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