Running Older Programs on Windows XP
Most programs run properly on Windows XP. The exceptions are some older games and other programs that were written specifically for an earlier version of Windows. These programs may run poorly or not at all after you first upgrade to Windows XP. You may have heard this referred to as application compatibility issues or program compatibility issues.
In most cases, Windows XP allows you to get these programs working again, using a feature called Program Compatibility Mode. Program Other programs that may not run properly on Windows XP include specialized drivers that are incompatible with Windows XP. Only an update from the manufacturer can resolve incompatible driver problems.
Most importantly, you make no tradeoff. You do not give up any of the new features and excellent performance in Windows XP. Compatibility Mode applies small pieces of code that support these older programs so they'll work with Windows XP.
Note: Other programs that may not run properly on Windows XP include specialized drivers that are incompatible with Windows XP. Only an update from the manufacturer can resolve incompatible driver problems.
How to Tell if Your Program is Incompatible
You can often identify compatibility issues by error messages such as that shown in Figure 1 below. In other cases, a program may not start, or it may perform erratically, with no error message to explain it. If you’re having trouble running an application that worked on an older version of Windows, use the Program Compatibility Wizard to find the specific issue and available fixes
Figure 1. Error messages make it easier to identify compatibility issues.
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