Installation of Acad R14 on Windows 8.1 operating system.

[lebrownsr]

: Years ago, I purchased a design/drawing system,
> consisting of Acad R14. throughout the many years, I have had to
> replace computers, when hard drives would burn out anmd have never had
> a reloading of Acad R14 onto my new computers. (Started with operating
> system of windows 95, up through windows XP). I am now retired on
> medical disability and 63 years old. I do not have much money on a
> disability income. I now have a problem and am hoping you can help me
> get around it. I had to purchase a new laptop computer, due to my old
> ones hard drive failure. I have always been able to re-load my Acad
> R14 on to my new computers, until now. My new computer ( Toshiba
> Satellite ) has windows 8.1 and will not load my Acad. It tells me
> that my disk is 16 bytes, but needs 64 bytes in order to load. Is
> there some way around this problem? I can not afford to purchase a new
> Acad system, nor would I even now how to operate it. I have never used
> anything newer than Acad R14. Being disabled, there is not a lot of
> things I can do, so I like to design up and build small projects for
> around my home and retirement cabin. Can you help me with this
> problem, please.

[rkmcswain]

While you wait for other answers, you might take a look at this. It requires a 3rd party software component, but it does show it's possible.

http://blog.longbowsoftware.com/installing-autocad-r14-on-windows-7-and-windows-8/

There may be other ways around this too, so check back.

[DarrenP]

you can try using the windows Compatibility troubleshooter: http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/make-older-programs-run#1TC=windows-7

this is not  guaranteed to work

Autocad r14 came out years before window 8.1 did so it will never be compatible

[lebrownsr]

I went to Longbow Software and purchased the converter software that you suggested. However I am having major problems getting it to work. After spending about 4 hours trying to get it to function, I went back and tried to start over from the beginning only to find that the software had expired already and I can not start over. Now I seem to have diffuculty trying to get ahold of anybody at Longbow to help me rectify my problem. Meanwhile, I haved spent money forf a prfoduct that is not functioning and my system is still not working. What do I do next? This is very frustratting. I need help and can not seem to get it.

Sincerely;

Lawrence Brown Sr.

[Anonymous]

r14 came out a over a decade ago

don't expect to get help for an ancient piece of software

plus your trying to get it to run a newer OS which is probably not going to happen

[pendean]

Visit Microsoft's website and search for INSTALLING OLD SOFTWARE IN WINDOWS 8.1, and read up, it seems to work for many.

No one here can help or guarantee 18-year old software is going to work on new PCs.

[jmpeets]

I have the same situation as you, Lawrence.  I'm wondering whether you've had any success in getting the old AutoCad release 14 to work on the new windows 8 system, using the converter from Longbow.

I don't want to spend the money for the converter just to have the same problem.

You may be interested in the free online program called AutoCad 360.  I have installed it but have not made any use of it yet.  Like you, I'd still prefer to use the old program I am familiar with.