My motherboard is slow so I decided to check on new computors rather than go to the hassle of replacing it and all the extras that have to be done. I understand the concept of selling but I am getting a lot of - to me - gobblegok which I dont understand so Ihope someone can tell me the following in plain words. Video card - integrated or not? windows vista and 7 are installed, I dont want to loose my games (I have over 100) because the new configuration wont play them. Any advice? I would like to stay with xp but the sales persons are not helpful when I mention it. I dont want to save the world, hack or do anything else with a computor. Just pay bills, surf a bit, and play adventure games, Im a senior so advice would be appreciated. If I cant get what I want I guess I will stay with good old reliable xp and my present video card (512 ati sapphire)and hope the new games (if any are coming) will play on xp. When windows first came out with the the new xp I lost a lot of my older games so Im not going to do it again. Would appreciate some help.

You don't want an integrated video card for games. "Integrated" means you don't really have a video card, only a chipset built into the motherboard. They tend to be very low end, which would lead to "sticky cursor" and always having to reduce the effects in the game options menu to get them playable.

I don't know which "old games" you have, but there will probably be some of them which will not work in Windows 7 or Vista without tweaking. Check the ***Windows 7 and Games*** thread for which games have worked with Windows 7. The problem isn't always Windows either. Sometimes dual and multi-processors can cause problems, depending on the game.

If you want XP, you may want to consider buying from a place that custom builds computers. You may find some place local to you, or you might check what this site has
http://www.ecollegepc.com/

They still offer computers with XP and their prices are reasonable. Also they have a good record at ***Resellerratings***.

If you need help putting together a configuration for adventure games, let us know what your budget is.

thanx jenny. greatly appreciated.

Just following up on this old thread. Maybe somebody can benefit from what I found. I bought a laptop with windows 7, I decided to use the xp tower until it committed suicide and then get rid of my games, but, the laptop I bought had, unbeknown to me a compatibility mode which takes some games way back (one I loaded was from windows 98) Nearly every game I have can be played, so far I havent found any that wont. The thing is, the salesman who sold me the laptop didnt know it had this mode either. So he was surprised when I told him. Now I can use my tower and if anything goes wrong I dont have to buy the "add on" disc at around 250$. Its worked out well, the only game I havent tried is the myst series. This is just for info for anyone who is like me and doesnt want to lose the "precious" games we play over and over again.

Windows 7 has pleasantly surprised many of us with it's ability to play older games. The list of games it plays in the thread stickied at the top of the Glitches forum has gotten longer and longer. The compatibility mode has gotten many games to play for me. If you have played some and they worked well on your laptop, let us know and if they are not already on the list, I'll add them. They Myst series has been hit and miss.

Did you get Windows 7 Home Premium or Windows 7 Professional?

I'll second Drac's comments. I have both the Professional and Ultimate versions, neither has given me any headaches.

I have seen that one of my favorites, Crime Stories, is incompatible - but I imagine I would be able to replay it under emulation.

Hi Draclvr - I got windows 7 home. Ill check your list and let you know any more games that play.