# where are my games? (computer problem)

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-are-my-games-computer-problem/216006>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [November 30, 2003, 1:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-are-my-games-computer-problem/216006 "2003-11-30T01:49:02Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![pkbites](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pkbites/32/204_2.png) [@pkbites](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pkbites)\
**Post date:** [November 30, 2003, 1:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-are-my-games-computer-problem/216006/1 "2003-11-30T01:49:02Z")

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As some of you know, [I](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?threadid=222389) recently had some huge problems with my [computer](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?threadid=223250).

Nothing seemed to work, a zillion & 1 files were infected, and I was going nuts. So I wiped out everything (I mean EVERYTHING) and reinstalled everything. (scanner, tv card, printer, windows 98, everything). It worked. My computer is zipping along at lightning speed. Beautiful.

Except…  
On my programs list my games are gone (hearts/solitary/free cell/mine sweeper). Where are they? I thought they were on the Windows 98 disc and would re-load when I re-installed. Where are they?

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**Author:** ![Jonathan\_Chance](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jonathan_chance/32/701_2.png) [@Jonathan\_Chance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jonathan_Chance)\
**Post date:** [November 30, 2003, 1:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-are-my-games-computer-problem/216006/2 "2003-11-30T01:50:21Z")

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They certainly SHOULD have been installed when you reinstalled windows.

Try a search for sol.exe. Maybe that’ll point you in the right direction.

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**Author:** ![engineer\_comp\_geek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/engineer_comp_geek/32/504_2.png) [@engineer\_comp\_geek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/engineer_comp_geek)\
**Post date:** [November 30, 2003, 1:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-are-my-games-computer-problem/216006/3 "2003-11-30T01:51:39Z")

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It’s an option. Go under control panel, add remove programs, windows options, and find the check box for games and check it. Windows will probably ask you for the CD to install it.

That’s from memory, but it’s something like that.

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**Author:** ![engineer\_comp\_geek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/engineer_comp_geek/32/504_2.png) [@engineer\_comp\_geek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/engineer_comp_geek)\
**Post date:** [November 30, 2003, 1:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-are-my-games-computer-problem/216006/4 "2003-11-30T01:53:11Z")

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If the games are installed, sol.exe should be in the C:\WINDOWS directory, IIRC.

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**Author:** ![pkbites](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pkbites/32/204_2.png) [@pkbites](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pkbites)\
**Post date:** [November 30, 2003, 4:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-are-my-games-computer-problem/216006/5 "2003-11-30T04:49:51Z")

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> [@](#):
>
> \*Originally posted by engineer\_comp\_geek \*  
> \*\*It’s an option. Go under control panel, add remove programs, windows options, and find the check box for games and check it. Windows will probably ask you for the CD to install it.  
> \*\*

HEY! It worked! Thanks!🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