Hmmm... let's see if I can remember what I was thinking...
Shadow Stranger, are you sure you're hearing the CPU straining? That'd be the first time I *ever* heard a CPU talk... the fans, maybe, but not the CPU. And if the cooling fan is talking, you may want to replace it. They ain't supposed to say anything...
I think the best answer long-term to getting this to play is going to end up being a Win98 virtual machine. As soon as I rework this machine, I'm going to look at adding one in. It would make so many things so much easier...
Oh, and I do believe this is the first time I've heard *ANYONE* referring to W&W as having elaborate graphics
I take it you have the same appreciation of gameplay over eye candy that I have...
I think that's all I had to say. Onward!