Vista Backward Compatibility Question

[Andy Hauss]

My sister wants to get a piece of software for her computer which runs
Windows Vista. On the site description it says that the software is
compatible with Windows 98 / XP / NT / ME. Will she be able to run it
on her Vista computer?

 

[Gordon]

My sister wants to get a piece of software for her computer which runs
Windows Vista. On the site description it says that the software is
compatible with Windows 98 / XP / NT / ME. Will she be able to run it on
her Vista computer?

Probably but not necessarily. Is there a User forum for this application? If
so ask the question there...

 

[Rick Rogers]

Hi,

Much older software will run without issue. Best place to ask that question
would be in a support forum provided by the software vendor. Possible
problems include software that relies on older driver files, and software
that expects to write to protected system folders. The first problem is
difficult to overcome as driver files need to be supported under the OS they
are run from. The second can often be overcome by running an application
elevated (meaning to run it with explicit administrative privileges).

--
Best of Luck,

Rick Rogers, aka "Nutcase" - Microsoft MVP

Windows help - www.rickrogers.org
My thoughts http://rick-mvp.blogspot.com

 

[Andy Hauss]

Hi,

Much older software will run without issue. Best place to ask that
question would be in a support forum provided by the software vendor.
Possible problems include software that relies on older driver files,
and software that expects to write to protected system folders. The
first problem is difficult to overcome as driver files need to be
supported under the OS they are run from. The second can often be
overcome by running an application elevated (meaning to run it with
explicit administrative privileges).

Thanks for the help, guys.

I will email Logic 3 and ask them if it will work, unfortunately there
is no forum for a quick answer.

Well, I will wait and see if Logic 3 can confirm for me, if not I
she'll maybe just have to risk.

The software is a game called "Dance Dance Dance" incase anyone has had
any experience with it.

Andy

 

[Ken Blake, MVP]

My sister wants to get a piece of software for her computer which runs
Windows Vista. On the site description it says that the software is
compatible with Windows 98 / XP / NT / ME. Will she be able to run it
on her Vista computer?

Since you haven't told us the name of the program, there's no way to
be sure, but most such software will run under Vista. It's very
possible that the sentence saying "compatible with Windows 98 / XP /
NT / ME" was written before Vista or even XP was available.

To be sure, either tell us the name of the program, or ask its vendor.

 

[Mike Hall - MVP]

Thanks for the help, guys.

I will email Logic 3 and ask them if it will work, unfortunately there is
no forum for a quick answer.

Well, I will wait and see if Logic 3 can confirm for me, if not I she'll
maybe just have to risk.

The software is a game called "Dance Dance Dance" incase anyone has had
any experience with it.

Andy

The version shown here..

http://www.amazon.co.uk/PC-Dance-Mat-Game-CD/dp/B0000C4JS4

... will run on XP, so there is a chance that it may work..

 

[Andy Hauss]

Since you haven't told us the name of the program, there's no way to
be sure, but most such software will run under Vista. It's very
possible that the sentence saying "compatible with Windows 98 / XP /
NT / ME" was written before Vista or even XP was available.

To be sure, either tell us the name of the program, or ask its vendor.

Hi Ken,

It's a game called Dance Dance Dance made by Logic 3.

Andy.

 

[Earle Horton]

You will just have to try it. I have an application written for 98/NT that
runs dandy on Vista. The first time I install and run it, Vista says there
are "known compatibility issues" but I haven't seen any. I figure the
notice is a plot by the vendor and MSFT, to get me to buy a newer version.

Earle

 

[Andy Hauss]

You will just have to try it. I have an application written for 98/NT
that runs dandy on Vista. The first time I install and run it, Vista
says there are "known compatibility issues" but I haven't seen any. I
figure the notice is a plot by the vendor and MSFT, to get me to buy a
newer version.

Earle

OK guys, thanks for all the help. I guess she'll just have to try it
and see what happens.

Thanks again.

Andy.

 

[Ken Blake, MVP]

Hi Ken,

It's a game called Dance Dance Dance made by Logic 3.

Sorry, I know next to nothing about games, and I've never even heard
of that one. If nobody else here can answer the question, ask its
vendor. Or just try it.

 

[Patrick Keenan]

My sister wants to get a piece of software for her computer which runs
Windows Vista. On the site description it says that the software is
compatible with Windows 98 / XP / NT / ME. Will she be able to run it on
her Vista computer?

It's hard to say. You'll have to do one of three things:

1) contact the program vendor and ask the question.

2) try it. Trial versions are often excellent for this purpose.

3) Ask the question again, this time revealing the identity of the software.
Perhaps someone else has tried it.

HTH
-pk

 

[Mick Murphy]

You can right-click on the setup.exe of the Game>Properties>Compatibility
Tab> install in XP SP2, etc.......