How do I troubleshoot program compatibility problems?

Question

How do I troubleshoot program compatibility problems?

Answer 1

Most programs written for Windows Vista also work in Windows 7, but some older programs might run poorly or not at all. If a program written for an earlier version of Windows doesn't run correctly, you can try changing the compatibility settings for the program, either manually or by using the Program Compatibility troubleshooter.

To run the Program Compatibility troubleshooter:

1.      Click the Start button, and then click Control Panel.

2.       In the search box, type troubleshooter, and then click Troubleshooting.

3.      Under Programs, click Run programs made for previous versions of Windows.

4.      Follow the instructions in the troubleshooter.

If you can’t install a program, insert the installation disc for the program and, using the troubleshooter, browse to the program's setup file, usually called Setup.exe, Install.exe, or something similar. The troubleshooter is not designed to work on programs that have an .msi file name extension.

Answer 2

I was directed to Kevin's August 25 '09 reply and SvetC's December 15 '09 reply to frustrated users when I tried to get online MS help for the following:

(a) The "older" program is the 2007 Sony Ericsson PC Suite & other elements that enable synchronization of SE smart phones with PCs. It worked fine on XP w/SP 3. It even has been working on this $&)(*!@^%&*( Windows 7 64-bit HP desktop I bought this year. Now it's not working so well. I'm trying to reinstall it.

I've done all the things you suggest in the Tues. Aug. 25 response above.

I noticed that neither the SE PC Suite- nor any of the other Sony Ericsson elements- were in the troubleshooter's list of programs, so I chose "Not listed," browsed, & identified the startup .exe file.

The first time I ran the troubleshooter just to get the installed program working so I could update it, a msg said "1607: Unable to install InstallSheld Scripting Runtime," but it kept copying files and updating itself anyway for a while, til it failed.  I ran it the 2nd time w/installation disc inserted, &  got message:  "Error 1303. The installer has insufficient privileges to access this directory: ...\x86Microsoft.MSXML2_6bd6b9abf... [etc.] The installation cannot continue. Log on as an administrator or contact your..." etc. I thought I HAD chosen to run the thing as administrator; besides, I am the owner and ONLY user of this computer, and a member of the administrator group.

     So I went in to EVERY *.exe file on the original installation disc and manually checked "Run as administrator" and "Run compatible w/XP SP3." Ran the thing again trying to reinstall the program; and NOW it says  "Cannot find the program." (E:/setup.exe, a fairly simple address)

    Insult to injury:I respond to MS's automated offer of online help at this point, only to be confronted with a "Ms Support Diagnostic Tool," a window demanding "Enter the passkey provided by your support professional. Support Provider: Microsoft." The only clue provided as to what this might mean is "Read the Ms support privacy statement online," which I click. This brings up a generic privacy policy, w/no mention of a "passkey" or "support pro." So I copied the demand verbatim into the Ms site's search bar, and here I am on this page.

    Please advise.

    FYI - I hate several extremely annoying things about Windows 7, and notice there are many other  frustrated victims on these pages.  I'm learning Linux and preparing to buy a Mac. MS makes me feel like a chump.

Answer 3

After apparently successfully installing Mass Effect, I tried to run the program and it immediately loaded Mass Effect Configuration Utility and promptly sent me a message that Configuration Utility has had an error and will shut down. I then went to the Program Compatibility feature of Windows 7, which tested for compatibility and recommended running it on Windows XP SP2 settings. I tried that and ran into the exact same problem that I initially ran into - running the program sent me to Configuration Utility which had an error and shut down. 

Then I went to additional options in the compatibility troubleshooter and it flat out tells me its an incompatible application.

Brand new computer and all I can get to run on it successfully is a word processor and a browser so far.

same thing happened to me with rhapsody, this says it perfectly,,it flat out told me the program was incompatible im so mad...

Answer 4

That has been my experience. I paid almost $1,000 for a new, warrantied, quad core HP Pavilion  PC in 2010. , I thought it was powerful enough to run all my graphics. Lo and behold, because it had Windows 7, (1) the LIBRARIES **** almost drove me mad; (2) My Adobe Photoshop & Illustrator Software was incompatible- and nothing would make it compatible. (3) Same for my Nero and InCD backup & utilities-- I would have to BUY new versions. Oh, and (4) as for restoring backups of previous files made with  Win NT on WIndows XP and 2003? The geniuses at Microsoft had "forgotten" or neglected or decided not to include the NT backup/restore utility on Windows 7: so that was a no-go as well. (5) I bought a large-bed HP scanner that also did slides and negatives to go with this powerful computer, and had been given an HP colour printer to set up with it. But neither would work with this HP PC. Under warranty, techs on the other side of the world in Pakistan labored to make either the printer or the scanner function with the PC: they even ended up doing 2 OS reinstalls. In the end, they were able to make either one work, but not the other, and they said, sorry, but we don't support printers and scanners anyway, good luck with that.  Now neither works. And that's only the bare bones of the frustrations I've had with Windows 7. I've grown to hate Microsoft and their impervious culture of non-customer service. I'm learning to use Unix & Open Office & I advise you to do likewise: No way I'm going along like a mutton into Windows 8.