The digital revolution should have made preserving the past easier, but instead, it feels to me like we’ve only lost access. The games and programs we grew up with didn’t grow up with our computers, and now most live only in our memories. Well, unless you know where to find them.
While there may be a host of sources on the web for finding old software, there’s perhaps no collection as complete as The Internet Archive: The non-profit has a collection of CD-ROM files that span decades. As of this article, the archive has just under 46,000 entries, from games to software you might have used growing up in school. Chances are, if you remember it, it’s in here:
This is a wide and variant collection of CD-ROM based software, that is, software that came on a CD-ROM for installation on computers, or played in consoles. Ranging from applications and games to gatherings of public-domain software or clip art, the heyday of the CD-ROM is roughly 1989 to 2001. In all cases, the capacity of the CD-ROM stayed steady at 640-700mb a side, although some used tricks to claim they had more (due to compression, or adding up both sides of two-sided CD-ROMs).
For some reason, the first title that came to mind when thinking back to elementary school games was the JumpStart series, and a simple “JumpStart” search netted 95 results. Next up, I tried “Backyard,” hoping to find the Backyard Sports games I played obsessively as a sports-averse child. Sure enough, there are 29 results, including my two favorites: Backyard Baseball 2003 and Backyard Soccer MLS Edition.
There are even CD-ROM files from console games, as well. Search for “Harry Potter,” for example, and you’ll find games for not just PC, but for PS2 and Xbox as well. It’s certainly heavy on PC CD-ROMs versus consoles, it’s still worth looking for console games if you have something in mind.
It doesn’t have everything, so don’t be too disappointed if your search comes up empty, but it might be worth checking out the Internet Archive’s broader CD-ROM Software Collection, which includes both software as well as “shareware” from companies back in the day. This collection features over 71,000 entries, conveniently sorted into dozens of categories. If you really want a trip down memory lane, check out the AOL CD-ROM collection.
How to run old CD-ROMs on your PC
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As for running these programs on Windows, it might be easier than you think thanks to something called compatibility mode, which simulates a previous Windows OS for the purpose of running software incompatible with Windows 10 or 11. As explained by PCMag, not all games and programs will run through compatibility mode, but if they do, it’s an easy way to check them out without having to jump through any hoops.
All you need to do to run one of these CD-ROM files in compatibility mode is to locate and right-click its .exe file, click “Properties,” then check out the “Compatibility” tab. The fastest way to get started from there is to hit “Run compatibility troubleshooter” or “Try recommended settings” to run the CD-ROM with the right settings.
The Internet Archive has a huge collection of old arcade games
The Internet Archive has more historical programs for you to check out, as well. My personal favorite is their “Internet Arcade,” a collection of over 2,600 arcade titles you can play in your web browser. When I say arcade, I mean arcade: These games were meant to be played in an arcade cabinet, down to the coin needed to get started. That said, a press of the 5 key will trick the game into thinking you’ve entered a coin.
For even more programs, head to the Internet Archive’s main site, then hit the Software tab.