Ive read the "Getting Past games to run" and it appears the link to assist in getting the demo to run is now broken/doesnt link to a thread that still exists or some such thing so is there perhaps another source i could read up on to get the demo to run if merely to test the waters so to speak?

Help appreciated and thanks in advance.

I had the same trouble with the demos. try downloading the ones in this thread with the instructions very easy
http://www.gamesas.com/bgsforums/index.php?showtopic=1001761