Open Software Solutions

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Method 1: Run the program in compatibility mode

When you select the compatibility mode option, Windows Vista emulates the selected operating system when you run that particular program.
To run the program in compatibility mode, follow these steps:

1.	Click Start, and then type the name of the program in the Start Search box.
2.	In the Programs list, right-click the program name, and then click Properties.
3.	On the Compatibility tab, click to select the Run this program in compatibility mode for check box.
4.	In the list, select an operating system, and then click OK.

If the program still does not work correctly, go to the next method.

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Method 2: Run the program as an administrator

To run the program as an administrator, follow these steps:

1.	Click Start, and then type the name of the program in the Start Search box.
2.	In the Programs list, right-click the program that you are troubleshooting, and then click Run as administrator. If you are prompted for an administrator password or for a confirmation, type the password, or click Continue.

If the program now runs correctly, the program requires administrative permissions to function. For more information about how to force a program to automatically run with administrative permissions, see the Step 2: Run the program as an administrator section of the following Microsoft Knowledge Base article:

If the program still does not work correctly, go to the next method.

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Method 3: Contact the program vendor or the hardware manufacturer

If a program will not run in Windows Vista, or a piece of hardware does not function as expected after you install Windows Vista, contact the program vendor or the hardware manufacturer for guidance about how to troubleshoot the issue. Typically, the software vendor’s Web site provides a support section that you can use, for example, to search for an error message that you may receive from the program.

Frequently, the software vendor will be able to resolve the incompatibility issue by providing one of the following resolutions:

For information about how to contact hardware and software vendors, click the appropriate article number in the following list to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

Microsoft provides third-party contact information to help you find technical support. This contact information may change without notice. Microsoft does not guarantee the accuracy of this third-party contact information.

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Advanced troubleshooting

This section is intended for advanced computer users. If you are not comfortable with advanced troubleshooting, you might want to ask someone for help or contact support. For information about how to do this, visit the following Microsoft Web site:

If you are an advanced user who has tried the steps in this article, and your issue is still not resolved, follow the steps in the following Microsoft knowledge Base article:

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For more information about Windows Vista Application Compatibility, visit the following Microsoft Web site:

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