Article ID: 2492386 - Last Review: April 27, 2012 - Revision: 4.0

Application Compatibility Update for Windows XP, Windows Server 2003, Windows Vista, Windows Server 2008, Windows 7, and Windows Server 2008 R2: April 2011

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INTRODUCTION

The Windows Application Compatibility Update is a software update that improves the compatibility experience in the following Microsoft Windows operating systems:
  • Windows XP
  • Windows Server 2003
  • Windows Vista
  • Windows Server 2008
  • Windows 7
  • Windows Server 2008 R2
Microsoft regularly releases application compatibility updates for these Windows operating systems.
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The kinds of issues that are resolved by application compatibility updates

When you try to install and run certain legacy games or applications, you may experience one or more of the following symptoms:
  • The game, the application, or the firmware is installed incorrectly.
  • The game, the application, or the firmware causes system instability.
  • The primary functions of the game, of the application, or of the firmware do not work correctly.
Note Click here to view more information about this update in the "More Information" section.
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MORE INFORMATION

Update information

You can install this update from Windows Update or from the Microsoft Download Center.

Windows Update

To immediately install this update, click Start, point to All Programs, and then click Windows Update. In the navigation pane, click Check for updates, and then follow the steps to install all recommended updates.

Microsoft Download Center

The following files are available for download from the Microsoft Download Center:
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Operating systemUpdate
All supported x86-based versions of Windows XP
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Download
Download the update package now. (http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyId=186edb1c-4d75-480e-aadc-cede88d9b047)
All supported x64-based versions of Windows XP
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Download
Download the update package now. (http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyId=538e7433-717b-4ac5-ba6a-dd4cbe273cb5)
All supported x86-based versions of Windows Server 2003
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Download
Download the update package now. (http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyId=ffb27e71-605d-4705-bb5f-2288f235ae15)
All supported x64-based versions of Windows Server 2003
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Download
Download the update package now. (http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyId=8bf510c9-b01b-4538-bf96-47f74e3b6de5)
All supported IA-64-based versions of Windows Server 2003
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Download
Download the update package now. (http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyId=7187cd9f-b16e-41db-a21f-849ebe3cc4db)
All supported x86-based versions of Windows Vista
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Download
Download the update package now. (http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyId=0248ea5f-9fd5-4e75-800b-6b4d31b2bce2)
All supported x64-based versions of Windows Vista
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Download
Download the update package now. (http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyId=bca99491-8afc-4a43-a42b-53b5e4c244fd)
All supported x86-based versions of Windows Server 2008
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Download
Download the update package now. (http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyId=d71ce881-449f-4adf-b130-cdafad515b01)
All supported x64-based versions of Windows Server 2008
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Download
Download the update package now. (http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyId=cabb0593-1b7d-4073-afc4-4bb434367586)
All supported IA-64-based versions of Windows Server 2008
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Download
Download the update package now. (http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyId=e3d38b36-3da4-4a29-893a-d2d9a32c0e6d)
All supported x86-based versions of Windows 7
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Download
Download the update package now. (http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyId=773089aa-359e-4b03-a5e0-0711f1b7f7ea)
All supported x64-based versions of Windows 7
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Download
Download the update package now. (http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyId=310106b1-81c3-4702-b0c0-8ae584aa17ee)
All supported x64-based versions of Windows Server 2008 R2
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Download
Download the update package now. (http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyId=c87aa62d-5397-4a3f-84ae-3da5d79c44af)
All supported IA-64-based versions of Windows Server 2008 R2
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Download
Download the update package now. (http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyId=6bdc630e-6b5b-4cd4-8480-1138b18d9906)
For more information about how to download Microsoft support files, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:
119591  (http://support.microsoft.com/kb/119591/ ) How to obtain Microsoft support files from online services
Microsoft scanned this file for viruses. Microsoft used the most current virus-detection software that was available on the date that the file was posted. The file is stored on security-enhanced servers that help prevent any unauthorized changes to the file.

Prerequisites

To apply this hotfix, you must be running one of the following operating systems:
  • Windows XP Service Pack 3 (SP3)
  • Windows Server 2003 Service Pack 2 (SP2)
  • Windows Vista Service Pack 1 (SP1)
  • Windows Vista Service Pack 2 (SP2)
  • Windows Server 2008
  • Windows Server 2008 Service Pack 2 (SP2)
  • Windows 7
  • Windows 7 Service Pack 1 (SP1)
  • Windows Server 2008 R2
  • Windows Server 2008 R2 Service Pack 1 (SP1)
For more information about how to obtain a Windows XP service pack, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:
322389  (http://support.microsoft.com/kb/322389/ ) How to obtain the latest Windows XP service pack
For more information about how to obtain a Windows Server 2003 service pack, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:
889100  (http://support.microsoft.com/kb/889100/ ) How to obtain the latest service pack for Windows Server 2003
For more information about how to obtain a Windows Vista service pack, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:
935791  (http://support.microsoft.com/kb/935791/ ) How to obtain the latest Windows Vista service pack
For more information about how to obtain a Windows Server 2008 service pack, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:
968849  (http://support.microsoft.com/kb/968849/ ) How to obtain the latest service pack for Windows Server 2008
For more information about how to obtain a Windows 7 or a Windows Server 2008 R2 service pack, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:
976932  (http://support.microsoft.com/kb/976932/ ) Information about Service Pack 1 for Windows 7 and for Windows Server 2008 R2

Registry information

To apply this update, you do not have to make any changes to the registry.

