Nothing compatible

[xwb]

I was going to lend my wife my W8-64 PC. She needed some old W95/XP-32 programs. When I tried running them, W8-64 said it wasn't compatible. It went into compatibility mode and I tried the various options and it still wasn't compatible. These programs work fine on W7-64.

OK, maybe W95 was a bit old so and possibly 16-bit so I tried stuff that came out for XP, like the software for my scanner. Still not compatible! Works fine on W7, why not on W8? It goes through all the different compatibility modes and comes up with "Find a W8 compatible version of the software". It does that on almost everything. Maybe that was a 64 bit problem so I popped up SysWOW64\cmd and ran it from there. Still not compatible!

It feels very much like someone has been really lazy and given all the options but not really done anything behind and just replying that everything is incompatible.

I don't really want to go through the pain of starting up the pc, starting up the VM then running the software and then shutting down/suspending the VM before switching off the PC. Right now that is the only way and it is really painful. I don't really want to autostart hypervisor everytime because sometimes I don't need it and it makes shutting down that much longer.

The question is: other than using hypervisor or a VM, is there any way of running XP compatible software on W8?

 

[2ffat]

Welcome to the Wonderful World of Windows 8. My understanding is, yes, some of the older, outdated parts of Windows was removed from Windows 8 so you may have run into those missing parts. I also understand that if you load Windows 7 in a virtual machine that you might be able to run those kinds of programs. I haven't done it so this is may be hearsay.


James P. Cottingham
I'm number 1,229!
I'm number 1,229!

 

[linney]

I guess it is a matter of luck with some older programs as to whether they run or don't. It is harder with third party software such as your scanner software which may require suitable drivers and software to work correctly. Have you checked for updated drivers and software? You wouldn't be the first person required to upgrade to newer hardware when changing operating systems.


I still have some Windows 95 Photo Editing software that happily runs in Windows 8, 8.1, and 10.



See if this free trial software works for you.

VueScan Scanner Software

http://www.hamrick.com/

List of limitations in 64-Bit Windows

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx/kb/282423#appliesto

Windows 8 Compatibility Center

http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/compatibility/win8/CompatCenter/Home?Language=en-US

Windows 8 compatibility

http://www.microsoft.com/business/en-ie/whats-new/pages/article.aspx?cbcid=71#

See Control Panel\All Control Panel Items\Troubleshooting\Programs\ Program Compatibility Troubleshooter


FAQ's on Compatibility

http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/compatibility/win8/CompatCenter/FAQ?Length=12

 

[strongm]

This may be of some assistance

 

[xwb]

Thanks - I wonder if there is a reverse lookup. Run the old code, it tells you what to switch on. You switch it on and try running again and it tells you what else to switch on ad nauseam until the code finally runs. Guess that's wishful thinking but I'll have a go anyway.

 

[goombawaho]

At some point, not sure what that is for everyone, we all have to move on from this or that hardware/software due to compatibility issues. That was the option you didn't list.

"Living tomorrow is everyone's sorrow.
Modern man's daydreams have turned into nightmares.

 

[xwb]

I normally use things until they break or will no longer start. Laptops seem to break or have a shorter life so they get replaced more often. Unfortunately software doesn't really break and if it does exactly what you want, there is no reason to change, other than, of course it won't run on the new OS.

What's surprising is that even some statically linked stuff built on say something like VC6 doesn't run on W8.

 

[goombawaho]

Forced obsolescence - you can't fight it.

"Living tomorrow is everyone's sorrow.
Modern man's daydreams have turned into nightmares.