Does all old software work on Vista?

johnny · 05-03-2007, 02:05 AM

Hey everyone I was just wondering if Vista has backwards capability with software? Basically how Win XP can run programs designed for Windows 98. If so how far back does it have? Becuase currently I'm not running really anything on my computer besides the OS and Office 2007.

PC eye · 05-03-2007, 02:16 AM

There are programs that will fail to work on a newer version of Windows. From multi OSing here some older games fair better then a few newer ones while desktop applications may have to be replaced with a Vista ready edition. XP couldn't even consider running one old 16bit game known as Duke 3D while the original 8bit version could run through a virtual dos window. At this point everything on Vista as far as games and apps is simple trial and error in order to see what will and what won't.

**The_Other_One** · 05-03-2007, 03:25 AM

It's really hard to say something like "all programs from 2003 won't work"

I recall using the beta, I had some issues with Photoshop CS. Nothing major, but some gitches XP didn't have. I'm sure other programs will just as it happened when going from one OS to another...

As PC Eye said, very old programs that still ran in 16bit won't work. I seem to recall someone mentioning some 32bit apps used 16bit installers, thus the program would work, but you couldn't install it.

PC eye · 05-03-2007, 03:48 AM

I think you already know now that it was easier to see that ole 8bit dos game run through a virtual dos window in Vista then trying to get Metal of Honor: Alliead Assault a far newer XP game to even install. For the PCI 1500 MCE card the software despite a Vista driver is useless. I'm so glad,,, I'm so glad... I'm so glad I "multi OSed" here!

Vista is the 2nd not primary here.

tlarkin · 05-03-2007, 04:53 AM

depends on the application. when we first introduced vista beta 1 on our systems at work nothing worked at all. When we introduced beta 2 on a test system at work, it worked better but nothing was compatible. Drivers failed, applications broke, network support fell through the floor and down into a deep abyss where the naked eye could not see it.

Then we got our hands on the final release via our MSDN subscription. I have vista business on my desktop at work. I have the beta (yeah beta) software/drivers for everything I need it to work with at my job. For the most part the newer software works. Not very smoothly at times but it works. The legacy software is a whole other story. After many frustrations I made a virtual machine of windows xp (since trying to install it on a seperate partition was a HUGE pain and the vista installer took a decade, I made a VM instead) to run the legacy apps I needed for work. Now, this is a work machine, so no gaming is done on it.

My work desktop specs are:
HP 5150 dx business class desktop
2gig RAM
AMD 64 3400+
150gig SATA2 HD
Radeon x600 PCI express video card 128MB

Vista runs like crap compared to XP. So, I went back to Linux and am running that and vista on my machine now. I pretty much never boot into vista unless i want to tinker with it these days.

In my experience legacy applications for a lot of things won't work. If you are using any kind of huge distributed app, like photoshop it should probably work. Obviously MS office should work as well. I believe the MS rep told me Office 2000 and above will run on vista but nothing lower. That is to be expected I think.

I would recommend you download the vista compatibility checker from MS's website and run it or go through their knowledge base. A lot of times if an application is not compatible a patch or update will make it compatible. Now whether or not it runs stable is another question.

PC eye · 05-03-2007, 07:11 AM

When looking over the Vista compatibility list when grabbing a 1/31 full version it stated PowerDVD 6.0 and 7.0 alike were compatible? That was far from fact there! Cyberlink responded with the next version 8.0 would be backward compatible to XP. Likewise I still have XP for primary use due to not having even seen some Vista ready versions of some softwares out yet.

But this is the typical trial and error time to see what does and doesn't even install on Vista. The Cyberlink PowerProducer went right on but not the PowerDirector or PowerDVD ports of the software that came with a tuner card. The Vista driver was available what good that does? But each new version of Windows that comes out will have it's own drawbacks trying to find out what you can use on it. There's plenty of old stuff that won't run on XP. That was the 9x-ME crowd there. A few things from 2000 probably won't either.

johnny · 05-04-2007, 12:40 AM

So basically it's all trial and error here with Vista.

PC eye · 05-04-2007, 03:55 AM

I bought a tv tuner card in December that is now useless on Vista. The main reason for installing Vista as a second not primary OS was to get familiar with the new version as well as finding out what does or doesn't. This is common when upgrading in the past where it's trial and error. Some stuff will go right on while others may install and not run or simply refuse to even install. When buying new softwares and addon devices make sure you see "Vista ready". Most will be backward compatible to XP.

CG man · 05-06-2007, 12:47 PM

Alot of games run like sh*** on Vista and my 3D software won't work on it. Your performance will be worse in Vista aswell as it uses more ram most will only notice this if they have less than 1GB of ram or when they are running the latest games or 3D design software.

