Want to run VERY old software in Windows 8.1

I have an old Bible software program (Bible Master) that I bought around 1996. I have used it on several PCs since that time, including W95, XP, Win 7, and Win 8 (the laptop with Win 8 currently runs the software). Now I have a new laptop and would like to install it, but I can't remember what I did to get it to work on the Win 8 laptop.

The original software came on multiple 3.5" floppies. I have copied all of the files to a folder on my HD. When I try to run the Setup, I get a message that says it isn't compatible with the current version of Windows.

I tried the Compatibility Mode Troubleshooter, but didn't have any success there.

Any thoughts? (I know, I am a dinosaur for wanting to use 20 year old software, but it does what I want... )

Thanks,
Craig

You can try to run it via DOSBox, an x86 emulator with DOS
Or use a virtual machine like Virtualbox and install XP on it.

I'm going to suggest you sneak-copy all the known Bible Master folders & files [including the Bible ones in Windows\System[whatever] from one computer onto the next computer. Create a shortcut. "Alter" that shortcut to hopefully make Windows 8 on the newest computer run that program. You might need to sneak-copy folders/files belonging to Bible Master from the user appdata local and/or roaming, as well as check ProgramData folder, --> In the past, sometimes, not all the time, does the sneak-copy/altered shortcut work.

Is the new laptop 32 or 64 bit? Is the software 16 or 32 bit (likely the former)? A 64 bit OS cannot run 16 bit software natively and some kind of virtualization is the only way.

Laptop is 64-bit. I suppose the software is 16-bit, given its age. I appreciate the thoughts, but it is beginning to sound like this is not worth the trouble. I can probably buy more modern software for a modest price anyway.

I've run into several programs the clients wanted to use that worked on 32-bit versions of Windows but fail on 64-bit, have some myself such as Day-Timer DeskTop Organizer that works fine on Vista 32-bit but not on Vista 64-bit or later. Might be part of why Day-Timer discontinued it. Have run into a few programs that won't run from the autoplay routine but did install by double-clicking the setup.exe file in File Explorer [renamed from Windows Explorer of Win7 and earlier].

If one can get VM installed, then get an older 32bit OS installed, the 16-bit program might run -- according to a previous poster. Thanks for the info, I'll keep that mind.