Compatibility with programs from XP after a custom Vista installat

[LDL]

I've installed Windows Vista on a different partition (E:/) than the C:/
occupied by Windows XP. But I don't know how to have my old programs with
Vista. I tried to run programs in the C:/ but a lot can't work (like MS
Office), even with the compatibility program. I tried to put some in the E:/
from a DVD (backup copy), but I have the same problem.

Plus, Vista don't recognize that I have a liscence for all liscenced
software. Then, a complete program in XP becomes a demo in Windows Vista. In
short, only free programs have run in Vista, I think.

Please, answer, if you can help me.

 

[Dave]

You will have to reinstall your programs to work with Vista. There are very
few programs that can run without being "installed".

 

[Rick Rogers]

Hi,

The programs need to be installed from their original installation media to
run under the Vista installation. Installing a program creates needed
registry entries and places necessary supporting files in the system
folders. You can install them to the same folder locations as they currently
exists under XP, but you need to go through the install routine for them to
work.

--
Best of Luck,

Rick Rogers, aka "Nutcase" - Microsoft MVP

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

 

[Ken Blake, MVP]

I've installed Windows Vista on a different partition (E:/) than the C:/
occupied by Windows XP. But I don't know how to have my old programs with
Vista. I tried to run programs in the C:/ but a lot can't work (like MS
Office), even with the compatibility program. I tried to put some in the E:/
from a DVD (backup copy), but I have the same problem.

When you install a program, several things happen. One of them is that
copies its files to a folder on your hard drive; you know about that.

One other thing you may not know about is that it also creates many
registry entries it needs to run. So when you installed that program
under Windows XP, it had all its registry entries in Windows XP. and
it ran when you ran it from XP. But when you try to run it from Vista,
it now uses the Vista registry, and those registry entries aren't
there. So the program can't possibly run.

The answer is that you have to reinstall the programs under Vista.