DOSBox combines two separate functions - it is an implementation of DOS (more-or-less) and it emulates a machine running this implementation.

If you want emulation you don't need a special "Windows XP emulator"; all you need is to get a PC emulator - such as VMWare, VirtualBox or Virtual PC - to make a virtual machine and then install Windows XP onto that VM.

If you need more performance than a VM gives you then you could set aside a partition on your hard drive and install XP directly onto that partition. This is a bit of a mission because to this day Microsoft is terrible at handling multibooting, so VM is your best bet.

If you don't have and can't get a copy of Windows XP you have some other options:

- See if you can get your game working on Compatibility Mode on your current OS
- Use WINE (a user-space implementation of the Windows software platform) on a host operating system (a BSD or Linux operating system installed on a VM should do). WINE isn't perfect but has a decent chance of running your game.
- There is also ReactOS, an independent implementation of Windows. Install it to a VM or separate partition as you would for Windows XP. Not sure how well it will work for you.

Probably because it requires that one has full access to the kernel source code. :p
That is not an emulator. :) That's a virtualizator. :p There is a big difference between these two terms.

Because no, and no. :-P

Bah, both are virtual machines in one form or another :-P

Yea, true, with virtualization being more hardcore. :p

Ja, I concede that emulation isn't the right word for what it does. It's a virtualisation app, since it uses virtualisation to make virtual machines and all that. Virtual virtual virtual :P

The basic problem is that Micro$oft sits heavily on most of their program source code, this makes it extremely difficult for others to emulate an enviroment for Windows (and all its content) properly..... (ofcourse there are others also that sits on their source code too)
Hence none of the socalled virtual machines is really able to deliver a perfect enviroment for an insatallation of XP to be installed on.

As long as your game does not require DirectX 3D , then there are a lot of virtual maxhines such as VMWares Workstation, Oracles Virtual Box or even Micro$ofts Virtual PC that you could use to install a Win XP on like you install a program, but as soon as your game requires DirectX then no of the Virtual Machines are good enough. Mind you , VMWares Workstation has got some DirectX 3d support and so does Virtual Box apparently also, but generally it is not enough - not perfected yet .
Micro$ofts Virtual PC offers no DirectX 3d support .


If you want to play games that require Windows XP and DirectX 3d support then get hold of a cheap used computter (that will satisfy your hardware requirements) and then install Windows XP on that and run your games on it. To use the computer then use a KVM switch that will allow you to control 2 computers with same keyboard, mouse and screeen - or alternatively you could use an used laptop for your windows XP if it is powerfull enough - easy to take out and easy to put away.

links :

Comparison of platform virtual machines - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comparison_of_platform_virtual_machines

Virtual machine - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Virtual_machines


TRENDnet Products KVM
http://www.trendnet.com/products/products.asp?cat=105
(they both have products supporting respectively DVI and VGA)

If you want to switch PCs with HDMI out then use a cheap KVM switch that will work without attaching video, for switching mouse and keyboard, and add a seperate dheap mechanical HDMI swich.

-----------------------------------------------------------------

VirtualBox (free)
http://www.virtualbox.org/

VMware Workstation
http://www.vmware.com/products/workstation/overview.html

Windows Virtual PC Home Page
http://www.microsoft.com/windows/virtual-pc/

Micro$oft Virtual PC 2007 SP1 (free)
http://www.microsoft.com/download/en/details.aspx?id=24439

Stopped reading there.

For the OP... As one who uses virtualization for testing and compiling stuff daily, I can tell you that virtualization is the best way for non-DOS games.

Forget all 'Micro$oft' this, 'Micro$oft' that, crap posted by bunch of Linux or whatever fanboys for no good reason, DirectX support is available on all major virtualization platforms. Those that tell you otherwise, don't know how to enable / use it.

That's not true, that's heavily dependent upon the combination of virtualization packages, host and guest OSes. Granted, there's only really one guest OS for which this applies, but if you're saying that it's available on all major virtualizations platforms, I suggest you look into the issue a bit more thoroughly.

Yes they do have it, but it may or may not work depending upon the specific combination of OSes involved, so technically you're correct, even though you're factually wrong.

WinXP... that's pretty random. I would guess 99% of WinXP games work on Win7. In any event I can't wait for real Windows emulation. We really need 3.1 and 95 to be working in an emulator easily to play some classics.

Again, virtualize it. :)

I played with VMWare and WinXP using my Win7Pro license. It worked well I must admit. I need to try it again with Win95 and try to play some old games I can't get working.

NOT SO !!!

A) I run Micro$oft O.S. on more computers , including the one I use here - I just knows what kind of company I am dealiing with. You are obviously one them them Micro$oft groupies......

""For the O.P." :

To see how far that DirectX 3D virtualizarion has gone you need not look further than at the changelogs to the V.M's themselves to see that they often have to solve problems .
e.g.
http://www.virtualbox.org/wiki/Changelog-3.0

It is very easy to find people that thinks that 3D aceleration works perfect on e.g. VMWare Workstation :
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zW4UDBfAcRo
But you can as easy find many people that have one problem or the other with one game or the other......

The 3D acceæeration on virtual machines is a work in progress and has yet to be perfected.....

With respect to Linux then "VMware To Overhaul Their Virtual Graphics Driver" :
http://phoronix.com/forums/showthread.php?54402-VMware-To-Overhaul-Their-Virtual-Graphics-Driver
( The driver has been around since 2009 and has yet to be perfected)

I guess that they are patching the Windows 3D acceleration as they go along....
Anyway not worth the troubles and potential troubles as far as I am concerned.....

--------------------------------------------

DosBox , for example, I think most often runs many DOS programs as good or better than original DOS did , but with respect to 3D acceleration and Windows I will still prefer the real hardware thing over the remaining potential problems and cannots with the Virtual machines.....


P.S.
"Funny thing" is that I started out like "KavazovAngel" thinking that I could virtualize myself out of any compatability problems , but facts showed that the V.M..'s just were not good enough yet.....
So as Written I choose the hardware version over the Virtual machines when I have to run games and applications which require 3D support - rather that than suddenly sitting with unforseen problems and limitations......

Not all Windows games require 3D acceleration , some just rely on for example old Quick Time...... They will run easily on "virtually" any of the modern Virtual machines - provided that the virtual machine provides VM Tools for the specific guest O.S..

Of course, using a compatible hardware is always better, but many times, it is hard to find one.