Most software programs written for Windows 2000 or later are made available automatically to all users on a computer. This occurs because the software writes to areas of the registry and filesystem available to all users, and because the software makes its program shortcuts available to all users. During installation, some software programs prompt you to choose whether you want to install the software for all users or only for the currently logged-on user. Other programs—typically older programs written for Windows 98 or earlier—install themselves only for the current user.
For software that requires per-user configurations, you can make the software available to multiple users by completing the following steps:
Log on to the computer using an account that should have access to the program.
Install the software using its Setup program.
Repeat this process for each user.
For software that doesn’t require per-user configuration, you can make the software available to all users on your computer by completing the following steps:
Log on as the user who installed the program.
Right-click the Start button and select Explore. This starts Windows Explorer with the currently logged-on user’s Start Menu folder selected.
Under Programs, right-click the folder for the program group or the shortcut you want to work with and then select Copy.
Right-click the Start button and select Explore All Users. This starts Windows Explorer with the Start Menu folder for all users selected.
Right-click Programs and then select Paste. The program group or shortcut should now be available to all users of the computer.
Repeat steps 2–5 as necessary to copy all the related program groups and shortcuts for the software application.
You can make a program available only to you rather than to all users by completing these steps:
Log on using your account.
Right-click the Start button and select Explore All Users. This starts Windows Explorer with the Start Menu folder for all users selected.
Select Programs, right-click the folder for the program group or shortcut that you want to work with, and select Cut.
Right-click the Start button and select Explore. This starts Windows Explorer with your Start Menu folder selected.
Right-click Programs and then select Paste. The program group or shortcut should now be available only to you.
Repeat steps 2–5 as necessary to copy all the related program groups and shortcuts for the software application.
Moving the software’s program group or shortcuts doesn’t prevent other users from running the program; it simply hides the program from other users. They may still be able to start the software from Windows Explorer.
Windows Vista cannot run MS-DOS or 16-bit programs that require direct access to your computer’s hardware or that require 16-bit drivers. Windows Vista can run only MS-DOS or 16-bit programs that don’t require direct access to your computer’s hardware and that don’t require 16-bit drivers.
When you run an MS-DOS or 16-bit program, Windows Vista performs some compatibility tasks automatically. Under MS-DOS and 16-bit filesystems, filenames and directory names are restricted to eight characters with a three-character file extension, such as Chapter3.txt. This naming convention is often referred to as the 8.3 file-naming rule or the standard MS-DOS file-naming rule. MS-DOS and 16-bit folder paths are similarly restricted. On the other hand, the filesystems used with Windows Vista support long filenames with up to 255 characters. To help ensure that MS-DOS and 16-bit applications are compatible with your computer, Windows Vista translates between long and short filenames to ensure that your computer’s filesystems are protected when an MS-DOS or 16-bit program modifies files and folders.
Windows Vista runs these MS-DOS and 16-bit programs using a virtual machine that mimics the 386-enhanced mode used by the original operating systems for which these programs were developed: Windows 3.0 and Windows 3.1. Unlike earlier Windows releases, Windows Vista runs multiple MS-DOS and 16-bit programs within a single virtual machine. Although each program is managed using a separate thread, all the programs share a common memory space. As a result, if one MS-DOS or 16-bit program fails, it usually means others running on the computer will fail as well.
You can help prevent one 16-bit or MS-DOS program from causing another to fail by running it in a separate memory space. Although running a program in a separate memory space uses additional memory, you’ll usually find that the program is more responsive. Another added benefit is that you’ll be able to run multiple instances of the program—as long as all the instances are running in separate memory spaces.
To configure a 16-bit or MS-DOS program to run in a separate memory space, complete the following steps.
Right-click the program’s shortcut or menu option and then select Properties. This opens the program’s Properties dialog box.
On the Shortcut tab, click the Advanced button. This displays the Advanced Properties dialog box.
Select the “Run in separate memory space” checkbox.
Click OK twice to close all open dialog boxes and save the changes.
Windows Vista warns you if you try to install a program with a known compatibility issue and opens the Program Compatibility Assistant to help you resolve the problem. Sometimes, however, a program won’t install or it will install but won’t run, and you won’t know why. To get the program to install or run you’ll need to adjust its compatibility settings, and Windows Vista provides two ways of doing this:
Using the Program Compatibility Wizard to configure compatibility settings for you
Editing a program’s compatibility settings yourself
Although both techniques work the same way, the Program Compatibility Wizard is the only way you can change compatibility settings for programs that are on shared network drives, CD or DVD drives, or other types of removable media drives. The capability to work with various types of media allows the Program Compatibility Wizard to install programs that otherwise would not install.
Running the Program Compatibility Wizard
The Program Compatibility Wizard is similar to the Program Compatibility Assistant. The key differences between the two are:
Windows Vista runs the Program Compatibility Assistant automatically when you try to install a program with a known compatibility issue.
The Program Compatibility Wizard is a feature that you can use if you suspect a compatibility issue is preventing you from installing or running a program.
You can start and use the Program Compatibility Wizard by completing the following steps:
Click Start -> All Programs -> Accessories and then select Program Compatibility Wizard. If this option is not available, click Start -> Help and Support. In the Help and Support console, type Program Compatibility Wizard into the Search box and then press Enter. Click Start the Program Compatibility Wizard or a similar option and then click the “Click to open the Program Compatibility Wizard” link.
Read the welcome message and then click Next. As shown in Figure 4-3, specify how you want to locate the program you would like to run with compatibility settings. You can:
Choose from a list of programs
Typically, you’ll use this option if you are configuring compatibility for a program you installed but which won’t run or runs with errors. If you choose this option and click Next, Windows Vista searches your computer for all program executables and allows you to choose one of the programs it finds.
