All right, I've read a lot of threads here with games not working on Windows 10 anymore after upgrading to it.
Many suggest going back to Win 7 (frankly much better than Win Vista/8) and others using VirtualBox to emulate other Windows edition. In my case I don't like to downgrade to atrocious 8, and I'll be hanging on to VirtualBox as last option.
So I was testing some of the games I've dl'd in Win 10 and surprisingly they work. I haven't tested it thoroughly though, such as for save/load bugs etc.
So I'll be listing the games I've run that work in Win 10. I'll try to run as many games I can but due to my slow net and busy rl I can only download a few games at most. I wish to make a comprehensive compatibility list and what to do to make the game work.
For now I would like to share some of my experience in Windows 10 and VNs. But first, some tips for the not-so-much tech-savvy:
My System Specs
I am using a laptop that is considered mid-end. I can play a PS1 emulator at 4x internal resolution, windowed mode without suffering in drop of framerate but that's that. I don't know if I can play Crysis at HD though.
CPU: Intel Core i7 @2.40 GHz (quad core)
RAM: 8.0 GB
Graphics Card: Intel HD Graphics 5500; [DEDICATED] AMD Radeon HD 8500M @2 GB
OS: Windows 10 Home Single Language Edition Build 1511 (Check build at Run>winver)
DirectX version: 12 with 9.0c installed (Check version at Run>dxdiag)
Visual C++ Redistributable: 2008-2013, x86 and x64 versions installed.
Notes: Has 'Switcheable Graphics' option. UAC fully disabled. System Locale at JP. This is a must.
NOTE: If you want to use ITH/AGTH/TA, it is recommended to put all your games on one folder... so that it'll be hassle free setting up those translators (And it won't clutter your Program Files folder, no Windows UAC getting in way of ITH process). I replaced every install folder to my personal C:/Games, and ther is no problem at all.
Color Legends beside the Titles
This Green - Game is playable without any problems or noticeable glitches. Extensively tested for all features.
This Green - Game is playable with basic features tested such as save/load, quicksave/quickload, and configuration menu. Label also for non-extensively tested games.
Orange - Game is playable but has non-game-breaking bugs/problems.
Red - Game is unplayable. Whether from being unable to install properly, crashing when being opened, or save/load function not working properly.
The Games I've Tried (Alphabetical)
DRAMAtical Murder w/ English Patch (Working)
Release date: 2012
Installation: None. It is a run-as-it-is version.
Set-up: No use of "Run as Administrator". No use of Compatibility settings.
Status: Works still now.Runtime of 8 hours. Just finished Kojaku's Route.FINISHED EVERYTHING WOOHOO! Configuration tested and works. Save and Load function tested and works. Quicksave and quick load tested and works. No game-breaking bugs/problems encountered yet. Backlog is a weird though.
---Last Update: I will say is 99% working in my set-up. (Of course there is still 1% of uncertainty there)
Bugs/problems and Notes:1. Blackscreen bug: When starting, game runs and music is playing but the warnings does not show up, and neither the start screen. Cannot click anything.
-----I encountered this bug too, but managed to fixed it. The probable cause is the graphics driver not being able to render the game graphics properly. This happens when using low-end or integrated graphics card (like my Intel HD 5500).
Upon using HDMI, my laptop switched to using Intel as it's graphics card. Encountered the bug after opening DMMd. Restarted. DMMd works again.
DRAMAtical Murder: ReConnect (WORKING)
Release date: 2013
Installation:Having runtime errors. Will try to install again after installing the needed files (2013).Welp, got it working. DMMdrc hates DAEMONTools ver 10.2. Used Virtual CloneDrive 5.5.0.0 and no more runtime errors. After that no more problems in installation encountered.Installed to Programs(x68)/NitroplusCHiRAL (default folder)Now in special folder. Then applied crack and patch.
Set-up: No use of 'Run as Administrator'. No use of compatibility settings.
Status: ...Well now I finished everything. Tested everything. No bugs non-gamebreaking or otherwise. Will say it works 99% on Windows 10.
