What does compatability mode actually do?

As per the subject line:

What does compatability mode actually do?

The fullest description I've found so far:

"Runs the program using settings from a
previous version of Windows."

In nuts and bolts terms, what does that mean?

Thanks,

R.

Start here, links to other articles with more info.

http://windowshelp.microsoft.com/Win...f5f101033.mspx

--
Richard G. Harper [MVP Desktop]
* NEW! Catch my blog ... http://msmvps.com/blogs/rgharper/
* PLEASE post all messages and replies in the newsgroups
* The Website - http://rgharper.mvps.org/


"R" <> wrote in message
news:1it7xcp.1u3x7ec6ubhmoN%...
> As per the subject line:
>
> What does compatability mode actually do?
>
> The fullest description I've found so far:
>
> "Runs the program using settings from a
> previous version of Windows."
>
> In nuts and bolts terms, what does that mean?
>
> Thanks,
>
> R.

Sonny Wortzik <SonnyWortzik@invalid> wrote:

> On Thu, 8 Jan 2009 09:38:25 +0000, (R) wrote:
>
> >As per the subject line:
> >
> >What does compatability mode actually do?
> >
> >The fullest description I've found so far:
> >
> >"Runs the program using settings from a
> >previous version of Windows."
> >
> >In nuts and bolts terms, what does that mean?
>
> Googling (HINT!) "vista compatibility mode":
>
>
> http://windowshelp.microsoft.com/Windows/en-us/help/
> bf416877-c83f-4476-a3da-8ec98dcf5f101033.mspx

That's where I got my first quote from.

> http://windowshelp.microsoft.com/Windows/en-us/help/
> 334c6e6c-9289-49e3-8a81-c3981f5f42dc1033.mspx

No detailed information there either.

Richard G. Harper [MVP] <> wrote:

> Start here, links to other articles with more info.
>
> http://windowshelp.microsoft.com/Windows/en-us/help/
> bf416877-c83f-4476-a3da-8ec98dcf5f101033.mspx

As I wrote before, that is where I got my first quote
from. If I need to diagnose a problem, the information
on that page is far too shallow and vague to be of any
use whatsoever.

For example, with reference to this:

"Runs the program using settings from a previous version
of Windows."

Which settings are those, then?

Essentially, compatibility mode creates a virtual environment for the
software to run in that matches the environment it would encounter in a
previous version of Windows. This layer translates the software's requests
(resources, system files, folder locations, etc.) so that it doesn't
necessarily have to meet Vista's programming requirements. If you encounter
a problem, there's not much you can do to alter this layer, as there are
limitations as to what it can do with hard-coded commands and services that
are not compatible.

--
Best of Luck,

Rick Rogers, aka "Nutcase" - Microsoft MVP
http://mvp.support.microsoft.com/
Windows help - www.rickrogers.org
My thoughts http://rick-mvp.blogspot.com

"R" <> wrote in message
news:1it80x0.13svylyi3lgddN%...
> Richard G. Harper [MVP] <> wrote:
>
>> Start here, links to other articles with more info.
>>
>> http://windowshelp.microsoft.com/Windows/en-us/help/
>> bf416877-c83f-4476-a3da-8ec98dcf5f101033.mspx
>
> As I wrote before, that is where I got my first quote
> from. If I need to diagnose a problem, the information
> on that page is far too shallow and vague to be of any
> use whatsoever.
>
> For example, with reference to this:
>
> "Runs the program using settings from a previous version
> of Windows."
>
> Which settings are those, then?

Rick Rogers <> wrote:

> Essentially, compatibility mode creates a virtual environment for the
> software to run in that matches the environment it would encounter in a
> previous version of Windows. This layer translates the software's requests
> (resources, system files, folder locations, etc.) so that it doesn't
> necessarily have to meet Vista's programming requirements. If you encounter
> a problem, there's not much you can do to alter this layer, as there are
> limitations as to what it can do with hard-coded commands and services that
> are not compatible.

Ok, thanks.

Sonny Wortzik <SonnyWortzik@invalid> wrote:

> On Thu, 8 Jan 2009 10:57:55 +0000, (R) wrote:
>
> >Sonny Wortzik <SonnyWortzik@invalid> wrote:
:
> >> http://windowshelp.microsoft.com/Windows/en-us/help/
> >> bf416877-c83f-4476-a3da-8ec98dcf5f101033.mspx
> >
> >That's where I got my first quote from.
:
>
> You're a complete idiot.

I may be, but if you're so smart, why didn't you spot
that my sentence was in the page you linked to, eh?

"R" <> wrote in message
news:1it867p.1jdn6d5mo0ri8N%...
> Rick Rogers <> wrote:
>
>> Essentially, compatibility mode creates a virtual environment for the
>> software to run in that matches the environment it would encounter in a
>> previous version of Windows. This layer translates the software's
>> requests
>> (resources, system files, folder locations, etc.) so that it doesn't
>> necessarily have to meet Vista's programming requirements. If you
>> encounter
>> a problem, there's not much you can do to alter this layer, as there are
>> limitations as to what it can do with hard-coded commands and services
>> that
>> are not compatible.
>
> Ok, thanks.

One thing it did for me was while running the software for my HP Scanjet
5470c, the select buttons would give me script errors so the buttons would
not work. After setting it to compatibility mode, the buttons functioned
normally.

Clark