Installing Tomb Raider 1 and Unfinished Business on Windows XP, Vista, 7, 8 and 10

The original 1996 Tomb Raider and the Unfinished Business bonus levels were designed for DOS and should install and play just fine under Windows 95/98/Me. However, a bit of effort is needed to make them work with newer versions of Windows. If you've never done anything like this before, the process can seem a little intimidating, but it's really not that hard.

UPDATE: I have not had time to rewrite this entire page, but if you have the Steam or GOG version of TR1 and want a simple fix, try the Tomb Raider 1 Automated Fix - Improved Graphics, Resolution, Music + Expansion Pack by Carlmundo, posted on the Steam forums. You can then disregard all the info below.

This page used to contain step-by-step instructions but lately I've been too busy to keep it up-to-date. I will try to rewrite it at some point, but for now, I offer the following list of links which should help in your quest to install these classic games.

• Glidos, created by Paul Gardiner, is shareware (free to try, $10 to unlock). Glidos quickly and easily installs the game and allows you to configure it with various sound and graphics enhancements, including full compatibility with the Tomb Raider Xtra high-res texture packs. Glidos also works with the GOG nd Steam downloads. For details, downloads and instructions, visit Glidos.net.
• Gidierre's Tomb Raider 1 Advanced Installer is a free utility based on the DOSBox DOS emulator. It works with the CD version of Tomb Raider and Windows XP, Vista, 7, 8 and 8.1 (both 32- and 64-bit versions). The newest version of this installer also restores the full PlayStation soundtrack to the PC game (CD, Steam or GOG versions) for the most complete TR1 experience. Visit Tomb Raider Hub for downloads and instructions.
• It is also possible to install and play TR1 and Unfinished Business on modern Windows systems using the old ATI 3D Rage patch and the new GLRage wrapper. For detailed instructions, check out this thread by barracuda415 on tombraiderforums.com.
• If you don't want to bother with installers and patches, GOG and Steam both offer updated versions of TR1 for Windows XP, Vista, 7 and 8 that require no patching. Unfortunately they don't include the Unfinished Business bonus levels, but it is possible to run the bonus levels with the GOG version using instructions devised by the awesome Ridiculo. See this GOG forum post for details.
  
  

For questions or issues related to Glidos, as well as an overview of its features, visit Glidos.net.

For questions or issues related to the Tomb Raider 1 Advanced Installer, as well as an overview of its features, please visit this page on Tombraiderhub.com.

Additional support is available on the following sites:

• The Glidos Facebook Group
• VOGONS Forum - V.O.G.O.N.S. = "Very Old Games On New Systems". Peer support for DOS games with sections on Glidos, DOSBox and more.
• TombRaiderChronicles.com's Windows XP/Vista/7/8 Guide - General support, info and patches for running the entire Tomb Raider series with Windows XP, Vista and 7/8.
• Tomb Raider Hub's TR1 FAQ - Same basic info as the tombraiderchronicles.com guide but also includes some extra troubleshooting.
• Tomb Raider Forums Tech Support Board
• Eidos Tomb Raider Support Forum
• GOG.com Tomb Raider Forum
• Steam's Tomb Raider 1 Forum

For help running the original Tomb Raider and Unfinished Business on newer Macintosh operating systems, please visit MacRaider.

[ TR1 Downloads Page | Home Page | TR1 Walkthrough | Unfinished Business Walkthrough ]

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS: Glidos was created by Paul Gardiner. His site includes additional credits for the help he received in its development. Many thanks to Paul for the tireless help he's given the gaming community. The Tomb Raider 1 Advanced Installer was created by Gidierre. It incorporates the OpenSource DOS emulator DOSBox.

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Stella's Tomb Raider Site: tombraiders.net.