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General discussion

Pre-loaded games from Dell can no longer be accessed.

Mar 13, 2004 5:54AM PST

Some time ago, I created a shortcut for Games and moved it from Programs to the Start Menu list for quick access. My problem began, when I tried to remove Hearts from the Game group and put it on the Start Menu list and move the rest of the games in 'Game' back to Programs. (Yes, that wasn't very smart). The majority of the previous icons associated with each game turned into Word icons. FreeCell game has a DVD icon and now opens up with WMP. Hearts game file has an icon which I cannot identify and does not open when clicked---there is no response at all. How do I convert these game files back to their original files?
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The CDs Dell sent me, when I originally purchased my pc from them three years ago, does not have the game files included. Any chance I can get the game files from them, after such a long period of time?

Discussion is locked

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Re:Pre-loaded games from Dell can no longer be accessed.
Mar 13, 2004 10:59AM PST

The 2 games you mentioned should be on your Windows installation disk (I just checked both my 98 and XP systems.)

It's possible only the shortcuts got balled up somehow- you can test this by typing mshearts in the RUN box from the start menu, then hit the enter key. If the game comes up, then the game should be intact and accessible. Use your find function, and do a search for HEARTS; if you get a hit for mshearts.exe, you can right click that file, the left click the send-to, and pick 'Desktop (create shortcut), which will send the shortcut to your desktop. You can rename the shortcut w/out any harm. Once you have the shorcut, right-click it, then left click properties. In the Target box, you should see the path to Hearts; you can copy the entire line, including the quotation marks, go back to the corrupted shortcut icon and paste it into THAT target box. You may have to copy the information in the ''Start In'' box from the properties of the newly created icon and paste that into the old shortcut properies. Or, simply delete the old shortcuts, and drag the newly created ones to wherever.

Alternatively, you can go to add/remove programs, Windows Components (think that's what it's called), Accessories>games. Uncheck Games to uninstall it; after the uninstall, reverse the process, by checking games; you may be prompted for the Windows CD- Since you have a Dell, this may be called your Recovery CD. But it also may be on your hardrive in the Cabs folder if you have a 98 system, or the I396 folder if XP- these may hidden folders, btw.

Hope this makes sense and is of some help. Good luck.

Brandon

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Re:Re:Pre-loaded games from Dell can no longer be accessed.
Mar 13, 2004 4:46PM PST

I tried entering winmine.exe (Minesweeper game) into RUN. Reply was "Windows cannot find winmine.exe". Only files found after running Search For Files or Folders for Minesweeper are C:\undo\backup.cab and C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Start Menu\Programs\Games.

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Re:Re:Re:Pre-loaded games from Dell can no longer be accessed.
Mar 14, 2004 12:53AM PST

I would just reinstall the games, as they are part of Windows. Which version of Windows do you have? If ME, I know nothing about it- skipped that version. But as long as I can remember, those games have been bundled along with the OS. Try uninstalling those components, then reinstall as outlined in my first post. Good luck, and let us know.

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Re:Re:Re:Pre-loaded games from Dell can no longer be accessed.
Mar 14, 2004 4:00AM PST

Harv,

I use w98.

I do not play the MS games so I removed them via cntl/pnl-add remove.

They are available on my w98 cd so I could reinstall them via cntl/pnl-add remove.

OR.

Every time I visit the MS update site they offer to send them to me. Under the heading of recommended updates or such.

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Brandon, please email me...my mail to you has been returned..THX
Mar 13, 2004 6:53PM PST

,

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Done! (NT)
Mar 14, 2004 12:54AM PST

.

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Re:Re:Pre-loaded games from Dell can no longer be accessed.
Mar 14, 2004 11:13AM PST

I found all the MSN game files in C:\Windows\system32\dllcache and was able to restore all but the INTERNET game files. When I opened the INTERNET game files I got the following response: Internet Checkers: Checkers unable to start. Close some other program and try again, or try reinstalling checkers using Add/Remove Programs in the Control Panel.

I have a WinME CD which came with my Dell computer, but I've upgraded to WinXP Home Edition. Can I still use this CD to reinstall the MSN game files? I started to install (add) the games files with Add or Remove Programs, but I did not know which of the 8 folders contained the game files, i.e., add-ons, sbsi, win9x, etc.

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Re:Re:Re:Pre-loaded games from Dell can no longer be accessed.
Mar 14, 2004 12:07PM PST

>>or try reinstalling checkers using Add/Remove Programs in the Control Panel.<<

Did you try that? I don't see why that wouldn't work. Or maybe you can download the games you want from the Zone site.