After Dark was a popular computer screensaver software introduced in 1989 for the Apple Macintosh. It featured visually pleasing animated screen savers that many Mac users loved. When Microsoft Windows became more popular in the 1990s and 2000s, After Dark was ported to Windows systems. However, After Dark has not been actively developed or updated in over two decades. So does After Dark still work on modern Windows 10 systems today? Let’s take a look.
Brief history of After Dark
After Dark was created in 1989 by Berkeley Systems for the Apple Macintosh. It featured whimsical animated screensavers like Flying Toasters and Fish that quickly became iconic and popular. In the early 1990s, After Dark was ported to Microsoft Windows 3.1 and subsequent Windows versions through the late 1990s. After Dark continued to add more fun animations like Bad Dog, Art Museum, and Loony Labyrinth over the years. However, After Dark development slowed in the late 1990s as screensavers became less essential on modern monitors. The last After Dark for Windows release was version 3 in 1997. Berkeley Systems and the After Dark brand were eventually purchased by Sierra On-line in 1998.
Does After Dark work on modern Windows?
After Dark was last updated over 25 years ago in the Windows 98 era. Naturally, there are questions around whether After Dark still works on modern Windows 10 PCs given how much the operating system and hardware has changed. There is no simple yes or no answer. Here are some key factors that determine After Dark compatibility with Windows 10:
- Version of After Dark – The last After Dark version 3 from 1997 has the best chance of working on Windows 10. Older After Dark versions designed for Windows 3.1/95 are less likely to work.
- Compatibility mode – After Dark may work using Windows 10’s built-in compatibility mode features designed to run older software. Compatibility mode essentially emulates an older version of Windows that After Dark was designed for.
- Hardware compatibility – After Dark was designed for much older PC hardware and may have issues interfacing with modern graphics cards, sound cards, and CPUs.
- Windows settings – Things like visual styles, font scaling, DPI scaling, and other display settings can impact After Dark’s graphics and animations.
- Prerequisite software – After Dark may require things like specific DLL files and dependencies that modern PCs no longer have.
Getting After Dark to work flawlessly on Windows 10 can involve tweaking various compatibility settings and hardware configurations. Results will vary based on your specific PC setup.
Tips for running After Dark on Windows 10
Here are some tips that may help get After Dark working on a Windows 10 PC:
- Use After Dark 3 – Locate an install copy of the last After Dark 3 version from 1997 for the best chance of compatibility.
- Try Windows 8 compatibility mode – Windows 8 is close enough to Windows 10 that key APIs should still work.
- Disable visual styles – The Windows Classic appearance may work better than the default Aero style.
- Lower screen resolution – Use 800×600 or 1024×768 for the resolution After Dark was designed for.
- Disable DPI scaling – Fixes issues with high DPI displays making things too small.
- Run in 256 colors – Reduces color palette for compatibility with older graphics cards.
- Use older hardware – Try running on a PC from the Windows 98 era if possible.
- Get required DLLs – Find missing DLL files the program needs online.
Depending on your PC, you may need to experiment with different settings to find the right combination for After Dark to work properly. Using a virtual machine with an older version of Windows may be the most compatible option if you have trouble getting it running natively in Windows 10.
Alternatives to After Dark for Windows 10
If you find After Dark just doesn’t work right or at all on your modern Windows 10 PC, fortunately there are some alternative options to consider:
- Screensavers built into Windows 10 – Microsoft includes a selection of screensavers with Windows 10 like Bubbles, Ribbons, Mystify, and Photos. While not as robust as After Dark, these built-in screensavers work well and can be easily configured.
- ElectriCritters – An actively developed screensaver for Windows, Mac, and Linux that features modern takes on classic animated screensavers.
- ScreenSaver Engine – An open source screensaver engine that supports porting over older After Dark modules so they work on modern systems.
- Electric Sheep – A collaborative abstract animated screensaver you can contribute computer processing power to.
- XScreenSaver – An extensive open source collection of screensavers ported to Windows from Unix/Linux systems.
While not direct replacements for After Dark, these modern screensaver options provide fun animated visuals while reliably working on the latest Windows 10 releases.
Conclusion
After Dark undeniably has a nostalgic appeal for many Windows users who remember its unique charms fondly. However, the venerable screensaver software has not been updated in over two decades, making it challenging to get running properly on modern Windows 10 PCs and hardware. Getting After Dark working reliably often requires compatibility tweaks and settings changes. For most Windows 10 users, migrating to a more modern screensaver option is recommended for an optimal experience.
But for those willing to experiment, there is a chance After Dark can work, especially the last 1997 version. With the right configuration, its iconic animations like Flying Toasters and Fish can live again on modern displays! Just be prepared for potential issues and don’t expect a seamless plug-and-play experience like After Dark had decades ago on Windows 98. Nostalgia for the classics never dies, but sometimes the classics remain classics for good reason.