Windows 8.1: Where are my games? (Solitaire, Freecell, etc.)

Anonymous
2014-03-11T14:15:06+00:00

I can't find the standard Microsoft Games (ie: Solitaire, Freecell) that come pre-installed in every other Microsoft Windows based computer that I own. I even looked under "Turn Windows Settings on/off" under "Programs. What's the deal?

Windows for home | Previous Windows versions | Gaming

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Anonymous
2014-03-22T10:16:13+00:00

I can't find the standard Microsoft Games (ie: Solitaire, Freecell) that come pre-installed in every other Microsoft Windows based computer that I own. I even looked under "Turn Windows Settings on/off" under "Programs. What's the deal?

Just like Naman R and Mike Hall said, you can get them from the Windows Store. Solitaire and Freecell are bundled together in the Microsoft Solitaire Collection and they are better looking versions of the same games you loved on previous versions of Windows.

In fact, there are 5 different Solitaire variations – Klondike, FreeCell, Spider, TriPeaks, and Pyramid.

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  1. Anonymous
    2014-04-25T21:07:37+00:00

    I'm sorry to hear that, although I hope you can appreciate the technological reasons for the old version of FreeCell not working. As I see it, your desire to use the old FreeCell can only happen if you have an old computer that still has an old version of Windows on it or if you install VirtualBox on Windows 8.1 and install an old version of Windows on that.

    For example: I have old laptops, one with Windows 98 on it and the other with Windows XP that I only use for gaming. I also happen to have both my Windows 98 and Windows XP installation discs. On my Windows 8.1 computer I downloaded and installed VirtualBox and then followed a tutorial to install Windows 98 and XP on it so if I want to play my games on my current PC I can.

    If you still have your prior Windows installation discs you can use Virtual Box to install it and play the FreeCell you have enjoyed for years. If you choose not to that's ok too.

    Download VirtualBox

    After clicking the Download VirtualBox link you are brought to the download page. Click the link next to VirtualBox x.x.xx for Windows hosts to download the lastest version of VirtualBox to your computer.

    How to install VIRTUALBOX on windows 8.1

    How to install Windows XP in VirtualBox

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  2. Anonymous
    2014-04-25T22:48:42+00:00

    Aaron, you're right. That's the obvious answer. If I hadn't been so angry with Microsoft, I could have worked it out for myself. I used to really like Windows - changed to it from a Mac in about 1995 - but Win 8 is so awful I'm even considering a switch to Linux - which is also bad, but nowhere near as bad as Win 8. If I keep an old Win 7 machine running for all the old software (and games) I can't live without, maybe that will ease the transition to Ubuntu or something similar.

    Thanks again.

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  3. Anonymous
    2014-07-27T14:40:06+00:00

    The Store Freecell version is not the same as in all previous windows. It keeps trying to sign me in to X-box that I haven't got and don't want and there is no facility to restart a stalled game. For me it's another W8 problem.

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