Windows 7 Compatibility Mode in Win 8 OS - Older Application Compatibility

Started by certforumz, June 26, 2013, 02:36:59 AM

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certforumz

Get your apps and devices working in Windows 8

As you prepare to upgrade your PC to Windows 8, the Windows 8 Upgrade Assistant provides a Compatibility Report listing things you might need to do to get all of your apps and devices working after the upgrade. You can print the report to refer to later, or save it to your desktop. Unless you choose the option to "keep nothing" during the upgrade, you'll be able to find the report on your desktop after the upgrade is complete.

For each issue listed in the Compatibility Report, there will be suggestions and tips to help you resolve it.

In addition to those recommendations, there are several tools that can help you find solutions to compatibility issues in your apps and devices:

    Action Center

    Windows Compatibility Center

    Program Compatibility Assistant

    Run programs made for previous versions of Windows

Action Center

For some issues, you'll need to go to Action Center and follow the instructions provided. For example, you might be asked to download a new driver or update, or to change a setting.

To find solutions in Action Center:

    From Start, swipe in from the right edge of the screen and then tap Search (or if you're using a mouse, point to the upper-right corner of the screen, move the mouse pointer down, and then click Search).

    Enter Action Center in the search box, choose Settings, and then choose Action Center.

Windows Compatibility Center

You can find more info to help you get your apps and devices working in the Windows Compatibility Center.

The Windows Compatibility Center has info about thousands of apps and devices to help you identify what will or won't work with Windows 8. You can search the Compatibility Center for a particular product that you're having trouble with. The details view for each product provides links to drivers or updates, and additional troubleshooting info from the community.
Program Compatibility Assistant

When you install or run an app, Windows monitors the app for symptoms of known compatibility issues. If it finds an issue, Program Compatibility Assistant provides some recommended actions that you can take to help the app run properly on Windows 8.

Note that Program Compatibility Assistant doesn't monitor apps that work at low system levels (for example, kernel mode drivers, security, and backup apps). Due to the dependency of these apps on Windows system internals, you generally can't apply compatibility fixes to them.

If you try to run an app with known incompatibilities, you'll see a message telling you about the problem, and, depending on the severity of the problem, Program Compatibility Assistant might prevent the app from running.
Run programs made for previous versions of Windows

If you're having trouble running an app that worked in a previous version of Windows, you might be able to run it in a compatibility mode, such as Windows Vista or Windows 7 compatibility modes.
Troubleshoot for app compatibility

    From Start, swipe in from the right edge of the screen and then tap Search (or if you're using a mouse, point to the upper-right corner of the screen, move the mouse pointer down, and then click Search).

    Enter troubleshoot in the search box, choose Settings, and then choose Troubleshooting.

    Tap or click Run programs made for previous versions of Windows.

    Follow the steps provided.

Apply a compatibility mode

If you know the compatibility mode that your app needs to run, here is how to apply it:

    From Start, enter the name of the app you want to run in compatibility mode, and in the search results list, swipe down or right-click to select the app, and choose Open file location.

    In File Explorer, swipe down on the app or right-click it, and choose Properties.

    In the Properties dialog, choose the Compatibility tab.

    Select the compatibility mode and other options you want to apply, and then click OK.

In addition to different operating system compatibility modes, you can also run apps in reduced color modes or with administrator permissions. You can apply the settings for everyone who uses the computer or only for you.

certforumz

#1
Additiona Resource:

http://www.dummies.com/how-to/content/how-to-run-older-programs-under-windows-8.html

Many companies design their software to run on a specific version of Windows. When a new Windows version, like Windows 8, appears a few years later, some older programs feel threatened by their new environment and refuse to work.

If an older program refuses to run under Windows 8, you still have hope because of Windows' secret Compatibility mode. This mode tricks programs into thinking that they're running under their favorite older version of Windows, letting them run in comfort.

If your old program has problems with Windows 8, follow these steps:



    Right-click the program's icon and choose Properties.

    When the Properties dialog box appears, click the Compatibility tab and then click the Run Compatibility Troubleshooter button.

    In its robotic way, Windows 8 tries to guess what version of Windows your program needs, and then it applies the changes. If the program begins working, you're through.

    If the program still has trouble, though, move to Step 3.

    In the Compatibility Mode section, select the Run This Program in Compatibility Mode For check box and select the program's desired Windows version from the drop-down list.



    Click OK and then try running your program again to see whether it works better.

If your older program doesn't run, it's time to upgrade to a newer version.