XP question: Running full-screen apps in a normal window?
Machtfrei
16-07-2006, 14:54
I'm stuck with a minor 'productivity' issue regarding applications that want to run full screen, but I want running in a normal window.
How do I convince an (older) application to run in a normal window instead of full screen?
Specifically I want Axis and Allies (older game, Win98? DirectX 5 era) to work like this so I don't have to worry about new IM windows killing the game and being able to fiddle with Winamp between turns.
Google hasn't turned up anything useful yet and my usually vast knowledge of 'trivia' computer tweaks has run out.
Thanks for your help!
Teh_pantless_hero
16-07-2006, 15:00
If they don't have a "normal window" mode in options, you're pretty borked.
Machtfrei
16-07-2006, 15:03
If they don't have a "normal window" mode in options, you're pretty borked.
Balls. I was hoping 'new technology' would be able to override settings in a game I remember running on a P133.
Maybe a VMWare Window, but then I'd have to scrounge Win9x from somewhere...
Jeruselem
16-07-2006, 15:09
Games are designed for full screen unless it's Tetris or something. Run an emulator like VMWare Workstation or MS Virtual PC, which means when the game crashes it does not crash XP (just the VM maybe).
I wouldn't try playing Quake 4 in an emulator though. Older games might work as they don't demand so many resources.
I have that game myself and as far as I know, there's no way to play it in a window natively.
DOS games can do so through Dosbox or similar application, but windows games don't like it unless it's built into the game.
Maybe you could just turn off the message alerts in your IM program?
Cheese penguins
16-07-2006, 17:40
Right first of all browse to the file on disc or wherever, right click, properties then under advanced click on run in normal window. Then run it from the command line prompt, and type "fullscreen = 0" at the end of the command. It may work. :D
Machtfrei
16-07-2006, 17:51
Right first of all browse to the file on disc or wherever, right click, properties then under advanced click on run in normal window. Then run it from the command line prompt, and type "fullscreen = 0" at the end of the command. It may work. :D
It tries like hell to work but ends up crashing.
The idea is so that I dont have to kill my background apps (winamp w/ video, trillian, etc) and can switch out of the game to work with other apps.
Ive got VMWare server, just need to pop a reboot and get it running with windows. Then VMWare will force it into a smaller screen.
Egg and chips
16-07-2006, 18:08
It tries like hell to work but ends up crashing.
The idea is so that I dont have to kill my background apps (winamp w/ video, trillian, etc) and can switch out of the game to work with other apps.
Ive got VMWare server, just need to pop a reboot and get it running with windows. Then VMWare will force it into a smaller screen.
What's wrong with Alt-tab?
Rejistania
16-07-2006, 18:22
Games are designed for full screen unless it's Tetris or something. Run an emulator like VMWare Workstation or MS Virtual PC, which means when the game crashes it does not crash XP (just the VM maybe).
I wouldn't try playing Quake 4 in an emulator though. Older games might work as they don't demand so many resources.
If it doesn't run in a window, I don't use it!
Machtfrei
16-07-2006, 18:38
What's wrong with Alt-tab?
App is so old it gets cocked up when I alt-tab it.