Favorite games and familiar programs cannot be replaced with new ones. When Microsoft releases a new OS, compatibility between programs from previous ones is a feature that developers think about first.

But sometimes trying to start the old one results in an error. Are Microsoft employees really that careless about their jobs?

Collapse

How to run old software on a new OS Despite numerous changes in Windows 8.1 and 10, they support programs for XP and 7 with rare exceptions. Problems Windows compatibility

8 occur, but this is 1 case out of 100. This happens with applications for XP and OS released earlier. The problem encountered is the inability to launch an old game.

What is compatibility mode? If the software or 3D toy was made for win2000, then it probably won’t work on Vista. The point is the different OS structures. Software is created to work in a specific environment. When it gets into an unfamiliar one, it does not start or functions with errors. Windows compatibility is a way to “slip” into an application data from the old OS that is present in the new one. But sometimes the need to launch such functionality is unfounded. Under development software regularly receives new installers. There is no point in running an old antivirus on eight or ten when it has already been updated 10 times. So first check if there is a new “build”. The exception is for programs whose previous releases still contain useful features , for some reason not implemented in updates. In order for the old application to work correctly in the new OS and without failures, it is recommended to set the compatibility mode. This is not a special program for running old games or software: everything is implemented standard means

Windows.

Outdated programs and games in G8 (or 8.1) How to make the game compatible with Windows 8? Do you have a retro game lying around? old program

, which has no worthy analogues, but it does not start or is “buggy” on the “eight”? Running old games on Windows 7 or 8 can be made stable. To do this, right-click on the shortcut and call up the context menu. Pay attention to the “Properties” item. Launch and select the Compatibility tab. This window presents, helping to bring compatibility to Windows 8 for legacy applications

Running old programs on Windows 7 will be easier if you know for sure what OS your game was released for, then for the “Run the program in compatibility mode for...” option, select this operating system. According to statistics, 90% of applications that conflict with Windows 8 and 8.1 work without problems in compatibility with XP Service Pack 2 or 3. Select the desired option, click “Apply” and “OK”. If it doesn’t start the first time, try other options, don’t forget to click on the “Apply” button.

If you are wondering how to disable compatibility mode in Windows 7, then simply follow the steps described above in reverse order. But that's only basic setup. The “Compatibility” tab in the application shortcut properties also offers advanced settings:

1. low color mode;
2. lowering display resolution;
3. Disable image scaling for modern screens.

Color reduction

Games and applications for legacy operating systems were created to run on computers whose monitors had an image resolution of 640X480 or 800X600 pixels. Modern video cards and monitors offer resolutions of up to 2000-3000 pixels. You need to configure Compatibility View settings. It is recommended to run such software in color. By activating the mode, you will run the program at the resolution for which it is intended. In the “Compatibility” tab, check the box next to the corresponding item and select the appropriate color option - 8 or 16 bits.

Using a different screen resolution

Old games were created for screens with a resolution of 640X480. This resolution is supported in modern monitor models, but is not used. Sometimes the Windows 7 compatibility problem lies precisely in the stretched image.

To run old games on the new OS, apply the “Use screen resolution 640X480” option

Disabling picture scaling

If computer program or a video game was intended to be launched on monitors 10-20 years ago, on new displays they are distorted - the image is stretched and smeared. To prevent this from happening, check the box next to “Disable image scaling...”. Now the picture looks correct.

Is it possible to be completely incompatible? Windows application 7 Not often. It is not recommended to use compatibility mode for the following applications:

1. antiviruses;
2. garbage cleaners;
3. utilities for hard drive;
4. tweakers.

This is a risk of compromising the stability of the OS.

Automatically apply settings

Windows contains special software that determines the appropriate correct launch mode for outdated applications and games. This good check compatibility with Windows 7, 8 or 10. To launch, use the context menu of the installer file. At the top, click on the line “Fix compatibility problems”.

A new window will open, offering two options: using recommended parameters and diagnostics

The first point is fine. Select: A new window will open showing suggested options for the program to start correctly. The “Test program” item will help you test the proposed parameters in action. Clicking the button will launch the application with these parameters. If OK, save the result. Now the application automatically launches as it should, with the necessary options.

The diagnostics item helps you select options for correct launch, based on problems with the application.

By editing the registry

You can enable Windows 7, 8 or 10 compatibility using the registry. This method is used in rare cases, as there are plenty of other methods. For curious users, to run the game in compatibility mode or a legacy application:

• Click on "Start".
• In the “Run” field, enter cmd and press Enter.
• In the window that opens command line type regedit and Enter.

