How to get the XP version of Spider Solitaire?

Anonymous
2011-02-05T22:47:24+00:00

I used to sit around playing Spider Solitaire on my XP machine.  Well I got a new Windows 7 machine and the new version of Spider Solitaire sucks - to put it mildly.  Is there any way to get back to the old XP version that was fun to play?

*original title - I want the XP version of Spider Solitaire, the new version sucks

Windows for home | Previous Windows versions | Gaming

Locked Question. This question was migrated from the Microsoft Support Community. You can vote on whether it's helpful, but you can't add comments or replies or follow the question.

0 comments
Answer accepted by question author
Anonymous
2011-12-08T20:05:07+00:00

I just managed to get XP version of Solitaire to play on a Windows 7 machine.

In a separate folder, just put cards.dll file and sol.exe and you are good to go!

The Windows7 version of Solitaire is so fuzzy that it is unusable and gives you a headache.

Was this answer helpful?

60+ people found this answer helpful.
0 comments
Answer accepted by question author
Anonymous
2011-02-23T18:47:09+00:00

Hello,

For users with Windows 7 Ultimate, Professional, or Enterprise, you can installXP Mode and use the games.

While most users are enjoying the Windows 7 experience and all the new features and abilities it has there are some that prefer the look of the games from Windows XP. While the functionality and game play has not changed the look has.For those of you that prefer the style of the XP versions of the Windows games on your Windows 7 PC, here are instructions to help you getting the XP versions up and running.

**You need to have a valid copy of Windows XP**

In Windows XP, use Windows explorer and navigate to C:\Windows\System32.**Note that the Windows folder and System 32 folder will hide the contents of the folder by default.This is because there are system files in these locations and you should take care when navigating in these folders.** Copy the following files to a USB memory stick, or CD (whatever means you have to move files):

cards.dll

freecell.exe

mshearts.exe

sol.exe

spider.chm

spider.exe

spider.hlp

winmine.exe

Then on your Windows 7 PC, create a folder (do not put it in the Windows\system32 folder) and paste those files into the folder. Now you can either open the folder and launch games from there, or create shortcuts to the games and place them on your desktop.

For the Pinball game, it has its own folder located at C:\Program Files\Windows NT\Pinball.You can copy the entire Pinball folder and then move it to your Windows 7 PC.**Do not put it in the C:\Program Files\Windows NT folder.**You should put it in the same folder with the card games (if you moved some of those).

Thank you,

Aaron

Microsoft Answers Support Engineer

Visit our Microsoft Answers Feedback Forum and let us know what you think

Was this answer helpful?

40+ people found this answer helpful.
0 comments

62 additional answers

Sort by: Oldest
Most helpful Newest Oldest
  1. Anonymous
    2015-06-29T19:03:35+00:00

    No, I meant that I found them on the original DVD that I installed windows XP to my hard drive from. You do not have to find an installed version to get the games. They are on the XP installation DVD but you do have to provide the last letter of the file name after you copy them. For instance solitare.exe might be named solitare.ex_. You will have to rename the file and provide the last e.

    I also have the Windows XP Internet Games from MSN Gaming Zone(Internet Hearts and the others) that came with XP runing on both my Windows 7 and Windows Vista as well as the XP offline games.

    I copied both the MSN Gaming Zone folder and XP Games from my Windows XP onto Windows 7. I posted about it here:

    https://windowsforum.com/threads/msn-gaming-zone-from-windows-xp-on-windows-7.210799/#post-642977

    Yes it is possible to copy the EXE and other dll files from a Windows CD if you have one. Though it is much easier to do from an installed version of Windows, then you don't have to search though all of the CAB files which takes ages.

    Was this answer helpful?

    0 comments
  2. Anonymous
    2015-06-30T07:55:34+00:00

    Thanks Andrea.

    Was this answer helpful?

    0 comments
  3. Anonymous
    2015-07-12T02:02:42+00:00

    WOW! I happened to have a drive out of my old winXP inoperable computer in my win7 newer computer as a second drive so I could use the files and had not deleted any of Windows XP.  So I just copied the spider file to the new system 32 of win7 and made a shortcut which I cut and pasted to the games folder, Now I have both available. Easiest fix I ever had to do to any Microsoft blunder.

    I am sure the other games would work the same other than one.

    Will C

    Was this answer helpful?

    0 comments