SIM ANT on Vista 64bit? Users arnham & hypernova, help!

[Silverman]

on CD-ROM from Amazon through CD ACCESS.

http://www.cdaccess.com/html/shared/simant.htm

I asked the seller a bunch of questions before hand, and they told me no one has ever complained and the game works. I get the box in the mail a few months ago, I need a 12 Mhz CPU to play it (LOL ) and it can run on Windows 3.1, IBM 286, and Mac System 6.0.2 or higher... it also says Windows 95 or LATER.

This is 16 bit software, I think.. so I was sort of worried it wouldn't run on my XP 32 bit windows I had a month ago, let alone my new Vista 64 bit install.... so, I try and run it and nothing, I copy the files to my HD and nothing... nothing seems to work! Do I have to get a Windows 95 emulator? Or Microsoft Virtual PC 2008? I am not sure how to run this game on my PC. I tried to mess with the compatibility mode and nothing too. I also tried DOS BOOT and Bochs.

SOOO, I searched all the internets and found this topic posted a few weeks ago here:
http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php?topic=83440.0

Could someone give me a tutorial on how to do this.  Funny how I can use a ton of programs, rip DVDs, build my own gaming rigs, but I can't change a few registry files... let alone know what they are!!  arnham is the guy who did it, but I am not sure how to contact him... I guess PM... lest he posts first!

 

[Cakemeister]

I played Sim Ant back in the day. It sucked. Don't bother.

[AtomSmasher]

Did you try DOSBox?  It's a DOS emulator and it looks like it should work fine with SimAnt.
http://www.dosbox.com/

[Silverman]

I also tried DOS BOOT and Boch I said in my first post.  I heard the registry thing really works.

[hypernova]

Could you install it on your XP OS?  You never said which you've tried it on.  Your page you linked to shows it should run on XP.  Your XP isn't 64 bit too, is it?

Whether it'll actually run on 32 bit XP will tell you whether it'll work or not.  I tried finding information on the programming architecture of it, but could find nada.  If the installer is 16 bit, it should install on 32 bit XP.  It will not install on your Vista 64 bit, because it probably is a 16 bit installer.  If it's a 16 bit program itself, your Vista will obviously not run it no matter what you do, unless you grab an emulator of some sort.

If you can install it on another machine, and copy whatever files it writes, you may be able to get it to work.  You will definitely need to install it on something that will take it.  Looking at my SC2000 CDs contents, there are a few more folders that get installed (and thus, files) that aren't present on the CD.  You'll more than likely need to get the registry files as well that it installs.  Run regedit, then do a search (check all boxes) for maxis, simant (or sim ant) to find any files in the registry.  Take note of where they are, as well as copy them with the rest of the files previously mentioned.  Stick them in your new registry, making sure that the path in the registry is the same as the machine you installed it on.  Create whatever folders you may need to in the proper place in the registry.  Also, make sure the paths are still correct when you do paste the new .reg file.  It does no good to install the directory at C:\ on your XP machine, then try putting the directory files in C:\Program Files on the Vista machine.  Your .reg files will still be pointing to C:\.

Does that all make sense?

[AtomSmasher]

I also tried DOS BOOT and Boch I said in my first post.  I heard the registry thing really works.

You never mentioned DOS Box (which, according to a quick google, should be compatible with both Vista x64 and sim ant) which is why I brought it up.

[Silverman]

DOS BOX was a no go and I have NOT tried it on Win XP 32bit.  I tried it on XP and Vista 64bit.  I will try your previous suggestion hypernova.  It works, but freezes sometimes, on my G4 macbook in Classic 9... but, I would have to take a trip to my Dad's house to use his XP 32bit... I don't feel like dual booting my vista machine for just one game... especially Sim Ant.  Any other suggestions?

[Silverman]

If you can install it on another machine, and copy whatever files it writes, you may be able to get it to work.  You will definitely need to install it on something that will take it.  Looking at my SC2000 CDs contents, there are a few more folders that get installed (and thus, files) that aren't present on the CD.  You'll more than likely need to get the registry files as well that it installs.  Run regedit, then do a search (check all boxes) for maxis, simant (or sim ant) to find any files in the registry.  Take note of where they are, as well as copy them with the rest of the files previously mentioned.  Stick them in your new registry, making sure that the path in the registry is the same as the machine you installed it on.  Create whatever folders you may need to in the proper place in the registry.  Also, make sure the paths are still correct when you do paste the new .reg file.  It does no good to install the directory at C:\ on your XP machine, then try putting the directory files in C:\Program Files on the Vista machine.  Your .reg files will still be pointing to C:\.

Does that all make sense?

It sort of does, but could you give me a step by step... I am a little thick when it comes to these things.  WORST CASE SCENARIO I could send one of your a .ZIP file with the entire CD attached to it and see if you can get it to work.  Trust factor though. 

[Malenko]

get the SNES rom and play it on an emulator?

[Silverman]

get the SNES rom and play it on an emulator?

I could, but the SNES version is limited and poor compared to my PC/MAC version.

[hypernova]

It sort of does, but could you give me a step by step... I am a little thick when it comes to these things.  WORST CASE SCENARIO I could send one of your a .ZIP file with the entire CD attached to it and see if you can get it to work.  Trust factor though.   

Sending it to me would be the easiest scenario.  I assume it's a rather small file (a few MB.)  All you're really trusting me with is to spend my time and test it out, which should only take maybe 15 minutes, tops.  I have no desire to play it.

Assuming it'll install on 32 bit XP, it should be fairly easy to get it to work on 64 bit if it's anything like 2K.  You won't need to dual boot, as long as the program itself is 32 bit.  2K's installer was 16 bit, but the actual game program was 32 bit, so everything was good.

[Zakk]

It sort of does, but could you give me a step by step... I am a little thick when it comes to these things.  WORST CASE SCENARIO I could send one of your a .ZIP file with the entire CD attached to it and see if you can get it to work.  Trust factor though.   

Sending it to me would be the easiest scenario.  I assume it's a rather small file (a few MB.)  All you're really trusting me with is to spend my time and test it out, which should only take maybe 15 minutes, tops.  I have no desire to play it.

Assuming it'll install on 32 bit XP, it should be fairly easy to get it to work on 64 bit if it's anything like 2K.  You won't need to dual boot, as long as the program itself is 32 bit.  2K's installer was 16 bit, but the actual game program was 32 bit, so everything was good.

Don't you go stealing his valuable rip of his 1991 game now, you hear!

[hypernova]

I'd like to see you stop me, mister!

[Silverman]

I'd like to see you stop me, mister!

Ha, this might put Maxis out of business for good.... oh wait, Sim Copter and Crucible did that for them... then EA saved their arses and they made the Sims (sigh). Okay, I will send it to you soon... a .zip file with the CD contents. I guess PM me your e-mail.