So I have 4 games two worked two did not... the 2 that did not are The Colonels Bequest and alone in the dark. It seems that they have downlaoded properly but evertime i click on the icons my screen blanks for a second and the goes right back to the screen that i started with... i tried all the icons for these two games and nothing seems to work... what am i doing worng!? I am using windows XP and i don't have DOS BOX and i haven't got any error messages just that it looks like its going to the game and then it just goes back to the screen that i started with

Katherine, I updated and reviewed The Colonel's Bequest, so I'm positive it does work - with DosBox. There are instructions on how to work DOS box here: http://www.abandonia.com/main.php?nav=index&FAQ=1

The download for the program is here:
http://dosbox.sourceforge.net/download.php?main=1

You might want to check out the official DosBox FAQ, and particularly this part of it. It is quite helpful for users unfamiliar with DosBox.

I suggest you also read the pages about command line, internal programs (very important!) and the config file.

If that stuff is a bit too much for you, you might consider using one of the multiple frontend programs available.

It's all easier then it seems. So remember:
DON'T PANIC!!! ^_^