You are right, the version of Xcom2 at abandonia is the DOS version, which has trouble running on XP.
Anyone get problems with the Abandonia Xcom2 download please try to get the Windows version (which runs fine on XP) at
www.the-underdogs.org. Check the Strategy section and you will find Xcom2. The download is around 4MB.
Warning:
Two versions have difference research tree!!!
To understand it, please visit this website of a veteran:
http://www.geocities.com/nkfarma/xcom.html
and go to the Xcom2 research tree section.
Enjoy,