Windows 64-bit - 16-bit application is a native experience?
Windows 64-bit - 16-bit application is a native experience?
Has anyone heard when 16-bit application support was made standard in Windows 10 64-bit? A while back I was attempting to set up a more modern industrial system, needing 16-bit programs that forced me to use a 32-bit Windows 7 version for compatibility. Recently I stumbled upon a 16-bit installer and it actually installed without issues on my 64-bit Windows machine. Previously, the software would warn about incompatibility with newer Windows versions and suggest contacting the developer for a 64-bit fix. I’m curious when this change occurred and what exactly was updated. I’m compiling this to help my team transition to a supported platform and gather as much detail as possible. Please keep in mind I’m not an IT expert, just trying to assist my colleagues. Thanks!
I believe this feature is only accessible on 32-bit versions of Windows 10, specifically NTVDM and 16-bit app support (microsoft.com). It's possible the availability has changed; some reports suggest NTVDM is now supported in 64-bit Windows 10, but I haven't found confirmation. To be sure, confirm you're using a 64-bit edition of Windows 10 and that the installer matches the 16-bit requirement. This isn't necessarily a Windows restriction—since a 64-bit CPU can't run 16-bit, an emulation layer is needed. It seems Microsoft has decided against running NTVDM in WoW64 due to compatibility concerns.
Consider using Windows 10 32-bit with caution due to memory limits. Try DOSBox as a free emulator. Look for free tools that simplify automation within it. You might also install a 32-bit version of Windows under a virtual machine and run your older application there. If it's QBasic, you can obtain a 64-bit version from QB64.org to execute on the 16-bit program.
It depends on the version being used. In theory, 32/64-bit versions should support more memory, though practical limits still apply. Some projects might use a 64-bit compiler even if they only need 32-bit code. I managed large arrays without worrying about memory limits, but I didn’t always check how much space was being used.