UPDATE: This feature is only present in 32-bit edition of Windows 8 Developer Preview.
Time to share another interesting feature of Windows 8. Did you know Windows 8 comes with a built-in option to turn on or off 16-bit application support?
Our reader "Basil" has found a new applet "16-Bit Application Support" in Control Panel of Windows 8 Developer Preview. This new applet allows you to enable or disable 16-bit application support in Windows 8.
When you open the applet in Control Panel, Windows shows a dialog box to turn 16-bit application support on or off. Simply click on Enable button and you'll be able to enjoy 16-bit applications in Windows 8.
If you don't enable the option using Control Panel, Windows 8 automatically asks you to enable the option whenever you try to run a 16-bit application.
This article was posted by VG in following section: Windows 8.
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KnockerDolt
How do you access this? Had a look in the control panel and can't find anything. Also tried running a 16-bit application and I just got the error you get in Windows 7.
SCBright
Wow! Now I can run my old racing game!
Oh no! I lost my floppy (and drive as well). \o/
Just kidding, is a good feature. Thanks for the info VG.
VG
@KnockerDolt
Are you using 64-bit Windows version? Because I checked it in 32-bit edition.
KnockerDolt
@VG
I am. if 64-bit Windows doesn't support 16-bit applications I will be disappointed. If it is only on the 32-bit version I though all 32-bit versions of Windows could run 16-bit apps? I'm so confused...
rocketboy3005
I'm really happy to see this post. I have 2 old DOS games during Windows 98. I kept them for this long and still play them til this very day on DOSBox. Sadly, I trying to figure out how tweak the properties on the games because I kept getting error on them. 16-bit application program doesn't like Fullscreen mode that much. I kept trying to tweek it so I can run this. I even try the old shortcut/target commands "-w" or "-window" and got nothing. One game I can tell you guys is Epic Pinball. It was a great game in the past, and still is right now.
I'm really happy to see that Microsoft is bring this back and hope they improve this so people can play this both Window and Full-Screen.Modes.
Great info, VG
xd_1771
Uh, it's pretty much always been like this!
32-bit Windows has ALWAYS been able to support 16-bit apps WITHOUT THE NEED FOR THAT DIALOG, and 64-bit Windows can never support 16-bit app.
With all due respect..... Cool story bro!
Anonymous
Talk about clueless. 32-bit Windows Vista and 32-bit Windows 7 also run 16-bit apps just fine, it is the 64-bit editions that don't include NTVDM, the 16-bit emulator. Nothing has changed for Windows 8 except that 16-bit support is now turned off and needs to be turned on from Control Panel. Really, you should have checked first that 32-bit Windows 7 allows running 16-bit apps already as does 32-bit Vista.
me
My 16bit aplications (e.g. Darkstone), which worked just fine under under Windows 7, won't work under Windows 8, although I turn the 16bit suport on. Seems MS really messed it up.
Diceman
64bit windows cannot execute 16bit code because there is no support for several required 16bit extensions when running in long mode.