Compatibility Issue – Pastel Partner v11 & Sage Accounting on Windows 11

Hi Dimuthu Hettiarachchi

Welcome to Microsoft Community.

Based on your description, I understand that you are experiencing compatibility issues when installing Pastel Partner v11 and Sage Accounting applications on a computer that works fine on Windows 7, and I understand your feelings very well!

Thank you very much for your patience in clarifying the issue and I fully understand the inconvenience such compatibility issues may cause to your workflow. I will try to sort out the possible causes and provide you with detailed suggestions that will hopefully help you.

Before doing so, we need to clarify the following information in order to provide more accurate support.

1. Are you in a corporate use environment and are the computers controlled by an AD domain, etc.?

If your device is managed by the corporate IT department, there may be group policy restrictions or standardised software version requirements, and there is a corresponding section in the forum with support staff to provide you with more targeted support and advice.

2. Are you an application developer?

If you are developing or debugging such software, Microsoft provides dedicated forums to provide a better communication environment for developers.

Here is the link: Windows Developer Community | Microsoft Developer

Here's what I think might be causing the problem.

1. Windows 11 has significant changes in underlying architecture and security mechanisms (e.g., memory management, privilege control, driver model) compared to Windows 7. Pastel Partner v11 and Sage Accounting, if earlier, may rely on older frameworks (e.g., .NET Framework 3.5, Visual C++ runtime libraries) or not be adapted to newer security policies (e.g., UAC privileges). NET Framework 3.5, Visual C++ runtime libraries) or may not be adapted to new system security policies (e.g., UAC permissions).
2. Although Windows provides a ‘Compatibility Mode’ to simulate older system environments, some software may have complex installation logic (e.g., dependencies on registry entries, system services) that cannot be resolved by normal compatibility settings.
3. The software you are using seems to have been released in 2010, if the software developer has not released a patch or a new version for Windows 11, the system may function abnormally after updating, especially financial software that relies on specific database components or encryption drivers.

I will give you some suggestions and troubleshooting options that will hopefully solve your problem or find the cause of the problem! However, as this is a first reply with little information and the problem needs to be investigated in different ways, please understand and provide more information (pictures would be great!) in your reply. Thank you very much!

Option 1: We will first try to run the application in compatibility mode with administrator privileges.

1. Manually set the compatibility mode

Right-click on the installer, shortcut or ‘.exe’ executable file -> select ‘Properties’ -> switch to ‘Compatibility’ tab -> check ‘Run this application in compatibility mode’ -> select ‘Windows 7’ or ‘Windows XP (Service Pack 3)’.

We also need to make sure that ‘Run this program as administrator’ is ticked, and then try to restart the installation after applying it.

2. In one case, if the software contains more than one executable file (e.g., main programme, utilities, etc.), you will need to repeat the above procedure for each file.

Adjust the compatibility of multiple files batchwise and make sure the settings are consistent.

Option 2: Let's try to manually enable support for older components of Windows 11.

1. Install .NET Framework 3.5

Click ‘WIN key’ to open the search bar -> Type ‘Control Panel’ and open it -> Under ‘Category’, select ‘Programs’ -> ‘Enable or disable Windows features’ -> Check the box of ‘.NET Framework 3.5 (including .NET 2.0 and 3.0)’ -> Finish according to the guide.

2. Since I personally have not used Pastel Partner v11 and Sage Accounting, if this application depends on VB6, we can download and install it manually.

You can refer to: Description of the cumulative update rollup for the Visual Basic 6.0 Service Pack 6 Runtime Extended Files - Microsoft Support

Download Microsoft Visual Basic 6.0 Service Pack 6 Cumulative Update from Official Microsoft Download Center

Option 3: There are a few things we need to be aware of, and this is where I had problems helping my grandfather install some older applications on his computer.

We need to temporarily disable UAC and third-party anti-virus software, as some of their policies may prevent the installation from working properly or cause it to fail.

1. Temporarily disable UAC.

Click ‘WIN key’ to open the search bar -> Type ‘Control Panel’ and open it -> Under ‘Large icons’, select ‘Users’ -> ‘Change User Account Control Settings’ -> Slide the slider to the bottom.

Disclaimer: Follow these steps to temporarily disable User Account Control (UAC). However, keep in mind that if you do so, your device may be vulnerable to threats. So please turn on it immediately once issue fixed.

2. We need to make sure that third-party anti-virus software is completely disabled.

However, sometimes third-party antivirus services may run automatically in the background, making it impossible to disable them completely. So if necessary, we may need to uninstall it temporarily.

If you encounter this situation, when uninstalling, please make sure it is a clean uninstallation to avoid file and registry residues that may cause the problem to still exist.

Disclaimer: Temporarily turn off antivirus protection. However, keep in mind that if you do so, your device may be vulnerable to threats. So please turn it on immediately once issue fixed.

3. There is also a special case where we need to grant full control permissions to the software to ensure that it has sufficient permissions.

Right click on the installation directory of the software (usually located in C:\Program Files (x86)) -> Properties -> select the ‘Security’ tab -> click on ‘Edit’ -> tick ‘Full Control’ for your user account -> Apply and try again.

Please note: I recommend restarting the computer after these actions to avoid the settings not taking full effect.

Option 4: Assuming the problem persists, I personally have an alternative.

For example, we can install a Windows 7 virtual machine in Hpyer-V or VMware and install the software in the virtual machine, which usually works fine.

However, considering that the software you describe seems to be finance related, I am only offering you an alternative, and it would be better not to install it in a virtual machine unless it is a last resort.

Option 5: In addition to this, and assuming the problem persists, I would suggest that you also synchronise the issue with the application development or technical support team, who are more familiar with their brand of products and may have had other users report similar issues. They may have already written a fix or a more targeted solution, and it's best to have the app developer or support assist with troubleshooting either remotely or offline.

I've also found the developer's corresponding support site for you to refer to: Technical Support | Sage US

United States - Community Hub

We can contact the app's development team or support team and ask if there is an update or patch for Windows 11. Also, the development team knows what tools and dependencies these apps rely on and can better help you check.

Tips: If you have come across information such as specific error codes or screenshots from the installation process, details of error logs related to the software in the Event Viewer, etc., I recommend you to send it to them so that they can find out what may be the cause of the problem more quickly based on the error documentation.

Disclaimer: Microsoft provides no assurances and/or warranties, implied or otherwise, and is not responsible for the information you receive from the third-party linked sites or any support related to technology.

I sincerely hope that the above information and programs will help you! Please feel free to contact me (Photos related to the question would be great!).

I look forward to hearing back from you.

Best Regards

Arthur Sheng | Microsoft Community Support Specialist