Trick software into thinking its loading on Win98 not WinXP 1

[lance59]

I have some software on 3.5 floppies that checks to see if the OS is Win95 or 98, if it is, it continues to load the software, if not it ends.

Is there a way to trick the software into thinking that the OS is Win98, so I can load the software? Once loaded I can run it in Win98 compatibility mode so it should run just fine. I just need to get it to load.

TIA

 

[jrbarnett]

Can you run the setup program under compatability mode?

Alternative: use Virtual PC to set up a virtual Windows 98 system and run it under there.

John

 

[lance59]

No, I tried that, the setup itself looks to see what OS is running, I would think in the registry. So is there a way to change the data in the registry to appear as Win 98?

 

[cpjust]

Yes, but if the program was designed specifically for Win98 and they went to all the trouble of making sure people don't install it on anything else, they may have a very good reason for doing so. Win9x & NT systems are very different, and if the install program does something bad, you might end up with an unstable or non-booting system.

 

[lance59]

Yes I understand but in this case the system was specifically built to run this program, but we did not know at the time that it would not run on Win XP. We were upgrading the machine and OS, so if it tanks it no problem.

 

[Glenn9999]

It'd take some testing to find out the method this install program is using, but it might be possible to fool it if it's querying the system for a version.

Is this a standard install program (like Installshield or Wise Installer) or a custom install?

 

[DTracy]

What you might try is to setup a 98 machine with a lan card and install the software on it. Then connect the 98 to your lan and do a p2p with the XP. Copy the program file folder from the 98 to the XP and any dll's needed. Register the program on the xp and run it--using compatibility mode if necessary.

You could also edit the install program's ini file and bypass the OS check.

 

[firewolfrl]

Download Virtual PC 2007

http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/...02-3199-48a3-afa2-2dc0b40a73b6&DisplayLang=en

Then install Windows 98 on the Virtual drive then run your software

 

[cpjust]

One place to try is in:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion

Change "CurrentVersion" from 5.1 down to whatever Win98 says. I don't have a Win98 machine to compare it to, so if you do, see what it says. You may also need to change the "ProductName" and other values also.

I'd STRONGLY suggest creating a backup image before trying this though.

Before changing any registry keys, right-click on the key you're going to change and export it to a file. When you're ready to change it back, just double-click the file and it will reset the values back the way they were.

 

[Glenn9999]

If it helps.

Version 3.51 = Windows NT 3.51
Version 4.0 = Windows 95
Version 4.10 = Windows 98
Version 4.90 = Windows ME
Version 4.0 = Windows NT 4.0
Version 5.0 = Windows 2000
Version 5.1 = Windows XP
Version 5.2 = Windows .NET Server
Version 6.0 = Windows Vista

Windows 95 and Windows NT 4.0 are delineated by a platform ID.

 

[cpjust]

I wonder why they made XP 5.1 instead of 6.0? I guess they didn't think it was a big improvement.

 

[ASG0856]

Or just heavily based on Win 2000

 

[garybritt]

Some of the suggestions here might work but they are like trying to kill a mosquito with a huge canon. Some of the other suggestions are just nonsense.

For supposed programmers and IT people not to be aware of the tools that come with Win2k/Xp and some of the other available solutions is amazing to me. Maybe I'm just too old and grouchy. Sorry.

Here from just a pretty good user/non-programmer non-IT guy.

Programs that come with Win2K/XP and are available for download from MS:

Article ID : 301911
Last Review : January 4, 2006
Revision : 5.0

How to start the Program Compatibility Wizard
To start the Program Compatibility Wizard, click Start, click Run, type hcp://system/compatctr/compatmode.htm, and click OK.

This appears to be a wizard for the Apcompat.Exe program.



>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>


Windows 2000 - Improving Compatibility/Performance guide

http://www.techspot.com/tweaks/win2k_compatiblity/index.shtml

Updated on May 21, 2001 by Thomas McGuire <mailto:thomas@3dspotlight.com>

Application Compatibility Tools

Windows 2000 comes with a utility that can trick many applications into believe they are running on an Operating System other than Windows 2000. Although not perfect, this utility can help you to install/run many applications under Windows 2000. Take the following steps to use the Windows 2000 Application Compatibility utility.

