I'm planning to build a computer using parts from the Windows 98 to XP era and I'm considering installing a Linux distribution designed for older hardware. My main question is, if I use a lightweight Linux distro, will I be able to play my physical copies of classic PC games like Diablo 1 and 2, Half-Life 1 and 2, and Halo CE and Halo 2? I've heard about using Wine to run Windows applications. Would these games work similarly to how they would on Windows XP?
5 Answers
Definitely an interesting experiment! I'd check out Lutris, which helps manage game installations and can work well with different versions of Wine. I used to get Diablo running with vanilla Wine—got a black screen at first, but it played fine after some adjustments. Just keep in mind that using older hardware, the Steam launcher might be a bit too much for it.
I started using Linux back in 2003, and honestly, Wine's support for games back then was pretty shaky. You might get some of those games running, but be prepared for a challenge! If you want to check how well those titles work with older versions of Wine, you can find some archived info on their website.
This sounds like a fun project! I bought the Halo collection on Steam and ran it on Linux Mint. My old Xeon processor struggled a bit, but I'm upgrading soon. Just a heads-up though, the games might need some tweaking to work smoothly, especially if you're looking to use physical copies from the early 2000s.
Yeah, I meant the physical copies of Halo 1 and 2, not the Steam versions. Curious if they'll actually run on the old hardware!
I've had success with AntiX on some old laptops. I'm currently trying out Q4OS, which has a classic look similar to Win98/XP. Wine typically runs fine with AntiX, but results can vary. Windows 3.11 apps usually work, while the later versions can be tricky. It might be worth trying a virtual machine if you're having trouble with the games, but using Linux on older hardware is definitely an option as long as you choose the right distro!
Make sure to keep your build 64-bit; a lot of distros are moving away from 32-bit support. You could potentially use a distro like Tiny Core, but be ready for a learning curve if you go that route.
I've had luck running Windows 3.11 programs with Wine, but anything from Windows 95/98/XP can be hit or miss. Just be ready for some trial and error!