Use the program in the CD-ROM or other removable media drive
Typically, you’ll use this option to help you install or run a program on a CD or DVD. If you choose this option and click Next, Windows Vista lets you configure compatibility options for the program in your computer’s CD or DVD drive.
Locate the program manually
Typically, you’ll choose this option if neither of the other options works, and you want to browse files and folders to find the program you want to work with. If you want to use this option, click Next and then click Browse. You can then use the Please Select Application dialog box to locate the program’s executable file, which can be an .exe, .com, .pif, .cmd, .bat, or .lnk file.
Figure 4-3. Specifying how you want to locate the program
Choose the operating system for which the program was designed and then click Next. When running the program, Windows Vista will simulate the environment for the operating system you choose. As Figure4-4 indicates, the choices are:
Windows 95
Windows NT 4.0 with Service Pack 5
Windows 98/Windows Me
Windows 2000
Windows XP with Service Pack 2
Choose the required display settings and then click Next. If you are trying to run a game, a multimedia program, or any other program that requires specific display settings, you’ll need to specify the required display settings. As shown in Figure 4-5, these options are:
256 colors
Restricts your computer to 8-bit, 256-color video display when running the program. This setting is often required with games, multimedia, and educational software developed for Windows 95/Windows 98.
640 x 480 screen resolution
Resizes the screen to 640 × 480 pixels when you run the program. This setting is often required with games, multimedia, and educational software developed for Windows 95/Windows 98.
Figure 4-4. Specifying the operating system for which the program was developed
Disable visual themes
Turns off themes and user experience settings while running the program to allow text on the program’s menus and buttons to display without modification. Use this option if you have problems reading or accessing menus and buttons within the program and you want the program to use Windows Vista Basic experience settings.
Disable desktop composition
Turns off desktop composition while running the program to prevent conflicts, such as those that may occur when your desktop background uses colors in one way and the program uses colors in another way. Use this option to correct problems with the display, and particularly with the way the program uses colors.
Disable display scaling on high DPI settings
Turns off scaling when your monitor uses a display setting with a high number of dots per inch (dpi). Use this option if the program’s windows appear to be stretched and you want them to appear normally.
By selecting “256 colors,” 640 × 480 Screen Resolution, or both, you are restricting the video display. This can help with programs that have problems running at higher screen resolutions and color depths. You can also disable themes, desktop compositing, and display scaling on high dpi settings.
Figure 4-5. Setting compatibility options for the display
Many programs developed for earlier versions of Windows need to run with elevated privileges to function properly. If you suspect this is the case with the program you are configuring, and you are logged on using an Administrator account, select the “Run as administrator” checkbox.
If you are not logged on as an administrator, you will not be able to select the “Run as administrator” checkbox. Instead, when you finish configuring compatibility options, right-click the program’s menu item or shortcut and then select Properties. In the Properties dialog box, click the Compatibility tab, select the “Run this program as an administrator” checkbox, and then click OK. The program will then always attempt to run elevated privileges and prompt you for permission or consent as appropriate. If the “Run this program as an administrator” checkbox is dimmed, you are not logged on as an administrator. You can work around this by clicking the “Show settings for all users” button and providing credentials when prompted. You will then be able to configure compatibility options for all users and select the “Run this program as an administrator” checkbox.
Click Next twice. The wizard will then run the program to test the compatibility settings. When this process finishes, you are prompted to specify whether the program worked correctly. You have three options:
Yes, set this program to always use these compatibility settings
Click this option if the program runs correctly and you want to use the compatibility settings you configured.
No, try different compatibility settings
Click this option if the program doesn’t run correctly and you want to change the compatibility settings starting with step 3.
No, I am finished trying compatibility settings
Click this option if the program doesn’t run correctly and you want to exit the wizard rather than trying to use different compatibility settings. If your computer’s display settings are reset, don’t panic. Click Start -> Control Panel. In the Control Panel, click Adjust Screen Resolution under Appearance and Personalization. Click the Display Settings dialog box and drag it up so that you can see the OK, Cancel, and Apply buttons. Drag the Resolution slider to the right, choosing an appropriate higher resolution. The colors should adjust upward automatically. Click OK. If these settings improve the display, click Yes when prompted to save the settings. If necessary, access the Display Settings dialog box again to fine-tune your display settings.
Click Next. Choose whether to send compatibility data to Microsoft. Click Next and then click Finish to exit the wizard.
Rather than using the Program Compatibility Wizard, you can manually configure compatibility settings. This is handy if you want to edit the settings after you configured them using the wizard.
You can set compatibility options manually by completing the following steps:
Right-click the program’s shortcut icon and then select Properties.
Select the Compatibility tab, as shown in Figure 4-6. You cannot run programs that are part of the Windows Vista operating system in compatibility mode. Because of this, the options are unavailable for built-in programs.
By default, compatibility options you set are for yourself only. If you want to set compatibility options for all users, click the “Show settings for all users” button, and provide consent or credentials when prompted. You will then be able to configure compatibility options for all users.
Figure 4-6.Choosing the compatibility options to enable
Select the “Run this program in compatibility mode for” checkbox and then use the selection menu to choose the operating system for which the program is designed.
Optionally, use the options in the Settings panel to restrict the video display settings for the program. Select 256 colors, 640 × 480 screen resolution, or both, as required.
Optionally, disable themes, desktop compositing, display scaling on high dpi settings, or all three, as required.
Select the “Run as administrator” checkbox if you want the program to run elevated.
Click OK. Double-click the shortcut to run the program and test the compatibility settings. If you still have problems running the program, you might need to modify the compatibility settings again.
Please check back next week for the continuation of this article.
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Installing, Configuring, and Maintaining Software
