Can't get two older programs to run on Windows 11 for ARM/Parallels 17

[swandy]

I have Windows 11 for ARM installed on a M1 iMac using Parallels 17. What I find interesting is I can get some Steam games (Bioshock Infinite and Black Mesa) to run without issues, but two older programs - Microsoft Links Golf 2003 and Lotus Approach - nope. Links will install and open with the screen resolution totally off - can only see part of the initial screen. Lotus will also install and run, but locks up or flickers when I try to change screens to print a letter from the database.
Just think it is strange that it is easier to get newer programs to run but older stuff - that had much lower requirements - nada.
Any ideas/suggestions I can try because those are really the only two programs that I would love/need to get running at this point.
Thanks

 

[TrueBlou]

I mentioned this in another thread, but if you use DOSBox-X and Windows 3.1/95/98/Me you’ll get along much better with at least one of those.

I don’t know which version of Approach you’re using, but if it’s compatible with Win 3.1 it’s really, really easy to get up and running with that. Just clicking a few menu options.

The screenshot of Approach I posted in the other thread had nothing to do with Parallels either. It was running natively in Windows 3.1, which was running inside the M1 native version of DOSBox-x.

Windows 95/98 is a bit more faffy to get software transferred onto the system, but no more so than a few lines typed into Terminal.

You shouldn’t have any trouble with Links either, I don’t think, though I haven’t tried it myself yet, I’ll see if I can dig it out and give it a go.

The process to get going with Windows is pretty long winded - well, it is when I prattle on about it so I won’t put it here. But feel free to send me a message if you hit a snag.

FWIW, here's SimCity 2000 (X86), running in Windows 95 (also X86) via DOSBox-X (M1 native app), on my MacBook Air M1 and it's perfectly smooth, even with big cities on the go.

 

[swandy]

I read the other thread but as of now Parallels can only run an ARM version of Windows (either 10 or 11) on a M1 Mac. And I don’t think it was normally able to run much older versions like 3.1. But thanks.

 

[TrueBlou]

This has nothing whatsoever to do with Parallels. Parallels cannot, as you rightly mentioned, emulate, or virtualise, X86 for old versions of Windows…… DOSBox-X on the other hand can emulate X86.

DOSBox-X is a native M1 application which emulates DOS.

That in turn allows you to run any DOS applications, and any Windows version up to Windows Me (because they are built upon DOS). This allows you to use any of your old Windows apps, so long as they are compatible with Windows 3.1/95/98/Me.

Forget about parallels, if you use the above combo, you WILL be able to run the apps you mentioned.

The screenshot I posted is the old X86 Windows version of SimCity 2000, running in X86 Windows 95, thanks to DOSBox-X.

Compatibility isn’t yet 100% and it may struggle a bit with really demanding games. But I’ve yet to have any real issue with the kind of games and apps I use. And it’s so far, definitely been better than the ARM versions of Windows trying to emulate X86/X64.

 

[Janichsan]

I have Windows 11 for ARM installed on a M1 iMac using Parallels 17. What I find interesting is I can get some Steam games (Bioshock Infinite and Black Mesa) to run without issues, but two older programs - Microsoft Links Golf 2003 and Lotus Approach - nope. Links will install and open with the screen resolution totally off - can only see part of the initial screen. Lotus will also install and run, but locks up or flickers when I try to change screens to print a letter from the database.
Just think it is strange that it is easier to get newer programs to run but older stuff - that had much lower requirements - nada.
Any ideas/suggestions I can try because those are really the only two programs that I would love/need to get running at this point.
Thanks

I can't give you specific tips for these applications, but Windows 10 and earlier had a number of built-in compatibility options. I would be surprised if Windows 11 no longer had these.

When you have the apps installed, right-click on the icon, select "Properties" and check the available settings on the "Compatibility" tab.

 

[swandy]

This has nothing whatsoever to do with Parallels. Parallels cannot, as you rightly mentioned, emulate, or virtualise, X86 for old versions of Windows…… DOSBox-X on the other hand can emulate X86.

DOSBox-X is a native M1 application which emulates DOS.

That in turn allows you to run any DOS applications, and any Windows version up to Windows Me (because they are built upon DOS). This allows you to use any of your old Windows apps, so long as they are compatible with Windows 3.1/95/98/Me.

Forget about parallels, if you use the above combo, you WILL be able to run the apps you mentioned.

The screenshot I posted is the old X86 Windows version of SimCity 2000, running in X86 Windows 95, thanks to DOSBox-X.

Compatibility isn’t yet 100% and it may struggle a bit with really demanding games. But I’ve yet to have any real issue with the kind of games and apps I use. And it’s so far, definitely been better than the ARM versions of Windows trying to emulate X86/X64.

Ah Thanks for the clarification about DosBox-X. I assume I will have to purchase a version of Windows somewhere as my oldest active license is for Windows 10 - nothing older. I know I have the "latest" version of Approach - which was released for Windows 98. Not sure which version of Links 2003 it will run on. I guess Windows ME would probably be the safest for both if I decide to check it out. Again thanks.

 

[swandy]

I can't give you specific tips for these applications, but Windows 10 and earlier had a number of built-in compatibility options. I would be surprised if Windows 11 no longer had these.

When you have the apps installed, right-click on the icon, select "Properties" and check the available settings on the "Compatibility" tab.

Yes it does, but it also has "emulation" settings because of the M1 chip. And I have played with them all and so far, no solution. But thanks.

 

[TrueBlou]

Ah Thanks for the clarification about DosBox-X. I assume I will have to purchase a version of Windows somewhere as my oldest active license is for Windows 10 - nothing older. I know I have the "latest" version of Approach - which was released for Windows 98. Not sure which version of Links 2003 it will run on. I guess Windows ME would probably be the safest for both if I decide to check it out. Again thanks.

If you decide you want to go down this road, and I honestly think you should. Fire me off a message and I’ll give you some important pointers, which I can’t talk about publicly

 

[swandy]

Just a little follow up. I was playing around with Links 2003 - basically different video settings within the game - and I must have accidentally screwed up the actual Windows 11 resolution and scaling settings. Ended up uninstalling Links and then played with the resolution and scaling settings in Windows 11 to get it back the way I liked. Then tried some lower resolution settings to try to get Links to run (either full screen or in a window) and while that really didn't work, surprise Approach ran perfectly - including switching within the app to the screens for printing letter formats - as long as I kept the resolution lower than what a Retina display is capable of. Strange - would expect Windows 11 resolution/scaling to effect a game like Links, but not a database program like Approach. So at least I got one of them running (for the time being).