Most programs work well with
Windows 7. Some older ones, however, are designed exclusively for
earlier versions of Windows and won't work properly in Windows 7. In
most cases, Windows 7 will try to run a program that doesn't work, using
settings that should allow the program to run while at the same time
protecting your system. However, in a few cases, you might need to
change settings to get the program to work correctly.
1. Set the Compatibility
Locate the program you want to run, either on the Start menu or in a folder window.
Right-click the program, and choose Properties from the shortcut menu to display the program's Properties dialog box.
On the Compatibility tab, select this check box to run the program in Compatibility mode.
Specify the version of Windows for which the program was designed.
Select
the check boxes for applying the appropriate restrictions to the
display based on the program's documentation and updated notes from the
manufacturer.
Select
this check box if the program needs to access restricted content and
you're sure the program will do no harm to your computer.
Click
OK, and try running the program. If it still doesn't run, open the
Properties dialog box again and change the settings. Continue
experimenting until you get the program to work or until you're
convinced the program can't run on your computer. (If changing the
Compatibility mode or the display settings doesn't fix the problem,
check with the manufacturer for updated drivers or other fixes.)
Warning:
Running programs that
weren't designed for recent versions of Windows can cause problems—for
example, a program might start working and then lock up. Windows 7 will
usually close the stopped program for you, but if it doesn't, click the
Close button. If that doesn't work, right-click a blank spot on the
taskbar, and choose Start Task Manager from the shortcut menu. On the
Applications tab of the Task Manager dialog box, click the offending
program, and then click End Task.