-

Insert your Windows 2000 CD. Open the Support folder on the CD.

Double click the APCOMPAT.EXE file. This will load the Application Compatibility utility.

In the Start the following program tab enter the location of the setup/executable file you wish to run, e.g. C:\Sin\Sin.exe.

Select the Operating System you need to use, e.g. Windows 98.

Click Ok to attempt to run the program.

Should this fail try Ticking one of the 4 boxes at the bottom of the screen & try again. You may want to try different combinations of Operating Systems in conjunction with this.

With Service Pack 2 installed Microsoft have added a more convenient to use application compatibility mode. Although this isn't enabled by default. To enable the use of this feature click on Start then Run. Type in the following command - regsvr32 %systemroot%\apppatch\slayerui.dll & hit Enter. Click Ok when prompted that this succeeded.

To use this feature you must have a Shortcut to launch the particular Application/Game (Obviously you shouldn't use this feature unless you have problems with the Application/Game). Right click on this shortcut & select Properties. Select the Compatibility tab.

Tick the Run in compatibility mode setting & select an Operating System from the drop-down menu (Preferably your choice will be of whatever the programs native Operating System is, e.g. if you are trying to use an NT4 program then select the Windows NT4 SP5 Compatibility Layer option first). Select Ok after you have made your selection.

Should you need to disable this feature then simply Untick Run in compatibility mode & hit Ok, or if you wish to uninstall this feature altogether (It can still be added again later using the command mentioned earlier) then click on Start, Run, type in regsvr32 /u %systemroot%\apppatch\slayerui.dll & hit Enter.


And perhaps the easiest of all to get and use. Freeware for just this purpose of lying to applications, games, about a good many things to get them to run.

http://www.resplendence.com/resolver

Magically get your incompatible programs to work on Windows XP,2000 and NT by taking them up the garden path ! Lie to incompatible programs about your Operating System, CD-Rom and disk drives, screen resolution, memory status, installed processors, volume serial numbers, current date and time and more to get around the protection which certain programmers build into their software.

Now solve these, and many other problems by deceiving your applications with Resplendent Resolver to enforce compatibility. Resplendent Resolver offers functionality similar to the programs APCOMPAT.EXE and MKCOMPAT.EXE which are distributed by Microsoft.


Hope the above helps.

Gary Britt

 

[Glenn9999]

No offense, but the original poster has stated that they tried application compatibility mode. For us "supposed programmers and IT people", yes, we do know about it. But like was said, the OP tried it, so it's not an option.

I might have a look at the other program, though. Can always use something, as long as it provides the same functionality as the DOS setver did (which was what I was suggesting before). If not, back to square one. The app. compatibility mode does *NOT* provide the equivalent functionality of SETVER.

 

[cpjust]

Here's another crazy idea in case none of the other suggestions work.

Install Win98.
Install the program.
Install XP and tell it to upgrade the existing Win98.

I don't know if XP even supports upgrading such an ancient OS, but if it can, it sounds like it should work.

 

[firewolfrl]

I still think My Idea will work the best for lance59
The program is free and when he runs 98 his program will only see the 98 and nothing else and should run the way it was designed too

 

[garybritt]

Glenn9999

You'll like resolver and should find its far more powerful than apcompat.exe, etc. Its also free. I think it was made for exactly this guy's problem.

Gary Britt

 

[cpjust]

Virtual PC is free?

What's the difference between using Virtual PC and VMWare anyways? Is one more efficient than the other...?

 

[firewolfrl]

Vmware has way more options....I personally think it uses ram a little bit better...and costs alot more than free...LOL

I use VMware in one partition of windows that I don't have to sync my PDA...For some reason the extra network stuff Vmware installs causes some issues.

On a second drive I have a clone of my Windows that I use Virtual PC 2007 and I have no issues of PDA sync

other than that it seems to work pretty good for running an old Windows 3.1 that I play an OLD game with. I also have some old 98 stuff that does not play well with XP

 

[Glenn9999]

I tried out Resplendent Resolver just now and it locked access to an opendialog call in the program that I tried it with. From reading the docs, it seems to only guarantee compatibility with Windows 2000 at the most. So if you're on XP, be very wary of it.