Old PC games and copy protection on modern Windows

Why won't my old game disc start on Windows 10 or 11?

If the disc uses SafeDisc, that may be the reason. Shortly after Windows 10 came out in 2015, Microsoft announced that games with SafeDisc DRM would not run on it¹. The same year, update number 3086255 withdrew SafeDisc support from earlier versions of Windows as well¹.

Microsoft's announcement spoke of SafeDisc games in general¹. PCGamingWiki's SafeDisc page splits them by version: versions up to 4.59 are not supported on Windows 10 and 11, while the newer versions 4.61 to 4.90 do not rely on the kernel driver and so remain functional on newer, updated versions of Windows².

Which copy protections are blocked, and which still work?

These are the copy protections our sources cover, with the version ranges exactly as they give them.

For any other protection, look the game up on PCGamingWiki (see "How to check yours" below).

Can a SafeDisc game be made to run again?

PCGamingWiki says restoration is possible and lists SafeDiscShim among the ways to do it². It also warns that restoring it might expose the system to known security vulnerabilities, making it more susceptible to malicious attacks². Read that page before you change anything, and weigh the warning against how much you want to play the game.

Does SecuROM still work on newer Windows?

Yes, according to PCGamingWiki: SecuROM still works on newer versions of Windows, and the page calls reports to the contrary erroneous³.

One part of it has gone, though: the servers used for SecuROM's automatic release-date check were shut down completely at some point in 2024, and PCGamingWiki's advice is to use manual activation instead³.

Tron: Evolution shows another risk: in 2019, after Disney decided to end its SecuROM licence, the game, which relies on SecuROM to authenticate its installation and start-up, was rendered unplayable and pulled from the Steam store⁴.

Are PC games region-locked?

Region locks on PC games are rare, but they do exist⁵. They are harder to enforce on a PC because both the game and the operating system can be easily modified, and subscription-based online games often enforce one by blocking IP addresses⁵. For consoles, see region locking.

What else stops an old game running on modern Windows?

Copy protection is not the only hurdle. Community projects aim to bring older games' features back to modern platforms: WineVDM runs 16-bit games on 64-bit Windows, nGlide enables the Glide API on other video cards, and IPXWrapper enables IPX/SPX-based LAN play⁶.

Glide support matters for early 3D games: Vogons Wiki notes that many early 3D games, from 1996 on, had versions for at least some 3dfx cards and their proprietary Glide API⁷.

Vogons Wiki's Windows 9x guide adds that some Direct3D games use 8-bit paletted textures and table fog, 3dfx-related features that not all other cards support or emulate⁸.

PCGamingWiki also lists DxWnd, a general-use tool for running applications in a window that has gradually gained compatibility options such as time stretching and CD audio and registry file emulation⁹.

Can I use a period PC instead?

That is the other route. For Windows 9x, Vogons Wiki describes two popular targets: an Intel 440BX motherboard with a supported CPU, up to a Pentium III "Tualatin" on some motherboards, or a K6-2 to K6-3+ on an ALi 1541 chipset board with, for example, a 3dfx Voodoo3 graphics card⁸. The same guide calls the 3dfx Voodoo 2 to 5 cards the can't-go-wrong choices⁸.

Windows 9x can also run on newer hardware, up to some Core 2 boards using the Intel 865 chipset or Athlon 64 boards with VIA K8T800, and Vogons Wiki says few Windows 9x games have problems with faster CPUs⁸.

For 3D sound, some games of that era use Aureal's A3D 2.0 or Creative's EAX, and the PCI cards Vogons Wiki typically points to for sound extensions are the Aureal Vortex 2, Creative Sound Blaster Live! or Audigy⁸.

For DOS-era games, Vogons Wiki keeps a list of CPU-speed-sensitive titles, and its advice is to adjust the in-game speed setting first and, if that is not enough, to reduce the clock speed or disable the cache with Setmul¹⁰.

How to check yours

1. Look the game up on PCGamingWiki, the wiki about fixing PC games: it documents fixes game by game and keeps lists of games by copy protection, such as its list of games using SafeDisc².
2. If the game uses SafeDisc, the version decides it: up to 4.59 is not supported on Windows 10 and 11, while 4.61 to 4.90 still works².
3. If an older SafeDisc version needs restoring, read PCGamingWiki's security warning first; it lists SafeDiscShim among the options².
4. If the game used SecuROM's automatic release-date check, use manual activation, since those servers shut down in 2024³.
5. If it is a 16-bit Windows game, uses Glide, or needs IPX for LAN play, look at WineVDM, nGlide or IPXWrapper respectively⁶.
6. If it is a subscription-based online game that will not connect from your country, a region lock by IP address is one possible reason⁵.

