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Answer

This question was answered on December 15, 2004. Much of the information contained herein may have changed since posting.

Windows 95:

"Most programs run properly on Windows XP. The main exceptions are

some older games and other programs that were written specifically for

an earlier version of Windows. These programs may run poorly or not at

all after you first upgrade to Windows XP. But in most cases, you can

use a Compatibility Mode in Windows XP and get these programs working

again."

The Program Compatibility Wizard

"You should run the Program Compatibility Wizard before you try other

ways of updating your programs or drivers because it identifies

compatibility fixes written specifically for Windows XP. If the wizard

does not solve your problem, you can try other steps listed at the end

of this article."

>http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/using/helpandsupport/learnmore/appcompat.mspx</p>

DOS:

"Running DOS programs in Windows XP can be difficult. Unlike earlier

versions of Windows, XP is not based on the DOS kernel. Instead it,

like Windows 2000, is based on the NT kernel. This is one of the

things that makes XP more robust than Windows 98, but it has it's

drawbacks for the DOS gamer. Because there is no DOS kernel, XP has to

run DOS games in "pretend DOS" mode. Unfortunately, XP is not a great

pretender. In addition, the tricks you learning in your DOS gaming

days (veterans who fought to get more free memory to run "Falcon" will

know what I mean) are no longer appropriate in the new age of XP.

The difficulty you'll have in running a DOS game will depend on your

machine and on the game. Before trying the steps below, try running

the game by simply clicking on it, then try various settings on the

compatibility tab."