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Home > Windows Vista Help > Frequently Asked Questions

One of my older programs won’t run properly. Is there a way to make it compatible with Windows Vista?

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Published on 24 January 2007

Some older programs, like anti-virus tools, system programs and disk utilities, will not work with Windows Vista. However, you can try to get older applications to run by clicking Start > Control Panel. Choose Programs and click Use an older program with this version of Windows, then follow the wizard. If you’re unable to install a program that has a program installer with an .exe (but not .msi) file extension, select this in the wizard to see if it can be installed using compatibility settings.

The Compatibility Wizard

Running those classics - If things won't run, try using the Compatibility Wizard
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Comments


DOUG POOLEY
You're lucky if it's only ONE of you programs that won't run properly on Vista. I've given most of mine to my son who's still with XP. This FREE upgrade is costing me a fortune in new hardware and software.
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08/10/07 | 07:27
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rincewind11
i agree with doug there are a few apps that my vista ultimate wont run so i have two pcs sharing a monitor throgh a kvm switch (which works sometimes) i did read somewhere of a way of installing an old version of windows as a virtual machine on to vista ie win 98 or xp
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18/11/07 | 12:06
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markster
yes the best way to get full compatibility of your games. to unistall vista and re-install xp as most of my best games refuse to run on vista. even ones a couples of years old.

Microsoft world dominatio.

step 1 bring out vista
step 2 make it incompatible with most xp games.
step 3 make lots of money and sit back and laugh at the world.

and you think i am joking.

not
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31/01/08 | 01:08
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markster
yes there is another way to solve compatiblilty issues.

step 1 unistall vista
step 2 install xp
step 3 enjoy all your software you paid lots of money for working properly.

microsoft. are a con merchants they want your money and dont care how they get it.
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22/02/08 | 04:59
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markster
there is a copy protection called starforce and its on certain computer games.

flatout 2 a good example. i bought thinking it would run. ha ha the joke was on me.

i installed it on my vista pc. then it goes through the installtion of starforce. then reboots only to say needs to install starforce drivers. so i tyred it again. and 7 times later game still dont run.

but runs properly on XP. avoid all starforce copy protection. as these will not work on vista and you wont get your money back. so BE CAREFUL !!! for more info go to google.com and type starforce compatible games you will be shocked whats out there.

avoid at all costs. unless you like buying games to sit on your shlef.
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22/02/08 | 05:09
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ade1
I think its great once you get the hang of it. People are reluctant to change
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21/05/08 | 09:22
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