What does compatability mode actually do?

  • Thread starter Thread starter R
  • Start date Start date
R

R

As per the subject line:

What does compatability mode actually do?

The fullest description I've found so far:

"Runs the program using settings from a
previous version of Windows."

In nuts and bolts terms, what does that mean?

Thanks,

R.
 
Richard G. Harper said:
Start here, links to other articles with more info.

http://windowshelp.microsoft.com/Windows/en-us/help/
bf416877-c83f-4476-a3da-8ec98dcf5f101033.mspx
Click to expand...

As I wrote before, that is where I got my first quote
from. If I need to diagnose a problem, the information
on that page is far too shallow and vague to be of any
use whatsoever.

For example, with reference to this:

"Runs the program using settings from a previous version
of Windows."

Which settings are those, then?
 
Essentially, compatibility mode creates a virtual environment for the
software to run in that matches the environment it would encounter in a
previous version of Windows. This layer translates the software's requests
(resources, system files, folder locations, etc.) so that it doesn't
necessarily have to meet Vista's programming requirements. If you encounter
a problem, there's not much you can do to alter this layer, as there are
limitations as to what it can do with hard-coded commands and services that
are not compatible.

--
Best of Luck,

Rick Rogers, aka "Nutcase" - Microsoft MVP

Windows help - www.rickrogers.org
My thoughts http://rick-mvp.blogspot.com
 
Rick Rogers said:
Essentially, compatibility mode creates a virtual environment for the
software to run in that matches the environment it would encounter in a
previous version of Windows. This layer translates the software's requests
(resources, system files, folder locations, etc.) so that it doesn't
necessarily have to meet Vista's programming requirements. If you encounter
a problem, there's not much you can do to alter this layer, as there are
limitations as to what it can do with hard-coded commands and services that
are not compatible.
Click to expand...

Ok, thanks.
 
R said:
Ok, thanks.
Click to expand...

One thing it did for me was while running the software for my HP Scanjet
5470c, the select buttons would give me script errors so the buttons would
not work. After setting it to compatibility mode, the buttons functioned
normally.

Clark
 
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