The Windows Vista Application Compatibility Update

Windows Vista Application Compatibility Updates are software updates that address common application compatibility issues in Windows Vista. Microsoft releases Windows Vista Application Compatibility Updates regularly.

If you want to immediately install this update, follow these steps:

1. Click Start
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   , click All Programs, and then click Windows Update.
2. In the navigation pane, click Check for updates, and then follow the steps to install all recommended updates.

This article is intended for a beginning to intermediate computer user.

You may find it easier to follow the steps if you print this article first.

Kinds of problems that are resolved by application compatibility updates

When you try to install and run certain legacy games or applications in Windows Vista, you may experience one or more of the following symptoms:

• The game or application may not be installed correctly.
• The game or application may cause system instability.
• The primary functions of the game or application may not work correctly.

Applications that will experience improved support after you install this update

This update improves support in Windows Vista for the following applications:

• IBM Rescue and Recovery with Rapid Restore 3.00
• Rosetta Stone 2.1.3
• MS Encarta Standard 2007
• Family Feud Online
• Crystal Player Professional 1.97
• Photoshop 7.0.1
• Total Commander 6.55
• Sony FeliCa Port (PaSoRi) 3.0.0.0
• Label Mighty 6
• AVG Anti-Spyware 7.5.0.47
• Lego Star Wars
• HD Tach 3
• Adobe Photoshop Elements Version 4.0
• Digital Zenkoku Map Townpage Database 7
• Auslogics Disk 1.0.3
• EasyRecovery Professional Version 6.04
• Microsoft Money 2005 Microsoft Money 2006
• SmartInstall 2.16
• Adobe Create Suite CS2
• Jv16 Power Tools
• SG TCP Optimizer 2.0.3
• Cyber link Power Cinema 4.0
• Google desktop 4.2006.1008
• Roxio Easy Media Creator 7.5
• Premiere Elements 3
• Battlefield 2 Deluxe
• Opera 9.02
• Palm Desktop 6.0
• Digital Image Suite 2006
• Flight Simulator X
• SmartSuite Millennium Edition - Freelance Graphics 9.8
• LimeWire 4.12
• Point 5.3
• BitVise Tunnelier 4.20
• Java Control Panel
• ACDSee 8
• Azureus 1.0
• HD Tune 2.5.1
• BeatJam 2006 SE
• ICHITARO 2006
• Adobe Photoshop CS 8.0
• Arcsoft Photo Impression 5
• J2SE Runtime Environment 5.0 Update 9
• AOL 9.0 - x64 DevStudio 9.0
• The Weather Channel Desktop 5.0.1
• Absolute Poker Version 5.7
• BitLord 1.1.5.6
• RealPlayer 6.0.12.1700
• Speedfan 4.31
• Delphi 7 Professional
• TweakNow PowerPack 2006
• Office 2003 Web Folders
• Outlook 2003
• Ulead DVD MovieFactory 5 Plus
• Virtual CD 8
• Fireworks MX2004 7.0.2.295
• Doranet Kids Nyugaku Jyunbi Taikenban
• Doranet Shogaku Ichinensei Taikenban
• Minna de TV Denwa Starter
• Power Utility - Remote administration 3.1.0.0
• MotionDV STUDIO 5.8J for FUJITSU OmniPass 1.0.0.1
• Minna de TV Phone Starter 2.1.0.1
• ColdFusion MX 7 Enterprise Edition
• Age of Empires III
• Age of Empires III : The WarChiefs Expansion Pack
• Zoo Tycoon 2
• Zoo Tycoon 2: African Adventure Expansion Pack
• Zoo Tycoon 2: Endangered Species Expansion Pack
• Zoo Tycoon 2: Marine Mania Expansion Pack
• Zoo Tycoon 2: Zookeeper Collection Expansion Pack
• Rise of Nations: Rise of Legends
• Fable: The Lost Chapters
• Dungeon Siege II
• Dungeon Siege: Legends of Aranna

How to troubleshoot application compatibility issues that are not resolved by the latest application compatibility update

Perform the following troubleshooting steps if you install the latest version of the application compatibility update, and you still experience application compatibility issues in Windows Vista:

• Restart the computer after you install the application compatibility update to allow for any additional process to be completed and for drivers to be loaded correctly
• 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
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     , 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.
• Contact the program vendor
  
  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 includes additional information about compatibility.
  
  Frequently, the software vendor will be able to resolve the incompatibility issue by providing one of the following resolutions:
  • An update to make the current version of the program compatible with Windows Vista
  • A version of the program that is compatible with Windows Vista
  • Information about any configuration changes to make the program compatible with Windows Vista
  For information about your hardware manufacturer, visit the following Web site:
  http://support.microsoft.com/gp/vendors/en-us

  (http://support.microsoft.com/gp/vendors/en-us)
  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.

If you continue to experience application compatibility issues in Windows Vista, you might want to ask someone for help or contact support. For information about how to contact support, please visit the following Microsoft Web site:

How to obtain the Windows Vista Application Compatibility Update

Select one of the following methods to obtain the Windows Vista Application Compatibility Update.

Method A: (Recommended) Turn on Windows Update

Turn on the Windows Update feature in Windows Vista. This is the recommended method to receive the latest updates. This method helps make sure that you always receive the latest updates.

To do this, follow these steps:

1. Click Start
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   , click All Programs, and then click Windows Update.
2. In the navigation pane, click Change settings.
3. Select the Windows automatic updating setting that you want.
4. Click to select the Include recommended updates when downloading, installing, or notifying me about updates check box, and then click OK.
   
   
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   If you are prompted for an administrator password or for confirmation, type the password, or provide confirmation.

Method B: Check for updates on Windows Update

If you do not want to turn on the Windows Update feature, run Windows Update manually. This method will install the latest version of the Windows Vista Application Compatibility Update.

To do this, follow these steps:

1. Click Start
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   , click All Programs, and then click Windows Update.
2. In the navigation pane, click Check for updates.
3. After Windows Update has finished checking for updates, click View available updates.
4. Click the check boxes for the updates that you want to install, and then click Install.
   
   
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   If you are prompted for an administrator password or for confirmation, type the password, or provide confirmation.

Method C: Download the Windows Vista Application Compatibility Update from the Microsoft Download Center

The following files are available for download from the Microsoft Download Center:

Download the Update for Windows Server 2008 package now.

Download the Update for Windows Server 2008 for Itanium-Based Systems package now.

Download the Update for Windows Server 2008, 64-bit editions package now.

Download the Update for Windows Vista package now.

Download the Update for Windows Vista, 64-bit editions package now.
Release Date: May 2008

For more information about how to download Microsoft support files, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base: 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.

If you have any problems when you try to obtain the Windows Vista Application Compatibility Update, you might want to ask someone for help or contact support. For information about how to contact support, please visit the following Microsoft Web site:

How to tell if you have the latest update installed

Windows Vista Application Compatibility Updates are delivered by the Automatic Update feature in Windows Vista. You may already have this update installed. To determine whether this update is already installed, visit the following Windows update site, and then click View Update History: For more information about the latest application compatibility updates, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

Restart requirement

You must restart the computer after you apply this update.

Known issues after you install the update

After you install this update, a CD device or a DVD device may not work correctly. When you select the device in Device Manager and then view the properties for the device, you may receive the following error message:This issue occurs because an earlier application may install drivers that are incompatible with Windows Vista.

Microsoft has confirmed that this is a problem in the Microsoft products that are listed in the "Applies to" section. This problem was first corrected in Windows Vista Service Pack 1.

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.