Frequently Asked Questions

Q. Will this program run on Windows XP?
A. Getting older programs to run on Windows XP

Most programs run properly on Windows XP. The exceptions are some older games and other programs that were written specifically for an earlier version of Windows. To run your program on Windows XP, try the following:

1.. Run the Program Compatibility Wizard. As an alternative, you can set the compatibility properties manually.
2.. Update your program, drivers, or hardware.

These options are covered in detail below.

The Program Compatibility Wizard
This wizard prompts you to test your program in different modes (environments) and with various settings. For example, if the program was originally designed to run on Windows 95, set the compatibility mode to Windows 95 and try running your program again. If successful, the program will start in that mode each time. The wizard also allows you to try different settings, such as switching the display to 256 colors and the screen resolution to 640 x 480 pixels.

If compatibility problems prevent you from installing a program on Windows XP, run the Program Compatibility Wizard on the setup file for the program. The file may be called Setup.exe or something similar, and is probably located on the Installation disc for the program.

To run the Program Compatibility Wizard

1.. Start the Program Compatibility Wizard .
2.. Follow the instructions in the wizard.

Note

To start the Program Compatibility Wizard, click Start, click Help and Support, click Find compatible hardware and software for Windows XP, and then, under See Also in the navigation pane, click Program Compatibility Wizard.

Set the compatibility properties manually
As an alternative to running the Program Compatibility Wizard, you can set the compatibility properties for a program manually. The settings are the same as the options in the Program Compatibility Wizard.

To set the compatibility properties for a program manually

1.. Right-click the program icon on your desktop or the shortcut on the Start menu for the program you want to run, and then click Properties.
2.. Click the Compatibility tab, and change the compatibility settings for your program.

Notes

The Compatibility tab is only available for programs installed on your hard drive. Although you can run the Program Compatibility Wizard on programs or setup files on a CD-ROM or floppy disk, your changes will not remain in effect after you close the program.

For more information about an option on the Compatibility tab, right-click the option and then click What's This.

Update your program or drivers
If your program does not run correctly after testing it with the Program Compatibility Wizard, check the Web for updates or other fixes, as follows:

Check the Web site of the program's manufacturer to see if an update or patch is available.

Check Windows Update to see if a fix is available for the program. Click Home on the menu bar of Help and Support Center, then click Windows Update in the right pane.

These are free downloads for Windows XP:
Windows XP Service Pack 1a
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/pro/downloads/servicepacks/sp1/default.asp
Windows XP Application Compatibility Update (April 10, 2002)
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;EN-US;319580
Windows XP Application Compatibility Update (October 25, 2001)
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;308381

Q. Will this program run on Windows 7 or higher?
A. Getting older programs to run on Windows 7

How to run a program in Compatibility Mode in Windows 7:
http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/316-compatibility-mode.html

1. Right click on the program's shortcut, .exe file, or installation program.
2. Click on Properties.
3. Click on the Compatibility tab.

4. To Run a Program in Compatibility Mode

A) Check the Run this program in compatibility mode for box.
B) Click on the drop down menu arrow and select which version of Windows the program was made for. NOTE: Always pick the latest Windows version the program was written for to have a better chance of it running properly in Windows 7. If you do not know - then we suggest selecting Windows XP Service Pack 3.

NOTE: Runs the program using settings from a previous version of Windows. Try this setting if you know the program is designed for (or worked in) a specific previous version of Windows.

NOTE: If the Compatibility options are grayed out, then it is a 64 bit program and cannot be changed.

NOTE: MSI files will only have the Previous version of Windows option available for it. This option will allow Windows 7 to automatically use the previous version compatibility mode it thinks is best for the MSI file to run properly as.

WARNING: Do not use Compatibility mode on older antivirus programs, disk utilities, or other system programs because it might cause data loss or create a security risk.

You may also want to check the Microsoft Windows 7 Compatibility Center :

http://www.microsoft.com/windows/compatibility/en-us/default.aspx

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