How to run some retro software

[Danny Longmore]

Hi everyone,
I'm planning on building a Scalextric track and I'm wanting to use all the old systems I used use as a kid. The main one is a system called Race Management System and apparently it will only work on a system with the exact spec as it was a flop so they cancelled support.

Any suggestions where I could get a system/laptop with:-

• Pentium II 400MHz or equivalent,
• 32Mb Ram,
• 100Mb or free disk space,
• 16 bit colour 800x600 graphics card,
• 24 x CD-Rom drive,
• COM port,
• Windows 95 /98

Also how do I change my username? Didn't realise it showed my full name lol, I ment to set it up as PimpedMobility which I use everywhere

 

[jsmoke]

eBay?

Why do you want such an old laptop?

 

[Danny Longmore]

I don't know much about computers these days as I just use my phone for everything. I was told it would only work on that exact spec

 

[jsmoke]

Should work on any Windows laptop you can run the software in compatibility mode so run it as a win 98 software.

Who told you it will only work on a system of that era?

 

[Danny Longmore]

Any suggestions on one that has a serial port? I've not built a computer for about 10 year so I'm not exactly upto speed lol. Also I have a Samsung Fold so I don't have any other need for a brand new laptop so thought I'd try an old one

 

[Tetras]

You can still buy motherboards with serial ports, the Fujitsu I'm typing on right now has one, but you can get expansion cards for any PC.

A lot of old games can run in DOSBox, more ideas here:
https://www.techradar.com/uk/how-to/how-to-run-your-old-pc-games-on-windows-10

 

[CuriousTomCat]

You can run Windows 95/98 in a virtual machine on your main computer. Also a USB to serial adaptor might work.

 

[Donnie Fisher]

Yup, usb to serial port adapters work. I have previously ran an XP setup to work with old serial port hardware by means of a virtual machine running on windows 10.

Key is getting the right driver for the cable I found.