Configuring Software for Windows Vista - Configuring Compatibility for Other Software (Page 3 of 4 ) 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:
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.
Next: Setting compatibility options manually >>
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More By O'Reilly Media |  This article is excerpted from chapter four of the book Windows Vista: The Definitive Guide, written by William R. Stanek (O'Reilly, 2007; ISBN: 0596528000). Check it out today at your favorite bookstore. Buy this book now.
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