Running Older Programs

Some older programs are designed to run on earlier versions of Windows and don't work properly on Windows 7. You can set the compatibility of Windows 7 to act like an earlier version of Windows to run an older program. In addition, you can also set display resolution and color settings, and user privilege levels to provide the best level of compatibility for the program and the Windows 7 operating system. You set options in the Compatibility tab in the program's Properties dialog box.

Set Compatibility for an Older Program

1. Click the Start button, and then locate the older program.
2. Right-click the program you want to run, and then click Properties.
3. Click the Compatibility tab.
4. Select the Run this program in compatibility mode for check box.
5. Click the list arrow, and then click the version of Windows in which the program was designed.
6. Select the check boxes for applying the appropriate settings to the display, based on the program's documentation.
7. Click OK.

Tip You can test your program using the Program Compatibility troubleshooter. Click the Start button, click the Control Panel, click Programs, and then click the Run Programs Made For Previous Versions Of Windows link to start the Program Compatibility troubleshooter.