The registry editor will start, find the branch HKEY_CURRENT_USER\ Software\ Microsoft\ Windows NT\ CurrentVersion\ AppCompatFlags\ Layers

• Right-click on the empty space on the right half of the window and select “Create”.
• Here, choose to create a “String Parameter”.
• The parameter name is the full path to the executable file of the program for which you are setting up compatibility with Windows 7, for example.
• Now right-click on the parameter name and open “Edit”.
• In the “Value” line, enter one of the proposed options:

1. WIN7RTM - to install compatibility with the “seven”;
2. VISTARTM - for Vista;
3. VISTASP1 - Vista with Service Pack 1;
4. VISTASP2 - Vistas with Service Pack 2;
5. WINXPSP2 - for "expi" with service pack 2;
6. WINXPSP3 - "ex pi" with service pack 3;
7. WIN2000 - for Windows 2000;
8. NT4SP5 - for Windows NT version 4;
9. WIN98 - for Windows 98;
10. WIN95 - Windows 95.

• Do you intend to open the program in compatibility mode with administrator rights? After the selection above, add the word RUNASADMIN (separated by a space).
• Now find the branch HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\AppCompatFlags\Layers.
• Repeat steps 5 - 10 for this branch.
• Save and restart your computer.

Now you know how to enable compatibility mode on Windows 7, 8 10.

WATCH THE VIDEO

If the computer is used by two or three or another number of users under separate accounts, it is recommended to apply program compatibility settings for “accounts”. Otherwise, if you boot under a different login, you will have to configure it from scratch. To do this, log into the OS as administrator account. Applying compatibility mode using the first method (in the shortcut menu), apply the “Change settings for all users” item. Now the program runs with the same characteristics on all accounts.

Users are faced with cases when outdated software does not start after the manipulations have been done and no program for game compatibility on Windows 7 helps. But this does not mean that there are no chances to use a “prehistoric” program or play a retro game. What to do? Answer - ! This is a program that creates an environment for running an OS within an OS. On Windows 10, you can run Windows 2000 or XP and install the application or toy of interest in a virtual machine in its native environment. Example virtual machine- Virtualbox program. This method is reliable and guarantees full compatibility. For trouble-free operation of the virtual machine, you need a PC with advanced technical characteristics.

The innovative Win 10 OS has long been in great demand among users from all over the world. This system easily combines basic programs with a stylish and pleasant design. Microsoft regularly releases updates that improve system performance. New applications installed on a PC will be useful for both the average user and an experienced manager. However, for complete system security it is worth it.

Most users often wonder how to check the compatibility of a PC with Windows 10. The fact is that on some computers new system may be slow and inefficient. It depends on the characteristics of the PC, on its system requirements and hard drive capacity. Therefore, before installing Windows 10 It’s worth downloading several utilities that will test the operation of your PC. These applications can be easily found and downloaded on the Internet, and the rules for their use will be clear even to a beginner.

What applications will help you check your PC's compatibility with Windows 10?

As a rule, modern PCs cope with installation and efficient installation without the slightest problem. Windows work 10. However, there are exceptions to every rule, so you definitely need to check your computer's compatibility with Windows 10. To do this, you need to follow these steps:

• install Windows Hardware Lab Kit and check your computer (the tests that are included in the program will allow you to determine with maximum accuracy whether your PC is suitable for installing Win 10; in the manual for the utility you can find out how to scan the system);
• Windows 10 Preparation Tool is suitable for PCs running Windows 7 and 8, it checks which version of the OS is installed on the computer, after which it begins to scan the PC itself, the program recognizes the system language and its availability for testing Windows versions 10 (if your PC is ready to install Win 10, then a key will pop up in the window to upgrade to the new version of the OS).

However, simply checking your PC for Windows 10 compatibility is not enough. Each software product requires an activation key, which you can purchase on our El:Store website. After confirming the entered code, you will immediately have access to all Windows programs 10. You can pay for your purchase with any in a convenient way(via telephone or terminal, electronic money or bank card).

If you have just recently switched to Windows 10, and your entire software archive has migrated from Windows Vista or XP on the new “ten”, it is quite possible that old applications will simply refuse to run on new version operating system. Games require old version DirectX or drivers, system applications – earlier versions DLL libraries that have been updated or replaced, and console applications are now launched only through the launch of new utilities, on previous versions Windows were completely absent.

The most rational solution here is to update the bank of distributions by downloading new versions from the official website of the developer. But what if Windows support 10 still remains unavailable for these programs? The most likely reason is that the developer may abandon his creation, ceasing to release new versions due to the transition to new project or finding official employment.

In this situation, the compatibility mode will come to the rescue, allowing you to run the old program, which functioned perfectly on XP, Vista or Win 7, on the “ten”, while avoiding shamanic dances with tambourines and smoking pipes with potions of unknown origin.