Bugs/problems and Notes:
1. Upon mounting and opening the Installer, A "Microsoft Visual C++" error shows.
-----Use Virtual Clone Drive. I encountered this using Daemon Tools, and switching programs have worked.
Lamento -Beyond the Void- w/ English Patch (Working!!)
Release date: 2006
Installation: Instructions is from the Forum. Mounted using DAEMONTools. Run installer with 'Run as Administrator', Installed atdefault folder address (that is on Program(x86)/NitroplusCHiRAL along with my Togainu no Chi)special folder. No problems encountered. Patched the game with 1.01, 1.02 and 1.03 (no 2.00 because Eng patch is said to not work). UPDATE: It is not needed to patch 1.01 and 1.02, direct patching to 1.03 works. Btw, the patches are not in the game folder, I simply double checked that these are installing in the correct folder where the game is located. Afterwards, patched the game with English patch.
Benefit of saving not on the default folder: You don't need to search for your Lamento save folder anymore, it will be created on the game folder itself.
Relevant Thread:
Set-up: No use of "Run as Administrator". No use of Compatibility settings, but to be on safe side, Run it as Administrator and as Windows XP Service Pack 3.
Status: Woot woot I might have sinked 24+ hrs in the game. I've completed all routes! No gamebreaking bugs found. Though there are some hiccups with Saving during a choice. For glitches on the english patch please take time to read the readme.txt accompanying the patch.
Bugs/problems and Notes:
1. I noticed that I dont' have a 'save' folder in my Lamento folder when installed at Program Files(x86), as well as %APPLOCAL%, but the save/load function still works. Will try again once restarted. [Edit]] Save files still work, thanks to Kojichan's reply! Found it in the VirtualStore folder :D
2. Black screen upon opening/ any kind of black screen upon playing. This assumes that Locale is properly set at JP.
---EDITED and UPDATE: Finally encountered this one. Lamento Works with Intel Integrated Graphics (thanks Bunny1000). This is a graphical problem. There are 2 solutions you must apply:
a. Install DirectX 9.0c Runtime Web Installer (can be found in Microsoft, also on the above spoiler tag "for those not tech-savvy)
b. Update graphics card.
Relevant Thread:
3. Lamento after installation (assuming SysLocale at JP, no installation errors, properly patched) does not open.
----It will never open in Windows 10 even if the DVD is mounted because the driver needed by the game has been removed in Win 10. The far easier solution is to download the NoDVD patch and replace the .exe file with it. Spoiler with the link to noDVD patch below... just search the thread.
There is a way for playing it with the CD, but that involves messing with the drivers and stuff, and not really recommended.
4. Lamento "hangs" upon saving on choices.
----Lamento does stall for a bit when saving on choice when using shortcut key "S". It's kinda heart stopping sometimes, thinking that it hanged.
Well, the solution for that is to manually save from the right-click menu. No hang there, ,though unwieldy.
No, Thank You!!! (Working)
Release date: 2015
Installation: It's in english.
Set-up: No use of "Run as Administrator". No use of Compatibility settings.
Status: Works. Not surprising as it is a nearly-newly released game.
Bugs/problems and Notes:
Silver Chaos w/ English Patch (In Testing)
Release date: 2002
Installation: Typical as seen in this forum. Run the installer with Administrator. Installed the Full version (600 MB) atPrograms(x86)special folder, not at Documents (for some reason the default installer is there). Patched it.
Set-up: No use of "Run as Administrator". No use of Compatibility settings. To be safe on side, run it as Windows XP Service Pack 3
Status: Works... as of now. Runtime of Total of 10 mins!!! Configuration options are a-okay. Will test save and load function later after restart. But it's so retro tho.
