Computer versions of games about Harry’s adventures have been developed since 2000. During this time, several changes in the relevance of Windows operating systems have passed. This reference material is devoted to a brief overview of the operating systems of the Windows family.
Windows 1.0-Windows 3.2
These are early versions on which it will not be possible to launch even the HP and the Philosopher’s Stone. These systems were relevant from 1985 to 1995. The Windows operating system has come a long way from an add-on over MS-DOS1 to an independent operating system, albeit based on the same MS-DOS.
Windows 95 (OSR2)
The first version of Windows with an already familiar Desktop. If there is a desire, you can try to run the first games with it, but most computers of the same age as this operating system are weak even for the Philosopher’s Stone.
Windows NT
It is intended for servers, so we do not consider it. This variation became the basis for Windows 2000.
Windows 98 (second edition)
A significantly improved and more advanced version of Windows 95. The first edition of this operating system turned out to be very unreliable, so Microsoft had to fix a lot of errors and release a second edition.
DirectX update to version 8.1 is required to run games.
Supported Games:
- HP and the Philosopher’s Stone
- HP and the Chamber of Secrets
- LEGO HP: Creator (The Philosopher’s Stone, the chamber of Secrets)
- Quidditch World Cup
Windows 2000
Based on the best practices of Windows NT. It is not recommended to run games, although some of them may run.
Windows Me
The latest operating system from the Windows 9x family (95-98-Me). It had a lot in common with both Windows 98 and the future Windows XP.
The main thing is not to forget to update DirectX to version 8.1.
Supported Games:
- HP and the Philosopher’s Stone
- HP and the Chamber of Secrets
- LEGO HP: Creator (The Philosopher’s Stone, the chamber of Secrets)
- Quidditch World Cup
Windows XP
One of the most widespread operating systems in the world, which set a record for the terms of official support by the manufacturer. Allows you to run all existing games about Harry for a personal computer at the end of 2011.
Since about 2012, drivers for devices have ceased to be released, and on April 8, 2014, the system was officially recognized as obsolete. At the beginning of March 2018, there are not so many programs left, the latest versions of which run under this operating system.
To run games, you need the latest DirectX 9.0c build.
Supported Games:
- HP and the Philosopher’s Stone
- HP and the Chamber of Secrets
- LEGO HP: Creator (The Philosopher’s Stone, the chamber of Secrets)
- HP and the Prisoner of Azkaban
- HP and the Goblet of Fire
- HP and the Order of the Phoenix
- HP and the Half-blood Prince
- HP and Deathly Hallows. Part 1
- HP and Deathly Hallows. Part 2
- Quidditch World Cup
- LEGO HP: 1-4 years
- LEGO HP: 5-7 years
Windows 2003 Server
The server operating system is not suitable for games, although it has a lot in common with Windows 2000 and Windows XP.
Windows Vista
The operating system is running on an updated kernel. Like everything new, it had a number of drawbacks, which is why after buying a computer, this system was usually removed and Windows XP was installed.
To run games, you will need to install the latest DirectX 9.0c build, since this system does not initially contain it (there is only an incompatible DirectX 10).
Supported Games:
- HP and the Philosopher’s Stone
- HP and the Chamber of Secrets
- LEGO HP: Creator (Philosopher’s Stone, chamber of Secrets)
- HP and the Prisoner of Azkaban
- HP and the Goblet of Fire
- HP and the Order of the Phoenix
- HP and the Half-blood Prince
- HP and Deathly Hallows. Part 1
- HP and Deathly Hallows. Part 2
- Quidditch World Cup
- LEGO HP: 1-4 years
- LEGO HP: 5-7 years
Windows 7
Released in the fall of 2009, the operating system is actually an improved version of Windows Vista. This system has been quite well received by users.
The main drawback is that, like its predecessor, this system requires the installation of DirectX 9.0c to run games about Harry.
There are big problems with launching old games from the LEGO Creator series – due to the outdated game engine and the lack of support for Microsoft Agent technology in the system.
As of March 2018, fewer hardware drivers are being released for the system, this is especially noticeable for laptop computer manufacturers, who are increasingly completing their devices with drivers only for the latest version of the operating system.
Supported Games:
- HP and the Philosopher’s Stone
- HP and the Chamber of Secrets
- LEGO HP: Creator (Philosopher’s Stone, Chamber of Secrets)
- HP and the Prisoner of Azkaban
- HP and the Goblet of Fire
- HP and the Order of the Phoenix
- HP and the Half-blood Prince
- HP and Deathly Hallows. Part 1
- HP and Deathly Hallows. Part 2
- Quidditch World Cup
- LEGO HP: 1-4 years
- LEGO HP: 5-7 years
Windows 8, Windows 8.1
Released in the fall of 2012 and updated a year later, the system is on the same core as Windows Vista, Windows 7.
In this system, many changes have been made in terms of the design of the system and a tile system that is inconvenient for use on personal computers has been added, the Start menu has been removed, replaced in Windows 8.1 by the workspace switching button (“Desktop/Tiles”).
For fans of Harry games, this system has added problems: in addition to installing the latest DirectX 9.0c build, it is necessary to reconfigure the game engines “HP and the Philosopher’s Stone”, “HP and the Chamber of Secrets”. Without this reconfiguration, these games normally work only in windowed mode.
There are also big problems with the launch of old games from the LEGO Creator series – due to the outdated game engine and the lack of support for Microsoft Agent technology in the system.
Supported Games:
- HP and the Philosopher’s Stone (incompatible with Windows 8)
- HP and the Chamber of Secrets (incompatible with Windows 8)
- LEGO HP: Creator (Philosopher’s Stone, Chamber of Secrets) (incompatible with Windows 8)
- HP and the Prisoner of Azkaban
- HP and the Goblet of Fire
- HP and the Order of the Phoenix
- HP and the Half-blood Prince
- HP and Deathly Hallows. Part 1
- HP and Deathly Hallows. Part 2
- Quidditch World Cup
- LEGO HP: 1-4 years
- LEGO HP: 5-7 years
Windows 10
Metro tiles are now embedded in the returned Start menu. As in Windows 8.1, the Metro interface has become less annoying, since it also runs in the form of windows.
In terms of games about Harry, the problems are similar to those found in Windows 8.
Oldies like LEGO Creator and “HP and the Philosopher’s Stone” now have a place only in a virtual computer with Windows XP installed.
Initially, there were serious problems with the launch of the Prisoner of Azkaban game. By the fall of 2016, the problem was fixed – the game can be run in drawing mode using Direct3D.
Supported Games:
- HP and the Philosopher’s Stone (incompatible, requires special configuration)
- HP and the Chamber of Secrets (incompatible, requires special configuration)
- LEGO HP: Creator (Philosopher’s Stone, Chamber of Secrets) (incompatible)
- HP and the Prisoner of Azkaban (it is inoperable in builds until the fall of 2016, they require correction of the configuration file)
- HP and the Goblet of Fire
- HP and the Order of the Phoenix
- HP and the Half-blood Prince
- HP and Deathly Hallows. Part 1
- HP and Deathly Hallows. Part 2
- Quidditch World Cup
- LEGO HP: 1-4 years
- LEGO HP: 5-7 years
Windows 11
The system was released in the fall of 2021, but in many ways it is similar to its predecessor.
The article was prepared by: АlехeyMS
Sources: official Microsoft website, Readme files of games.
1 – MS-DOS is the first operating system sold by Microsoft. Windows 1.0 and Windows 2.0, released in 1985 and 1987, could not even start on their own and had to wait for MS-DOS to load, and then look for the Windows executable file (usually win.com or just the command win) and run it.