What is compatibility mode?

What kind of regime is this, and what is it for? Essentially, this is a universal mechanism for running old software on Windows 10, ensuring stable operation of such applications without freezes, crashes and lags. Compatibility mode also existed in previous versions of Windows. The only difference is that support for new systems, including Win 7 and 8/8.1, has also migrated to the top ten from previous builds, while all ancient systems, starting with version 95, remain available and have not gone away.

In fact, if the program worked successfully and ran on version 7 or 8.1, most likely, in the top ten you will also not experience any problems with it, since no major changes were made in the architecture and logic of the systems, and you can easily run such a program in latest version OS from Microsoft.

But the compatibility mode becomes most relevant in relation to programs from the times of XP and earlier builds, since this software stops working starting from Vista, and you cannot do without the compatibility mode at all.

How to enable compatibility mode and run programs?

To launch an application in this mode, right-click on the program you want to launch. You can try to launch not only the program itself, but also a shortcut to it, so you can select any object that refers to the executable file you need. In the context menu that appears, select “Properties”. A form for configuring application settings will open.

On the settings form, select the “Compatibility” tab, if it is present at all among other tabs.

We enable compatibility mode by checking the appropriate box in the first box at the top. Next, select the operating system for which you would like to activate the compatibility mode.

The entire range of Microsoft systems is available, with the exception of version 3.11. However, if you have such an old program, you can launch it using the Dosbox application (http://www.dosbox.com/). But let's return to our topic. Thanks to the wide range of operating systems, there is great hope that you will still run your program. You just need to put a little hand into the launch settings and setting additional options, which will be discussed below.

What additional options (viewing options) are also available here?

• First of all, this low color mode. If your program was launched in CGA, EGA or VGA mode, you cannot do without the reduced color mode. It downgrades the available color gamut to 8-bit or 16-bit, and limits the color gamut, making it possible to run an application with a limited color gamut even on modern devices with maximum color range.
• The next option is using a reduced screen resolution of 640x480. It’s hard to believe, but there were times when programs (primarily games) ran and felt great in this resolution. If the resolution was increased to at least 800x600, then strong lags occurred, after which we again had to return to the “native” 640x480. This significantly reduced the quality of the picture, but this is all the power that modern PCs could handle in those days. In particular, this situation was relevant in Windows times 95.
• The next parameter is for disable scaling when high resolution display. This option will allow you to avoid problems associated with response failure when touching the display or clicks when displaying a picture on modern tablets or PCs when running legacy applications. If you experience such problems, feel free to check the “On” position.
• The last option allows run the program in administrator mode. This will activate supporting system libraries and allow the application to run even when the standard launch mechanism fails.

So we looked at all the options that can be set in parallel with the launch software products in compatibility mode in Windows 10. Their number is not very large, but if you play with them while working with outdated software, it is likely that you will be able to achieve the desired result in this way.

How to disable compatibility mode?

To disable compatibility mode, you just need to uncheck the corresponding item on the settings form above. Exhibited Extra options will not play any role, so their status will no longer matter.

Another handy tool, which will help solve the problem of running old software on modern systems - this is Compatibility Troubleshooter.

In a nutshell, it is a kind of wizard that allows you to automatic mode specify all the same parameters and compatibility settings that you can set manually below on the same form. To avoid long attempts to configure everything manually, the wizard will allow you to do the same thing, but much faster, and using the “question-answer” procedure, rather than by manually manipulating parameters and settings.

Compatibility mode is important and required component operating room Windows systems 10, but it does not provide a 100% guarantee that the program will run on your device. All you can do is try to run the program using it. In all other cases, a virtual machine will do.

Everyone will accept, today I want to tell you about how to run old programs in the top ten, namely about Windows 10 compatibility mode. Windows 10 program compatibility mode allows you to run software on your computer that only worked normally in previous versions of Windows, but in the latest OS the program does not run or works with errors. This instruction on how to enable compatibility mode for Windows 8.1, 7, Vista or XP in Windows 10 to fix program startup errors is suitable for those who have old software whose developer has long stopped supporting and updating it..

By default, Windows 10 offers to automatically enable compatibility mode after program failures, but only in some of them and not always. Manually enabling compatibility mode, which previously (in previous OSes) was performed through the properties of the program or its shortcut, is now not available for all shortcuts and sometimes you need to use a special tool for this. Let's consider both methods.

Enabling compatibility mode through program or shortcut properties

And so we all have Windows 10 threshold 2 installed, if you don’t have it, you can download it from the link on the left.

The first way to enable compatibility mode in Windows 10 is very simple - right-click on the shortcut or executable file of the program, select Properties and open, if found, the Compatibility tab.

