Unstable DOS games when playing on Windows 7

**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unstable-dos-games-when-playing-on-windows-7/640232
**Category:** The Game Room
**Created:** [November 7, 2012, 4:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unstable-dos-games-when-playing-on-windows-7/640232 "2012-11-07T16:18:56Z")
**Posts on this page:** 5
**Page:** 1

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### Author: ![MichaelEmouse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/michaelemouse/32/101_2.png) [@MichaelEmouse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MichaelEmouse)
#### Post date: [November 7, 2012, 4:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unstable-dos-games-when-playing-on-windows-7/640232/1 "2012-11-07T16:18:56Z")

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So I’ve downloaded Xcom Apocalypse and I’m trying to play it on Windows 7.

It sometimes goes into (a very small) window mode rather than fullscreen mode and I can’t turn it back into fullscreen mode. It will also sometimes crash to desktop. What could be causing that? Any ideas on the solution?

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### Author: ![Meatros](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b4bc9f/32.png) [@Meatros](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Meatros)
#### Post date: [November 7, 2012, 4:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unstable-dos-games-when-playing-on-windows-7/640232/2 "2012-11-07T16:29:59Z")

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Have you tried to hit alt-enter?

Also, I had to alter my files in order to run XCOM (the original) on my windows 7. I’m not at my home cpu or I’d link to what I did.

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### Author: ![Meatros](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b4bc9f/32.png) [@Meatros](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Meatros)
#### Post date: [November 7, 2012, 4:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unstable-dos-games-when-playing-on-windows-7/640232/3 "2012-11-07T16:31:09Z")

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I know that I found out how to fix it via the Steam forums, if that helps.

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### Author: ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)
#### Post date: [November 7, 2012, 11:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unstable-dos-games-when-playing-on-windows-7/640232/4 "2012-11-07T23:21:52Z")

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Are you using Dosbox, or some sort of built-in compatibility mode?

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### Author: ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)
#### Post date: [November 9, 2012, 7:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unstable-dos-games-when-playing-on-windows-7/640232/5 "2012-11-09T07:50:26Z")

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According to what I read, the Steam version comes with DOSBox. So try the stuff mentioned [here](http://www.dosbox.com/wiki/GAMES:X-COM:_Apocalypse). Don’t bother with the forum thread, BTW, it has no other information, just condescension.