If you are not sure which edition of a game you are holding, the RetroReady app can tell you from a photo.

Frequently asked

Why won't SafeDisc games run on Windows 10?

Shortly after Windows 10's release in 2015, Microsoft announced that games with SafeDisc DRM would not run on it¹. PCGamingWiki narrows that to SafeDisc versions up to 4.59; versions 4.61 to 4.90 do not rely on the kernel driver and still work².

Is it safe to restore SafeDisc support?

PCGamingWiki says restoration is possible but warns that it might expose the system to known security vulnerabilities, making it more susceptible to malicious attacks².

Does SecuROM work on newer versions of Windows?

Yes: PCGamingWiki says it still works and calls reports to the contrary erroneous³. Games that used its automatic release-date check need manual activation, because those servers shut down in 2024³.

Why was Tron: Evolution pulled from Steam?

In 2019 Disney decided to end its SecuROM licence, and Tron: Evolution, which relies on SecuROM to authenticate its installation and start-up, was rendered unplayable and pulled from the Steam store⁴.

Can I run 16-bit Windows games on 64-bit Windows?

WineVDM is a community project for running 16-bit games on 64-bit Windows⁶.

Sources

1. SafeDisc, Wikipedia: "Shortly after the release of Windows 10 in 2015, Microsoft announced that games with SafeDisc DRM would not run on the operating system ... Support for SafeDisc on earlier versions of Windows was withdrawn upon the release of update number 3086255 in 2015."
2. SafeDisc, PCGamingWiki: "Older versions up to 4.59 are not supported on Windows 10 and 11, ... Newer versions (4.61-4.90) do not rely on the kernel driver and so remain functional on newer/updated versions of Windows."; "Restoration is possible in both cases; however, it might expose the system to known security vulnerabilities, making it more susceptible to malicious attacks. ... Use SafeDiscShim"; "From PCGamingWiki, the wiki about fixing PC games ... List of games using SafeDisc"
3. SecuROM, PCGamingWiki: "Still works on newer versions of Windows, despite erroneous reports of the contrary."; "The servers used for automatic release date check ... were completely shut down at some point in 2024. Use manual activation instead."
4. SecuROM, Wikipedia: "In 2019, due to Disney's decision to end its SecuROM license, Tron: Evolution, which relies on it to authenticate its installation and startup, was rendered unplayable and pulled from the Steam store"
5. Regional lockout, Wikipedia: "Amongst PC games, regional lockout is more difficult to enforce because both the game application and the operating system can be easily modified. Subscription-based online games often enforce a regional lock by blocking IP addresses ... A number of other games using regional lockout are rare but do exist."
6. PC game, Wikipedia: "Other projects aim to bring compatibility of older games and its features back to modern platforms such as WineVDM (for running 16-bit games on 64-bit Windows), nGlide (for enabling the Glide API to other video cards), IPXWrapper (for enabling IPX/SPX based LAN play)."
7. 3dfx, Vogons Wiki: "3dfx cards - namely their proprietary Glide API - can be considered one of the prime reasons to use vintage hardware today, because many early 3D games starting from 1996 had versions for at least some 3dfx cards"
8. Windows 9x Builds, Vogons Wiki: "The can't-go-wrong choices are the 3dfx Voodoo 2-5 cards. ... Some Direct3D games use features like 8-bit paletted textures and table fog which are 3dfx-related features that not all other cards support/emulate."; "A popular target is an Intel 440BX motherboard combined with a supported CPU, which can be up to a Pentium III "Tualatin" with some motherboards. Another popular target is a K6-2 through K6-3+ combined with a Ali1541 chipset mainboard and e.g. a 3dfx Voodoo3 graphics card."; "However, it is possible to run Windows 9x on newer hardware, up to some Core 2 boards using Intel 865 or Athlon 64 boards with VIA K8T800. ... Few Win9x games respond problematic to faster CPUs."; "Vortex 2 supports A3D 2.0 and some games use it to great effect. Creative cards get you quality EAX support and some games do use that well"; "For PCI cards with best possible sound extension support, typically you should look at Aureal Vortex 2, Creative Sound Blaster Live! or Audigy."
9. Glossary:Display wrapper, PCGamingWiki: "DxWnd - general use tool for running applications in a window, gradually received compatibility options, time stretching, CD audio and registry file emulation, and more."
10. List of CPU speed sensitive games, Vogons Wiki: "Adjust the in-game speed setting first. If insufficient, reduce clock speed or disable cache with Setmul"

How this guide was made. Written from facts we checked against the pages listed under Sources: each claim is quoted word for word from its source before it goes in. Spot a mistake? Write to support@retroready.app.

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