Compatibility update is available for Windows 8 and Windows Server 2012
Summary
A compatibility update is a software update that improves the compatibility experience in Windows 8 and in Windows Server 2012. Microsoft regularly releases Windows compatibility updates to improve the overall user experience. This compatibility update is dated January 2013.
For more information about the improvements, refer to the "Applications or devices that experience a change in behavior after you install this update" section and the "Applications and devices that are included in this update" section.
For more information about the improvements, refer to the "Applications or devices that experience a change in behavior after you install this update" section and the "Applications and devices that are included in this update" section.
More Information
Update information
How to obtain this update
Windows Update
This update is available from Windows Update.Microsoft Download Center
The following files are available for download from the Microsoft Download Center:| Operating system | Update |
|---|---|
| All supported x86-based versions of Windows 8 |  Download the update package now. |
| All supported x64-based versions of Windows 8 | Download the update package now. |
| All supported x64-based versions of Windows Server 2012 | Download the update package now. |
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. The kinds of problems that are resolved by application compatibility updates
When you try to install and run certain games or applications in Windows 8 or in Windows Server 2012, you may experience one or more of the following symptoms:- The game, the application, or the driver is installed incorrectly.
- The game, the application, or the driver causes system instability.
- The primary functions of the game, of the application, or of the firmware do not work correctly.
Applications or devices that experience a change in behavior after you install this update
The following table lists the applications and devices that were included in this cumulative update package. This table also describes the behavior of these applications and devices after you install the update.Compatibility updates trigger several changes in Windows 8. The following are the three most common:
Hard block
The update puts a hard block on the application. A hard block prevents an application that is incompatible with Windows 8 from running on the system.
Note Microsoft enables Windows to put a hard block on a non-Microsoft application only if the manufacturer is notified.
Soft block
This update puts a soft block on the application. A soft block notifies you when one of the primary functionality of the application is broken on Windows 8 or causes instability to application experience.
Driver Block
This action may block an existing driver on your computer. When the driver is migrated during the upgrade, an Inbox driver will be installed.
Applications and devices that are included in this update
| Application Name | Version | Behavior after you install the update |
|---|---|---|
| Norton Internet Security 2010 | 17.x | Improves user experience by warning the end-user, and provides a URL for more information about the product. |
| Norton 360 | 17.x | Improves user experience by warning the end-user, and provides a URL for more information about the product. |
| F-Secure Antivirus | 2011 | Improves user experience by warning the end-user, and provides a URL for more information about the product. |
| F-Secure Internet Security | 2011 | Improves user experience by warning the end-user, and provides a URL for more information about the product. |
| Panda Antivirus Pro 2013 | 2013 | Improves user experience. |
| Panda Internet Security 2013 | 2013 | Improves user experience. |
| Panda Global Protection 2013 | 2013 | Improves user experience. |
Windows Update replacement information
This update replaces the following updates:References
For more information about software update terminology, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:
824684 Description of the standard terminology that is used to describe Microsoft software updates
Properties
Article ID: 2793210 - Last Review: Feb 12, 2013 - Revision: 1
Windows 8, Windows 8 Pro, Windows 8 Enterprise, Windows Server 2012 Datacenter, Windows Server 2012 Datacenter, Windows Server 2012 Essentials, Windows Server 2012 Foundation, Windows Server 2012 Foundation, Windows Server 2012 Standard, Windows Server 2012 Standard
