Getting older programs to run on Windows XP
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:
- Run the Program Compatibility Wizard. As an alternative, you can set the
compatibility properties manually.
- 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 might be called Setup.exe or something similar,
and is probably located on the Installation disc for the program.
To run the Program Compatibility Wizard
- Start the Program
Compatibility Wizard.
- Follow the instructions in the wizard.
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