Vista - Need help to run 1980's game book programs

Hi folks: I need help please to run some very special old game programs in a compatible gwbasic modern Vista home premium labtop. It would be ashame for these funny and entertaining programs to be lost for ever. The book is called computer monsters by Stephen Manes and Paul Somerson.By scholastic inc I typed one of the books program on a cd a person instaled the old GWbasic and I was sad to see it wouldn't run. It was frooze completely. I beleave these book game authors are out of buisness. Where do I go from here? Thanks anticipated for any help Lizard-Prince (Ralph)

There are several options available to you, other than quit using these ANCIENT programs:

1. Download and install Microsoft Virtual PC 2007. From there, create a virtual PC that runs MSDOS 6.22 or Windows 98. You can then run these games in their "natural" environment. If any of your friends have it, you can get the MSDOS Virtual PC Additions from MS Virtual PC 2004 in order for MSDOS VPCs to run better.
2. Try downloading and installing DOSBOX (a freeware open source program). Note that in your case, this may or may not work correctly
3. Try finding updated versions of the games you want to run.

From the MS download site;

Soooo, windows vista home, no can do....

You can use Comparison of virtual machines - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia to see many different virtual machines software. Personally, VMWare is pretty much accepted as the top notch, but for your purposes it will probably be way too complicated and unless you try the latest beta, it is not going to be worth it for you in the long run.

I'd look into VirtualBox - that sounds like it might be a winner for you in the long run.

Actually, Virtual PC will work on Vista Home, just you won't get any technical support for it if something goes wrong.

Thanks for the prompt answer to my issue I will be in contact with my computer profesor at my local university so he can give me that push in the right dirrection using the information you have provided. The computer game book specifys Commodore 64, VIC 20, Apple ll, ll plus, lle, IBM pc, PC jr, Atari 400, 800, XL series Radio Shack color computer, and TI 99/4A this will be a run down on a short program on the book.
Sample run: Revenge of the bats
Those bats are getting awfully bold!now they're staring at you from all over the screen! hit the enter key to see? Brake
Program listing
10 rem Revenge of the bats
100 print CHR$(12)
110 print "Those bats are getting awfully bold!"
120 print "Now they're staring at you from all
130 print "Over the screen!"
140 print
150 print "Hit the enter key to see";
160 Input x$
170 print CHR$(12)
180 print CHR$(92);"00/";
190 print CHR$(7);
200 for I=1 to 200
210 next I
220 goto 180
Hope this gives you an idea of why am anxious to get this going. Ralph

If Virtual PC doesn't work, try MESS, it emulates a lot of things, the old IBM PC/XT is one of them.

The Emulator Zone - M.E.S.S.

Could also try VMware.

VMware: Virtualization via Hypervisor, Virtual Machine & Server Consolidation - VMware