Most programs run properly on Windows XP. The main exceptions are some older games and other programs that were written specifically for an earlier version of Windows. These programs may run poorly or not at all after you first upgrade to Windows XP. But in most cases, you can use a Compatibility Mode in Windows XP and get these programs working again. Other programs that may not run properly on Windows XP include specialized drivers that are incompatible with Windows XP. Only an update from the manufacturer can resolve incompatible driver problems.

Most importantly, you make no tradeoff. You do not give up any of the new features and excellent performance in Windows XP. Compatibility Mode applies small pieces of code that support these older programs so they will work with Windows XP.

Often, you can identify compatibility issues by error messages such as that shown in Figure 1 below. In other cases, a program may not start, or it may perform erratically, with no error message to explain it. Then you should use the Program Compatibility Wizard to find the specific issue and available fixes.

The Program Compatibility Wizard

You should run the Program Compatibility Wizard before you try other ways of updating your programs or drivers because it identifies compatibility fixes written specifically for Windows XP. If the wizard does not solve your problem, you can try other steps listed at the end of this article.

If a compatibility problem prevents you from installing a program on Windows XP, run the Program Compatibility Wizard on the setup file for the program. The file may be called Setup.exe or something similar, and is probably located on the Installation disc for the program.

To run the Program Compatibility Wizard

1.            Start the Program Compatibility Wizard. (Click Start, click Help and Support, click Fixing a problem, click Application and software problems, under Fix a problem click Getting older programs to run on Windows XP, and then click the Program Compatibility Wizard link in the instructions.)
 

2.            Follow the instructions in the wizard.

The wizard prompts you to test your program in different modes and with various settings. For example, if the program was originally designed to run on Windows 95, set the compatibility mode to Windows 95, as shown in Figure 2 below, and try running your program again. The wizard also allows you to try different settings, such as switching the display to 256 colors and the screen resolution to 640 x 480 pixels. The wizard will launch your program with the selected settings, and allow you to test how the program works. The final page of the wizard enables you to select whether to permanently apply the compatibility settings, abandon the changes, or save them and run the wizard again to apply different settings. It is likely that you will need to repeat this process until you find the correct compatibility mode.

Use the Program Compatibility Wizard to set a program to Windows 95 compatibility mode.

As an alternative to running the Program Compatibility Wizard, you can set the compatibility properties for a program manually.

To set the compatibility properties for a program manually

�                     Right-click the program icon on your desktop or the shortcut on the Start menu for the program you want to run, and then click Properties.
 

�                     Click the Compatibility tab, and change the compatibility settings for your program.

The Compatibility tab is only available for programs installed on your hard drive. Although you can run the Program Compatibility Wizard on programs or setup files on a CD-ROM or floppy disk, your changes will not remain in effect after you close the program. For more information about an option on the Compatibility tab, right-click the option and then click What's This.

Update Your Program or Drivers

If your program does not run correctly after testing it with the Program Compatibility Wizard, check the Web for updates or other fixes.

�                     Check the Web site of the program's manufacturer to see if an update or patch is available.
 

�                     Check Windows Update to see if a fix is available for the program. Click Home on the menu bar of Help and Support Center, then click Windows Update in the right pane.
 

If the program is a game that uses DirectX, ensure that you are using the latest version of DirectX. In addition, check the Web site of the manufacturer of your video card or sound card to see if newer drivers are available for either of them.