Actually the BFV engine is an improved version of the BF1942 engine.
Perhaps editing a few lines of code would make the BFV engine run BF1942 files.
But hey EA doesn't want to spent money on improvements but just selling the
old game some more until really nobody buys the BF1942 game because maybe
under win-7 it just might not run anymore.
Maybe one of us should beg DICE for making this enhancement for us poor BF1942
addicted players
Edited: I asked DICE to enhance it, If a get an answer I will post it here.