Bugs/problems and Notes:
1. If searching for save files, it is created at [USER]/Documents/VividColor/SilverChaos.Kinda hassle tho.
Silver Chaos: Eternal Fantasia FanDisk w/ English Patch (In Testing)
Release date:
Installation: Extracted the contents to folder. Installed at C:/Games. For installation, picked the option with the highest number of bytes in description. Afterwards, applied English patch; patch successful. (This was before I broke my installer)
Set-up: Veeery finicky than Silver Chaos for some reason. Ran as Administratora and run it as Windows XP Service Pack 3
Status: Game works without the English patch, but once patched, it will show the "Mainsystem.exe has stopped working" error. Now, works with problems. Namely, all configuration text is in Japanese. Also, for some reason, the wallpapers when clicked does not do anything, so do the circle button on the wallpaper. See notes for further details.
ALSO I BROKE MY INSTALLER D:
Bugs/problems and Notes:1. Mainsystem.exe has stopped working.
-----This was really frustrating. Found a solution that worked; however I read that this not works with everyone, that is after installation of english patch, go to the DISC 1/PACK of the installer files to copy-paste the original GRAPHIC.cmp to the english-patched folder. The game folder should look like this:
2. Wallpapers section is unrensponsive.
----When I click on the wallpapers it does nothing. So does clicking the circle button. Which sucks, I can't troubleshoot because I don't understand Japanese :<. No solution found yet on forums.
3. EHMEGHERD I BROKE MY INSTALLER
----I made my own bug yay! If for some reason you cannot install it, just copy paste the entire DISC 1 folder contents... It's actually the whole game.
sweet pool w/ partial eng patch (In Testing)
Release date: 2008
Installation: None. What I got is a playable as is.
Set-up: No use of "Run as Administrator". No use of Compatibility settings.
Status: Works. Runtime of Total of 10 mins!!! Will test save and load function later after restart.
Bugs/problems and Notes:
Togainu no Chi w/ English Patch (Working - Playable till the End)
Release date: 2005
Installation: Typical installation. Always install under Admin rights if installing in default Program(x86) folder. You must have the ff: Togainu no Chi installer, Togainu no Chi crack, and the English patch if desired. Mounted the disk normally using DAEMONTools. Installed under Programs/NitroplusChiral (along with Lamento). No problems in installation, though DirectX of the game can't be installed (Install 9.0c instead). Ran the 1.01 update then the Image patch (Run as Admin when game is installed at Programs folder). Then replaced togainunochi.exe with crack.
Upon opening, Windows prompted me to install "DirectPlay" (It's a Windows Features component; you can find it under Programs and Features>Turn Windows Features on and Off>Legacy Components) Windows said it needed that to run, so I allowed to do it's thing. Then I was able to open it and run it.
Set-up: The program is so finicky. Enable "Run as Administrator" and Compatibility mode: Windows XP Service Pack 3. I tested it without compatibility mode and it kinda works... but it has refused to save/load properly.
Uncheck the 3rd box on the first page of configuration menu (Edit save file descriptions) to be able to save without freezing.
Status: Working... with a large gut feeling that somewhere it will crash spectacularly. UPDATE: FINISHED EVERYTHING. I did not encounter any problematic, game-crashing things, aside from the save/load freeze (that can be easily remedied)/
Update: FINISHED EVERYTHING WOOT WOOT. Checked CG gallery and Recollection. So far it works. There's a glitch in the CG gallery where the hover highlight does not match with the character's names but it's not that hampering to gameplay. CGs can still be accessed without difficulty.
Bugs/problems and Notes:
1. Game freezes after Save/Load.
-----The save bug has 2 incarnations, saving with the description on, and overwriting a save, or anything involving a dialog box (including Configuration). Loading freezes after it loads. The solution that worked for me is right-clicking on the game icon on task bar then closing it. The game would then prompt yes/no for closing. Choose no and the game unfreezes again.
There are other solutions but none yet so far worked for me.
Relevant Threads:
2. Game won't start (assuming proper installation, syslocale at JP)
----Same as Lamento problem. There is no other solution other than replacing .exe with the noDVD version. Download is below. Thanks for Kosmov and Kojichan. Search the thread for it.
3. Black screen even after proper installation/ replacement of no-DVD patch/syslocale at JP.
----Graphical problem. Make sure DirectX 9.0c is installed and update your graphics driver.