So I would really like to get working access to Diablo 1. What is required?

1. either build a low grade machine that can handle it

or

2. Someone walk me trough how to get it operational on Windows 7?

It was my first video game that svcked me into the RPG / Medieval Game play... I am really earnest about getting this to happen..

If someone could elaborate on 1 or 2.. Id truly appreciate it.

You don't have to build a specific machine. Now, it's been awhile, but I believe it will run just fine in XP compatibility mode on W7. Have you tried? You can get all the patches https://us.battle.net/support/en/article/classic-game-patches

*Edit: I believe there was a color problem, you can use a batch file to kill explorer or, there might be another way, I don't remember, specifically.

Save this in the install as .bat and it will kill explorer and re-open afterwards:

@echo off
taskkill /f /im explorer.exe
diablo.exe
pause
start explorer.exe
exit

I'm not sure about D1 but D2 works just fine on Windows 7, using the method described by Littlemike above.

Install the game; (preferably to a games folder, instead of 'program files')
c:\games\Blizzard\Diablo

After install, right click the exe or shortcut, and select the properties tab, then set the following:
http://i271.photobucket.com/albums/jj125/Gizmojunk/Gizmojunk001/Diablo%20settings_zps5ynph0mb.jpg

Run the game.

Looks normal on Win7 with Nvidia graphics.