Compatibility

Compatibility

Usually older software will work on newer Windows versions. However, sometimes a program developed for XP, for example, will struggle to work properly on Windows 7, or an application from Windows 98 will refuse to run on XP. Help is at hand in the form of the Compatibility Wizard, which can fool an older application in to thinking it is running on an older version of Windows, and using different settings, such as a reduced screen resolution.

To run a problem application with the Compatibility Wizard, follow these steps: Windows 7 1. Click Start > Control Panel > Action Centre. 2. Click the Windows Program Compatibility Trouble-shooter link in the bottom left-hand corner. 3. Select the program you are having problems with from the list. If the program is not in the list, select Not Listed to select its .EXE file. Click Next. 4. Select Troubleshoot Program. 5. Tick the troubleshooting options that apply to your program and click Next. 6. Follow the trouble shooter steps to cure your specific problem. Once you have created a compatibility profile for your application by following the troubleshooter, click Start the program. 7. The program will be launched using the compatibility settings. Click Next. 8. If the program now works without problems, click Yes, save these settings for the program. If it does not work, click No, try again using different settings, and work through the Compatibility Wizard again.