Vista 64 not compatible with 32 bit program

Question

I have some billing software that I've been running on Windows xp. I Recently purchased a system with Vista 64. When trying to load the program I get the error message "This version of Windows not compatible with program". Upgrades and support are no longer available for my software. I understand that vista 64 is supposed to have a program or shell (WOW) to allow 32 bit programs to run on the 64 bit os. This one obviously won't. Any suggestions on how I might get this program to load?

Also, out of desperation I partitioned my drive with the intention of loading xp in a multiboat configuration, however, vista 64 won't allow xp or a previous version of windows to be loaded. Help file suggest uninstalling the newer version, load the older version and then reload the newer version but Vista 64 can't be uninstalled.

Any, suggestions short of buying a new 32 bit os?

Thanks for any help.

PudgyOne · Answer

FEFFPI,   You can also try installing the program in the 32-bit programs files folder and it should work.     Rick

dcgtls · Answer

You can try running the install in XP compatability mode. You will right click on the setup and select 'properties' click on the 'Compatability' tab at the top, put a check in the box that says 'Run this program in compatability mode for' then in the drop down below it select 'Windows XP (Service Pack 2)', click on 'OK and then try to run it again. Hope that helps.

JEFFPI · Answer

Thanks for your suggestion but the setup.exe file won't run.  I did try copying the file to the 32-bit program folder but I receive the same error message.

JEFFPI · Answer

Thanks for suggestion dcgtls but no luck. After setting the setup.exe file to run in xp comp mode my drive spins the cd for a few seconds and just stops.  Nothing else happens.

PudgyOne · Answer

JEFFPI,   You don't copy the p[rogram to the 32-bit program files folder, you choose it as the destination to install to.     Rick   What program is this???

PudgyOne · Answer

JEFFPI,

I haven't done this for a while, so this might be a little hit and miss.

Right click on the setup.exe, left click properties, left click compatibility. Select run this porogram under compatibility for XP. Not sure if you have to do this for the folder or not. Also not sure if you have to do this for the desktop icon or not.

It should run, since it worked for XP.

Rick

JEFFPI · Answer

Right, but the setup file doesn't even start. I get the error message that this version of windows is not compatible with the software as soon as I start the setup file. No opportunity to select an install destination.

The software is medical billing software and was distributed by a company called IAMS. It is a modified version of Lytec. It is no longer supported but I still use it daily on a machine running xp.

JEFFPI · Answer

Sounded promissing but no go.  Ater taking the steps you suggested, I start the setup file and instead of receiving the mentioned error message the drive spins but nothing happens.  The file doesn't run and I don't get an error message. ?

fireberd · Answer

There are some programs that check the OS and if the OS is not what it's looking for, it won't install and there is no option on these programs. That was a comment on a recent newsletter about Windows 7 and installing some older programs. Some programs do not check for the OS version and those will install.

Is you MUST have this program, it may be better to partition the drive and then install XP 32 bit in that partition just for when you need to run that program.

JRosenfeld · Answer

You say the drive spins but setup does not start, so I presume you are trying the install from a CD or DVD.

Have you tried copying the contents of the CD to your hard drive, then set the setup.exe to XP compatibility mode and install all from the hard drive?

JEFFPI · Answer

Thanks for the input.  I tried installing xp, however, vista won't allow an earlier version of windows to be installed.  The help documentation stated that to load a multi boot system unistall the most recent version, install the older version, then re-install the latest version but the help documentation also states that vista can not be uninstalled so short of figuring out how to get my program to install it would seem the only other solution is to purchase a 32 bit version of vista.

JEFFPI · Answer

Yes, I am trying to install from a cd and yes, I did try copying the cd to the 32 bit folder and set the setup.exe to xp compatibility.  I ended up with the same error message as trying to install from the cd.

Windows General

Vista 64 not compatible with 32 bit program

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