What is program compatibility?

Program compatibility is a mode in Windows that lets you run programs written for earlier versions of Windows. Most programs written for Windows Vista also work in this version of Windows, but some older programs might run poorly or not run at all. If an older program doesn't run correctly, start the Program Compatibility troubleshooter to simulate earlier versions of Windows.

Click to open the Program Compatibility troubleshooter.

Notes
Do not use the Program Compatibility troubleshooter on older antivirus programs, disk utilities, or other system programs, because using outdated programs of this type might cause data loss or create a security risk.

Some compatibility problems might be caused by drivers. If an older driver is causing problems, you'll need to update it manually. For more information, see Update drivers: recommended links.

You can also open the Program Compatibility troubleshooter by right-clicking a program's icon or shortcut and then clicking Troubleshoot compatibility.