All that remains to be done is to set the compatibility mode parameters: indicate the version of Windows in which the program ran without errors. If necessary, enable the program to run as an administrator or in lower screen resolution and lower color mode (for very old programs). Then apply the settings you made. The next time the program will be launched with the parameters already changed.

How to enable backward compatibility mode in Windows 10 through troubleshooting

To run the Program Compatibility Mode setting, you will need to run a special troubleshooter Windows problems 10 > Run programs designed for previous versions of Windows.

This can be done either through the control panel item > Troubleshooting (the control panel can be opened by right-clicking on the Start button).

Or in the search you can enter > Execute programs created for previous versions.

This will launch the Windows 10 Legacy Program Compatibility Troubleshooter. It makes sense to use the "Run as Administrator" option when using it (this will allow the settings to be applied to programs located in folders with limited access). Click Next.

After waiting for some time, the next window will ask you to select a program with compatibility problems. If you need to add own program(for example, portable applications will not be displayed in the list), select Not in the list and click Next, then specify the path to the program’s executable file.

After selecting a program or specifying its location, you will be prompted to select a diagnostic mode. To manually specify the compatibility mode for a specific version of Windows, click Program Diagnostics.

The next window will ask you to indicate problems that were noticed when running your program in Windows 10. Select The program worked in previous versions of Windows, but is not installed or does not start now (or other options, as appropriate).

In the next window you will need to indicate which OS version to enable compatibility with - Windows 7, 8, Vista and XP. Select your option and click Next.

In the next window, to complete the installation of compatibility mode, you need to click Test the program. After running it, checking it (which you do yourself, optional) and closing it, click Next.

And, finally, either save the compatibility settings for this program, or use the second point, if errors remain - No, try using other settings. Done, after saving the settings, the program will work in Windows 10 in the compatibility mode you selected.

If you encounter a problem where an outdated application refuses to work in the new operating system from Microsoft, use compatibility mode in Windows 10 to launch it. This article will teach you how to run programs and old games in the top ten that refuse to work in the latest OS environment, crash or function with errors.

Windows 10 prompts you to activate Compatibility Mode when running applications whose previous running session has crashed or been terminated due to an error or process termination. But this does not happen in all cases.

Activating compatibility mode manually through the properties of a shortcut or executable file is not always available, and sometimes requires running a troubleshooting tool. Let's look at both methods, and also figure out how to disable compatibility mode in Windows 10.

Enable the mode in the properties of the executable file shortcut

The first way to activate Compatibility Mode in Windows 10 is by using Properties exe file or application shortcut.

1. To do this, call “Properties” target object through context menu or the key combination “Alt+Enter”.
2. Go to the “Compatibility” tab.
3. In the “Compatibility Mode” section, check the box next to its name.
4. Open the drop-down menu and select the version of the operating system for which the application is intended or in which it works without failures.

Compatibility is disabled by removing the check mark next to the only option in the “Compatibility Mode” section.

When using applications created for XP that were released about 10 years ago, you can try running the program in a lower resolution, using 256 colors, or without visual design. You can also tell the operating system to this application should be run as administrator each time in order to save the time required to call the file's context menu to select the appropriate launch mode.

Enable the mode through troubleshooting

In order to start compatibility mode, you need to call the troubleshooting tool, which in the “top ten” is called “Running programs designed for other versions of Windows.” You can call the tool through the “Troubleshooting” applet, located one of the last in the Control Panel when its elements are visualized as icons, or through the search bar.

The application should be run with administrator privileges. This will allow you to detect additional factors that cause problems in the functioning of the program.

After waiting a little, we will see a list of software products installed on the PC, from which you should select the problematic program.

If the target utility is not in the list, select the first item “Not in the list”, click “Next”, and then specify the path to the executable file.

After selecting an application or specifying the path to its launch file, you will be prompted to select a diagnostic mode. To select a specific Windows versions indicate the second mode “Program Diagnostics”, and for automatic detection compatible version operating system should stop at the first point.

After selecting the operating system edition, a window will appear with options for problems that were noticed while the application was running in the “ten”.

If you know which version of the operating system the application worked properly in, indicate it or select “I don’t know.”

In the next dialog, click “Test program” to test whether it functions when launched from specified parameters. If testing is successful, click “Next”.

To subsequently call the software with the specified parameters, select the first item in the last window, save the specified settings and close the window.

After searching for additional problems, close the tool or view additional information about the problem.

If the application refuses to work in compatibility mode with the selected Windows, try a different OS edition or use the recommended settings. As a last resort, you can always ask for help in resolving your issues by sending a report about the problem to Microsoft representatives or looking for an answer on the forums.