Quick Tip

102-2010
 

Run A Program In Compatibility Mode

For best performance and stability, you should try wherever possible to run programs that were designed for Windows 7. But if you are having trouble running an older program, you can customize the program’s icon to run in Compatibility Mode so that it works properly with Windows 7.

To overcome problems with these older programs Windows 7 can set up an environment that simulates the operating system that the program was designed for.

TIP:  Click Start. Click All Programs. (NOTE: When you click All Programs the command name changes to Back.) Open the menu that contains the icon of the program you want to configure. (NOTE: If the program resides on a CD, DVD, or other removable media, use Windows Explorer to open the media.) Right Click on the Icon. Click Properties. When the program’s Properties dialog box appears, Click the Compatibility Tab. Click in the box next to Run This Program In Compatibility Mode. Next use the drop down menu to select the operating system the program was designed for. Click Apply or OK.

Windows 7 will run the program in Compatibility Mode each time you start it.

MORE OPTIONS:  Some older programs do not run under Windows 7 because they require fewer colors than Windows 7 displays. Many older programs can use at most 256 colors. To fix this, place a check mark next to Run In 256 Colors.

Another reason some older programs do not work with Windows 7 is they expect a screen resolution of 640 X 480. To fix this, place a check mark next to Run In 640 X 480 Screen Resolution.

NOTE:  This same feature is available in Vista and works the same way.