Restart requirement

You may have to restart the computer after you apply this hotfix.

Update replacement information

Click here to view or to hide detailed previously released updates that are replaced by this update

File information

Click here to view or to hide the file information for this update
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Applications that experience a change in behavior after you install this update

Application compatibility updates trigger several changes in Windows XP, in Windows Server 2003, in Windows Vista, in Windows Server 2008, in Windows 7, or in Windows Server 2008 R2. The following are the three most common changes:
  • Hard block

    The update puts a hard block on the application. A hard block prevents an application that is incompatible with Windows 7 and with Windows Server 2008 R2 from running on the system.

    Note Microsoft enables Windows to put a hard block on a third-party application only if the manufacturer of the application gives its consent.

  • Soft block

    The update puts a soft block on the application. A soft block notifies you when an application that is incompatible with Windows 7 and with Windows Server 2008 R2 starts to run.
  • Update

    The update improves the application’s functionality in Windows XP, in Windows Server 2003, in Windows Vista, in Windows Server 2008, in Windows 7, or in Windows Server 2008 R2.
The following tables list the applications that were added to the cumulative update package. These tables also describe the behavior of these applications after you install the update.

For Windows 7 and for Windows Server 2008 R2

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ApplicationBehavior after you install the update
Microsoft .Net Framework 4.0Updates the application’s functionality. After you apply this update, incorrect custom actions in the NGenRemoveNicPFROs family are disabled when you install the Microsoft .Net Framework 4.0. Therefore, you can successfully install the .Net Framework 4.0, when incorrect custom actions were not cleaned up.
Microsoft Visual Studio 2010 or Microsoft Visual Studio 2008Updates the application’s functionality. After you apply this update, the “Auto run” shim is not included in the module list when you start the Visual Studio 2010 or the Visual Studio 2008 solution file.
Home and Small Business Server (HSBS) SKUsPuts a hard block on HSBS SKUs in Windows 7 Service Pack 1.

For Windows XP, for Windows Server 2003, for Windows Vista and for Windows Server 2008

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ApplicationBehavior after you install the update
Microsoft .Net Framework 4.0Updates the application’s functionality. After you apply this update, incorrect custom actions in the NGenRemoveNicPFROs family are disabled when you install the Microsoft .Net Framework 4.0. Therefore, you can successfully install the .Net Framework 4.0, when incorrect custom actions were not cleaned up.
You may also encounter the following issues when you try to install this update:
  • The update installation fails.
  • The system keeps reminding you to install this update although you already installed it.
  • The desktop does not load.
If you encounter one if the issues mentioned above, you may try the following methods.

Click here to view or hide detailed information
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REFERENCES

For more information about software update terminology, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:
824684  (http://support.microsoft.com/kb/824684/ ) Description of the standard terminology that is used to describe Microsoft software updates
The third-party products that this article discusses are manufactured by companies that are independent of Microsoft. Microsoft makes no warranty, implied or otherwise, about the performance or reliability of these products.
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APPLIES TO
  • Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition
  • Microsoft Windows XP Professional
  • Microsoft Windows XP Starter Edition
  • Microsoft Windows XP Professional x64 Edition
  • Microsoft Windows Server 2003, Datacenter Edition (32-bit x86)
  • Microsoft Windows Server 2003, Datacenter Edition for Itanium-Based Systems
  • Microsoft Windows Server 2003, Datacenter x64 Edition
  • Microsoft Windows Server 2003, Enterprise Edition (32-bit x86)
  • Microsoft Windows Server 2003, Enterprise Edition for Itanium-based Systems
  • Microsoft Windows Server 2003, Enterprise x64 Edition
  • Microsoft Windows Server 2003, Standard Edition (32-bit x86)
  • Microsoft Windows Server 2003, Standard x64 Edition
  • Microsoft Windows Server 2003, Web Edition
  • Windows Vista Business
  • Windows Vista Business 64-bit Edition
  • Windows Vista Enterprise
  • Windows Vista Enterprise 64-bit Edition
  • Windows Vista Home Basic
  • Windows Vista Home Basic 64-bit Edition
  • Windows Vista Home Premium
  • Windows Vista Home Premium 64-bit Edition
  • Windows Vista Starter
  • Windows Vista Ultimate
  • Windows Vista Ultimate 64-bit Edition
  • Windows Server 2008 Datacenter
  • Windows Server 2008 Datacenter without Hyper-V
  • Windows Server 2008 Enterprise
  • Windows Server 2008 Enterprise without Hyper-V
  • Windows Server 2008 for Itanium-Based Systems
  • Windows Server 2008 Foundation
  • Windows Server 2008 Standard
  • Windows Server 2008 Standard without Hyper-V
  • Windows Web Server 2008
  • Windows 7 Enterprise
  • Windows 7 Home Basic
  • Windows 7 Home Premium
  • Windows 7 Professional
  • Windows 7 Starter
  • Windows 7 Ultimate
  • Windows Server 2008 R2 Datacenter
  • Windows Server 2008 R2 Enterprise
  • Windows Server 2008 R2 for Itanium-Based Systems
  • Windows Server 2008 R2 Foundation
  • Windows Server 2008 R2 Standard
  • Windows Web Server 2008 R2
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Keywords: 
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