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XP Compatibility Mode in Windows 7

Can anyone explain how in Win 7 you can use the XP compatibility mode to access and use a program that is XP but not Win 7 compatible?

A client has a program developed that uses Access but the program was designed for XP. He has now a newer version of Access and would like to put the program on his new laptop which has Win 7.

What are the possibilities?

SOLUTION

johnb6767

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ASKER CERTIFIED SOLUTION

jcimarron

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Mags

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Thank you once again John!! Boy you sure have been coming to my rescue alot the last couple of weeks! No wonder you are in the top Hall of Famers!!

Let me test this out, then I will try it with my clients computer early next week.

Can we keep this open until then?

SOLUTION

willcomp

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Mags

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Let me clarify...sorry...He has already installed Access (I assume 2010) on his laptop but wishes to be able to run another program that does not seem to be compatible with Win 7.

Maybe I should have him run MS compatibility scan first to make double sure...but then even if that passes he may not be able to run it on a 64bit system.

With XP Compatibility mode would that be an issue? 32 vs 64 bit?

willcomp

64 bit or 32 bit Win 7 should not make any difference except for device drivers.

jcimarron

This what MS offers to determine software and hardware compatibiity with Win 7.
http://www.microsoft.com/windows/compatibility/windows-7/en-us/default.aspx
https://winqual.microsoft.com/hcl/Default.aspx?WqWlidSsar=1

Mags

ASKER

jcimarron: Thanks for the above and your first posting...I re-read it. I first of all need to find out which version of Win 7 he has...guess XP compatibility mode does not work with the home version.

Mags

ASKER

So jcimarron: if his program is able to load doing as you suggested above:

Right click the .exe of the program then Properties and on the Compatibility tab chose the compatibilty setting you want.

Should this allow him to run a program in Win 7 (even if it is Home) that he was able to run in Windows XP?
Thanks for your help...this is new to me; running older programs in Win 7.

willcomp: I know almost nothing about Access. Do programs use it to create databases? Sounds like it must integrate Access into the program...am I way off?

willcomp

I'm no Access guru -- there are plenty on EE though -- but developers can package Access databases using the run time module. That results in a stand alone application which does not need Access itself installed. If your client has such a packaged application, there should be an Access database file included in the files and it will have a .mdb extension. With Access installed, one can open the .mdb file directly.

Compatibility mode is included in all versions of Windows 7.

XP Mode must be installed using Windows Virtual PC.

Try compatibility mode first -- it's the easiest approach.

SOLUTION

jcimarron

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Mags

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Thanks for the help guys...it is truly appreciated. I'll let you know how it goes!
Mags

jcimarron

MagsMcKinley14--Have you had any success?

Mags

ASKER

Sorry to get back so late. We tried the above and he was getting error messages about missing.dll files. Since I am so inexperienced with Access I turned it over to a more experienced tech. Thanks for you assistance in increaseing my knowledge and for all your help.