PC eye · 05-06-2007, 10:31 PM

2gb of ram doesn't see any performance loss with Vista here while sound drivers were the inititial concern. Currently I see about 343mb of ram used by the paging file. The amount of items you have running in the background are the main concern with either XP or Vista as far as resources. Vista does finally offer some builtin support for the average user htat lacked in XP. But like with any other swap to a vewer version of Windows plan on having to go with newer versions or simply new softwares to replace old ones.

05-03-2007, 02:05 AM	#1 (permalink)
johnny Silver Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Toronto, Ontario Age: 18 Posts: 241	Does all old software work on Vista? Hey everyone I was just wondering if Vista has backwards capability with software? Basically how Win XP can run programs designed for Windows 98. If so how far back does it have? Becuase currently I'm not running really anything on my computer besides the OS and Office 2007. __________________ Windows Vista Ultimate Xion Solaris Black/Green Mid ATX Case w/Neon Glow Intel 975XBX2KR Intel Socket 775 ATX -Motherboard Intel Core 2 Duo E6600 Kingston Dual Channel HyperX 2048MB DDR2 800MHz Seagate Barracuda 500GB SATA Hard Drive BFG GeForce 8800 GTS 640MB PCI-E Dual DVI/HDTV/HDCP Enabled Video Card Creative Labs Sound Blaster X-Fi Fatal1ty PCI Sound Card Sony DVD Burner and Sony 1.44 MB Floppy Drive 24" Samsung LCD TV/Monitor

05-03-2007, 02:16 AM	#2 (permalink)
PC eye Diamond Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Inside a pc Posts: 19,331	There are programs that will fail to work on a newer version of Windows. From multi OSing here some older games fair better then a few newer ones while desktop applications may have to be replaced with a Vista ready edition. XP couldn't even consider running one old 16bit game known as Duke 3D while the original 8bit version could run through a virtual dos window. At this point everything on Vista as far as games and apps is simple trial and error in order to see what will and what won't. __________________ Turning the Tongue into a Device Controller http://abcnews.go.com/Technology/Sma...ory?id=5647175 Is EBay going out of the Auction Business? http://abcnews.go.com/Business/story?id=5626840&page=1

05-03-2007, 03:25 AM	#3 (permalink)
The_Other_One Super Moderator Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Lexington, NC Age: 23 Posts: 12,368	It's really hard to say something like "all programs from 2003 won't work" I recall using the beta, I had some issues with Photoshop CS. Nothing major, but some gitches XP didn't have. I'm sure other programs will just as it happened when going from one OS to another... As PC Eye said, very old programs that still ran in 16bit won't work. I seem to recall someone mentioning some 32bit apps used 16bit installers, thus the program would work, but you couldn't install it. __________________ Desktop * Athlon X2 4200 \| 2G RAM \| 160G HD \| 7600GT Laptop1 * C2D T5550 \| 3G RAM \| 120G HD \| Intel x3100 Laptop2 * C2D T5250 \| 2G RAM \| 160G HD \| Intel x3100

05-03-2007, 03:48 AM	#4 (permalink)
PC eye Diamond Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Inside a pc Posts: 19,331	I think you already know now that it was easier to see that ole 8bit dos game run through a virtual dos window in Vista then trying to get Metal of Honor: Alliead Assault a far newer XP game to even install. For the PCI 1500 MCE card the software despite a Vista driver is useless. I'm so glad,,, I'm so glad... I'm so glad I "multi OSed" here! Vista is the 2nd not primary here. __________________ Turning the Tongue into a Device Controller http://abcnews.go.com/Technology/Sma...ory?id=5647175 Is EBay going out of the Auction Business? http://abcnews.go.com/Business/story?id=5626840&page=1

05-03-2007, 07:11 AM	#6 (permalink)
PC eye Diamond Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Inside a pc Posts: 19,331	When looking over the Vista compatibility list when grabbing a 1/31 full version it stated PowerDVD 6.0 and 7.0 alike were compatible? That was far from fact there! Cyberlink responded with the next version 8.0 would be backward compatible to XP. Likewise I still have XP for primary use due to not having even seen some Vista ready versions of some softwares out yet. But this is the typical trial and error time to see what does and doesn't even install on Vista. The Cyberlink PowerProducer went right on but not the PowerDirector or PowerDVD ports of the software that came with a tuner card. The Vista driver was available what good that does? But each new version of Windows that comes out will have it's own drawbacks trying to find out what you can use on it. There's plenty of old stuff that won't run on XP. That was the 9x-ME crowd there. A few things from 2000 probably won't either. __________________ Turning the Tongue into a Device Controller http://abcnews.go.com/Technology/Sma...ory?id=5647175 Is EBay going out of the Auction Business? http://abcnews.go.com/Business/story?id=5626840&page=1

