Posted elsewhere, but here too.

I've recently been messing with an 8088 NEC V20 computer with an EMS Board, installing versions of Windows 3.0 and 3.1 Betas that still run in Real mode so they work on an 8088. I thought I installed a beta of 3.1 in Dosbox, but when I booted it on the 8088 it identified itself as 3.0. It had more colorful system icons like 3.1, and the game Chips Challenge actually ran. Every time I've tried to run that game on an 8088m it tells me that it needs Standard or Enhanced mode to run, so a 286 or newer. But it ran, I saw it, it was like seeing a ghost.

However, after taking it for granted and installing and playing with other versions, I can't get it to run again, on any installations I've tried. I've tried 3.0, 3.1.026, and 3.1.034f over again but none of them will run the game again. Other games complained about needing .DLL files, which was odd, but I saw Chips Challenge run, and I can't reproduce it.

Anyone have any ideas as to what happened here? I feel like I'm taking crazy pills.