Program not compatible with Windows 7

Question

I recently got a new computer with Windows 7 installed on it.  When I went to download my work program, I found out that it was only compatible with XP or Vista.  Is there anything I can do to make this compatible with Windows 7?

Answer 1

Hello Lyndsy33,

Without knowing what the program you are trying to install, then try the information below:

If the program is not compatible, then you may try to install and run the program in compatibility mode.

Use the following steps:

1)   Right click on the Program

2)   Click on Properties

3)   Click on Compatibility tab

4)   Select Run this program in compatibility mode and select Windows Vista or whatever operating system the program was running successfully.

Refer to the link here: Make older programs run in this version of Windows

http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows7/Make-older-programs-run-in-this-version-of-Windows

If the compatibility is not successful, then try and runthe Program Compatibility troubleshooter:

1.    Open the Program Compatibility troubleshooter by clicking theStart button.

Then click Control Panel. In the search box, type troubleshooter, and then clickTroubleshooting. Under Programs, clickRun programs made for previous versions of Windows.

2.    Follow the instructions in the troubleshooter.

If you cannot 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.

If you run Windows 7 Professional or Ultimate version, install Windows Virtual PC and Windows XP mode (http://www.microsoft.com/windows/virtual-pc/default.aspx) and execute your software in Windows XP.

If you run Windows 7 Home Premium, try VirtualBox (www.virtualbox.org) or VMware Player (www.vmware.com) or any other 3^rd party virtualization software and install a separate copy of Windows XP (either Home Edition or Professional) for that purpose.You can find virtualization software free of charge that will run on Windows 7 Home Premium.

If you still have questions, then please reply back. 

Sincerely,  

---

Marilyn

Microsoft Answers Support Engineer

Visit our Microsoft Answers Feedback Forum and let us know what you think

Answer 2

Hello,

I have windows 7 and am trying to install Zoo TYCOON 2 Marine Mania expansion, for my autistic son.  we can not change our version of windows because it will mess up the other programs running on our computer for my sons care and medical. he is having many, many outbursts because his game wont work. I have tried the suggestions on this post they don't work. the game will open and tell me its going to uninstall al files it does not give the option to install anything. If I change the version of windows it gives me various other errors and will not install. please help. the expansion itself is not compatible with windows 7 but the rest of the game I have is. with out this expansion the game wont work the same and he can not play his favorite parts. it also makes other expansions not work right and there are glitches. but only in the parts it would combine with this expansion. I really need you help and would appreciate more than just a post response. I'm hoping you can call me with the phone # associated to this account or email me please.

Thank you

Answer 3

I have a game called BLOCKS.EXE and i have had this game for about 8 yrs and has worked on every pc ive ever owned and now i cant play it, cause win 7 wont let me grr, i dont know who designed it cause my friend sent me this, and all you do is double click the exe and it opens in 1 screen, there is no install or anything....

its a fun simple game and i love it, can anyone help me get it to run on my computer????

this is what i get when i try and open it, (the version of this file is not compatible with the windows your running, check your computers system info to see rather or not you need an x86(32bit)  or x64(64bit) version of this program then contact the software publisher.)

I have had this exact thing happen.  You need to run a virtual program that allows you to run 8 and 16 bit programs.  XP supported most DOS based programs as it allowed you to run programs like BLOCK.exe that were 8 or 16 bit.   It supported them as XP was inteded to be a 32bit operating system.

As computer systems have advanced to 64 bit, people stop using 8 and 16 bit programs so the support for them has vanished.  Although the script to run this is very small, and could be included in Windows 7, they did not include it because it is useless for 99% of the population.  I believe Virtual Box will allow you to run these programs you want, however running a program in a program can be a little confusing for non technical people.

Good luck.

Answer 4

I have a game called BLOCKS.EXE and i have had this game for about 8 yrs and has worked on every pc ive ever owned and now i cant play it, cause win 7 wont let me grr, i dont know who designed it cause my friend sent me this, and all you do is double click the exe and it opens in 1 screen, there is no install or anything....

its a fun simple game and i love it, can anyone help me get it to run on my computer????

this is what i get when i try and open it, (the version of this file is not compatible with the windows your running, check your computers system info to see rather or not you need an x86(32bit)  or x64(64bit) version of this program then contact the software publisher.)

Answer 5

On Wed, 18 Aug 2010 12:39:36 +0000, Lyndsy33 wrote:

I recently got a new computer with Windows 7 installed on it.  When I went to download my work program,

"Download"? Do you mean "install"?

The word "download" means to copy a file (perhaps a program file, but

not necessarily) from a server someplace on the internet to your own

computer. Please do not mix up that word with "install," which means

to load a program on your hard drive in a form from which it can be

executed

You typically install a program from a CD, from a diskette, or from

the internet. Only in the last case, the internet, is there any

downloading involved, but even there, it's a two-step process: first

you download it from the internet, then you install it.

I found out that it was only compatible with XP or Vista.  Is there anything I can do to make this compatible with Windows 7? 

Nobody can tell you if you don't tell us what the program is. What is

it?

And how do you know it's not compatible with Windows 7? If it came out

before Windows 7 was released, it probably listed XP and Vista as what

it was compatible with, because there was no Windows 7 yet. That does

not mean it won't work under Windows 7.

I recommend that you try installing it and see whether it works.

---

Ken Blake, Microsoft MVP