05-03-2007, 04:53 AM	#5 (permalink)
tlarkin VIP Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Kansas City, MO Posts: 6,086	depends on the application. when we first introduced vista beta 1 on our systems at work nothing worked at all. When we introduced beta 2 on a test system at work, it worked better but nothing was compatible. Drivers failed, applications broke, network support fell through the floor and down into a deep abyss where the naked eye could not see it. Then we got our hands on the final release via our MSDN subscription. I have vista business on my desktop at work. I have the beta (yeah beta) software/drivers for everything I need it to work with at my job. For the most part the newer software works. Not very smoothly at times but it works. The legacy software is a whole other story. After many frustrations I made a virtual machine of windows xp (since trying to install it on a seperate partition was a HUGE pain and the vista installer took a decade, I made a VM instead) to run the legacy apps I needed for work. Now, this is a work machine, so no gaming is done on it. My work desktop specs are: HP 5150 dx business class desktop 2gig RAM AMD 64 3400+ 150gig SATA2 HD Radeon x600 PCI express video card 128MB Vista runs like crap compared to XP. So, I went back to Linux and am running that and vista on my machine now. I pretty much never boot into vista unless i want to tinker with it these days. In my experience legacy applications for a lot of things won't work. If you are using any kind of huge distributed app, like photoshop it should probably work. Obviously MS office should work as well. I believe the MS rep told me Office 2000 and above will run on vista but nothing lower. That is to be expected I think. I would recommend you download the vista compatibility checker from MS's website and run it or go through their knowledge base. A lot of times if an application is not compatible a patch or update will make it compatible. Now whether or not it runs stable is another question.

05-04-2007, 12:40 AM	#7 (permalink)
johnny Silver Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Toronto, Ontario Age: 18 Posts: 241	So basically it's all trial and error here with Vista. __________________ Windows Vista Ultimate Xion Solaris Black/Green Mid ATX Case w/Neon Glow Intel 975XBX2KR Intel Socket 775 ATX -Motherboard Intel Core 2 Duo E6600 Kingston Dual Channel HyperX 2048MB DDR2 800MHz Seagate Barracuda 500GB SATA Hard Drive BFG GeForce 8800 GTS 640MB PCI-E Dual DVI/HDTV/HDCP Enabled Video Card Creative Labs Sound Blaster X-Fi Fatal1ty PCI Sound Card Sony DVD Burner and Sony 1.44 MB Floppy Drive 24" Samsung LCD TV/Monitor

05-04-2007, 03:55 AM	#8 (permalink)
PC eye Diamond Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Inside a pc Posts: 19,331	I bought a tv tuner card in December that is now useless on Vista. The main reason for installing Vista as a second not primary OS was to get familiar with the new version as well as finding out what does or doesn't. This is common when upgrading in the past where it's trial and error. Some stuff will go right on while others may install and not run or simply refuse to even install. When buying new softwares and addon devices make sure you see "Vista ready". Most will be backward compatible to XP. __________________ Turning the Tongue into a Device Controller http://abcnews.go.com/Technology/Sma...ory?id=5647175 Is EBay going out of the Auction Business? http://abcnews.go.com/Business/story?id=5626840&page=1

05-06-2007, 12:47 PM	#9 (permalink)
CG man Silver Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Uk Age: 32 Posts: 194	Alot of games run like sh*** on Vista and my 3D software won't work on it. Your performance will be worse in Vista aswell as it uses more ram most will only notice this if they have less than 1GB of ram or when they are running the latest games or 3D design software. __________________ Uk illustrator 3D Logo Graphic Designer http://www.cgeffect.com

05-06-2007, 10:31 PM	#10 (permalink)
PC eye Diamond Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Inside a pc Posts: 19,331	2gb of ram doesn't see any performance loss with Vista here while sound drivers were the inititial concern. Currently I see about 343mb of ram used by the paging file. The amount of items you have running in the background are the main concern with either XP or Vista as far as resources. Vista does finally offer some builtin support for the average user htat lacked in XP. But like with any other swap to a vewer version of Windows plan on having to go with newer versions or simply new softwares to replace old ones. __________________ Turning the Tongue into a Device Controller http://abcnews.go.com/Technology/Sma...ory?id=5647175 Is EBay going out of the Auction Business? http://abcnews.go.com/Business/story?id=5626840&page=1

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