Windows 98: "Run program in 256 Color Mode" - Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community

CSflim · 10-04-2005, 01:50 AM

In Windows XP you can right click on an application shortcut and tick a "run program in 256 color mode" box. This is very useful if you run a lot of software which is a few years old.
I am currently setting up a few Win 98 machines, and would like a similar feature. Basically, I don't want to have to have the users of these machines (who wouldn't be very tech savy) to be constantly changing system settings just to run software. Is there a way I can set Windows 98 to automatically switch to 256 colors when a particular application is launched, and then change it back to 32-bit when the application is closed?
Thanks.

CSflim · 10-05-2005, 11:23 AM

Ok well I managed to sort it out myself. For anybody curious, here is what I did.

I downloaded a nifty little tool called NirCmd which is a command line tool which lets you do lots of useful things to your windows settings. For each 256 color mode program I created a batch file which used NirCmd to switch the color depth down to 256, calls the applications exe, and then switches the color depth back up.

This NirCmd seems like a very cool, useful program. Might be worth checking out.

MikeSty · 10-05-2005, 01:37 PM

Could you post the source for the batchfile?

CSflim · 10-05-2005, 03:01 PM

@echo off
nircmd setdisplay 800 600 8
cd "C:\The Working Directory\"
"C:\Path To The Program.exe"
nircmd setdisplay 800 600 24

MikeSty · 10-05-2005, 03:23 PM

nice work man

flat5 · 10-05-2005, 03:54 PM

Thank you CSflim for the followup.
Very small and flexable utility. Appearently free to use!

10-04-2005, 01:50 AM	#1 (permalink)
CSflim Sky Piercer Location: Ireland	Windows 98: "Run program in 256 Color Mode" In Windows XP you can right click on an application shortcut and tick a "run program in 256 color mode" box. This is very useful if you run a lot of software which is a few years old. I am currently setting up a few Win 98 machines, and would like a similar feature. Basically, I don't want to have to have the users of these machines (who wouldn't be very tech savy) to be constantly changing system settings just to run software. Is there a way I can set Windows 98 to automatically switch to 256 colors when a particular application is launched, and then change it back to 32-bit when the application is closed? Thanks. __________________

10-05-2005, 11:23 AM	#2 (permalink)
CSflim Sky Piercer Location: Ireland	Ok well I managed to sort it out myself. For anybody curious, here is what I did. I downloaded a nifty little tool called NirCmd which is a command line tool which lets you do lots of useful things to your windows settings. For each 256 color mode program I created a batch file which used NirCmd to switch the color depth down to 256, calls the applications exe, and then switches the color depth back up. This NirCmd seems like a very cool, useful program. Might be worth checking out. __________________

10-05-2005, 03:01 PM	#4 (permalink)
CSflim Sky Piercer Location: Ireland	@echo off nircmd setdisplay 800 600 8 cd "C:\The Working Directory\" "C:\Path To The Program.exe" nircmd setdisplay 800 600 24 __________________

10-05-2005, 01:37 PM	#3 (permalink)
MikeSty The Computer Kid :D Location: 127.0.0.1	Could you post the source for the batchfile?

10-05-2005, 03:23 PM	#5 (permalink)
MikeSty The Computer Kid :D Location: 127.0.0.1	nice work man

10-05-2005, 03:54 PM	#6 (permalink)
flat5 Very Insignificant Pawn Location: Amsterdam, NL	Thank you CSflim for the followup. Very small and flexable utility. Appearently free to use!