Troubleshooting Application Compatibility in Microsoft Windows XP William Keener Technical Writer Gl

1
Troubleshooting Application Compatibility in
Microsoft Windows XPWilliam KeenerTechnical
WriterGlobal Services AutomationMicrosoft
Corporation
2
Changes in Windows XP That May Impact Program
Compatibility

• New Microsoft Windows version number
• Multi-user environment
• Path changes (for example, My Documents)
• ACPI standby, hibernate
• Windows File Protection
• No virtual machine (VM) for Java
• No NetBIOS
• No VxDs (virtual device drivers)
• No OS/2 or POSIX support

3
Symptoms of a Compatibility Problem

• Program does not install or run
• Program stops responding or hangs
• Program displays an error message
• Program displays improperly
• Program functionality may no longer work

4
Compatibility Features and Tools

• Setup (Winnt32 /checkupgradeonly), Upgrade
  Advisor (Q307726), and Apps.hlp
• Compatibility fixes (AppFixes or shims)
• Windows Catalog (Q295322)
• Windows Update
• Compatibility Wizard (Q301911)
• Compatibility Mode (Q292533)
• IT tools
• Application Compatibility Toolkit (Q294895)
• Application Compatibility Analyzer
• Compatibility Administrator

5
Things to Consider Before You Start
Troubleshooting

• Was the program already installed when you
  upgraded a previous version of Windows to Windows
  XP? Is your version of the program Windows
  XP-compatible?
• Is the program a 16-bit Windows (Q314495) or
  MS-DOS program? (Q314106) OS/2 or POSIX program?
  (Q308259)
• Are you a Computer Administrator?
• Are you a member of a network domain?

6
Troubleshooting Overview (Q285909)

• Look in the Windows Catalog, Windows Update, the
  Microsoft Knowledge Base, and the manufacturers
  Web site for any application compatibility
  updates or workarounds
• Uninstall and reinstall the program
• Install or run as the Computer Administrator
• Log off other users (Fast User Switching)
• Use the Program Compatibility Wizard
• Install Service Pack 1 (SP1)

7
Look in the Windows Catalog and the
Manufacturers Web Site

• Look in the Windows Catalog for compatibility
  information click Start, click Help and
  Support, and then click Find compatible hardware
  and software for Windows XP
• Designed for Windows XP
• Compatible with Windows XP
• Visit the manufacturers Web site

8
Uninstall or Reinstall and Look For Program
Updates or Workarounds

• If you upgraded from a previous version of
  Windows, try to uninstall and then reinstall the
  program in Windows XP
• Look in Windows Update for compatibility updates
  and search the Microsoft Knowledge Base for known
  issues and possible workarounds
• Contact the manufacturer or visit their Web site
  for updates, patches, workarounds, or
  compatibility information

9
Install or Run the Program as Computer
Administrator

• Limited user account problems
• Q307091, Some Programs Do Not Work If You Log On
  from Limited Account
• Q308116, User Without Administrator Rights
  Cannot Install Software

10
Log Off All Users Except the Account That Will
Install the Program

• Q301494, Some Programs May Not Create Shortcuts
  for All of the Fast User Switching Users
• Q290249, Programs Display Incorrectly After You
  Use Fast User Switching
• Q298336, Your Program or Game Can Transfer Its
  Sound to Other Users
• Q300820, Certain Programs Do Not Run
  Simultaneously on Multiple User Accounts

11
Use the Program Compatibility Wizard or
Compatibility Mode

• Warning DO NOT use Compatibility Mode to run
  older anti-virus, backup, disk utilities or other
  system programs on Windows XP
• Q301911, How to Use the Program Compatibility
  Wizard
• Q292533, How to Use Windows Application
  Compatibility Mode

12
Compatibility Properties

• Right-click program shortcut and then click
  Properties
• On the Compatibility tab, select the options you
  want to use

13
Compatibility Wizard

• Click Start, select All Programs, select
  Accessories, and then click Program Compatibility
  Wizard
• Follow the instructions

14
Install Service Pack 1 (SP1)

• Some Applications require a VM for Java
• Microsoft Visual J (Q299764) and Microsoft
  Vizact 2000 (Q286476)
• Windows XP did not include the Microsoft VM
• Microsoft VM is included in SP1
• Application compatibility updates in SP1
• Q313484, Q319580, Q308381

15
Troubleshooting Games

• Install or run as administrator (Q283576) and log
  off other users (Q298336)
• Install whole game to hard disk
• OpenGL Issues update display adapter (Q285912)
• Q327299, Cannot Use DirectPlay Programs on
  Internet After Installing SP1
• Q327979, Game Hangs or Quits Unexpectedly When
  Intro Video Clip Starts
• Run games and multimedia troubleshooter -
  hcp//help/tshoot/tsgame.htm (Q310697)

16
Application Compatibility Toolkithttp//msdn.micr
osoft.com/compatibility/

• Tools and documentation for IT Professionals and
  developers
• CompatAdmin (Q304530) apply individual
  compatibility fixes or layers (collections of
  individual fixes) and package compatibility fixes
  and layers for multiple applications into a
  single .sdb database file that can be distributed
  to other Windows XP computers
• AppVerifier (Q286568) permits developers to
  pinpoint specific problems with programs and
  possible remedies

17
CompatAdmin
18
AppVerifier
19
Coming Soon - Microsoft Application Compatibility
Analyzer for IT Professionals http//www.microsoft
.com/windowsxp/appexperience/analyzer.asp

• Creates an inventory of the applications used in
  your corporation
• Verifies the compatibility status of the
  applications against an online database
• Provides reports that can be updated, printed, or
  exported

20
Additional Resources

• Chapter 5 Installing, Uninstalling, and
  Managing Programs, Microsoft Windows XP Inside
  Out, Microsoft Press, 2001
• Compatibility resources and informationhttp//www
  .microsoft.com/windowsxp/compatibility/
• Developer support WebCasthttp//support.microsoft
  .com/default.aspx?scid/servicedesks/webcasts/wc07
  2401/wcblurb072401.asp
• Windows XP home pagehttp//www.microsoft.com/wind
  owsxp
• Windows XP Support Centerhttp//support.microsoft
  .com/default.aspx?scidfhEN-USwinxp

21
Thank you for joining us for todays Microsoft
Support WebCast. For information about all
upcoming Support WebCasts and access to the
archived content (streaming media files,
PowerPoint slides, and transcripts), visit
http//support.microsoft.com/webcasts/ We
sincerely appreciate your feedback. Please send
any comments or suggestions about the Support
WebCasts to supweb_at_microsoft.com.