Windows 8
Windows 8 and the following Windows 8.1, also called Blue, is an Operating System for the PC by Microsoft. It was published in 2012. While 8.1 is still supported with updates up until 2023, the support for 8 ended in 2016. An update from 8 to 8.1 was available free of costs - like Service Packs were in older versions of Windows. Also, when Windows 10 was released, an Upgrade free of charge was available for one year; this one year limit was further extended for users using any kind of assistive technologies, tools designed for people with impaired hearing or sight, up until the end of 2017.
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Improvements
Windows 8 was wildly criticised for its new look and feel, focussing on a new full-screen apps technique instead of the older desktop. The missing start menu was another point of criticism. Third party start menu replacements were in wide spread use with Windows 8.
On the other hand it tried to further reduce the frequency of dialogues requesting administrative privileges from the user and its overall speed was slightly better than Windows Vista and 7 on the same hardware.
Compatibility with Tomb Raider Games is very good, even for older titles not designed for the NT line.
Tomb Raider Games for Windows
Using Third Party Software
The following games will work best with Windows 2000 and newer by using Glidos, DosBox, or similar techniques:
- Windows NT and newer systems based on it do not support real mode DOS.
- On 32-bit machines Tomb Raider can by played in the command shell, although many limitations do apply, like problems with sound and only low resolution graphics without hardware acceleration.
- On 64-bit versions of Windows it is technically impossible to run 16-bit applications like the original Tomb Raider in the command shell. You will have to use Glidos or DosBox.
Using Compatibility Mode and/or (Third Party) Patches
The following games will work with Windows 2000, XP, Vista, 7, 8, 8.1, and 10 by either using the compatibility mode and/or an unofficial third party Patch:
- Tomb Raider II through Chronicles will for the most part run at once or with the "Windows 98/ME" compatibility mode enabled that has been available since Windows XP.
- From Vista on Microsoft has removed the Direct3D interface used by EAX. Owners of a Sound Blaster X-Fi sound card manufactured by Creative can avoid this problem by using the program ALchemy. You might also try the Multi Patch listed at tombraiderchronicles.com.
Out-of-the-Box
The following games will work without problems in Windows XP and newer:
64-bit System Required
The following games will only run on a 64-bit system:
- Officially supported only on Windows 7 and newer. Needs at least DirectX 11.
Lara Croft Games
- Windows Vista and newer.
- Windows Vista and newer.
